Indo Islamic Heritage
Khanqah-e-Tajush Shariah, also known as Dargah Tajush Shariah, is a revered Sufi shrine and khanqah in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, serving as the spiritual center and tomb of Allama Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan Qadri Azhari (1943–2018), the 21st-century Grand Mufti of India and a prominent Barelvi scholar. It functions as a mosque and place of worship within the Qadiriyya-Barkatiyya-Razviyya Sufi order, drawing devotees for prayers, scholarly gatherings, and annual Urs celebrations commemorating the saint's legacy in Islamic jurisprudence and Sufism.
Khanqah-e-Tajush Shariah stands as a vital Islamic site in the historic city of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, embodying the enduring Barelvi tradition of Sunni Sufism. Established as the personal khanqah and residence of Allama Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan Qadri Azhari—affectionately known as Tajush Shariah or Azhari Miyan—this shrine-mosque complex honors the great-grandson of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, the founder of the Barelvi movement. Akhtar Raza Khan, who succeeded his grandfather Mustafa Raza Khan as Grand Mufti of India in 1982, was a prolific scholar, author of fatwa collections like Majmu'ah Fatawa and Azharul Fatawa, and a global influencer ranked among the 500 Most Influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. He passed away on July 20, 2018, after serving as Chief Justice of Islamic Courts in India from 2006, and his janaza prayer drew over a million attendees. The khanqah, located near the iconic Bareilly Sharif Dargah (Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat), was developed during Akhtar Raza Khan's lifetime as a hub for religious education, spiritual training, and community worship. It houses a mosque where daily congregational prayers (namaz) are held, alongside spaces for madrasa-style learning in Hadith, Tafsir, and Fiqh, continuing the legacy of institutions like Jami'atur Raza, which he founded in 2000. The shrine's architecture reflects traditional Indo-Islamic design, with a focus on simplicity and spiritual serenity, serving as a beacon for millions of followers worldwide who revere it for issuing fatwas, hosting Urs-e-Tajush Shariah annually since 2019, and promoting anti-terrorism stances, including a 2015 fatwa against groups like ISIS signed by 70,000 muftis. As a local yet profoundly influential site, the khanqah fosters the Qadiriyya order's emphasis on devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and veneration of saints, attracting pilgrims for zikr sessions, Qul Sharif recitations, and scholarly discourses. Its role in preserving Barelvi scholarship underscores Bareilly's status as a center of Sunni orthodoxy in India.
Year of Built: 1943
Address: 9C65+Q7Q, Bhoor, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243003
Country: India
State: Uttar Pradesh
District: Bareilly
Pincode: 243003
Longitude: 79.4300° E
Latitude: 28.3670° N