Gausul Azam Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Ahmad Ullah Maizbhandari (K) hailed from the noble lineage of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW). Over time, the descendants of the Prophet (SAW) moved from Baghdad to Delhi, and eventually to Gour, the then capital of Bengal.
In 1575 A.D., an epidemic struck Gour, prompting Kazi Syed Hamiduddin Gouri to relocate to Chandanaish, Chittagong, Bangladesh, where he settled. His son, Syed Abdul Quader, moved to Azim Nagar in the Fatickchari area of Chittagong to serve as an Imam.
Syed Abdul Quader’s son was Syed Ataullah, and Syed Ataullah’s son was Syed Taibullah. Syed Matiullah, the father of Gausul Azam Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Ahmad Ullah Maizbhandari (K), was the second son of Syed Taibullah. Syed Matiullah eventually settled in the village of Maizbhandar, where he was blessed with the birth of his illustrious son, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K). Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) was born on a Wednesday afternoon in 1826 A.D. (Magh 1, 1233 B.S.; 1188 Maghi, and 1244 Hijri).
In 1269 Hijri, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) was appointed as the Kazi (Judge) for the greater Jessore district in Bangladesh. However, after some time, he chose to resign from this position and took on the role of a professor at Munshi Bu-Ali Saheb’s Madrasa in Matia Buruz, Calcutta, India.
During his time in Calcutta, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) became closely associated with Sultanul Hind Gaus-e-Kaunain Shaikh Syed Abu Shahma Muhammad Saleh Al-Quaderi Lahori (R), a descendant and spiritual caliph of Hazrat Gausul Azam Piran-e-Pir Dastagir Shaikh Syed Muhiuddin Abdul Quader Gilani (K). It was through Hazrat Abu Shahma (R) that Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) received the highest spiritual blessings, known as the “Bil Birachat Faiz of Gausiat,” and eventually became Hazrat Abu Shahma’s spiritual caliph.
Later, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) also attained spiritual blessings known as the “Faiz of Ettehadi Tabiat” from Hazrat Shah Sufi Syed Delwar Ali Pakbaj Muhajir-e-Madani Lahori (R), a confirmed bachelor and the elder brother of Hazrat Syed Abu Shahma Muhammad Saleh Al-Quaderi Lahori (R). While Hazrat Abu Shahma (R) was Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari’s Pir-e-Tariqat (spiritual guide), Hazrat Delwar Ali Pakbaj (R) served as his Pir-e-Tafaiuz (spiritual guide who bestows blessings).
Having been blessed by these two great spiritual saints, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) achieved spiritual perfection (Kamil) and gained the power to distribute divine blessings (Khudai Fazilat) to humanity. He was a saint by birth (Bil Asalat), and through his immense love and dedication to his Pir-e-Kamil, Hazrat Abu Shahma (R), Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) continued his journey as a perfect spiritual guide.
Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) attained the highest status of Belayet (spiritual authority) through both worldly and divine knowledge (Faiz-e-Ettehadi and Ilm-e-Ladunni). He became a global saint, reaching the supreme level of sainthood through the four stages of Belayet (Malamia Masrab), achieved by immense sacrifice, self-control, devotion, and by confronting human weaknesses and evil motives.
According to Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Akbar Allama Muhiuddin Ibn-e-Arabi (R), as mentioned in his book Fasusul Hekam, Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Ahmad Ullah Maizbhandari (K) can be considered the Khatemul Awlia (the seal of saints, descended from Prophet Muhammad (SAW)), and the last of the greatest saints (Fardul Afrad), mobilizing both the visible and invisible realms. He is also seen as the Din-e-Matin (protector of the sacred religion), who finalized the stage of restricted sainthood (Belayet-e-Mukaiyeda-e-Muhammadi) and propagated the era of open sainthood (Belayet-e-Mutlaka-e-Ahmadi), which encompasses unrestricted divine love and guidance.
This transformation into the open sainthood was foretold to come after the era of Shaikh Syed Muhiuddin Abdul Quader Gilani (K), who was the Gausul Azam (greatest saint) of the era of restricted Belayet. Six hundred years after his departure, there arose a divergence in the Islamic religious world. To alleviate this confusion and darkness, Allah transitioned the restricted sainthood into open sainthood—unrestricted, universal, and embracing people from all backgrounds, creeds, and religions who believed in the oneness of Allah (Tawhid-e-Adyan).
The era of open sainthood was designed to address social and spiritual needs, aiming to establish world peace, the truest essence of Islam. Under this open Belayet, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) introduced seven methods for the relief and spiritual purification of mankind. These included three stages for the annihilation of human instincts:
Additionally, there were four stages of “spiritual death”:
Many renowned scholars, intellectuals, and religious figures, such as Hazrat Shamsul Ulema Moulana Zulfiqar Ali Saheb of Calcutta, Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Saifullah, and Mufti-e-Azam Hazrat Moulana Aminul Huq Farhadabadi (R), praised Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) after personally meeting him and witnessing his spiritual prowess. His teachings and spiritual authority left a lasting impact on Islamic thought and practice, extending beyond Bangladesh to the wider Muslim world.
All the eminent personalities mentioned earlier acknowledged the greatness of Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K), affirming his status of Gausul Azmiat (the supreme leader of saints), as claimed by Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) himself and prophesied by Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Akbar Allama Muhiuddin Ibn-e-Arabi (R). Around two hundred Alims (scholars) attained sainthood through the divine blessings (Faiz) of Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K).
Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) is considered a pure gift from God to humanity (Faiz-e-Mujarrad). His life was marked by numerous miracles (Keramat) as ordained by Allah for the salvation of the masses. Those seeking blessings from him would receive them in accordance with their spiritual readiness or capacity, symbolically referred to as the size of their “pot of eligibility.”
The spiritual path introduced by Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) is known as Maizbhandari Tariqa. His profound sayings reflect his spiritual depth and connection with the divine, such as:
(a) “On the Day of Judgment, I shall be the first to say, ‘La Illaha Illallah’ (There is no God but God).”
(b) “I went to Mecca and saw the bosom of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) as an endless ocean. I, along with Hazrat Abdul Quader Gilani (K), dived into that ocean.”
(c) “Out of his (Prophet Muhammad’s) two caps, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) placed one on my head and the other on the head of my elder brother, Hazrat Gausul Azam Abdul Quader Gilani (K).”
Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) emphasized moral values over rigid religious rituals and believed in guiding people toward God with compassion, through divine songs and spiritual techniques. He advocated for social justice (Adal-e-Mutlak) and human welfare (Hakkul Ebad), ensuring that his teachings focused on the well-being of all individuals.
At the age of 79, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) departed from this world on Tuesday, January 23, 1906 (Zilqad 27, 1323 Hijri, 10 Magh 1313 B.S., and 1268 Maghi). His legacy as a spiritual leader and savior of humanity continues to inspire and guide followers of the Maizbhandariyya Tariqa to this day.