Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat

Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat was born on the 7th of November 1962 in Bhoria; a small, rural village in India and from a very young age displayed the signs of piety, trustworthiness, zeal for knowledge and concern for humanity for which he is now well known.

Shaykh Saleem Dhorat arrived in England in 1973 at the age of 11 with his mother and siblings to join his father, Hafiz Ibraheeem Dhorat rahmatullahi alayh. Shaykh’s father was serving as an Imam in Leicester

In 1980, Shaykh Saleem Dhorat enrolled to study Islamic Theology at Darul Uloom Al Arabiyah Al Islamiyah which is based in Bury, Lancashire and at that time it was the only institute of its kind in the United Kingdom.

Shaykh Saleem Dhorat after Graduation

After graduating with honours, Shaykh Saleem Dhorat remained at the Darul Uloom for a further five years as a lecturer: a testimony to his academic brilliance and capability. He taught books such as Usulus Shashi, Hidaayatun Nahw, Mirqaat, Hidaayah and the well known book of Hadeeth, Riyaadus Saliheen.

In 1991 Shaykh Saleem Dhorat founded the Islamic Dawah Academy to help people, especially the young, undertsand the teachings of Islam. Initially starting from his home, the Academy has now grown to provide religious guidance, information and courses, advice services, da’wah amongst non-Muslims, youth activities and publications. It regularly holds talk and tours for visiting luminaries from around the world and is recognised for it’s monthly English journal, Riyadul Jannah.

Shaykh’s regular discourses throughout the UK and around the world attract huge audiences and many of Shaykh’s thought provoking lectures are recorded and available via a range of media. Perhaps the reason for Shaykh’s widespread appeal and acceptance is because he has a keen awareness of what is going on in our world and he understands what we experience in our day to day life.

Shaykh Saleem Dhorat’s beneficial lectures, talks and programmes can be heard on the Islamic Dawah Academy website.

Adapted from Islamise website.

May Allah swt give good health and long life to Shaykh Saleem Dhorat in order that the ummah continue to benefit from his presence, lessons and knowledge, Ameen.

Mufti Yusuf Mullan

Shaykh Yusuf Mullan began his studies at the Islamic Institute, Dewsbury, U.K at the age of thirteen, where he completed the memorization (hifz) of the Glorious Quran, while concurrently learning the Urdu language. He went on to complete the Dars-e-Nizami curriculum of Islamic studies under traditional scholars in Flintham, Nottinghamshire.

Upon the completion of his studies in the U.K, Shaykh Yusuf continued on to the Badral-Uloom Institute in Rahimyarkhan, Pakistan where he completed a detailed course on the Exegesis (tafseer) of the Holy Quran. He then proceeded to Dar-ul-Uloom Karachi [http://www.darululoomkhi.edu.pk/], one of the premier traditional institutions in the Muslim world. Here, after intense study, he attained his Masters Equivalent in Islamic Theology (Alamiyya Sannad) with the highest standing, finishing third out of 175 students.

Shaykh Yusuf continued in Karachi, where he did his specialization in Islamic Jurisprudence and Islamic Verdicts (Takhassus fil Fiqh wal Fatwa – Ifta’) under, among others, Mufti Taqi Uthmani and Mufti Mahmood Ashraf Uthmani. In the final exams of the first year, he obtained a 96.66% average, the highest average in the entire institute of approximately 3000 students. Shaykh Yusuf has express permission to relate many books of hadith on the authority of his auspicious teachers.

Upon returning to Canada after over a decade of studying abroad, he founded and is now the director of the Toronto Shariah Program [www.shariahprogram.ca], an innovative North American initiative which attempts to cover all twelve of the sciences taught in the Dars-e-Nizami curriculum. Aware of the fact that few have the means and freedom from responsibilities to pursue full-time Islamic education in a Muslim country for a prolonged period, Shaykh Yusuf devised a 5 year curriculum to be taught just on weekends. Presently, the program has been in session for a year, enabling dozens of dedicated students to now study traditional Islamic education under qualified instructors and a classical methodology. Shaykh Yusuf lives in Toronto with his wife and two children, Rasheeda and Hisham.

