An introduction to Abu Attar رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه

Mawlana Ilyas al-Qadiri’s father was Haji ʿAbd al-Raḥmān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, a righteous man who adhered to Islamic law and followed the Sunna. His gaze was lowered most of the time, he knew many hadith by heart, and had no greed to amass worldly wealth. He was also a murīd in the Qadiri spiritual order.^[1]

His time in Sri Lanka

Haji ʿAbd al-Raḥmān رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه spent a long time living in Colombo (Sri Lanka), overseeing the managerial affairs of Hanafi Memon Masjid. When Mawlana Ilyas al-Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ went there in 1979, he found residents of the area were great admirers of his father.^[2]

Passing away during Hajj

When Mawlana Ilyas al-Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ was very young, his father left for ḥajj in 1370 AH. Severe hot winds blew in Mina that year, leading to many pilgrims passing away. One of them was Haji ʿAbd al-Raḥmān رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه. He fell ill for a few days before passing away on the 14^th of Dhū al-Ḥijja 1370 AH. اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ واِنّا اِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْن

Dear Islamic brothers! Haji ʿAbd al-Raḥmān was exceedingly blessed to pass away during ḥajj. A hadith mentions those who leave for ḥajj and pass away, have the reward of ḥajj written for them until the Day of Judgement.^[3]

Another hadith explains, “Whoever travels in this path (on ḥajj or ʿumrah) and passes away shall not be questioned or held to account. Instead, it will be said to him, ‘Enter Paradise.’”^[4]