Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri took spiritual allegiance at the hands of Naqeeb-ul-Ash’raf Hazrat Ibrahim Saif-ud-Din Gilani.
The names of the spiritual mentors, Mashaykh, and teachers from whom he got education in Ilm-ul-Hadith, Ilm-ul-Fiqh, Ilm-al-Tasawwuf, Ilm-ul-Lugha wal Adab, Ilm-un-Nahw wal Balagha and other branches of Islamic sciences:
1. al-Imam ‘Umar ibn Hamadan al-Mahrasi
2. al-Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Zahir al-Watri
3. al-Imam Ahmad ibn Isma‘il al-Barzanji
4. al-Imam Ahmad Sharif ibn Muhammad as-Sanusi al-Madani
5. al-Imam Ahmad ibn Zayni Dahlan
6. ash-Shaykha Amat Allah bint al-Imam ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Muhaddith ad-Dihlawi al-Madani
Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri got the Asaneed-e-Hadith and permissions from the above-mentioned Mashaykh, Imams and Mohaddithin of Two Holy Mosques with reference to the following chain of Mashaykh.
1. Muhaddith al-Haram ash-Shaykh ‘Alawi ibn ‘Abbas al-Maliki al-Makki
2. ash-Shaykh al-Mu‘ammar Diya’ud-Din Ahmad al-Qadiri al-Madani
The permission to narrate Hadith extends to the following teachers and Mashaykh of Baghdad:
1. al-Imam al-Muhaddithin al-Shaykh al-Imam al-Sayyid ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Ali an-Naqib al-Baghdadi
2. al-Imam ‘Abd as-Salam al-Muhaddith al-Afandi al-Baghdadi
3. al-Imam ‘Abd ar-Razzaq al-Bazzaz al-Muhaddith al-Baghdadi back to al-Imam as-Sayyid Mahmud ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Alusi (author of Tafsir Ruh al-Ma‘ani)
1. ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid ‘Alawi ibn ‘Abbas al-Maliki al-Makki
2. ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid ‘Abd al-Ma‘bud al-Jilani al-Madani
1. Muhaddith ash-Sham al-Imam Muhammad ibn Ja‘far al-Kittani
2. Muhaddith ash-Sham al-Imam Muhammad Badra’d-Din ibn Yusuf al-Hasani
3. al-Imam ‘Abd al-Hayy ibn ‘Abd al-Kabir al-Muhaddith al-Kittani
4. al-Imam Abu’l-Makarim Muhammad Amin as-Suwayd ad-Dimashqi
1. al-Imam Yusuf ibn Ismail an-Nabhani (Imam al-Muhaddithin of the last century)
2. al-Imam “Abd al-Qadir ash-Shalabi at-Tarabulusi
3. al-Imam Hasan ‘Uwaydan al-Fayturi al-Tarabulusi
1. al-Imam Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Mustafa Ma’ul ‘Aynayn ash-Shanqiti
2. al-Imam Muhammad Habib Allah ash-Shanqiti
3. al-Imam Muhammad al-‘Arabi ibn Muhammad al-‘Azizi al-Fasi
4. al-Imam ‘Abd Allah ibn Siddiq al-Ghimari al-Maghribi
1. ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid ‘Alawi ibn ‘Abbas al-Maliki al-Makki
2. ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid Muhammad al-Fatih ibn Muhammad al-Makki al-Kittani
1. Imam al-Hind ash-Shah Ahmad Rida Khan al-Muhaddith Barelvi
2. Abu’l-Hasanat al-Imam ‘Abd al-Hayy ibn ‘Abd al-Halim al-Muhaddith al-Laknawi (Faqih al-Hind and Shaykh of Arab and non-Arab)
3. al-Imam al-Muhaddith al-Musnid Irshad Husayn Rampuri
4. al-Imam ash-Shah Imdad Allah al-Muhajir al-Makki (a great saint and shaykh of Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanwi, Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Ganguhi, Mawlana Muhammad Qasim Nanutwi and others)
5. Muhaqqiq al-Hind al-Imam Fadl al-Haqq al-Khayrabadi
6. ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid Didar ‘Ali ash-Shah al-Muhaddith Alwari
7. Muhaddith al-Hind ash-Shaykh Muhammad Anwar ash-Shah al-Kashmiri (author of Fayd al-Bari)
8. Muhaddith al-Hind ash-Shaykh Ahmad ‘Ali Saharanpuri
9. ash-Shaykh ‘Abd ash-Shukur al-Muhaddith al-Muhajir al-Madani
10. ash-Shaykh Badr al-‘Alam Mirathi
1. ash-Shaykh Diya’a‘d-Din Ahmad al-Muhajir al-Madani
2. ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid ‘Abd al-Ma‘bud al-Jilani al-Madani (he died at the age of 165 years)
3. al-Imam ‘Abd al-Baqi ibn ‘Ali al-Ansari al-Muhaddith al-Laknawi al-Madani
4. ash-Shaykh ‘Abd al-Hadi ibn ‘Ali al-Ansari al-Muhaddith al-Laknawi
5. al-Muhaddith al-A‘zam ash-Shaykh Sardar Ahmad al-Qadiri (Faisalabad)
6. ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid Abu’l-Barakat al-Muhaddith Alwari (Lahore).