Source: www.shariahprogram.ca

Mufti Ismail Menk

Mufti Ismail Menk of Zimbabwe commenced hifz at the tender age of nine years and completed at the age of twelve. He studied Arabic, Urdu and the Hanafi Mazhab from a young age with his father Maulana Musa Menk who graduated in Mazahirul Uloom Shahjahanpur under Hazrat Shaikh Maulana Zakaria (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) in the late 1950’s.

Having studied the Hanafi Mazhab he then went on to study at the Islamic University of Madinah where he completed a degree in Shariah on the four Mazhabs. Thereafter he joined the Iftah (Mufti) department of Darul Uloom Kantaria in Gujarat, India where he graduated under Mufti Ismail Barkodrah at the end of 1999.

Ever since he has been actively engaged in teaching, lecturing country wide, running of Islamic educational institutes for the under privileged as well as the orphans, construction of Masajid and Madaris, relief work and coordinated dawaah country wide.

Currently he is the Imaam of the largest Musjid in Harare.

May Allah reward Mufti Ismail Menk for his humble efforts towards the upliftment of the Deen of Almighty Allah, Ameen. Please visit the Mufti Menk website for audio recordings of his inspirational talks.
Source: Mufti Menk website

Shaykh Rafiq Sufi

Shaykh Rafiq Sufi (Patel) was born in England and has gained licenses to teach (Ijaazas) in many Islamic sciences including Qur’an, Jurisprudence and Traditions of the last Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam, from various scholars.

He studied and graduated in 1992 in one of the most recognized Islamic Institution in England, Darul-Uloom al-Arabiyya al-Islamiyya. As well as becoming an Alim (Scholar), he also memorised the Qur’an in different methods of recitation (Qari).

After graduation, Shaykh took a role of Imam in various Masajid within the North of England and also for a year in Leicester.

His dedication to sacred knowledge of Islam has allowed many to gain a true understanding of Islam, be it through his teaching in many different organisations, his translation of classical Arabic text, or just his dynamic style of orientation.

Although Shaykh Rafiq Sufi is currently a teacher of Fiqh, Hadith and Arabic language, in his home town of Blackburn, his other devotion is his charity which brings ‘Humanitarian Aid’ to thousands of needy men, women and children from around the world.  He is also part of the management of the Lancashire Council of Mosques.

Shaykh Rafiq Sufi is also devoted to reaching out to the youth and bringing them the true message of Islam where ever they may be. He has delivered Islamic lectures in universities and mosques all over the United Kingdom, USA, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, to mention but a few.

He currently resides in Blackburn, UK with his wife and two children.

Source: Youthtarbiyah.com

Some of his lectures can be found on www.edars.com.

May Allah swt give good health and long life to Shaykh Rafiq Sufi in order that the ummah continue to benefit from him. Ameen.

Imam Tahir Anwar

Imam Tahir Anwar was born in London, England, in 1978, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area of California in 1983. He completed the initial studies of the Qur’an and the Arabic language under his father, who is also a scholar of the Islamic sciences. In 1991, he traveled to Gujarat, India where he enrolled in a traditional Islamic University named Darul Uloom Falah-e-Darain (The House of Knowledge which is of benefit in both worlds). In recognition of his academic achievements at this institution in 1999, Imam Tahir was given the title of ‘Aalim, which is bestowed upon a person who successfully completes the course in Islamic Theology.

Since 2000, Imam Tahir has been serving as the Imam (religious leader) and Director of Religious Services at the South Bay Islamic Association, located in San Jose, California. He is also the head of the Islamic Studies Department, and an Islamic Studies teacher at Granada Islamic School in nearby Santa Clara. He has also taught Hanafi fiqh at the world-renowned Zaytuna Institute.

