Death of Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi RA

[NoorSeeker]

Innal lillahi wainal ilayhe rajeoon

The Muslim World is shocked by the Death of Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki

Condolence message by Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

All praise to Allah and blessings and salutations upon His Messenger; the Kareem (Kind) and Ameen (Trustworthy) Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In the name of Allah the beneficent the Merciful

Allah (SWT) states in the Holy Quran :

“Every soul will taste death…” (Surah Al- Imran 3:185)

“…can those who know and those who do not know, be equal?…” (Surah az-Zumar 39:9)

It is a source of great sadness for me and for the whole Muslim world that it has lost one of the most learned and senior Islamic scholars of our time. The loss of Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki is such a great irreparable loss that the Muslims of the World will not perceive it until some time in the future. As the Noble Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) (SAW) stated: “…The death of a scholar is such a tragedy that never comes to an end and such a crack that can never be filled…” (Al-firdaus ad-Dailmi, p.148, Hadith No: 6458)

Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki was one of the sole scholars resident in Saudi Arabia who openly propagated, preached, safeguarded and proved the truthfulness of the beliefs of the Ahl-us-Sunnah, through the power of his great knowledge and wisdom. He was a torch bearer of the true Islamic creed and was a true lover of the Noble Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) Muhammad (SAW). His book al-Mafaheem is proof of this and is evidence of the Shaykh’s great and vast Hadithic knowledge. This book is taught in our Islamic studies courses in The Minhaj University. The world has not only lost a scholar but has lost knowledge, as the Noble Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) (SAW) said: "…Allah does not take away knowledge, by taking it away from (the hearts of) the people, but takes it away by the death of the scholars…” (Bukhari Volume 1, Book 3, Hadith No: 100)

With Specific regard to myself and Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI), Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki, showed so much support and personal interest in our work. He famously awarded me his ijazah in Hadith for barakah which he named as ‘an-nur-ul-bahir fi- ijazati ash-Shaykh Tahir’.
He blessed Minhaj-ul-Quran International by visiting it in 1995 and took part in the first convocation of The Minhaj University. He was a great aid in assisting our mission of unity in the Muslim Ummah as he himself was a great symbol of unity.
When ever I used to travel to Makkah I was always invited to many functions, programs and dinners by Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki. We had many memorable programs of zikr and praise to the Prophet (SAW) during nightly vigils.

I had the pleasure of spending time with him last year, which was our last meeting, at the mausoleum of Maulai Idrees, the grandfather of Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki, in Fass, Maghrib (Morocco). The meeting was totally coincidental, may be the reason of this surprise meeting was due to the fact that the Shaykh was to leave this world soon after and Allah (SWT) wanted us to have a final get together.

We accidentally bumped into each other in the market at Fass. The Shaykh then told me the extraordinary story behind how we came to meet each other. He told me that he had been in Fass at the mausoleum of Maulai Idrees for the last forty days. He had packed his bags and was set to return to Saudi Arabia. When he was at the airport in the Capital Rabat about to board his flight, he was spiritually instructed by Maulai Idrees to return to his mausoleum in Fass. He said that he was totally bemused as to why Maulai Idrees had called him back although he had spent forty days at his mausoleum. He said that when he bumped into me in the market at Fass it became apparent to him on why Maulai Idrees called him back.
Then we both went to the mausoleum together. Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki recited the qasidah in the mausoleum, which he wrote the night before in honour of Maulai Idris. Then during the night we had a very spiritual program of zikr and praise to the Prophet (SAW) which was certainly one of the most memorable programs I had participated in.

We will tremendously miss his leadership, guidance and the love which he showed to us.

May Allah raise his status even higher, and bless his soul with the qurb (closeness) of His Zaat (Being). May Allah SWT have mercy on us for the sake of his great servant Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki.

[Nazma]

Ameen!

[Mareyah]

this is a very extordinary story

[adamalli]

A very sad loss for the Ahl-e sunni community worldwide!

[Walid]

“Every soul will taste death…” (Surah Al- Imran 3:185)

Prepare every day as your last !

Must confess i knew hardly anything about the Shaykh until i read your post.

[simnani]

The following is a defence of the Ash'ari school by one of the foremost scholars of Hadith and Fiqh in Makkah at the moment - Shaykh Sayyad Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki al-Makki. (around 2000 - 2001)

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Shaykh Muhammad 'Alawi Maliki: "Many sons/daughters of Muslims are ignorant of the Ash'ari School, whom it represents, and its positions on the tenets of the Islamic faith (aqidah), and yet some of them are not God-fearing enough to refrain from accusing it of deviance, departure from the religion of Islam, and heresy about the attributes of Allah. The ignorance of the Ash'ari school is a cause of rendering the unity of the Ahl al-Sunnah dispersing its ranks. Some have gone as far as to consider the Ash'aris among the categories of heretical sects, though it is beyond me how believers can be linked with misbelievers, or how Sunni Muslims can be considered equal with the most extreme faction of the Mu'tazilites, the Jahmites.

