Who are Wifaqul Ulama and the Scholars who support it?
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(Qari) Muhammad Shoyaib Nurgat
Question: Please explain as to who are Wifaqul Ulama and the Scholars who support it? Can I get the name of some of the major British Scholars who support your stance on Moon Sighting? Why are Wifaqul Ulama only concerned with Moon? Doesn’t the Ummah have bigger problems?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh
We would like to begin by extending our gratitude to you for asking this question. May Allah (SWT) give you the best of rewards (Ameen).
Moon Sighting is an issue which affects Muslim regardless of their sectarian affiliations. What we mean to imply is that Moon Sighting is required for the establishment of Islamic acts of worships regardless of your affiliations. i.e. you could be Deobandi, Barelwee, Salafi etc but you still require a system of Moon Sighting. There are many Ulama and bodies in Britain who (MashaAllah) perform specific duties for example Halal certification etc. It is unfair to say to these Ulama that they have confined themselves to the issue of “Halal Food” and neglected other areas of Islam. However, when it comes to Ulama who are involved with Wifaqul Ulama we believe that by the time you reach the end of this small introduction your views that Wifaqul Ulama only concern themselves with Moon will be evaporated, InshaAllah.
Deobandi British Muslims unanimously traditionally followed Morocco. Due to an incident in the 1980’s temporary permission was given to follow Saudia. This decision was disagreed with at that time by many British Ulama and has been revoked by Darul-uloom Deoband in writing. This will be discussed on our site in a separate article, InshaAllah.
Maulana Yaqoob Qasmi
Foremost, amongst them is Maulana Yaqoob Qasmi who is one of the only graduate in the field of Astronomical Sciences from Darul-uloom Deoband, he disagreed with the decision then. Maulana is a well-recognised and established Scholar in the field of Astronomical sciences, Fiqh and as the one show established the first Islamic Shariah council in Britain.
Maulana Yaqoob Qasmi supports the methodology, mechanism, policies and methods of Wifaqul Ulama.
Allamah (Dr) Khalid Mahmood
Allama (Dr) Khalid Mahmud is an Islamic scholar. He is one of the senior scholars of Dar ul Uloom Ta’leemud — Din Dabhel. He served as justice of Supreme court of Pakistan (Shariat Appellate Bench).He is also director of the Islamic Academy of Manchester, UK.
Allamah Khalid Mahmood supports the methodology, mechanism, policies and methods of Wifaqul Ulama. Today due to his senior age Allamah has deputed Scholars from Islamic Academy of Manchester UK to keep in touch with and inform him of the affairs of Wifaqul Ulama.
Maulana Sameeruddin Qasmi
For over 25–30 years Maulana Sameeruddin Qasmi has produced sighting curves and possibility criteria. Maulana Sameeruddin Qasmi is a prolific writer and has written many magnificent books, foremost amongst them:
- Four (4) volume commentray of Quduri
- Eight (8) volume commentray of Hidaya
- Two (2) volume commentray of Nural Idah
We are not aware of any Hanafi Scholar in the West of such prolific works.
Maulana Sameeruddin Qasmi supports the methodology, mechanism, policies and methods of Wifaqul Ulama.
Maulana Muhammad Hasan Bodhanvi
After completing his studys at Darul Uloom Deoband Shaykh ul Islam Hadhrat Maulana Syed Hussain Ahmed Madani (Rahmatullah Alaih) gave Hadhrat (Damat Barakatuhum) special written Ijaazah of الاجازة المسندة لساءر الكتب والفنون المتداولة (Permission of all the Kitaabs and Sciences which are taught in the curriculum of Darul Uloom), Hadhrat Shaykh (Damat Barakatuhum)was also given special Ijaazah(permission) of Amaliyat by Shaykh ul Islam Hadhrat Maulana Syed Hussain Ahmed Madani(Rahmatullah Alaih).
Ulama have continued to follow Morocco in Britain for decades but it was Maulana Muhammad Hasan Bodhanvi who officially founded Wifaqul Ulama and was its first Ameer.
Maulana Muhammad Hasan Bodhanvi supports the methodology, mechanism, policies and methods of Wifaqul Ulama but due to health reasons and old age is confined to his locality of Wasall and is unable to run the affairs of Wifaqul Ulama on a regular basis.
We request your duas for our noble Shaykh.
Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Mohammad Ayub Bande Ilahi
He is the beloved student of Allamah (Muhadith) Yunus Jonpuri and currently a Shaykhul-Hadeeth in Britain. He is also compiling the works of his Shaykh as al-Yawaqeet al-Ghaliyah.
Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Mohammad Ayub Bande Ilahi is the current Amer of Wifaqul Ulama.
Mufti Ismail Kacholvi
Mufti Ismail Kacholvi at present the Shaikul Hadith of Jamiah Husainia Randair. He is a Senior British Mufti and teacher of many Senior British Muftees.
Mufti Ismail Kacholvi supports the methodology, mechanism, policies and methods of Wifaqul Ulama and since the establishment of BMSC (Batley Moon Sighting Committee) is part of the (Batley) Ulama. The only practical difference between Wifaqul Ulama and BMSC (Batley Moon Sighting Committee) is that later was established 2 years later and looks after the affairs of their city.
Khatme-Nabuwwat
Maulana Sohail Bawa and his father Abdul Rahman Bawa are well known for their works in their field of Khatme-Nabuwwat throughout Britain and Pakistan.
Both Maulana Sohail Bawa and his father Abdul Rahman Bawa support the methodology, mechanism, policies and methods of Wifaqul Ulama.
Closing remarks:
For the sake of brevity, we have only listed well known Ulama and due to constraints skipped to mention many Ulama like Imam Qasim (Alkhair Foundation & Iqra TV), Shaykh Suliman Ghani (worked with other prominent Muslims to have Shaker Ammer released from Guantanamo Bay) etc. I hope that the article has shed some light on the background of Ulama associated with and those who endorse Wifaqul Ulama.
May Allah (SWT) give us all the ability to understand, obey and propagate the commands of Allah (SWT) and noble Sunan of His Nabi (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) (Ameen).
جزاك اللهُ خيرًا
