السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Sunday 23rd January 2022 / 21 Jumādā al-Thānī 1443H.
Continuing with part 2 of ‘My Teacher – My Friend’.
Dārul Uloom Bury in 1982 was no hotel or holiday camp. Far from it. For over 300 students ranging from 11 year-old children to adults aged 25, there were 10 taps for wuḍūʼ in the famous round wuḍūʼ khānā, based on the ground floor of the 3 floor boarding building. With just 2 showers and 10 washrooms, living in the boarding facilities in those days was a real sacrifice.
One of the most important and best days of the year was the annual Khatme Bukhārī Jalsa day. With the Ramaḍān holidays to follow, there would be a very special buzz in Dārul Uloom in the run up to this event. This is where first hand I witnessed Muftī Ṣāḥib grafting hard with the students for the preparations of the Jalsa.
Hundreds of large heavy pieces of carpets had to be carried from the cellar into the massive tent erected specially for the Jalsa. Muftī Ṣāḥib would spend the whole Saturday, late into the night, ensuring that everything was in place for Sunday’s Jalsa. My fellow colleagues will agree with me that the tent day jalsahs were the best.
During my 8 years at Dārul Uloom, some amazing personalities and luminaries graced the Dārul Uloom with their presence. Once again Ḥaḍrat would appoint Muftī Ṣāḥib as the Commander in Chief.
I recall the visit by the Head Imām of Ḥaram, Shaykh Muḥammad al-Subayyil, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, and Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Ḥumayd. Muftī Maḥmūd ul-Ḥasan Gangohi, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, graced us with his presence. One of the most regular visitors was Fidā-e-Millat Mawlānā Sayyid As’ad Madanī, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه.
In a nutshell, Muftī Ṣāḥib (with his team) ensured that all arrangements passed off smoothly, without any hiccups. Such were his organising skills. Those who remember the early days of Madīnatul Uloom Kidderminster, Jāmi’ah Bradford and Markazul Uloom Blackburn will also testify that Muftī Ṣāḥib gave the same sacrifice at all of these Institutes as well.
Our Ḥaḍrat would always keep Muftī Ṣāḥib at the forefront at the time of all of his purchases, .مَا شَآءَ الله. Such was the trust Ḥaḍrat put in Muftī Ṣāḥib. All of the institutes established by Ḥaḍrat are flourishing today, .مَا شَآءَ الله They will all always remain the legacy of Muftī Ṣāḥib as well, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ.
All my messages are also available to read on my website hdreflections.com.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala
Graduate of Dārul Uloom Bury (1991)
Part 1 ; Part 2 ; Part 3 ; Part 4 ; Part 5 ; Part 6 ; Part 7