Who was Mujaddid Alf Thani, and what did his letters achieve?

The letters of Mujaddid Alf Thani rahimahullah are the source of guidance till eternity. Mujaddid Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi rahimahullah (1564–1624) was a great scholar, known as Mujaddid, or "reviver". Imam al-Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Thani rahimahullah, as the book also names him, is among the great Sufis who spent their lives to reform the society.

It was the time of great trial, as the Mughal king Akbar created a religion called din e ilahi, based on Jainism, Hinduism, Christianity and many other ideologies, proclaimed himself to be the god and demanded everyone to prostrate before him. Muslim scholars were not allowed to express their views against the newly created religion, and most were tortured to death. Innovations were made in the tenets of faith and belief, and many Islamic practices such as Salah, fasting and slaughtering the cow were forbidden.

During that time, the letters Mujaddid Alf Thani rahimahullah wrote to his disciples became a movement and brought the much-needed revolution. It was a revolution where, instead of swords, it was the power of his knowledge that brought the change.

His letters to his disciples, enlightened by the Divine light, became a non-military gazette and brought the change from within the society. It is said that these letters have addressed the forthcoming trials, or fitnas, and provided solutions to the next generation of Muslims.

The letters, originally written in Persian, are considered the alchemy of Tasawwuf, and in them the concepts of spirituality are elaborated with an intention of purification of hearts and souls. His Maktoobat, or Letters, are among the classic works in which the causes and remedies for the forbidden inner states are discussed.

He culminated the false notion of the pretentious Sufis who claimed to be above the Shariah law, as he repeatedly emphasised that the only way to achieve the Divine love is through the Qur'an and Sunnah. Hence, Tasawwuf is about following the Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ, and his life was not of seclusion.