Much of Imam Tahir’s passion is in doing outreach work, and he currently sits on the following Boards:

  • Human Relations Commissioner for the County of Santa Clara
  • Zaytuna College’s Management Committee
  • Muslim Chaplain at the Santa Clara County Correctional Facilities
  • Northern California Islamic Council — A peer-to-peer network of advice and support for Islamic non-profit organizations, whose aim is to provide a united Muslim voice to the community at large
  • Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow (MLT) — A group of 300 young dynamic Muslim leaders from around the world who are committed to creating positive social change. The program provides a venue for these Muslim leaders to propose and debate solutions to the problems facing their societies and the global Muslim community

In the past, Imam Tahir has served various panels and commissions, including:

  • Human Rights Commissioner for the City of San Jose (2003-2008)
  • Community Advisory Panel for CPBS (California Public Broadcasting System), a local radio and television channel (2005-2008)
  • The Interfaith Council on Religion, Race, Economic, and Social Justice (2007-2008)

Imam Tahir has also been awarded the following awards due to his work in the community:

  1. February 2009 – Human Relations Award by the County of Santa Clara
  2. May 2008 – Unity in Diversity Award by the County of Santa Clara
  3. May 2005 – Community Service Award, North-American Islamic Shelter for the Abused

He is frequently invited to speak to forums at various universities and religious institutions. Imam Tahir is fluent in English, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi, and Gujarati. He currently resides in San Jose, California with his wife and two sons.

Source: www.imamtahir.com

The Imam’s beneficial lectures and talks can be heard on the Imam Tahir website.

May Allah swt give good health and long life to Imam Tahir Anwar in order that the ummah continue to benefit from his presence, lessons and knowledge. Ameen.

Mufti Abdur Rahman Ibn Yusuf

Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera has been studying the traditional Islamic sciences and writing scholarly works for most of his life. He completed the bulk of his studies at Darul Uloom Bury, North England, where he memorized the Qur’an by age fifteen and thereafter went on to complete a rigorous, six-year Shari‘a program. He graduated from this program with authentic certifications (ijaza) in numerous Islamic disciplines, including Arabic, Islamic jurisprudence, and hadith (with particular emphasis on the six authentic books of hadith (Sihah Sitta) and the Muwattas of Imam Malik and Imam Muhammad). His teachers at Darul Uloom Bury included Shaykh Yusuf Motala and other students of Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi.

After graduating, the author traveled to South Africa, where he attended Madrasah Zakariyyah part-time to gain specialized training in answering legal questions (ifta’) under Mufti Rada al-Haq. While in South Africa, he also completed a B.A. with honors in Islamic studies at Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, under Professor Abdur-Rahman Doi, Ph.D.

He then traveled to Syria, where he received a second certification in Qur’anic recitation and memorization, this time from Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Halabi, who possessed a short, unbroken chain of transmission (sanad) to the Messenger of Allah in this subject. He also received a certification from Shaykh Adib Kallas after reading Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari’s Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar and attending lectures on other classical texts of Islamic creed (‘aqida).

He spent the following year in Saharanpur, India, where he received formal authorization to issue legal rulings (fatawa), which required a close study of part or all of a number of classical jurisprudential texts, including, among others, Ibn Nujaym’s Al-Ashbah wa ’l-naza’ir and ‘Allama Haskafi’s Al-Durr al-mukhtar (along with its commentary, Radd al-muhtar, by ‘Allama Ibn ‘Abidin al-Shami). During this time, Mufti Abdur-Rahman also attended classes on the principles of hadith (usul al-hadith), studying ‘Allama Lakhnawi’s Al-Raf ‘ wa ’l-takmil fi ’l-jarh wa ’l-ta’dil and parts of Imam Suyuti’s Tadrib al-rawi.

