Wikipedia

Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq

Riyadh ul Haq(born 1971) is a British Islamic scholar.[1]He has been lecturing and teaching as the lead scholar at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester since 2004.[1]

Shaykhul-Hadith
Riyadh ul Haq
Riyadh ul Haq in 2022
Personal
Born(1971-06-15)15 June 1971(age 53)
Nani Naroli,Surat,Gujarat,India
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanafi
MovementDeobandi
Notable work(s)Al Kawthar Academy
Alma materDarul Uloom Bury
TeachersYusuf Motala
Mahmood Hasan Gangohi
Yunus Jaunpuri
OccupationKhatib
Websitehttp://akacademy.org/shaykhriyadhulhaq/

Early life

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Riyadh ul Haq was born in the village ofNani Naroli,Gujarat,Indiain 1971 and moved to Leicester at the age of three with his father who was an Imam at one of the mosques in the city.[1]His father, Muhammad Gora,[2][3]was a scholar and the family were treated with a lot of respect by the community.[1]

Education

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Darul Uloom al Arabiyyah al Islamiyyah

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In 1984, aged thirteen Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq enrolled atDarul Uloom al Arabiyyah al Islamiyyah,Bury, UK. Due to his academic abilities, he was fast-tracked into adult classes within a year of arrival at the seminary.[1]

Authorisation

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He hasijazah(authorisation) in various Islamic sciences fromYusuf Motalaand the late Islam ul Haq. He also has ijazah in ḥadīth fromMahmood Hasan GangohiandMuhammad Yunus JaunpuriofMazahir Uloom, Saharanpur,India.[4]

Career

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Riyadh ul Haq teaching 'Fundamentals of Understanding the Glorious Qur'an' Course in London, June 2009

Early work

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After his graduation, he became theKhaṭībofBirmingham Central Mosqueat the age of 21.[1][5]He was recruited as theKhaṭībnot only for his scholarship but also because of his ability to deliver the Friday sermon in Urdu, English and Arabic.[1]At this time he also began teaching ḥadīth at Madinatul Uloom al Islamiyyah, Kidderminster, UK. Until 2003, Riyadh ul Haq served as the honorary headmaster of Madinatul Uloom Al-Islamiyyah, where he was previouslySadr Mudarris(head teacher/dean of the faculty).[6]

Al Kawthar Academy

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Since 2004, Riyadh ul Haq has been the lead scholar at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester. Al Kawthar Academy has been described as one of the "most important part-time Islamic colleges" in the UK.[1]The Al Kawthar Academy offers a range of Islamic educational courses including up toalim-level. Riyadh ul Haq is accredited with developing the curriculum for their seven-yearalimcourse, taught with 12 hours of study per week.[7]

Lectures and Publications

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Since graduation he has devoted himself to the work of religion and actively engaged in propagation of Islam and teaching. He has taught and commented on numerous classical Islamic works and has lectured extensively on a range of topics including Qurʼānic tafsīr, ḥadīth, aqīdah, fiqh and spirituality. He has also travelled widely, teaching and lecturing in various countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.[8]Many of his sermons and lectures are recorded and are widely available. He has also authored two books, The Salah of a Believer in the Quran and Sunnah[6][9][10]and 'Causes of Disunity'[11]

One of Riyadh ul Haq's most notable contributions to Islamic scholarship has been his detailed commentary of 'The Abridged Sahih al-Bukhari'.[12]which is a comprehensive collection of ḥadīth (sayings and actions of Muhammad). This collection is considered the most important book after the Qur'an for Sunni Muslims.[13][14]At the time that ul Haq began these lectures in 2001 it was noted that this was the first time that theseaḥadīthhad been taught in English in a systemic, detailed and thorough manner to the lay public.[15][16]He has always argued that thehadithare an integral part of Islam and thatfiqh(Islamic jurisprudence) cannot be understood without the hadith.

Spirituality

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We may have reason to disagree but disagreement itself is no reason to hate. Our resentment is more a reflection of ourselves than others.

— Riyadh ul Haq,[17]

Alongside teaching ofhadith,Riyadh ul Haq focuses on spirituality (tazkiyah). His spiritual teachings, which date back around 20 years,[18]focus on reformation of the character and purification of the soul.[1]His spiritual chain (silsila) is well-documented. Short excerpts from his spiritual discourses are published online.[19]These make it clear that his spiritual teachings cover a range of topics including social etiquettes and responsibility, love, and family ties. His emphasis ontazkiyahhas led to him being labelled as a 'Sufi' and attacked bymadkhaligroups.[20][21]

Charitable Work

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His expertise and experience is sought by many charities, organisations and bodies for whom he regularly lectures for. These include assisting with humanitarian appeals such asUmmah Welfare Trust's,[22]'Cries of the Ummah' appeal,[23]as well as local community work within Leicestershire (for example Leicestershire Youth Awards 2008 with the Federation of Muslim Organisations).[24]He has also been involved in assisting the work of Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC).[25][26]

Influence and international recognition

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Ul Haq was listed in the 2010 Third Edition of 'The 500 Most Influential Muslims' published by Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.[27]It states: "Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq is a very influential speaker and leading Deobandi scholar in the UK. He has been markedly influential through his work with the Al Kawthar Academy in Leicester. Al Kawthar is a leading Islamic educational institution at the forefront of knowledge proliferation through diverse media forms."[27]

Ul Haq was also listed in the 2012 Second Edition of 'The Muslim 500: The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims 2012'[28]

Media Portrayal

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Andrew Norfolk Articles

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In September 2007,The Timespublished a news item by Andrew Norfolk accusing Riyadh ul Haq of being the "homegrown cleric who loathes the British"[29]and a commentary article from the same author claiming there was a "hardline takeover of British mosques" led by ul Haq. In an opinion piece by the same author on the same date there was a claim that ul Haq was in line to become the spiritual leader of theDeobandi'sect' in Britain, despite allegedly having extreme views.[30]Andrew Norfolk published further opinion articles inThe Timescalling the Deobandis historically anti-British,[31]including an article about another Deobandi scholar,Muhammad Taqi Usmani.[32][33]

Response of UK Muslim Community

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Andrew Norfolk's articles have been criticised by various Muslim groups and commentators.[34]Andrew Norfolk's analysis of Deobandis was apparently based on a police report. However, it has been suggested that the source was a report written by an external consultant for the City of London Police, which had been in circulation for over a year before The Times article.[35]The consultant, Mehmood Naqshbandi himself writes 'the attention given to a presumed cadre of extremist and foreign imams preaching in mosques is seriously misplaced'.[34][36]

Amongst the immediate responses, 'The Guardiancarried a "Comment is Free" opinion article by Inayat Bunglawala, media secretary for theMuslim Council of Britain,calling Norfolk's work a "toxic mix of fact and nonsense".[37]TheMuslim Public Affairs Committee UK(MPACUK) claimed on their own web-site that even theBerelviswere coming out in defence of Riyadh al Haq.[38]MPACUK also referred to the attacks on ul Haq as a "decapitation strategy" because he pro-actively advocated political activism.[39]

Condemnation of Terrorism

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Riyadh ul Haq joined religious leaders and the wider Muslim community in Leicestershire in condemning themurder of Lee Rigbyin May 2013. He 'expressed his deepest sadness and condemnation at what unfolded in Woolwich'.[40]

Publications

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Books

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  • The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah(ISI: Birmingham, 2002)
  • Causes of Disunity(ISI: Birmingham, 1998)

Poems

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  • Whispers of the Night(ISI: Birmingham, July 2000)

