Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

Profile of Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Allah preserve him)

By Mawlana Faraz ibn Adam.

The great jurist Al-Muhaqqiq `Allamah Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Allah preserve him) is in need of no introduction.  Known to all and close to the hearts, Mufti sahib has been serving the ummah across the globe for almost quarter of a century.  His extreme humbleness and warmth strike all in their first encounter with him.  May Allah elevate his status.

ALIM & IFTA COURSE:

As well as being a Hafiz of the Quran, Mufti Ebrahim Desai (db) has studied sacred Islamic knowledge in Dabhel for nine years: commencing from the Arabic Language and comprising Usool-e-Fiqh, Hanafi Fiqh, Logic, Usool-e-Hadith, Hadith, Usool-e-Tafseer, Tafseer. Having completed the Dars-e-Nizamiyyah he then studied the principles of issuing Fatawa for two years in Dabhel under Mufti Ahmad Khanpuri Saheb, a renowned and leading Scholar in India, and another year under the grand Mufti of India, Mufti Mahmoodul Hasan Saheb (RA) (compiler of Fataawa Mahmudiyyah).

TEACHING:

The founder and the initiator of Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah, Mufti Ebrahim Sahib has set up a unique institute to confront the challenges of the ever advancing world.  He selects a handful of students from hundreds of applicants and devotes night and day to them to train them in the field of Iftaa.

He also lectures on Sahih al-Bukhari at Darul Uloom Nu’maniyyah in Durban, South Africa.

PUBLICATIONS:

He has authored two fatwa books, Al Mahmood Vol. I & II, a book for Hadith students: Introduction to Hadith, and numerous articles on a wide spectrum of topics and issues relating to Islam.  Recently, he authored a priceless book named Madkhal al-buyoo’ (The entrance to financial transactions) , a contemporary guide to trade.

DA`WAH TRIPS:

Mufti sahib has traveled to the four corners of the world in da`wah trips and conducting seminars on Islamic Finance.  He has visited the US over 20 times, likewise Canada.  Mufti sahib is regularly invited to the UK and frequently spends Ramadan in London in an effort to educate and revive the Islamic spirit among the Muslims here.  He was recently invited to an assembly on Islamic banking and finance in Hong Kong.

IJAZAH IN TASAWWUF:

Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Desai (damat barakatuhum) has the honor of being the khalifah of his Shaykh Mufti Mahmood-ul-Hasan Gangohi (rahmatullah alahyi), the late grand mufti of India & the most senior khalifa of Hazrat Shaykh Maulana Zakariya Kandhalwi (rahmatullah alahi). As part of his training in Tasawwuf, Mufti Saab (db) spent time in the Khanqah of Dabhel where he used to lead Qiyaam-ul-Layl during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Taken from Dar al Fiqh.

Need For A Shaykh.

 

The Need for a Shaykh

Adapted from Spiritual Discourses By Mufti Taqi Usmani

Tasawwuf means to crush vile manners and to develop excellent manners, and that is tazkiyah or purification. This is because [of the saying] "There are Men for every art", which means one has to go to a Master to learn. If for example it is a question of fiqh we have to approach a Mufti, who knows the answers. However it is difficult to study the condition of the inner self and to recognize the malady within anyone. The hidden weaknesses are very imperceptible and fine. Something may be very good and another very bad but it is difficult to distinguish between them.

For example, arrogance is an unlawful trait and it is wajib to shun it because it is the root cause of all maladies but there is another quality, self-respect. It is wajib to develop it, and it is not proper to debase oneself. However the line dividing the frontiers must be determined: that is at which point does self-respect end and arrogance begins? One must ask oneself: Am I doing this out of pride or a measure of self-respect? It is not possible for everyone to determine the dividing line and detect such inner maladies easily.

For instance, egoism is a great ill. A man brags about himself; this is unlawful. On the other side is 'describing blessings on oneself'. This is mentioned in the Quran: "And as for the blessings of your Lord, proclaim it" (93:11). It is not easy for everyone to say confidently whether he behaves egoistically or proclaims the blessing of Allah Ta'ala.

We can cite another example - of the sweetness of a mango and of a lump of sugar. Both are sweet but, how does one define each sweetness? It is not possible for anyone to do that in words and there is only one way to distinguish the nature of each. One must eat the two things and know for himself what the difference is.

In the same way, it is not easy to define the inner excellences of man. For instance, humbleness is difficult to describe. But, if one meets a humble person and observes his conduct and stays in his company for some time then that characterstic will grow in him. Hence, it is necessary to turn to a Shaykh and live in his company to know about tasawwuf and sulook. These things cannot grow in anyone by merely talking about them. It is only by attending the company of and giving one's time to a Shaykh that Allah Ta'ala helps one get these things.

Shariah is the name of rights. Whose rights? The rights of Allah Ta'ala and His slaves. And the Shariah is surrounded by: Sunnah & Tasawwuf. Sunnah is the name of the limits, on how to give the rights of Shariah. Tasawwuf is the protection of those limits (of rights) so that one may neither trespass nor stay behind. When one goes to a one's Shaykh, he learns to protect these limits. Hence, the aim of the relationship between a Shaykh and his disciple is to protect these limits, how much should he do, where should he stop, and how far should he go.

Hence, when one turns to a Shaykh to reform oneself that the real objective of turning to him is achieved: to imbibe excellenct traits, and ward off and crush the unworthy characteristics. This, then, is the true purpose of Tasawwuf. Nevertheless, the Dhikr and supplications are also helpful to the seeker. Only through the guidance of the Shaykh can the regimen of Dhikr, Supplications and other repetitions be prescribed for every individual according to the Shaykh's opinion of his condition. The prescription would suggest time, what to do, and how much to do. Only then can one benefit from reformation. By themselves the Dhikr, Supplications and repetitions are not the objective, for the basic aim is the reformation of one's manners and purification of the soul. One must keep the Shaykh posted of one's condition and seek his guidance, being careful to observe them. One must do that all his life, for the aim of turning to the Shaykh is simply this much.

Source: Al-Mahmood.org Wa Salamu 'Alaykum.