Muhammad Hanif Khan

Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan was a military officer who is now regarded by some as a martyr.



Early life
Khan was born at Mahendragarh, in what is now the north Indian state of Haryana. He was the oldest of seven children in a family that belonged to the Rathor tribe, and a descendant of Ghande Rao, who had converted to Islam seven generations previously.

Family
His family belonged to the armed forces. Father Subedar Dost Muhammad Khan served in forces who transferred from First Skinners Horse to Platoon and retired as Subedar (platoon commander). Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan retired as Risaldar – the commander of squadron. He was Risaldar in the First Skinners Horse Regiment. Muhammad Rafique Ahmad Khan was Risaldar in Second Royal Lancers at the time of his retirement. Kabir Ahmad Khan was employed in forces but he left this job to be with his father. Saghir Ahmad Khan was in First Skinners Horse Regiment and he retired as Risaldar after partition in Pakistan. Nasir Ahmed Khan was commanding officer in a cavalry, his regiment was deployed at Singapore at the time of partition. He migrated to Pakistan and retired at the post of sub-commissioned officer. Shabir Ahmad Khan was serving in traffic police before partition.

Parental dignity
His father Subedar Dost Muhammad Khan had an excellent worldly rank and dignity with the high position on religious grounds. He had Owaisi relation with the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who taught him meditation of Islam. His father Doost Muhammad Khan had been deputed for the appointment and transfers of the people on Holy services. He took oath of allegiance on the hands of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi and selected Maulana Maseeh Ullah Khan as his refiner. Sobedar Doost Muhammad Khan is at the top of the list of Majazeen of Maulana Maseeh Ullah Khan in his book ‘Shariat-o-Tareeqat’. He also took oath of allegiance of Hazrat Shah Abdur Rahim Rae Puri.

His mother had also a high dignity in spiritualism. In her prayers she always see ‘Kabah’ and think it to be as a routine as all Muslims visit this in their prayers.

In a nutshell, his parents were so simple despite all their dignities and ranks.

Domestic environment
There was not extravagant discussion in Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan’s house. There was nothing in practice contrary to Islam. All the members of his family were practical Muslims. There were nothing to be the topic of discussion except the names of Allah and Muhammed.

His father goes to his room after the last night prayers and nobody was allowed to enter his room. Early meditation and loudly zikr was his routine. He was like saint, of broader vision, soft speaking, and of balanced temperaments. He had influential position in his town and tribe. He was capable to unite people of different views and was trusted to be the man of principles.

His mother was used to talk to his grandsons and grand daughters until mid night on religious issues. She stops all routine on twelve at night, performs wazu and say her prayers before going to bed. She had learnt by heart the half of the last chapter from the Quran. She recites it and conveys reward of virtue before sleep.

He was named as ‘Bhaia G’ in his family. He was of strict behavior. He never compromised on principles. His personality was a blend of affection towards younger and respect towards his parents. He never made any arguments with his parents and was yes for ever to them. His brother Rafique Ahmad Khan was hard liner. All the members of his family feel threat of him. Kabir Ahmad Khan was reverse of Rafique Ahmad Khan. Everybody enjoy his company and like him.

Family
He had five sons and a daughter.

Teaching and training of children
Hafiz Tanveer Ahmad Khan was well educated. He had good knowledge of religion, Arabic and Persian languages. He got married when he was eighteen years old. His father wanted him to serve for forces, but he got job at a herbal store in Delhi. Afterwards he joined daily ‘Jang’ and was serving there at the time of partition.

The second son Zaheer Ahmad Khan qualified from Electronics College in Delh. Zaheer before partition his was and living at that college hostel. Third son Zubair Ahmad Khan came to his brother Tanveer Ahmad Khan in Delhi after passing his matriculation. He was searching for some job. Fourth son Musheer Ahmad Khan was in tenth class while fifth son Ozair Ahmad Khan was in eighth class.

