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BIOGRAPHY OF
IMAM AL-HADDAD
Imam al-Haddad was one the great scholars of the Bani 'Alawi family of Hadramaut.
His influence, in the West, through his books and awrad, has been considerable.
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Teacher: Shaykh Abdal Aziz Ahmed

Born and educated in Nottingham. Qualified as a teacher from Leicester, taught in England, Scotland, USA, South
Africa and Saudi Arabia.

He has travelled to Tunisa, Hijaz, Yemen, Turkey and East Africa for Islamic Studies. Studied under Al-Habib Ahmed
Mashur, Al Haddad (Jeddah), Shaykh Abdul Rahman Al Khitamy (Kenya), Fethullah Gulen (Turkey), Abdul Qsim Bin
Zein (Qairnawan, Tunisia). Spent 10 years with Shaykh Mahmud Galal, a lecturer at Al Azhar. Translated Al Risalah
Al Jamiah of Ahmed Bin Zein Al Habashi. Edited some books from Riali Al Nur and speeches of Fethullah Gulen.
Imam al-Haddad
‘Abdulllah bin ‘Alawi al-Haddad is best known as ‘Imam al-Haddad’ or ‘Qutb al-Irshad’ (The
Pillar of Guidance). He was born in a Subair on the northern outskirts of Tarim in Hadramaut
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on the night of Sunday 5 Safar, 1044H, corresponding to 1 August 1634 ce. Allah took his
sight at the age of four, after which his parents paid special attention to his Islamic education.
Despite his young age and the loss of his sight, he was known for his sharp memory,
comprehension and recall. He memorised the Quran and several other texts while still a child
and then went on to study under a number of the prominent scholars of his time. Among the
140 scholars he studied under were:

Abdul Rahman bin Shaykh, known as Mawlay Aidid

Abdul Rahman’s son, Shaykh bin Abdul Rahman
Aqil bin Abdul Rahman al-Saqqaf
Umar bin Abdul Rahman al-Attas
Abu Bakr bin Abdul Rahman al-Saqqaf
Shaykhan bin Hussain bin Shaykh Abu Bakr bin Salim

Imam al-Haddad corresponded with his Shaykh, the Imam, Muhammad bin ‘Alawi bin
Muhammad al-Saqqaf in Makkah and travelled to the town of Shihr to study under, Ahmed bin
Nasir bin Ahmed bin Shaykh Abu Bakr bin Salim.

Imam al-Haddad was very concerned about his community and preserving the religious
values of Hadramaut. To this end, he wrote copiously and travelled to various communities
calling them to the religion of Islam to traditional values. Because of his great efforts, he
gained the title ‘Pillar of Guidance’. His books remain popular sources of inspiration and
guidance. They have been translated into many languages including English, French, Malay,
Indonesian, Urdu, Swahili and Turkish. Several of his books and poems have had extensive
commentaries written on them. He is said to have reached the status of mujtahid in 70
branches of Islamic knowledge.

In 1079 (1668 ce), Imam al-Haddad performed the pilgrimage to Makkah and visited the
Prophet, upon him be peace, in Madina. He met many of the world’s leading scholars and
came back with even greater vigour and desire to call people to Islam and teach the religion.
On his return, he settled in al-Hawi on the outskirts of Tarim where he established his home
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and mosque. He remained there until his death on the night of Tuesday 7 Dhul Qada 1132
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corresponding to 12 August 1720 ce.

Imam al-Haddad has a number of litanies, which are read as acts of devotion and reminders
of the basic principles of monotheism. The most famous of his litanies are the famous Ratib
(al-ratib al-shahir) and the Wird al-Latif.

He produced many great students. Among the most famous were his son al-Imam Hasan bin
Abdullah al-Haddad and al-Habib Ahmed bin Zayn al-Habashi and the two brothers Umar and
Muhammad bin Zayn bin ‘Alawi bin Sumeit, Umar bin Abdul Rahman al-Bar and Abdul
Rahman bin Abdullah Balfaqih.

His contribution to the spread of Islam through his words and actions and his students and
writings was immense. His works continue to inspire and he remains the ‘Pillar of Guidance’
he had been during his lifetime. May Allah reward him greatly and help us to imitate the noble
Prophet through his fine example.
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Abdul Aziz Ahmed 7 Dhul Qada1421