Response to Disinformation & Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai (HA)

Asslamo Allaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,

2 years ago I had the opportunity to meet and spend some time with Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA). We arrived a few minutes before Asar Salah and were unable to spot Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) amongst the number of people already seated in the Masjid so we made a guess of someone who looked like a well known (global) Mufti (in our estimation) .

We were wrong!

Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) was engaged in Salah before Fardh and he was indistinguishable from anyone else in the Masjid and dressed in a simple white Thaub.

I purposely sat next to Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) and took notes of every posture of his Salah (to be discussed some other time).

Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) knew about us and greeted us and then led the Salah of Asar followed by a small talk.

Thereafter Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) invited and insisted on us sitting next to him and gave us his undivided attention for nearly an hour. During this time he attentively listened to our plans for www.central-mosque.com (our Ameer Saheb was there) and gave valuable suggestions. At the end of the conversation Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) came out of the Masjid (bare feet) to see us off.

While walking (bare feet) a brother requested to ask a question and with permission granted responded in detail to the point where we felt embarrassed because he was standing (bare feet) but he didn’t leave us until we were satisfied.

The humility and the generosity of Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) left us truly humbled.

The characteristics and eye witness account of Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) leaves me in doubt that Hazrat (HA) has looked at this question and assumed it to be correct (and true) when there are several factual errors in this question and it is ambigous.

Many other questions put to Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) from laymen have also not been answered on the subject.

In compliance to the wishes of Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) of laymen leaving the matter alone a Mufti did contact  2-3 students of Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) via email and did try to discuss the matter but it has been almost 2 years and no discussion has taken place. Emails remain unanswered.

Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) has sensibly answered the matter but the only complain is with his Admin staff in not allowing a balanced (and correct) view of the problem!

Since responses by Hazrat on this matter are carefully selected, 4 undisputed facts should be reported to Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) and every Deobandi reading this blog. This is the treatment to Ulamah who simply disagree with following Saudi Arabia

1. Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Saeed Ahmed Palunpuri (DB) of Darul-uloom Deoband was labelled to be doing the work of Shaytaan and Dajjaal!
2. Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Saeed Ahmed Palunpuri (DB) of Darul-uloom Deoband was so hurt and dissappinted that he left his Aitekaaf from the Masjid!
3. Shaykh (Maulana) Abdul-Awwal (HA) was mocked, ridiculed and teased in his local city view inline in front of his sons, students and Musallees
4. Shaykh (Mufti) Yusuf Sacha Saheb (HA) has been removed from his job of teaching the Deen.

No such incident has EVER occured in UK with any of the Hizbul-Ulamah (Pro-Saudi moonsighting) laymen or Ulamah.

The reason this had to be blogged is to set the record straight for all those (outside of UK) who don’t know the reality and think that there is some kind of Feud between Ulamah & laymen when there isn’t.

It is correct that there is a difference of agreement on the matter and Ulamah are welcome to approach other Ulamah and discuss the matter for laymen to make up their mind. It is absolutely essential that people (outside of UK) actually know what treatement has been meted out to Senior Ulamah & Mashaykh like Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Saeed Ahmed Palunpuri (DB) of Darul-uloom Deoband!

Wifaqul-Ulamah is run under the Mushwarah and guidance of Shaykh Maulana Muhammad Hasan Bodhanvi (HA) who is the student of Shaykhul-Islam Hussain Ahmed Madani (HA) and under him there are several other well known Ulamah and Mashaykh of Britain whose names can also be produced such as Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Ayub Surati (HA) who has Khilafah from both Shaykh (Hakeem) Akhtar Saheb  (RA) & Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed Naqshbandi (HA) and the (Senior) Shaykh (Mufti) Mufti Ismail Kacholwi (HA) who as those aware of the history of our Akabir would know was personally endorsed by none other than Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Zakariyya Kandhalwi (RA) for giving Fatwa and this can be confirmed by Khulafa of Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Zakariyya Kandhalwi (RA).

We don't know anyone else in UK who is a student Shaykhul-Islam Hussain Ahmed Madani (HA) and of such Academic & Tassawuf pedigree so the name of the Ameer should suffice for people who want to mention names of our Akabir and Mashaykh for shock & awe value.

For those waiting to comment please read carefully before commenting I have neither disrespected Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) nor any other Ulamah, I have merely called for a balanced picture of the British situation. Am I angry? Yes, wouldn’t you be if the Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Saeed Ahmed Palunpuri (DB) is forced to BREAK his Ramadhan Aitekaaf and leaves the Masjid??? Wouldn’t you be a Senior Maulana is jokes and made fun in front of his son, his students and his Musallees??? wouldn’t you be if a Senior Mufti is SACKED from his job for merely disagreeing??

I have STILL NOT disrespected anyone but all I want is for people to get the true picture as to who is hounding who!

Lastly, I am neither a member of Wifaqul-Ulamah nor represent their views in anyway and this is a “personal blog” expressing personal views and others have the right to disagree.

Addendum:

Hadhrat (Shaykh) Maulana Yaqoub Miftahi (DB) is one of our Akabir in UK and the person behind Hizbul-Ulamah who promotes the Pro-Saudi moon sighting position primarily. This is what Hazrat (DB) wrote  in his book entitled, “Shar’ee Thuboot e Hilal,Taariqh e Falakiyaat, wa Jadeed Tahqeeq” about Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Saeed Ahmed Palunpuri (DB) of Darul-uloom Deoband from pages 52-63

Translation of Pages 52-63

Proof of the Crescent & an unfortunate incident:

We deem it necessary to describe this incident because due to aforementioned prevailing circumstances (…previously written, see text in the book…) people are active in spreading propaganda (in the name of Ulama & Darul-Iftaa's) and spinning reality (verbally and in writing) and busy in brainwashing. Considering the circumstances we reluctantly describe this incident.