Education and job
Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan joined forces after passing his middle class. He continued his education and passed his English examination in first grade. He had excellent knowledge of Persian and Arabic languages. He had a good command on the knowledge of Quran, Hadith and their interpretations. He had excellent reading habits. He had been deputed at many places like Peshawar, Landi Kotal, Risalpur, Lakhnau, Noushehra, and Bannu during his services. He served his job as per his own temperaments. His mother told him to recite a ‘Dorood’ in his child age. He continued it on a thread counter. During job timings he had this thread counter in his pocket and used to start counting on it while riding a horse. His officers objected on this act but he seemed to quit this job. His expertise and skills forced his officers to accept this type of his extra-job deeds

Political life
His native town Mahendragarh was a Sikh state. There was political party. In 1942, Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan laid foundation stone of Pakistan Muslim in this town. He became the President with Mirza Abdus Salam Baig as Secretary, and Shams Uddin Sandal as treasurer with some other office bearers. Hindus started Congress in its reaction. He became the greatest enemy of Hindus by starting Muslim League in this town. He paid no heed to their enmity and served the Muslims.

Spiritual distinction
He belonged to a religious family. Religious practices in his life were rooted from his family background. He had a good relation with Maulan Ashraf Ali Thanvi by letters for a long time. He got his spiritual distinction from the buried saitn in Sialkot Imam Ali ul Haq on Owaisia pattern.

Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan was transferred to Sialkot. His friends go for a walk in the evening but he goes to the masjid of Imam Ali ul Haq. After saying his night prayers he sits close to the shrine of Imam Ali ul Haq and recites some Dorood and other things.

One day he was reciting his routine items by closing his eyes. He saw a saint standing in front of him on opening his eyes. He was confused but the saint consoled him and told that he was a good child. He introduced himself to be Imam Ali ul Haq. That saint embraced him and bestowed him the spiritual distinction.



Friendship with Hazrat Khawaja Abdul Hakeem Ansari
Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan came to the army training school Balgam as Viceroy Commission Officer in 1928. Hazrat Khawaja Abdul Hakeem Ansari was deputed for translation project at this school. In October 1928, Hazrat Khawaja Abdul Hakeem Ansari met Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan. They became close friends. Their friendship continued for nineteen years till the Indo-Pak partition in 1947. They separated but Hazrat Khawaja Abdul Hakeem Ansari consulted his grace in abundance for twenty to twenty five years.

General temperaments and habits
Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan had abundance of worldly blessings but he was hard liner attitude in routine life. He was a good debater. Having good knowledge of Arabic and Persian language, he had a good wisdom and opinion on religious issues of routine life. He was regarded as a saint at job. Many well known theologians, Sufis, and religious leaders belonging from remote areas visit him as disciples. Where ever he lived, people searched and visited him for prayers in their hardships. He was straight forward person. He never hides the truth from his visitors and always told him what was being done by his prayers and what was not being resolved. He had a unique pray style. It looked like an order, instruction, or command rather than a request towards heavens. He was often very harsh. No one was in position to predict how his next moment will be or his reaction will be. He ordered many to get lost from his company, he physically pushed many back out of his place, and he even slapped some people in his company. He was hardly used to accept un-willing deeds and acts in his company. He often claimed that Islam is the religion of bold people. If we are bold it is one attribute of Islam. We – the Rao sought it from Islam.

Story of martyrdom
In 1947, there was a great violence in this region of Indo-Pak. Cross border migration and mass killing was at its apex. He had all the worldly resources to quit for Pakistan with all his family members and their belongings. Many well wishers requested him for migration but he refused by saying that his martyrdom das been decided by Allah on the land of India. He insisted and reacted boldly to all the adverse situations. But finally, he was forced to migrate by a political deal of his friends. He started his journey to Pakistan but his train was stopped on the next station that was preplanned by the intriguers. Someone called his name loudly from the plate form. He looked out from the train. A bullet was fired on him that passed his chest. He fell down on the plate form. Hindus and Sikhs armed with axes and spears started assaulting hm. His wife, two sons and a daughter fell on him and were martyred with him except his small baby girl who was badly injured and sense less between dead bodies.

Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan breathed his last on the soil of India as per his claim to be martyred in India as per decided by the Allah.

Forty members of his family died in the riots of 1947, including his father, mother, wife, two sons, two brothers and some other close relatives. His wife and two sons killed at the spot with him on first attack.