السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Tuesday 19th May 2020. Today I wanted to talk about ‘Ramaḍān and Qāri Ismā’īl Samniwālā, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه’.
When I enrolled at Dārul Uloom Bury in 1982, little did I know that besides completing my Ḥifẓ and ‘Ālim course, I would also be blessed with a life partner. Qāri Ismā’īl Ṣāḥib, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, a founder trustee of Dārul Uloom Bury, became my father-in-law.
Born in 1934, Qāri Ṣāḥib رَحْمَةُ الله عليه graduated from Dārul Uloom Deoband in 1960 and arrived in Coventry (UK) in 1966. From there he came to Bolton and was appointed Imām at the Taiyabah Masjid on Blackburn Rd.
At the time of the purchase of Dārul Uloom Bury, it was decided that the 4 Imāms of Bolton would become the trustees, Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Yūsuf Motālā Ṣāḥib, نور الله مرقده, and Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā ‘Abdul Ḥaq Ṣāḥib from Zakarīyā Masjid, and Mawlānā Hāshim Jogwāri Ṣāḥib, مدظله العالی, and Qāri Ismā’īl Samniwālā, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, from Taiyabah Masjid.
Qāri Ṣāḥib, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, had a very special attachment with The Holy Qur’ān. On normal days he would recite 5 Juz in Ṣalāh and in Ramaḍān this would double to 10, سُبْحَانَ الله. During his life, he spent 35 Ramaḍāns in Ḥaramain. He maintained his recitation of The Holy QurꜤān all throughout his life, مَا شَآءَ الله.
It was the habit of Qāri Ṣāḥib, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, to offer 2 Rak’āt Nawāfil after Ẓuhr every day for the liberation of al-Masjid al-‘Aqṣā and the protection of the Palestinian people. Such was his love for the third Ḥaram. He would always remain engaged in Dhikr and Waẓīfahs and would only talk if necessary. He preferred to walk to the Masjid and back so that he could complete his daily Dhikr routine.
As well as being the founding trustee of Dārul Uloom Bury, where he taught the science of Qirāt for over 15 years.
Qāri Ṣāḥib, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, was also the founder of Dārul Uloom Bolton.
Here comes the most important aspect of Qāri Ṣāḥib’s life. Qāri Ṣāḥib, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, very strongly advocated that a Ḥāfiẓ of The Holy Qur’ān should never ever let go of the Musalla in Ramaḍān, and was very particular about it. His eldest son, Qāri Fārūq, recalls that he only ever got asked one question from his father, ‘How many pārās have you prayed today?‘ This Ramaḍān, the precious words of Qāri Ṣāḥib, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه, regarding a Ḥāfiẓ have been ringing in my ears.
Having led Tarāwīḥ prayers after a 21 year gap, I have now realised the value of The Holy Qur’ān and made a promise never to let go of Tarāwīḥ again, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ. I will end with 2 valuable advices of Qāri Ṣāḥib, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه.
- A Ḥāfiẓ should preferably pray 3 pārās (Juz) a day in Ṣalāh. One pārā is the absolute minimum.
- Keep some Qur’ān Completions (Khatm) in stock so that, when someone passes away, you can do Īsāl ath-thawāb straight away.
Amazing pearls of wisdom, سُبْحَانَ الله!
Almighty Allāh accept all of Qāri Ṣāḥib’s services to His beautiful religion, bless him with Jannat ul-Firdaus and grant all of us the ability to follow in his footsteps, Āmeen.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala