Article by Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari:
Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah
I hope and pray that this email finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the hereafter, Ameen.
You must have been aware that the Muslims of UK were once again blessed with the blessed company and inspiring darses of Sayyid Habib Ali al-Jifri and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad (may Allah preserve them both). Three events were organised by Q-News in conjunction with some other organisations and al-Hamdulillah, all three proved to be immensely beneficial.
The weekend was particularly amazing for me on a personal level. For the first time, I had the opportunity to spend some quality time in the blessed company of our beloved Sayyid Habib Ali al-Jifri (may Allah increase him). On Saturday evening (after the event in Leeds, Yorkshire), a meeting was held for the Ulama and responsible people within the Muslim community in the city of Bradford. Habib Ali, Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad and the other guests spoke about the importance of creating unity amongst the Muslims and kicking out racism from within us. They encouraged Muslims to avoid restricting Islam to cultural practices and to be more tolerant with diverse Muslim communities. They also emphasised the importance of accepting new converts to Islam in a wholehearted manner. The evening ended with Shaykh Ba Shu?ayb reciting some lines from the Burda and dinner. Sidi Fuad Nahdi ensured that I met Habib Ali and he introduced me to him. I was amazed that Habib Ali remembered me from my recent visit to Tarim.
On Sunday morning at around 10 am, I arrived at the house where Habib Ali was staying at. He had spent the night in the house of one of his acquaintances in Rochdale (a small town on the outskirts of Manchester). After breakfast, we all made our way to visit the historic Islamic institution of learning in the UK, Darul Uloom in Bury. The drive was only around 15 minutes long. I was fortunate to sit right next to Habib Ali and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad in the space cruiser. The students and some of the teachers of the Dar were anticipating the arrival of Habib Ali and the other guests. The guests were received by Shaykh Mufti Shabbir Ahmad, the Mufti and Hadith lecturer of Darul Uloom, and other teachers. Upon arrival, Habib Ali and the other guests first made their way to the prayer hall and offered Zuhr and Asr prayers (by combing them). They then went on a tour of the Dar. I had informed Habib Ali earlier that Darul Uloom was founded by the great Muhaddith, Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Kandahlawi (Allah have mercy on him) and his student, Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf Mutala (may Allah preserve him). Habib Ali met with the teachers and students of the Dar, toured the various classrooms and the main prayer hall. Upon learning that regular classes were held in the main prayer hall, Habib Ali said to Shaykh Shabbir Ahmad that this was how the Salaf studied sacred sciences, by holding Halaqas within the Masjid. He was particularly moved when he entered the classroom where the six books of Hadith were taught with Ijazah and Isnad. He had tears in his eyes and recited the Fatiha and made Dua in this blessed place. He was also fascinated when he visited the main library of the Dar. Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad was also quite intrigued by the amount of books that the library held. Habib Ali was looking through the books in the Tasawwuf section, and thereafter (in the Fiqh section) he opened a volume of Ibn Qudama?s al-Mugni where the author discusses the recommendation of visiting the grave of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) and asking for his intermediary (tawassul). He read out the passage and then said: ?The Saudi Ulama claim to follow Hanbali Fiqh and here is a passage from one of the most important Hanbali books permitting Tawassul!? The guests were offered Zamzam water and dates of Madina al-Munawwara. Thereafter, Habib Ali and the guests made farewell to the students and teachers of Darul Uloom Bury and left. Upon leaving, Habib Ali asked me about the actual building where Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Kandahlawi (Allah have mercy on him) had stayed when he visited the Dar in the late seventies. I pointed out to the actual building and Habib Ali said if there had been more time, he would have loved to visit the area. Subhan Allah!
After visiting Darul Uloom, the Shaykh (along with the other guests) made his way to the nearby town of Blackburn, where he was scheduled to have lunch with the principal and patron of Darul Uloom, Shaykh Mawlana Muhammad Yusuf Mutala (may Allah preserve him). We all entered the house of Shaykh Yusuf who received the guests in an extremely warm manner. The food was already prepared and we all sat down to have lunch. Habib Ali requested Shaykh Yusuf to honour him with permission in transmitting the Hadith of Al-Musalsal bi al-Awwaliyya. This is a Hadith wherein there is continuity in the fact that each narrator had heard this Hadith first from his Shaykh before learning or hearing any other Hadith. Shaykh Yusuf out of humility and humbleness tried changing the subject and said: ?Please start eating?. Sayyid Habib Ali said: ?We will not start eating until you give us permission? hence Shaykh Yusuf recited the following Hadith:
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: ?Those who are merciful have mercy shown to them by the All-Merciful One (Ar-Rah?m). Show mercy to those who are on earth, then He Who is in heaven will show mercy unto you.? (Recorded by Abu Dawud & Tirmidhi). Shaykh Yusuf said that I give you permission with this continuing chain to transmit the Hadith, upon which Habib Ali said: ?I accept?.
Zamzam water and dates were provided and Shaykh Yusuf was pouring Zamzam and giving each of the guests a glass with his own hands. Thereafter, we all began to eat. Habib Ali and Shaykh Yusuf were having an extremely light-hearted conversation. Shaykh Yusuf apologized for not doing much in terms of feeding the guests. He said when Sayyid Muhammad Alawi Maliki (Allah have mercy on him) would come to visit Shaykh Zakariyya Kandahlawi (Allah have mercy on him), the latter would go to extremes in terms of providing with all kinds of foods and drinks. Sidi Fuad Nahdi requested Shaykh Yusuf to give them some Nasiha concerning Da?wa work in this country. Shaykh Yusuf advised that one should avoid discussing topics that create disunity and outrage amongst Muslims. He also advised to have patience (sabr) in the path of Da?wa. The meal ended with the guests being offered traditional Arabic mint tea.
After food, we all went into the next room. Habib Ali spoke to Shaykh Yusuf about the connection Shaykh Abu Bakr Salim had with Shaykh Yusuf Kandahlawi (Allah have mercy on them both). They also discussed some other matters. Thereafter, Habib Ali requested Shaykh Ba Shu?ayb to sing a Nashid in praise of the beloved and pious servants of Allah. After recitation, Habib Ali requested Shaykh Yusuf to make a Dua and thus with that the session came to an end. Both Shaykh Yusuf and Habib Ali (may Allah preserve them both) exchanged gifts, embraced and parted. We left the house of Shaykh Yusuf and this amazing meeting of great lovers of the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) came to an end.
We made our way to Salford (Manchester) university where Habib Ali and the guests were scheduled to talk. I once again made the most out of this opportunity of sitting in the company of Habib Ali and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad in the cruiser. I discussed some personal and other general matters with both of them until we reached Salford University. We all entered the University for the Evening Event that was advertised as ?The Radical Middle Way?.
The day was one of the best in my life. I was honoured to sit in the blessed company of great Shuyukh and learn from them. May Allah always bless us with the companionship of His righteous servants, Ameen.
Barak Allah feekum
Wassalam
(Mufti) Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
Darul Iftaa, Leicester, UK
www.daruliftaa.com
