HAZRAT SYED ALI YADULLAHI
Excerpt from the writings of Afzal-ul-Ulema Hazrat Syed Najmuddin:

Hazrat Miyan Syed Ali Yadullahi alias Makki Baday Miyan was born in 1156AH (1743 AD). He made fealty to Hazrat Syed Qasim Sahib Miyan of Kurnool, in Andhra Pradesh. His later mystic association (ilaqa) is with Hazrat Roshan Miyan of Erode in Tamil Nadu.

He was about eleven years old when his father, Hazrat Syed Sharif died. In the initial stages, he was taught by his father.

Hazrat Syed Sharif alias Abji Miyan had handed over his Daira at Kurnool to his brother Hazrat Miyan Syed Dawood, who also became his successor. He advised his son, Hazrat Syed Ali, to go to Hazrat Syed Qasim and be in his company to learn the religious, mystic and divine precepts and practices. Hazrat Syed Qasim was the cousin of Hazrat Syed Sharif.

After the death of Hazrat Syed Sharif, Hazrat Syed Ali alias Makki Baday Miyan came to Cuddapa in Andhra Pradesh. Hazrat Syed Qasim too migrated to Cuddappa from Arcot after the death of his father Hazrat Syed Manjhu and uncle Hazrat Syed Yahiya. Here Hazrat Syed Ali became the disciple of Hazrat Syed Qasim and started his education.

Since Hazrat Syed Ali was the scion of a noble family, Nawab Abdul Haleem Khan, the ruler of Cuddapa, paid a monthly stipend of Rs. 60/-, a princely sum of money in those days. This continued till the completion of his education in twelve years during which he became a master of all religious branches of knowledge. He renounced the world (tark-e-dunya). and took the oath of fealty as tark-e-dunya at the age of about twenty three years on the hands of Hazrat Syed Qasim and continued to remain in the latter's company. It was during this period that be memorised the Holy Quran. He had great mystic achievements to his credit. He was affable and of a pleasant temperament. He was of medium height, fair and very handsome.

Hazrat Syed Ali's father, Hazrat Syed Sharif had his Daira at Zahrapur in Kurnool. Hazrat Syed Sharif had handed it over to his younger brother Hazrat Syed Dawood, who, on his death bed. told his son-in-law Hazrat Roshan Miyan that he had bequeathed the Zahrapur Daira to Hazrat Syed Ali alias Makki Baday Miyan. On hearing the news of the death of Hazrat Syed Dawood, Hazrat Syed Ali offered the Zahrapur Daira in the name of Allah to his guide (murshid) Hazrat Syed Qasim, who moved from Cuddapa to Kurnool and settled there. Hazrat Roshan Miyan handed over the Zahrapur Daira to him in accordance with the will and last testament of Hazrat Syed Dawood. Since Hazrat Syed Qasim had no male children, Hazrat Syed Ali became the successor and guide (murshid) of Zahrapur Daira after the death of Hazrat Syed Qasim on 29th Shaban, 1190 AH (15th October, 1772) at the age of 75.

Hazrat Syed Ali, after making necessary preparations spread over many years, left for Makkah and Madina for Haj pilgrimage and spent a long time there. During his stay in the two holy cities, he preached the Mahdavi faith and beliefs. At Makkah be wrote the book Al-Qaul Al-Mahmood fil Mahdi Al-Mauood and sent a copy of it to Amir Ghalib Sharif of Makkah with a covering letter.

On receiving the book, Amir Ghaiib Sharif came to Kaa'ba, where Hazrat Syed All was staying in seclusion (aitekaf). He bad a battery of ulema (religious scholars) with him. During the conversation the Amir of Makkah said: "if your belief had not included tark-e-dunya (renunciation), all the people of Makkah would have pledged fealty to you". Hazrat Syed Ali said "it was easy for the bandagan-e-khuda (servants of Allah) to renounce the world because Allah says: "Qul Mata'ud dunya qaleel (Say: worldly belongings are meagre).

The Amir of Makkah invited Hazrat Syed Ali to breakfast the next morning. Hazrat Syed Ali said he did not visit the houses of the worldly people. This politely rejected offer bad astonished the Amir. After a short pause, the Amir told his companions that if they did not take care of the respected elderly personality, who bad put his trust in Allah, it would not astonish him that the Shaikh might cause a calamity to the city. The next day the Amir sent a large quantity of food and fruits to Hazrat Syed Ali, who distributed it all among the fuqara (the indigent).

Hazrat Syed Ali stayed in Makkah for a longtime, so much so that Makki (of Makkah) became apart of his name. After performing Haj, he went to Madina and preached the Mahdavi faith and beliefs there. No alim (Islamic scholar) could overcome Hazrat Syed Ail in debate. Finally, they asked for a miracle. They said: "If your beliefs and faith are true, you touch the lock of the mausoleum of the Prophet (PBUH), and the lock should open without a key and fall down.

Hazrat Syed Ali said be would reply the next day. During the intervening night be wept, cried and prayed to Allah. Obviously, he got the permission from the Prophet (PBUH) to perform the miracle. He told the ulema the next day that be was prepared to work the miracle. The ulema were astonished. Consulting among therself, they said: "if the Shaikh's miracle works, we would have to accept his beliefs and faith. They, then, backed out.

Hazrat Syed Ali died at the age of 63 on 19th Jamadi-II, 1219 AH (26th September, 1S04 AD), after his return from Makkah to Kurnool where be was laid to eternal rest.

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