السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Friday 20th May 2022 / 19 Shawwal 1443H.
One hour in the auspicious company of Shaykh ul-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Saleem Dhorāt Ṣāḥib, مدظله العالی.
When I enrolled at Dārul Uloom Bury in 1982, very soon I got to know all the 300 plus fellow students. We were like one big family living in one big building. Dārul Uloom Bury had a section for students wanting to become a Ḥāfiẓ and also a section for those who wanted to become ‘Ālim.
Most of the students were aged between 11 and 25, and a few were even older. It was at Dārul Uloom that I met Shaykh ul-Ḥadīth Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Muḥammad Saleem Dhorat Ṣāḥib, مدظله العالی, for the first time in my life.
The early and mid 80s were Shaykh Saleem’s student days, and from the late 80s until the early 90s, Shaykh taught there. I was blessed with being a fellow student in the early days and then being taught by Shaykh in the later days.
It has been 40 years now since that first introduction. Each and every one of my teachers became friends, some more so than others. Shaykh Saleem is one of the closest and dearest to me. Suffice to say that Shaykh attended my walimah in 1991, and performed my son Sufyaan’s nikāḥ 29 years later, in 2020. Such is our friendship.
On a visit to Leicester on Wednesday 11th May, I informed Shaykh Saleem of my arrival and he, as always, very warmly invited me to visit him at the IDA. After praying ‘Aṣr at the IDA Masjid, we were blessed with meeting Shaykh Saleem. His traditional warm embrace was so soothing and comforting. What followed next was memorable.
Shaykh walked into the class to teach the next lesson of Bukhārī Sharīf. It was the section where the Aḥādīth regarding the miracles of our Holy Prophet, صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, are collected by Imām Bukhārī, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه.
The next 60 minutes was so spiritual and peaceful. Wherever necessary, Shaykh commented upon the Ḥadīth. Almighty Allāh has gifted Shaykh Saleem with a deep insight into the Aḥādīth and his way of explanation and description is mesmerising.
In between, despite being extremely busy with the lesson, Shaykh requested Khajoor and ZamZam for us, and also offered to pack some food for us to take with us, after the lesson. Such was his care and affection.
After Maghrib we said farewell to Shaykh Saleem who once again gifted us with some of his precious books. IDA and its founder, Shaykh Saleem حفظہ اللہ, will always remain very close to my heart.
If you are a resident of Leicester or surrounding areas, you are gifted with a very special talent and personality in the form of Shaykh Saleem. Benefit from him.
If you are living in other parts of the UK, try to visit the IDA at least once annually. You will remember the spiritual experience for life.
May The Almighty protect Shaykh Saleem and the IDA. May He lengthen Shaykh Saleem’s shadow over us for a very long time to come. May He grant us all the ability to benefit from all the pious scholars of the world, Āmeen.
Please share this message of mine far and wide with all your contacts so that all can benefit.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala