Name: Abdur Raheem, son of Mawlana Qari Dawood
Ancestral Name: Limbada
Place of Birth: Bodhan, Surat district, Gujarat, India
Ancestral Home: Umarwada, Bharuch district, Gujarat, India Limbada
Early Education:
Shaikh’s early education took place at his place of birth and at his father’s residential village of Bodhan. His first teacher was Hadhrat Mawlana Munshi Gulam Muhammad Tai Sahib R.A. Thereafter, he completed his learning of the Qur’an at his ancestral home in Umarwada, together with his secular education and 4 levels of the Gujarati language.
Memorisation of the Holy Qur’an:
After learning to read the Qur’an, and on the instruction of his father, he enrolled at Madresah Sirajul Uloom, Matwaad, Navsari district, Gujarat. Within a short period of 9-months he memorised 26 paras (juz) of the Qur’an with his teacher Hafiz Sufi Ahmad Karodiya Sahib at the tender age of 10 years.
In October 1972, his father migrated to England and became the Imam and Teacher at the former (first) Tablighi Markaz in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. In 1975, Shaikh’s father invited the rest of his family to join him in Dewsbury after which Shaikh completed the remaining 4 paras of Hifz and made a full revision of the Qur’an with his father.
Darul Uloom, Bury – Student and Graduation:
In 1978, Shaikh enrolled as a student at the institute set up by Qutub of Bartaaniya, Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Yusuf Motala Sahib R.A named Darul Uloom Bury, this was the first Islamic institute of its kind in Europe.
Shaikh exerted all his efforts and devotion in learning the Islamic sciences. He learnt most of his early Arabic books from Hadhrat Mawlana Ismail Wadi Wala Sahib , Hadhrat Mawlana Saifur Rehman Sahib دامت برکاتہم (Sheikhul Hadith of Madresah Sawlatiya, Makkah Mukarramah), Hadhrat Mawlana Hafiz Ahmad Sahib دامت برکاتہم and Hadhrat Mawlana Abdullah Whalu Sahib دامت برکاتہم
He studied Usul Shashi from Hadhrat Mawlana Ibrahim Desai Sahib , Sharh-e-Aqaaid from Hadhrat Mawlana Ismail Wadi Wala Sahib and the Arabic language from a teacher sent by Azhar University, Cairo, Sheikh Abdul Latif Hilal Misri.
Shaykh studied Hidaaya Awwal, Maqamaatul Hareeri, Sab’a Muallaqaat, Mukhtaraat by Hazrat Shaykh Yusuf Motala saheb Rahmatullahi alayhi.
The Shaikh studied the first volume of Mishkaat ul-Masabih and the second part of Jalalayn by Hadhrat Mawlana Hashim Jogwadi Sahib دامت برکاتہم , second volume of Mishkat ul-Masabih and the first part of Jalalayn under the tutelage of Hadhrat Mufti Shabbir Ahmad Patel Sahib دامت برکاتہم . Hidayah and Mueenul Faraidh was studied under Hadhrat Mawlana Umarji Sahib.
In the final year, he studied Sahih al-Bukhari and Sunan Ibn Majah with Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Islamul Haq Sahib, Sunan Tirmidhi, Sharh Mua’niul Athaar and Shamaile Tirmidhi with Hadhrat Mawlana Yusuf Motala Sahib. Sahih Muslim, Muwatta Imam Malik and Muwatta Imam Muhammad was taught by Mufti Shabbir Ahmed Patel Sahib . Sunan Abi Dawood was studied with Hadhrat Mawlana Hashim Jogwadi Sahib دامت برکاتہم and Sunan Nasai with Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Bilal Bawa Sahib .
Shaikh completed his Darse Nizami (Alamiyyah course) and graduated from Darul Uloom Bury in 1984.
Student at Mazahirul Uloom, Saharanpur:
After the completion of Darse Nizami, he was instructed by Hadhrat Mawlana Yusuf Motala Sahib to enrol at the renowned institute, Madrasah Mazahirul Uloom in Saharanpur, India. He did simaa (studied hadith) of Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from Ameerul Mumineen fil Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Yunus Sahib Jownpuri , studied Sharh Uqood Rasmul Mufti, Al-Asbah wa al-Nadhair and practice of writing Fataawa (religious verdicts) under the tutelage of Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Sahib Gangohi . The Administrator of Mazahirul Uloom, Hadhrat Mawlana Sayyad Salman Sahib Mazahiri taught him Tafsir Baydhawi and from Hadhrat Mawlana Sayyad Muhammad Aqil Sahib Saharanpuri دامت برکاتہم he studied Sharh Aqaaid, and few chapters of Durre Mukhtar.
Permission for Narrating Hadith:
Shaikh has been granted permission to narrate Ahadith by Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Zakariyya Sahib Khandalwi Muhajir Madani, Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Yunus Sahib Jownpuri, Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Islamul Haq Sahib, Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Yusuf Motala Sahib, Hadhrat Mawlana Taqiudeen Sahib Nadwi دامت برکاتہم and many others.
Teaching Career:
Shaikh taught at Darul Uloom Bury from 1985 for over 30 years. He was privileged to teach most of the books of Darse Nizami including parts of Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and Sunan Tirmidhi.
