Fragments of the life of Sheikh ‘Uthman Siraj ud-Din Al-Awal Al-Naqshbandi

He is ‘Uthman (pronounced as Osman in other cultures) ibn Khalid ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Sayyid Muhammad ibn Sayyid Darawish ibn Sayyid Mashraf ibn Sayyid Jummah ibn Sayyid Zahir. Sayyid Zahir is one of the blessed Sayyids, he is the son of the master of martyrs Al-Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib may Allah be pleased and content with them. They are from tree of the Prophethood from Fatimah Az-Zahrah, may Allah be pleased with her, which grew, flourished and blossomed into fruit whose roots are firm and branches are in the sky; lofty, extended and enlightened. ‘Uthman Siraj ud-din lived in the village called Quryah Tawilah known for the loyalty of its people, the smell of their fragrances and cleanness of its water.

The mother of Sheikh ‘Uthman is Hamilah bint Abu Bakr. From her name is an indication that we know a deep faith of a family of Islam; they are known by desired Islamic names. Abu Bakr’s lineage arrives to the jurist Ahmed ‘Ghazai’ Al-Baghdadi which (itself) arrives to Al-Hassan Al-Mujtaba ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them). The lineage of Siraj ud-din arrives to the noble Prophet may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him, his family and his companions. These pure tributaries (Euphrates and Tigris) flowed into one spring but the perfection of the deportment did not make the lineages one rather with certainty did it grow by action and sincerity, quicker that the lineage.

The jurist Uthman began to seek the designation of jurists by seeking sacred knowledge, this was beloved term given by his spiritual guide our master Sheikh Khalid Al-Naqshbandi (may Allah sanctify his secret). His life was habitual reciting (the Quran) for which he was renowned and exceptional, and memorising the noble Quran and the religious knowledges. He journeyed to the plantation of Khawamal (Iraq) and the Kharabani School which he frequented with students from all directions. The signs of his righteousness, virtue, abstinence, exertion during his lessons.

He journeyed to Baghdad by the way of Sulimaniyyah (city) for the religious schools and the safety of the princes of Baban (Iraq). He studied in the province of Al-Kaylaniyyah with intense application. There he met the great spiritual guide our master Sheikh Khalid Al-Naqshbandi (may Allah sanctify his secret) and took the spiritual path upon his hand. He returned to Tawiliyah where the soul of his homeland was waiting for rain and relieve from thirst for this renewing high lofty path impatiently. According to the rules of Adamic nature the sprits are warriors, so if they know each other are harmonious. Siraj ud-din became the first candle for our master Al-Wahaj in his area in the year 1226 and was given permission to guide in 1228. After the migration of his spiritual master to Syria Siraj ud-din became responsible to guide, be firm and establish his deputies. He became the focus for the seekers and his associates he established guidance, faithfully for more than forty years in the Tawiliyah and Sulimaniyyah.

Our highness Sheikh Muhammad Uthman Siraj ud-din Al-Naqshbandi the second (may Allah sanctify his soul), transmitter of secrets, said, “His highness our master Khalid (may Allah sanctify his soul) said, “I bore separation and calamity then arrived to various ranks then it was taken from me by Uthman Al-Tawilyy.” He also said, “I planted and Uthman Al-Tawilyy sowed.”

After Sheikh Uthman Siraj ud-din the first farmed the Naqshbandi Al-Khalidi Al-Mujaddadi path in Kurdistan. His fame spread throughout the Ottoman and Iranian empire in that time. He (may Allah sanctify his secret) was the exemplar worshipper, abstainer, seeker, compiling to the sacred law. He was a believer that the Khalidiyyah path would not burden people rather it became stifling for food for the seekers. He honoured wayfarers, held seclusion session for seekers, taught students of knowledge, jurisprudence, ways to correct the soul, purify the soul, to reject the ties of the material and become a model to be imitated.

His eminence Sheikh Uthman Siraj ud-din the first passed into the mercy and pleasure of Allah on Tuesday night on the sixth of Shawwal in the Islamic year 1283. He was eighty eight years old and he was buried in a garden before his house in Tawilyah.

This translation was completed on the night of the 28th Ramadan 1432/28th August 2011 by Arfan shah (sheikhy notes). All praise is rightfully due to the creator of the universe and may salutations be upon all the Messengers and Prophets especially the final Messenger.