His First Fatwa

Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind, Maulana Mustafa Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu's) brilliance as an Islamic Scholar manifested itself when he was a still a youth, but overflowing with knowledge and wisdom. He wrote his first historical Fatawa (Islamic Ruling) when he was only 13 years old. It dealt with the topic of "Raza'at" - affinity between persons breast fed by the same woman. The following has been recorded with regards to this occasion.

Hazrat Maulana Zafrud'deen and Hazrat Maulana Sayed Abdur Rasheed (radi Allahu anhum) were at the Darul Ifta (Fatawa Department) at this stage. One day, Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind (radi Allahu anhu) walked into the Darul Ifta and noticed that Hazrat Maulana Zafrud'deen (radi Allahu anhu) was writing a certain Fatawa. He was taking "Fatawa Razvia" from the shelf as his reference. On seeing this, Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind (radi Allahu anhu) said, "Are you relying on Fatawa Razvia to write an answer?" Maulana Zafrud'deen (radi Allahu anhu) replied, "Alright then, why don't you write the answer without looking." Mufti-e- Azam-e-Hind (radi Allahu anhu) then wrote a powerful answer without any problem. This was the Fatawa concerning "Raza'at" the very first Fatawa which he had written.

The answer was then sent to his father, Sayyiduna A'la Hazrat (radi Allahu anhu) for correction and verification. On seeing the authenticity of the Fatawa, Sayyiduna A'la Hazrat (radi Allahu anhu) became delighted and immediately certified the Fatawa with the following words:

"This is the Statement of such an Aalim, whose
obedience is necessary"

Sayyiduna A'la Hazrat (radi Allahu anhu) then signed the Fatawa. He also commanded Hafiz Yaqeenudeen (radi Allahu anhu) to make a stamp for Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind (radi Allahu anhu) as a gift and said that it should read as follows: "Abul Barkaat Muhiy'yuddeen Jilani Aale Rahmaan urf Mustafa Raza Khan."

This incident took place in 1328 AH. After this incident Mufti-e- Azam-e-Hind, Maulana Mustafa Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu) spent another 12 years writing Fatawas at the feet of A'la Hazrat (radi Allahu anhu). He was given this immense responsibility of issuing Fatawas even while A'la Hazrat (radi Allahu anhu) was in this physical world. He continued this trend until his last breath. The stamp which was given to him was mislaid during his second Hajj when his bags were lost.