The journey he undertook from Jhang in connection with the learning of knowledge took him to Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Saudi Arabia in addition to Sialkot, Lakhnow and Hyderabad Deccan. He also authored various travelogues in which he documented his experiences of journeys to Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.
During his visit to the Two Holy Mosques in the days of Hajj in 1963, Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri happened to check a patient belonging to the royal family whom doctors thought could not be cured anymore. With his treatment, the illness of the patient was cured. In recognition of his service, Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri was awarded a royal passport, which did not need any visa and he could come any time he wished.
Poetry
In addition to being a qualified doctor, Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri was an authentic poet who also wrote a book of poetry. He would seek guidance from Shakeel Meenai, the nephew of Ameer Minai in poetry. He would take part in poetic gatherings during his stay in Lucknow. A major portion of his poetic work was lost. Some of his verses are being shared here for the readers:
al-Salam ae matla e subh-e azal
al-Salam ae jaan-e har nasr o ghazal
al-Salam ae qulzam jud o sakha
al-Salam ae masdar e hamd o sana
mere seenay mein teri hi yaad ho
meri duniya mein to hi abad ho
mera har moay badan ik saaz ho
Ya-Rasul Allah ki aawaz ho
nafs e amarh kahe Inni Saqeem
mun ke bal gir jaye shetan ar-Rajeem
mujhe to ab koi aa kay pehlay sukoon-e qalb o jigar bata day
keh saaz e hasti ki kashmakash to rahay gi peechay bah taa qayamat
Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri took part in the historic struggle for the establishment of Pakistan under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He started working for the Pakistan Movement in his student days and would actively participate in the political activities of the student organizations. He was at the forefront of the struggle for Pakistan during his stay in Hyderabad Deccan and Lakhnow. He played an effective role in the practical efforts undertaken from the platform of the All-India Muslim Students Federation and the All-India Muslim League.
While studying in Lakhnow, Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri came to Lahore to meet Hakeem-ul-Ummat Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal. Allama sahib was seriously ill in 1937 and stopped meeting people. He was told about the arrival of Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri on this occasion. Allama Iqbal met Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri despite his ailment. This meeting continued for one and a half hours.
Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri attended the historic public gathering held at Minar-e-Pakistan on March 23, 1940. He was accompanied by an old friend, Dr Ehsan Sabri Qureshi who states: “Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri came to take me for a historic public meeting on March 23, 1940 in Lahore. We found a place in the third row in the public meeting. We would chant slogans in favour of the Muslim League and the Quaid-i-Azam. Abul Qasim Fazal-e-Haq, Khaleeq-uz-Zaman, Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan and the Quaid-i-Azam would applaud us.”
Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri played a key role in the practical politics of Jhang at the time of 1945 Indian general elections. He worked with Col Abid Hussain on the platform of the All-India Muslim League. He was among the leaders who put his heart and soul into bringing Pakistan into being by taking an active part in the historic elections.
The migration took place at a massive scale after the partition. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim migrants braved hardships and sufferings to come to the newly established state of Pakistan. Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri joined other volunteers to help the migrants. He was among the medical professionals who treated the migrants and provided them with the best medical care.
Tehreek-i-Pakistan Workers trust and Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust awarded a gold medal and an appreciation certificate to Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri in recognition of his exemplary services during the freedom struggle. Dr Hussain Mohiuddin Qadri, his grandson and President MQI, received the gold medal from Dr Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan, on February 3 2022, 48 years after his death. It goes to the credit of Tehreek-i-Pakistan Workers Trust and Nazaria Pakistan Trust that they have been looking for and celebrating the heroes of the freedom struggle who worked under the inspirational leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the final and formative years of Pakistan.
Farid-e-Millat Research Institute located at the central secretariat of Minhaj-ul-Quran International contains thousands of books and rare manuscripts. The personal library of Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri was expanded into the Institute. The books that remained under his personal use can be seen in a corner, named Maktaba al-Faridia.
Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri passed away on November 2, 1974 at the age of 56. He was laid to rest in the central graveyard of Jhang. His death anniversary is observed every year with solemnity.