Furthermore, under the instruction of Sheikhul Hadith Mawlana Yusuf Motala Sahib R.A, for a substantial period of time he was responsible for management and administrative affairs at Darul Uloom Bury.
Spirituality and Pledge of Allegiance:
Shaikh first gave bayah (pledge of allegiance) to Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Zakariyah Sahib Khandalwi Muhajir Madani R.A during his trip to the UK in 1981. After his demise, he maintained his spiritual connection with his respected teacher and mentor Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Yusuf Motala Sahib R.A.
Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Yusuf Motala Sahib R.A had such trust in Shaikh that for many years during the month of Ramadhan, he appointed him with the responsibility to provide guidance and patronage to the people performing itikaaf at Darul Uloom Bury.
Permission and Khilafah:
In 1988 his sheikh and guide Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Yusuf Motala Sahib R.A granted him khilafah (successorship), subsequently he has also received khilafah from Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Yunus Sahib Jownpuri R.A, Hadhrat Mawlana Peer Muhammad Talha Sahib Khandalwi R.A, Hadhrat Mawlana Peer Aziz al-Rahman Sahib Hazarwi R.A and Hadhrat Mawlana Hashim Sahib Joghwari دامت برکاتہم , all of whom are Khulafaa of Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Zakariyah Sahib Khandalwi Muhajir Madani R.A.
Tafsir of the Holy Qur’an:
In 1990, Shaikh started to teach Tafsir of the Qur’an to a group of doctors and those who had been through formal secular education. After a period, this circle expanded to include a wider group of people.
By the Grace of Allah, this service continued for 30 years and on 25th December 2020 the completion of the Tafsir of the Qur’an culminated with a grand gathering held under the leadership of Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Bilal Bawa Sahib دامت برکاتہم (Khalifah of Sheikhul Hadith Mawlana Mohammad Zakariyyah Khandalwi Sahib R.A) at Zakariya Jame Masjid, Bolton, England.
To ensure maximum and far-reaching benefit, from the 30 years of teaching, numerous subjects from the Tafsir were transcribed. Currently there is ongoing efforts to convert those writings into book form and have them published. The first three books, covering lessons from Juz Amma, called ‘Fath Al-Rahman Al-Raheem fi Tafsir Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem’ has already been published. The fourth volume of this book is being worked on.
Besides Juz Amma, lessons from other Juz of the Qur’an are being transcribed and written. Inshallah these will be published soon and will benefit its readers.
Guidance and Spiritual Gatherings:
Besides the regular teaching of Qur’an and Hadith, once a week Shaikh gives lessons on the commentary of the Qur’an at Raheemi Academy and a lecture on Hadith at Ashrafia Masjid in Bolton. These lectures are broadcast live on the internet.
Every Thursday evening, Shaikh presides at a spiritual gathering in which he gives talks on spirituality and reformation which is followed by a majlis of Durood Shareef.
Furthermore, Shaikh is invited to various programmes during the weekends across the country. His associates, students and the general masses take much benefit from these gatherings and take advantage from his teachings and spiritual lectures.
Shaikh holds a daily gathering of zikr after fajr salah which is broadcast live to enable his students and those associated spiritually connected to him to listen and participate.
Hulton Lane Centre For Education / Raheemi Academy:
Shaikh commenced teaching local students in Bolton from 2014. Initially, due to insufficient building facilities, teaching was from his home and then relocated to Masjid Tawfeeq in Bolton. Then with the Grace of Allah a property was purchased in 2018 and named Hulton Lane Cantre For Education (HLCE). A Madressah (Raheemi Academy) was established and currently he is teaching various books of Darse Nizami there.
Publications
Further to being extoled by Almighty Allah with oratory skills, Shaikh has also been blessed with writing abilities. Shaikh has written a number of books in the Urdu and English languages. Some notable writings are as follows:
1. Fath al-Rahman fi Tafsir Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem (Surah Naba to Surah Infitaar) – Urdu
2. Fath al-Rahman fi Tafsir Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem (Surah Tatfeef to Surah Gashiyah) – Urdu
3. Chiraag-e-Sahanpur (Muhaddith al-Asar Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Yunus Jownpuri Sahib ) – Urdu
4. TV ke Nuqsanaat – Urdu
5. Yasalunak (A collection of Questions and Answers) – Urdu
6. Buyootul Muttaqeen – Urdu
7. Tafseer of Surah Fatiha – English
8. Tafseer of Surah Yusuf – English
9. Tafseer of Surah Maryam – English
10. Tafseer of Surah Nuh – English
11. Tafseer of the verses on Salat & Salam – English
12. Al-Qur’an, The Path of Perfection – English
13. Lessons from the life of Hafiz Patel Sahib – English
14. A Gift of Nikah – English
15. A Gift of Ramadhan – English
16. Tajweed for Young Children – English
17. The Messenger of Virtue – English
Travels:
By the Grace of Allah, in pursuit of spreading the knowledge of Islam and providing spiritual reformation Shaikh regularly travels to various countries such as Canada, America, Portugal and Barbados, & Guyana. Such travels provide people across the globe to benefit from the teachings and guidance of the Shaikh.
May Allah preserve shaykh and keep his shadow over us for a long time with Aafiyat. Ameen
