Qadi Iyad
Qadi `Iyad said in his book al-Shifa', in the chapter on the nobility of the Prophet's lineage:
" Ibn `Abbas said that the spirit of the Prophet was a light in front of Allah two thousand years before he created Adam. That light glorified Him and the angels glorified by his glorification. When Allah created Adam, he cast that light into his loins. "
Imam Hafiz Suyuti said in Manahil al-Safa (p. 53 #128):
"Ibn Abi `Umar al-`Adani relates it in his Musnad. "
[I have seen this reference myself when I went to saudi arabia last year]
In Takhrij ahadith sharh al-mawaqif (p. 32 #12) Imam Suyuti cites it with the wording:
" The Quraysh were a light in front of Allah. "
IMAM AHMED RAZA AS THE MUJADDID OF THE 14TH CENTURY
IMAM AHMED RAZA AS THE MUJADDID OF THE 14TH CENTURY Undoubtedly, besides being recognised as a great Wali, as the Ghousul Azam and as the Imam Abu Hanifa (alaihir rahmah) of his time, A'la Hadrat (alahir rahmah) was also the Mujaddid (Reviver) of Islam of the 14th Century. He possessed all the conditions of a Mujaddid and his entire life was spent trying to revive the Deen of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). A cloud of darkness had covered most of the world and the false concepts of Polytheism (Shirk) and Innovations (Bid'at) were coming into existence. The Muslims were in a state of confusion. They were surrounded by the cloud of Kufr (Disbelief), Shirk and Bid'at. It is through the Divine Grace of Almighty Allah and the Sadaqah of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) that the Reviver of the 14th Century, Imam-e-Ahle Sunnat, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah) shone like the sun. With his bright proofs, he destroyed the darkness of Kuf...
