السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Monday 22nd August 2022.
Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Yā’qūb Kāviwālā, نور الله مرقده
It was Saturday 8th June 1991, when I entered the Tayyabah Masjid in Bolton, with all my male relatives and friends. I was 24 years old, on a very joyous, happy and memorable occasion. It was the day of my Nikāḥ.
My father in law, Marḥūm Qāri Ismā’īl Samniwālā, نور الله مرقده, had invited one of his closest colleagues to address the Nikāḥ gathering. Although I knew of Mawlānā Yā’qūb Kāviwālā, this was the first time I got to know him personally. Mawlānā addressed the gathering advising the congregation to keep the Nikāḥ and weddings nice and simple.
Thirty one years later, on Thursday 18th August 2022, once again I was part of a congregation, where Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Yā’qūb Ṣāḥib was at the front. It was Mawlānā’s Janāzah day. From 1991 to 2022, I was privileged to have built up a close connection with Mawlānā Yā’qūb Ṣāḥib.
Very soon, it became evident to me that this was no normal scholar. Having arrived in the UK when there were only a handful of ‘Ulamā, Mawlānā was at the forefront in making sure all our worship was carried out correctly in the country we were living in.
Today we have Ṣalāh times on our phone. The Qiblah apps tell us the direction of the Holy Ka’bah. In the earlier days, Mawlānā researched this and created the timetables. How can we make animals Ḥalāl to consume in a non-Muslim country like the UK?
Again, Mawlānā was at the forefront, looking into the issues of stunning and non-stun. Mawlānā’s insight into the laws of Sharī’ah and research into issues affecting the new arrivals in the 60s and 70s was second to none.
Although very famously known for guiding the UK Muslims towards following Morocco in Moon Sighting and determining Ṣubḥ Ṣādiq (true dawn) on 18 degrees, Mawlānā had a major role to play in so many issues which were of concern to the Muslims in the early days here in the UK.
Those of us living here in the UK are indebted so much to Mawlānā. My message today is to bring glimpses of Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā’s life to the attention of the readers and also to make a humble request to each and every one to recite Sūrah Yāsīn and pass on the rewards to Mawlānā and all the Marḥūmeen.
May The Almighty convert Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā’s resting place into a Garden of Jannat ul-Firdaus and bless his family with Sabr Jameel, Āmeen. May He through His infinite Grace and Mercy grant the ability to his children, grandchildren and students to continue with his legacy, Āmeen.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala