Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi (1856 CE/1272 AH – 1921 CE/1340 AH) is the grand guru and founding father of one of the largest Sufi movements in the Indian subcontinent, who identify themselves as traditional Sunnis (‘Ahle Sunnat’). Fondly referred to as ‘Aala Hazrat’ (The Most Honourable) by his devotees, he was born in Bareilly, North-Western Provinces, British India. Today, his final resting place has transformed into a ‘sacred’ shrine adorned with a mausoleum.
The Sufi extremists, like the Barelvis, adopt numerous Rafidi-esque beliefs, often chanting Rafidi supplications and using similar lingo centered around excessive veneration of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
If you were to ask any idol worshipper (excluding Hindus familiar with Barelvism) the question, “According to Islam and Muslims, who is Mushkil Kusha/Gusha (the one who removes all difficulties when called upon)?” Even the simplest idolater would assume that none but Allah is Mushkil Kusha/Gusha according to Islam and Muslims.
However, the grave and saint worshippers hold the belief that Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) is the one who fulfills all wishes and removes all difficulties, distress, and calamities whenever he is invoked.
In Persian, Ahmad Raza Khan directly addresses his invocations to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), saying:
مُرتَضیٰ شِیرِ خُدا مَرحَب کُشا خَیبَر گُشا
سَرْوَرا لَشکَر کُشا مشکل گُشا امداد کُن
(حدائقِ بخشش, احمد رضا خان)
O Murtada (Ali)! O the Lion of Allah! O the one who knocked down Marhab! O the victorious of Khaybar!
O my master! O the one defeating the enemy’s battalion alone! O the Saviour (‘Mushkil Kusha/Gusha’, the one who removes all difficulties when called upon)! Help me (madad)!
(Hadaiq-E-Bakhshish by Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi)
Note: Mushkil Kusha (or Moshkel Gosha, مشكل گشا) is Persian-Sufi-Rafidi lingo, and it translates literally to "the remover of difficulties." Instead of attributing this to Allah, the Quburis claim that Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) is the one who helps in all troubles when called upon.
Moreover, he states:
“What do the learned scholars and intelligent Muftis state regarding this matter, that is it permissible or not to say ‘O Messenger of Allah’, ‘O Saint of Allah’? And is it permissible or not to seek assistance [madad] from the Prophets and Saints, and to say at the time of calamity, ‘Ya Mushkil Kusha Alī’ [O Remover of Difficulties, Ali]? Please answer along with your signature, so that I may clearly explain to people. Also, wherever Arabic verses and Ahadith are mentioned, please write their translation in the Urdu tongue. Please clarify and be rewarded.
Answer: It is permissible when one considers them the servant of Allah and a means [wasilah] in His Court, and one considers this to be with Divine permission, and that they are from those who manage the affairs of the world by the command of Allah…”
“…it was common among the Imams, scholars and the pious of every generation and era, from the time of Prophet to calling upon the Beloveds of Allah in times of calamities.” (Ahkam e Shariat by Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi, 1/30-32)
‘Sham-e-Shabastan-e-Raza’ (شمع شبستان رضا), translated as ‘the candle of Raza’s garden,’ is a Sufi Barelvi book that serves as an encyclopedia of ‘spiritual remedies’. Its contents include enchantments, shirki prayers/invocations to various saints, and diabolic batini (esoteric) talismans (!), along with horoscopes and numerology (occult meanings of numbers), and other forms of Astrology and fortune-telling based on the works of Sufi ‘scholars,’ particularly Ahmad Raza Khan.
Within this demonic Sufi (Barelvi) book, you will find an astonishing fifteen (!) so-called merits and benefits (!) of the fabricated Rafidi ‘Nadi ‘Ali’ prayer, a practice of shirk falsely attributed to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (may Allah have mercy upon him) without any substantiating evidence.
Barelvi and various other Sufi groups wholeheartedly adopt and chant the Rafidi fabrication, ‘Nadi ‘Ali,’ going to the extent of emulating and mirroring the practices of the Rafidis.
Observe the mere secondary role (if any) that Allah plays in those polytheistic prayers, inspired by Satan; At best, it’s just lip service to Allah, the Exalted, so that the priests and rabbis of the grave worshippers can claim: ‘But see, we mention Allah (alongside the saints repeatedly)! It’s all done with Allah’s permission.’ A permission Allah has never given! 
The heretical beliefs of Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi stand in clear opposition to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Muslims in times of hardship or difficulty should turn to Allah and make dua (supplication) to him as dua is one of the best deeds which Allah may accept.
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you. (Qur’an 40:60)
The Qur’an unequivocally reminds us that in times of distress, there is none better to call upon than Allah alone. It makes no mention of calling on the Prophet () in such situations let alone anyone else (be it Ali ibn Abi Talib or Abdul-Qadir al-Jilani) as falsely claimed by the extremist tomb and saint worshippers.
أَمَّن يُجِيبُ ٱلْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌۭ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Is not He Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him; and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations? Is there any god with Allah? Little is that you remember!” (Qur’an 27:62)
Al-Tabarani narrates with his Isnad (chain of the narrators):
During the days of the Prophet (ﷺ) there was a hypocrite who used to harm the believers, some of them (the believers) said, “Come (support) with us while we appeal to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) for assistance against this hypocrite.” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “Verily, no one should seek to me for assistance. Indeed, it is Allah Who is to be sought for assistance and help.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) also taught us to say:
اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَا أَنْتَ
“O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for a blink of an eye. Correct all of my affairs for me. There is none worthy of worship except You.”
This dua is one of the supplications of the distressed. The Prophet (ﷺ) advised his daughter, Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) to say it in the morning and evening.
The great Imam Ibn al-Qayyim said, “Dua (supplication) is one of the most beneficial remedies. It is the enemy of calamity; it repels it, cures it, prevents its occurrence, and alleviates it or reduces it if it befalls [one]. It is the weapon of the believer.”
Barelvism, in essence, is described by true scholars of Islam (actual Sunnis, Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Athar) as a South Asian abomination of Islam that revolves around Sufi mysticism and incorporates aspects of Hinduism, Shi’ism, and other heresies. It essentially takes the form of a Folk-lore religion as is evident for every non-biased observer.
Not everyone from a Barelvi background necessarily holds extreme beliefs of kufr and shirk; therefore, caution is advised, and the pronouncement of takfir should be left to the scholars. In fact, many Barelvi laypeople are unaware of the heresies propagated by their founding father, as they have been kept in the dark by his successors, the ‘Pirs’ (spiritual guides) who immerse them in superstitions, falsely attributing them to Islam.
May Allah guide them and all Muslims to the right path.
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