Maulana Saeed Ahmed Palunpuri (Teacher, Darul-uloom Deoband) has been coming to the UK and spending his Ramadhan in one of the Mosques in UK for a number of years and whenever he was questioned about the "Proof of crescent" like other Ulama, he would reply, "It is necessary to stay in Britain for a full year to understand the Masail (issues), since we only come here for 4-5 weeks it is difficult to issue an opinion"

However after years, in 1428 a despicable attempt was made to break the "Shariah-based" unity of British Muslims and several pages from Maulana's book "Tahfatul-Alma'ae" were distributed which not only resulted in advertisement for the book but also became a "subpoena" and a grave accusation for Markazi Royat-e-Hilal Committee Britain, Hizbul-Ulama UK, Jamiatul-Ulama UK, and not only for other British organisations but also for Darul-iftaa Darul-Uloom Deoband, Mazahirul-Uloom and other Darul-Iftaa's of the subcontinent, Darul-Iftaa Riyadh and other Ulama and Muftees, Wizaratul-Auqaaf Saudia and Saudi Qadha'a-Aala (Supreme Court) and other prestigious Ulama.

British Muslims haven't forgotten that they had taken a sigh of relief over this the "Shariah-based" unity and they were congratulated by Darul-iftaa Darul-Uloom Deoband and its other Muftees. However chaos was caused in the last ten days of Ramadhan in the Masjid where Maulana (when the Masjid Administrators didn't accept his views) on the night of Eid "secretly and without informing" left the Masjid and went to another Masjid who were still fasting according to the announcement in South Africa. The later Masjid is the centre and bastion of the movement to accept moon sighting from South-Africa and their Imam (and connected individuals) are busy in trying to justify their favourite and self-conceived opinion by raising questions and doubts upon the respected Muftees.

The next day and the day after, Maulana spewed forth venom and poison which quickly spread across Britain and according to our knowledge everybody considered it "extremely unfortunate" as he does have a connection (by being teacher of Hadeeth) in Darul-Uloom Deoband and there were whispers not only about his person but also about Darul-Uloom Deoband itself. Maulana has done Ramadhan & Eid according to Saudia for years so what made him explode this year? Maulana's claim could have been verified if he had attached….

At this point, the translation was abandoned and the translator was unable to continue further...

Anybody who follows Saudi Arabia for moon sighting should responsibly consult their Ulamah about the behaviour of their Ulamah about treatment dished to the Shaykhul-Hadeeth of Darul-uloom Deoband!

This is the true face of the people who go running to our beloved Hazrat (Mufti) Ebrahim Desai (HA) asking for people to respect Ulamah.

First: This is what one of the last lines of the blog which says:

For those waiting to comment please read carefully before commenting I have neither disrespected Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai Saheb (HA) nor any other Ulamah, I have merely called for a balanced picture of the British situation.

Second: It is my Islamic duty to try to set the record straight, haven’t bashed anyone. I am following Sayyidina Rasul-ullah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wassallam) who said, “He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.[Muslim]

Third:  Results are in the hands of Allah (SWT) and we don’t know the future. If results are what we judge matters by then how do you categorise the battle of Uhud? Do answer the question!

Fourth:  Shaykh (Mufti) Abu Hajira (HA) who is the student of our dear and beloved respected Shaykh (Mufti) Ebrahim Desai (HA) has already read the blog and stated that Hazrat Shaykh (Mufti) Ebrahim Desai (HA)will be on Croydon and he stated, “Assalamu Alaikum, To my knowledge, Hadhrat Mufti Saheb is returning to Croydon again this year, perhaps another visit to explain away some dis-information may be good. Wassalam,”

So the matter has already been highlighted and “result (as you suggest” has already arrived.

The only people sulking are you and your likes who DEEM it to disrespect to the Ulamah because you either CAN'T read or have HYPERACTIVE imaginations with INFLATED egos!

Now carry on discussing the same issue 100 times when the student Shaykh (Mufti) Ebrahim Desai (HA) who is a Mufti himself DOES NOT regard this as disrepect but I guess you and your ego know better.

But with regards to Salah times both Deobandi & Barelwee Scholars are unanimous that Fajar & Esha occurs at 18 degrees since they are both Hanafees. Deobandees worldwide follow this opinion (in and outside of Asia). Barelwee Masajid in and out of Asia (including UK) follow this opinion.

There are two exceptions amongst Deobandees (none amongst Barelwees):

1. Masajid which follow the opinion of Shaykh (Mufti) Rasheed Ahmed Ludhyanwi (RA) but they also stop eating (in Ramadhan) at 18 degrees.
2. British Deobandees

So again you will see British Deobandees not following any other Deobandi in the world with regards to moon sighting and prayer times so saying that I follow my local Masjid or my Shaykh is the most absurd opinion because your local Masjid or Shaykh happens to be in sharp contrast with all Hanafees on Planet Earth.

Europe has a long history of Hanafi Madhab (Ottoman) and Maliki Madhab (Sicily)!

Allamah Ibn Abideen (RA) of Hanafi Madhab very clearly metions the issue of perpetual twilight for the Hanafees in Bolgar (Tartaristan) hunderds of years ago:

Mufti Hussain Kadodia (HA) of SF has mentioned contributions of Hanafi Ulamah of Balkans in the private section of SF which shows that Hanafi Ulamah & Muftees were active hunderds of years before the Deobandees got here YET for 30+ years we have been acting like some unique situation has hit us w