The author acquired additional certifications in hadith from such great scholars as Shaykh Muhaddith Habib al-Rahman al-A‘zami (through his student Shaykh Mufti Zayn al-‘Abidin), Shaykh Abu ’l-Hasan ‘Ali Nadwi, and Shaykh Muhammad al-‘Awwama. May Allah continue to bless those of his teachers who are still alive and have mercy on those who have passed on to the next life.

To date, Mufti Abdur-Rahman has written Fiqh al-Imam: Key Proofs in Hanafi Fiqh (1996) and co-authored Reflections of Pearls (1995). He also published Provisions for the Seekers (1996), a translation and commentary of the Arabic work Zad al-Talibin, a small collection of short hadiths compiled by Mawlana Ashiq Ilahi from ‘Allama Tibrizi’s Mishkat al-Masabih. He is currently working on a revised, second edition of this work, which is set for release later this year. His latest published work is Prayers for Forgiveness: Seeking Spiritual Enlightenment through Sincere Supplication (2004), a translation of Al-Istighfarat al-Munqidha min al-Nar, a collection of seventy prayers for forgiveness by ‘Allama Qutb al-Din al-Hanafi transmitted from Imam Hasan al-Basri. Additionally, Mufti Abdur-Rahman has completed an unpublished translation of Imam Abu Hanifa’s Al-Fiqh al-Akbar, along with its commentary, written by ‘Allama Maghnisawi.

He presently serves as Imam of Masjid e-Quba Stamford Hill, London and continues to work on scholarly publications through White Thread Press. Some of his fatawa can be found on the famous sunnipath.com site and his beneficial and educational lectures can be heard at Zamzam Academy website.

May Allah swt give good health and long life to Shaykh Abdur Rahman in order that the ummah continue to benefit from his lessons and knowledge. Ameen.

Shaykh Zahir Mahmood

Shaykh Zahir Mahmood, the erudite scholar was born in England and has gained licenses to teach (ijaazas) in many Islamic sciences including Qur’an, Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Traditions (Hadith) of The Prophet (SAW) from various Shyukh.

Following the completion of his secular studies at the age of 16, Shaykh Zahir Mahmood enrolled at Dar al-Uloom al-Arabiyya al-Islamiyya, Bury (a satellite college to al- Azhar University), where he initiated his studies of the Alimiya course. Thereafter, he studied 3 years in the presitigious seat of learning al-Jamia al-Islamiyya Karachi, Pakistan.

Shaykh Zahir Mahmood went on to complete his Alimiya course at the pioneering Dar al-Uloom Newcastle, South Africa which has since been used as a template for other seats of learning in the region. Here, the Shaykh studies included a detailed analysis of Sahih al-Bukhari with the renowned scholar Shaykh Qasim Seema.

Returning back to the UK, he gained a BA in Applied Theological Studies from the University of Birmingham and taught the Alimiya course at Madina al-Uloom Kidderminster for a subsequent 2 years. He also translated to English part of the classical Hanafi text on Fiqh, al-Shurunbulali’s Nur al-Idah.

For the past four years Shaykh Zahir Mahmood has been an khateeb (preacher) at one of Birmingham’s largest mosques, Jame Masjid. From this base, he has taught many workshops including Arabic at various levels and Seerah (the Life of The Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him). He has endeavoured to reach out to the local youth as well as spanning the country to deliver the message of Islam in the English language.

In 2004, he committed himself to delivering a weekly study circle (dars) from Birmingham Jame Masjid covering many Islamic aspects ranging from the detailed study of the lives of the Prophets (AS), the Companions (RA), the Last Messenger of Allah (SWT) Muhammad (SAW) and most recently Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) …etc. In this same year, he founded the as-Suffa Institute of Learning in Birmingham where he is one of the resident scholars.

source: http://www.as-suffa.org/

Some of the talks given by Shaykh Zahir Mahmood can be heard on Darul Islam website. May Allah swt give good health and long life to Shaykh Zahir Mahmood in order that the ummah continue to benefit from his lessons and knowledge. Ameen.

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