السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Tuesday 25th January 2022 / 23 Jumādā al-Thānī 1443H.
Continuing with part 4 of ‘My Teacher – My Friend’.
The first time I was taught by Muftī Ṣāḥib was when I was in the 3rd year of my ‘Ālim course. We had only one subject with him. Muftī Ṣāḥib’s timekeeping and punctuality was second to none.
As students, we were always looking forward to one teacher or another to be absent, so that we could get a free period. That never happened with Muftī Ṣāḥib. In fact, if Muftī Ṣāḥib had a free period and noticed that we did not have a teacher, he would come and take the class.
This was amazing commitment, bearing in mind the number of responsibilities and commitments Muftī Ṣāḥib had. One thing I will admit, Muftī Ṣāḥib was very strict while in the classroom.
He ensured that he gave us the best education possible and wanted us to give 100% back to him as well. However, once the class finished and you met Muftī Ṣāḥib outside or bumped into him, he was just his normal simple self.
On many occasions he would lead the Jumu’ah Ṣalāh in Dārul Uloom. One of Muftī Ṣāḥib’s unique qualities was that anyone and everyone could approach him. If you had any question in mind and you asked Muftī Ṣāḥib, you would get an instant answer.
I was now progressing nicely in my ‘Ālim Class studies, and had the good fortune and blessing to be amongst some of Dārul Uloom’s famous students, as classmates. There were 26 of us in the group that graduated in 1991.
Each one was exceptional: Shaykh Riyādh ul-Ḥaq, Shaykh Junaid Desāi, Shaykh Rashīd Dawūd (Portugal), Shaykh Rashīd ‘Umarji, Shaykh Shirāz & Shaykh Khālid of Trinidad, Shaykh Khalīl Jogwāri, Shaykh ‘Abdul Kabīr; the list goes on …
As we moved into the final 3 years of our course, responsibilities started to come our way. This is where became even closer to Muftī Shabbir Ṣāḥib and got to know him much better.
Muftī Ṣāḥib had been with Ḥaḍrat from day one and was handling all the affairs of the Dārul Uloom very efficiently and smoothly. Being the first Muslim boarding school in the UK, the initial inspections and checks were very thorough.
Muftī Ṣāḥib ensured that Dārul Uloom came through with flying colours. Ḥaḍrat could rely on Muftī Ṣāḥib at all times.
Although the initial trustees with Ḥaḍrat were Mawlānā Hāshim Jogwāri Ṣāḥib, Qāri Ismā’īl Samniwālā (my father-in-law) and Mawlānā ‘Abdul Ḥaq Ṣāḥib, all of us knew that Muftī Ṣāḥib was no. 2 to Ḥaḍrat. Such were the qualities Muftī Ṣāḥib possessed.
Let’s move on into the final years. Make sure you don’t miss part 5 coming up tomorrow, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ.
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