"Shall We deal with Muslims as We do criminals? How is it that you judge?" [Qur'an 68:35-36]

The Ash'aris are the Imams of the distinguished figures of guidance among the scholars of the Muslims, whose knowledge has filled the world from east to west, and whom people have unanimously concurred upon their excellence, scholarship, and religiousness. They include the first rank of Sunni scholars and the most brilliant of their luminaries, who stood in the face of the excesses commited by the Mu'tazilites, and who constitute whole sections of the foremost Imams of Hadith, Sacred Law, Quranic exegesis. Shaykh al-Islam Ahmad ibn Hajar 'Asqalani (d. 852/1449; Rahimullah), the mentor of Hadith scholars and author of the book "Fath al-Bari bi sharh Sahih al-Bukhari", which not a single Islamic scholar can dispense with, was Ash'ari. The shaykh of the scholars of Sunni Islam, Imam Nawawi (d. 676/1277; Rahimullah), author of "Sharh Sahih Muslim" and many other famous works, was Ash'ari. The master of Qur'anic exegetes, Imam Qurtubi (d. 671/1273; Rahimullah), author of "al-Jami' li ahkan al-Qur'an", was Ash'ari. Shaykh al-Islam ibn Hajar Haytami (d. 974/1567; Rahimullah), who wrote "al-Zawajir 'an iqtiraf al-kaba'ir", was Ash'ari. The Shaykh of Sacred Law and Hadith, the conclusive definitive Zakariyya Ansari (d. 926/1520; Rahimullah), was Ash'ari. Imam Abu Bakr Baqillani (d. 403/1013; Rahimullah), Imam 'Asqalani; Imam Nasafi (d. 710/1310; Rahimullah); Imam Shirbini (d. 977/1570; Rahimullah); Abu Hayyan Tawhidi, author of the Qur'anic commentary "al-Bahr al-muhit"; Imam ibn Juzayy (d. 741/1340; Rahimullah); author of "al-Tashil fi 'ulum al-Tanzil"; and others - all of these were Imams of the Ash'aris. If we wanted to name all of the top scholars of Hadith, Qur'anic exegesis, and Sacred Law who were Imams of the Ash'aris, we would be hard put to do so and would require volumes merely to list these illustrious figures whose wisdom has filled the earth from east to west. And it is incumbent upon us to give credit where credit is due, recognising the merit of those of knowledge and virtue who have served the Sacred Law of the Greatest Messengers (Allah bless him and grant him peace). What good is to be hoped for us if we impugn our foremost scholars and righteous forbearers with charges of aberrancy and misguidance? Or how should Allah give us the benefit of their scholarship if we believe it is deviance and departure from the way of Islam? I ask you, is there a single Islamic scholar of the present day, among all the PhD.'s and geniuses, who has done what Ibn Hajar 'Asqalani or Imam Nawawi have, of the service rendered by these two noble Imams (May Allah enfold them in His mercy and bliss) to the pure Prophetic Sunnah? How should we charge them and all Ash'aris with abberancy when it is we who are in need of their scholarship? Or how can we take knowledge from them if they were in error? For as Imam Zuhri (d. 124/742; rahimullah) says, "This knowledge is religion, so look well to whom you are taking your religion from."

Is it not sufficient for someone opposed to the Ash'aris to say, "Allah have mercy on them, they used reasoning (ijtihad) in figuratively interpreting the divine attributes, which it would have been fitter for them not to do"; instead of accusing them of deviance and misguidance, or displaying anger towards whoever considers them to be of the Sunni Community? If Imams Nawawi, 'Asqalani, Qurtubi, Baqillani, al-Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Haytami, Zakariyyah Ansari, and many others were not among the most brilliant scholars and illustrious geniuses, or of the Sunni Community, then who are the Sunnis?

I sincerely entreat all who call others to this religion or who work in the field of propagating Islam to fear Allah respecting the honour of the Community of Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is possessed of goodness until the Final Hour, we are bereft of any if we fail to acknowledge the worth and excellence of our learned."

In conclusion, the Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l Jama'ah are the true followers of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and his Companions (Allah be pleased with them all), followed by by those who trod their path for the last 1400 years. It is in summary the followers of Imam Abu'l Hasan al-Ash'ari (Rahimullah) and Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (Rahimullah) in Aqeedah, and this saved sect is represented by the adherents of one of the four schools - Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali today. This is the sect which has had the largest following throughout Islamic history as-Sawad al-Az'am) as confirmed by the Qur'anic and Ahadith based evidence and it will remain dominant until the Hour is established, inshaAllah.

[Faith]

NoorSeeker said:

Innal lillahi wainal ilayhe rajeoon

We will tremendously miss his leadership, guidance and the love which he showed to us.

May Allah raise his status even higher, and bless his soul with the qurb (closeness) of His Zaat (Being). May Allah SWT have mercy on us for the sake of his great servant Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alavi al-Maliki al-Makki.

AMEEN! it was a wonderfull story to read, and put a tear in my eye and like brother Walid, i never knew about Shaykh as-Sayyad Muhammad bin Alvi al-Maliki al-Makki, so thanx for sharing this with us.