Shaikh al-Hadith Yusuf ibn Sulaiman ibn Qasim Motala (b. November 25, 1946) is an Indian Muslim scholar of Islam and one of the disciples of the late Shaikh al-Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandhalwi.[1]
Contents |
Shaikh's father's family hails from Varethi, a village in the district of Surat, which is located in the state of Gujarat, India. Though their source of income was farming, his paternal grandfather, Qasim Motala, relinquished his land on a contract and adopted business as his source of income. Due to his premature death, Shaikh's father, Sulaiman ibn Qasim Motala, was raised in his mother's care. After reaching puberty, he started a business. His first marriage was into an honourable family of another village in the district of Surat called Hathuran. From that marriage, he had a son named Mohamed Ali. Unfortunately, this wife died within a few years, after which he married Shaikh's mother. Her family hailed from Kholwad, a village on the shores of the Tapisti River in the district of Surat. For unknown reasons, however, they shifted to the village of Nani Naroli. There, they adopted farming as their source of income. Shaikh was born at his maternal grandfather's house in Nani Naroli on the night of Monday, November 26, 1946.
In 1953, Shaikh's maternal aunt died in South Africa during childbirth. For this reason, Shaikh's grandfather sent Hadhrat's mother to South Africa to marry her brother-in-law and raise his children. Though she did not wish to abandon her sons, she agreed and reluctantly departed for South Africa. From then on, seven-year-old Hadhrat and his nine-year-old brother were raised by their grandparents. However, within a few years, they died. Thus, Shaikh and his brother were raised by their maternal aunt.
Shaikh completed the recitation and memorization of the Qur'an and studied Urdu at Madrasa Targhib al-Qur'an. In 1961, Shaikh enrolled at Jaamia Husainiyya, where he completed the first five years of the Alimiyya course. Thereafter, in 1966, Shaikh enrolled at Madhaahir al-Uloom. His classes commenced on February 23, 1966. He studied Mishkat al-Masaabih under Shaikh al-Hadith Yunus Jaunpuri, Tafsir al-Jalaalayn under Shaikh Muhammad Aqil, the third volume of Hidaaya under Mufti Yahya, and Mishkatul Masaabih for a second time under Shaikh al-Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandhalwi.
In the following year, Shaikh studied Sahih al-Bukhari under Shaikh al-Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandhalwi, Sunan Abu Da'ud, Sunan al-Nasa'i, and Mu'atta Imam Malik under Shaikh Yunus Jaunpuri, Sahih Muslim and Sunan al-Tirmidhi under Shaikh Mudhaffar Husain, and Sharh Ma'aani al-Athar under Shaikh Asadullah. At around this time, Shaikh wrote a letter to Shaikh al-Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandhalwi requesting his acceptance of Shaikh's bay'ah. He replied, accepted Shaikh's bay'ah, and entered Shaikh into his silsila.
In 1968, Shaikh's relatives arranged his marriage in England. Approximately four months later, in early June, Shaikh travelled to England. His marriage was conducted within five or six weeks. Shaikh passed the Ramadhaan of 1969 with his Shaikh in Makkah and Medina. One night, whilst in I'tikaf, after the performance of Salaah al-Taraawih, Shaikh's Shaikh sent for him and Shaikh Ismail Badat and bestowed khilaafah upon them, wrapping turbans on their heads.
Upon the instruction of his Shaikh, Shaikh established Darul Uloom Al-Arabiya Al-Islamiya in Holcombe, Bury, Lancashire, in 1973.[2] At present, he is the founder and patron of numerous Islamic institutes throughout the world and spiritual guide to thousands of Muslims all over the world. His students, who number thousands, are scattered across the world, occupied in the service of din in varying capacities. More than 75% of English-speaking Ulama in the UK are graduates of institutes founded by Shaikh, a number of whom are engaged in the reinforcement of community relations.[3] Shaikh is a dedicated educationist and has devoted much of his life to establishing schools and colleges for the betterment of the Muslim community. His work has been praised by both the community as well as OFSTED.[4]