See more

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghiBowen, Innes (13 June 2014).Medina in Birmingham, Najaf in Brent: Inside British Islam.C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd.ISBN9781849043014.
  2. ^"Funeral of Imam Mohamedbhai Peerbhai known as Maulana Gora Sahib, at Spinney Hill Park in Leicester, was attended by thousands | Leicester Mercury".Archived fromthe originalon 17 July 2013.Retrieved7 September2013.
  3. ^FMO Press ReleaseArchived6 January 2014 at theWayback MachinePassing of Maulana Gora Sahib 13 July 2013
  4. ^Al WaqiahShaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq Biography
  5. ^Raphael Israeli (2009).Muslim Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe: Elemental and Residual Anti-Semitism.Transaction Publishers. p. 284.ISBN978-1412810357.
  6. ^abShaykh Riyadh ul HaqHaq Islam - Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq
  7. ^"Alim Course (16+) | Al Kawthar Academy | 'The Abundance of Good'".akacademy.org.Archived fromthe originalon 2 March 2016.Retrieved1 March2016.
  8. ^Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul HaqIqra Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq
  9. ^The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah,Islamic Shariah Institute (2002)
  10. ^The Salah of a Believer in the Quran and SunnahThe Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah
  11. ^Causes of DisunityCauses of Disunity
  12. ^Bukhari LessonsArchived25 December 2013 at theWayback Machine
  13. ^The Canonization of Al-Bukhari and Muslim: The Formation and Function of the Sunni Hadith Canonby Jonathan Brown,BRILL,2007
  14. ^Muqaddimah Ibn al-Salah,pg. 160-9 Dar al-Ma’aarif edition
  15. ^"Bukhari Dars Blog".bukhariblog.com.Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2014.Retrieved16 April2015.
  16. ^"The Abridged Sahih al Bukhari".bysiness.co.uk.Retrieved16 April2015.
  17. ^"@Sh_RiyadhulHaq"onTwitter
  18. ^"Religion is Firm - Content Soul – Nafsun Mutma'innah brought to you by Al Kawthar Academy".Retrieved6 March2016.
  19. ^Content SoulContent Soul
  20. ^What is Sufism?Archived31 December 2013 at theWayback MachineThe Aqeedah of Wahdatul Wajood, Luton Islamic Centre
  21. ^Ahlus Sunnah awl JamaatArchived30 December 2013 at theWayback MachineAshari Sufi Daaiees
  22. ^"Ummah Welfare Trust (UWT) Committed to 100% Donations".uwt.org.Retrieved16 April2015.
  23. ^Ummah Welfare Trust 'Cries of the Ummah' London conference - Shaykh Riyadh ul HaqLondon Sunday 19 May 2013.
  24. ^Federation of Muslim Organistations (FMO) Leicestershire Youth Awards 2008Unsung Hero Award 2008
  25. ^HMC AudioArchived28 December 2013 at theWayback MachineEffects of Haram in our Worship & Offspring- Who's Responsible? Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq, First HMC Seminar 19 September 2004
  26. ^HMC NewsletterArchived28 December 2013 at theWayback MachineHMC Newsletter, Issue 4, 2004
  27. ^abhttp://rissc.jo/docs/new/Muslim500-2010-Third-Edition-001.pdfArchived23 April 2020 at theWayback MachineThe 500 Most Influential Muslims PDF.
  28. ^The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential MuslimsArchived23 September 2015 at theWayback Machine,pg. 135 The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. The ISBN printed in the document (978-9975-428-37-2) is bad; it causes a checksum error.
  29. ^The homegrown cleric who loathes the BritishThe Times, Andrew Norfolk 7 September 2007.
  30. ^Hardline takeover of British mosques"a stark manifesto of separationist loathing." The Times, Andrew Norfolk 7 September 2007.
  31. ^A movement fostered by the fear of ‘imperial’ rule- The Times, 7 September 2007.
  32. ^Two faces of British youth in thrall to sinister Muslim sectThe Times, Andrew Norfolk 8 September 2007.
  33. ^Our followers ‘must live in peace until strong enough to wage jihad’The Times, Andrew Norfolk 8 September 2007.
  34. ^abSalaam BlogsArchived22 September 2018 at theWayback MachineMuslim-bashing: sign of The Times 14 September 2007
  35. ^Isolating ExtremismMehmood Naqshbandi, Muslims in Britain Isolating Extremism
  36. ^Problems and Practical Solutions to Tackle Extremism; and Muslim Youth and Community Issues,Mehmood Naqhsbandi, THE SHRIVENHAM PAPERS - Number 1 August 2006
  37. ^A toxic mix of fact and nonsenseInayat Bunglawala, Guardian "Comment is free", 9 September 2007.
  38. ^The Berelvis Come Out In Defence of Riyadh ul HaqArchived17 September 2010 at theWayback MachineMuslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK), 11 September 2007.
  39. ^Decapitation Strategy - Sheikh Riyadh ul Haq & Dr Mahmood ChandiArchived11 June 2011 at theWayback MachineMPACUK, 11 September 2007.
  40. ^- Press release - Woolwich murderArchived27 December 2013 at theWayback MachineFMO 27 May 2013.
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