| Full name | Ebrahim Desai |
|---|---|
| Era | Modern era |
| Region | Islamic scholar |
| School | Sunni Hanafi |
| Main interests | Fiqh, Hadith, Islamic economics |
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Influenced by
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Influenced
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| Key figures | |
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Qasim Nanotvi · Rashid Gangohi |
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| Notable Institutions | |
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Darul Uloom Deoband, India |
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| Movements | |
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Tablighi Jamaat |
Ebrahim Desai is a Muslim Deobandi mufti and teacher of Islamic law based in Durban,Sherwood, South Africa. He runs the fatwa website Ask Imam,[1] an online Islamic questions and answers (Q&A) database and used to head the Dar al-Ifta of Madrasah In'aamiyyah, Camperdown as the Principal Mufti as well as used to be the Senior Lecturer of Hadith (Shaykh al-Hadith) there[2] He currently heads the Darul iftaa in Sherwood, Durban South Africa and is the oversight for the Fatwa Department of Jamiatul Ulama KZN.
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After completing the memorization (hifz) of the Qur'an, Desai engaged in study of the Islamic sciences at the hundred year old seminary of Deobandi persuasion, in Dabhel, India. Here, he studied the Darse Nizami curriculum for nine years, which included the study of Qur'anic Tafsir, Usul al-Tafsir, Hadith, Usul al-Hadith, Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic jurisprudence)according to the Hanafi school of Islamic law and Arabic language.
After completing his study in Darse Nizami, Mufti Desai Sahab, pursued a takhassus (specialization) course in Ifta under Ahmad Khanpuri of Dabhel for two years. This is where he learned the principles of issuing fatwa. After the completing of this course, he completed another year of studies in Ifta under the late Mufti of India, Mahmud al-Hasan Gangohi, the author of the multivolume Fatawa Mahmudiyya.[3]
Desai is also actively involved in Dawah. He travels to various countries on a regular basis. In the past he has held workshops on matters related to Islamic Finance and Shari'ah-Compliance in business and trade in the United States.[4] In March 2008 he traveled to Hong Kong, China to deliver a lecture as a guest speaker to students at the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College (IKTMC).[5]
He also serves as a religious advisor to the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA).[6]
In his role as an authority in Islamic finance, Desai has taken a strict stance on "Shar'iah Compliance" of certain banks and institutions. His opinion shunning the transparency of Al Baraka Bank (South Africa) in Islamic finance activities has generated much discussion among the Muslim community in South Africa.[7]
In 2005, Desai was elected to the working committee of the South African Islamic Financial Services Authority (SAIFSA).[8]
He has said that jihad is acceptable against a country that doesn't allow the propagation of Islam to its inhabitants.[9]
In relation to his work with issuing fatwas at his website Ask-Imam, Desai often finds himself in situations, where he sounds less like a religious leader and more like a physician's assistant or sex therapist[10] which helps a lot of people to reform and give up their wrong ways.