[Kiran-Fatima]

As-salamu 'alaykum,

I thought, for reasons of tazkira as well as barakah, that we should start a thread with living Mashayikh of the taruq, who either live in the West or have a presence (by means of khulafa' or muqaddams) in the West.

Please list very brief details, including name, location, tariqa, website (if applicable) and brief biographical or other data.

Many of us are not initiated into a tariqa, so this may be helpful for some.

[Sister-Nur-Husayn]

Shaykh Sayyed Muhammad bin Yahya Al Ninowy

USA, Atlanta

www.ihsanpath.com (biography on either site)

www.alhaqq.net

wassalam

[agc04095]

salam

there are some great shaykhs i know and they are based in hijaz college, nuneaton.

these websites might help

www.hijaz.biz

http://www.blessedsummit.com/

[agc04095]

salam

I personally know some great living shaykhs and they are based in hijaz college, nuneaton.

These websites might help

www.hijaz.biz

www.blessedsummit.com

[Kiran-Fatima]

As-salamu 'alaykum. I learnt something from the first reply. I didn't know Shaykh Ninowi was a shaykh of tariqa as well.

[Sister-Nur-Husayn]

Date: 2008.11.13
YaNabi Moderator: Sister Nur.
Comments: removed link due to claims of "promotion"

[Sister-Nur-Husayn]

Date: 2008.11.13
YaNabi Moderator: Sister Nur.
Comments: removed link due to claims of "promotion"

[Kiran-Fatima]

As-salamu 'alaykum. Neither of these links say that the Shaykh is also accredited to receive bay'a and instruct muridin. It is one thing to study the texts of tasawwuf and to take from the mashayikh, and it is a different matter to be accredited as a shaykh of tarbiyya and to be able to give seekers the tariq. Can someone clarify?

Also I wished this thread simply to be a register kind of entries, not really for detailed discussion or 'promotion'. I hope you understand.

[Sister-Nur-Husayn]

There is no promotion sister, you asked about the tariqa and i gave you a links about
1. the biography and
2. the chains of tasawuf shaykh Ninowy has!

That is what you asked for!

That is clear enough for anyone to understand those chains are the ones they (DBA) are authorised to take students in.

If you didnt understand let me spell it out:

The main tariqa's that Shaykh Ninowy's students are initiated under are Qadiri, Shathili, and Naqshabandi.

I hope that satisfies your query.

Wassalam.

P.S. these kind of threads usually do end up having some form of discussion and / or extra information... this is a forum this is what happens!!!

[Asfoor-ul-Madina]

assalaamu alaikum wa rehmatullah,

Mawlana Sheikh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani Al-Qubrusi

http://www.sheiknazim2.com/
http://www.beforearmageddon.com/
http://www.hakkanipost.com/

[Kiran-Fatima]

As-salamu 'alaykum. Sister Nour got mad. Let me give an example: Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad is a murid of Shaykh Mash'hur al-Haddad in the Ba Alawi tariqa. Shaykh Abdal Hakim is also a Shaykh (and in my opinion the most learned of the convert scholars), however he is not a shaykh in tariqa. A shaykh is a generic title. A shaykh in fiqh (e.g. a mufti) is not also necessarily a muhaddith; a shaykh in tafsir is not necessarily a shaykh in tariqa. Moreover, someone who has studied tasawwuf, and is part of a tariqa, is not also necessary a shaykh in the tariqa. The investiture within in the realm of tasawwuf is no less stringent than in other areas of the Islamic sciences, the 'owaysiyya' notwithstanding. In fact, in the Shadhili tariqa the accrediation is typically in writing (like a diploma). In conclusion, the question is a valid one. 

[bd8bo]

.

[Abdul123]

Peer Sufi Mohammed Abdullah Khan Ghamkolvi, Birmingham
Peer Ala Uddin Siddiqui, Neriya Shareef (Victoria Road, Aston) Birmingham
Peer Sultan Fiaz ul Hassan and Peer Sultan Niaz ul Hassan of Hazrat Sultan Bahu Trust, Ombersley Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham
Peer Habib ur Rehman Mahboobi, Bradford and Dhanghree Shareef
Peer  Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani, Walthamstow, London
Peer Syed Shabir Shah of Chohra Shareef and Rochdale

[Chisti-Lover]

Sister fatima, do you have your heart set on any shaykh? is there any tariqa that interests you more? is there anything in particular you are looking for in a shaykh?

[loverofsaw]

Shaikh Syed Abdul Qadir JIlani, walthamstow, tel dar u loom qadri jilani 0208 520 4121 by far the most knowledgeable shaikh on the globe at the moment and shaikh in the qadriya tariqat.  He is from the lineage of shaikh syed abdul qadir jilani gawth al azam and receives his initiation from them. master of both wings which are the spritual and the knowledge. you wouldbe amazed about teh level of spirituality and knowledge they possess

[Sister-Nur-Husayn]

Originally posted by: zulfikar qadri jilani

Shaikh Syed Abdul Qadir JIlani, walthamstow, tel dar u loom qadri jilani 0208 520 4121 by far the most knowledgeable shaikh on the globe at the moment and shaikh in the qadriya tariqat.  He is from the lineage of shaikh syed abdul qadir jilani gawth al azam and receives his initiation from them. master of both wings which are the spritual and the knowledge. you wouldbe amazed about teh level of spirituality and knowledge they possess

Sidi, do they hold any dhikr circles or classes for brothers?

[Naqshbandi-Hijazi]

Asalaamualaikum,

Hazrat Faiz Ul Aqtab Siddiqi peer-e-tariqat from Nuneaton

Wasalaam

[Kiran-Fatima]

As-salamu 'alaykum. I don't wish to digress, but as far as the question posed to me, I can only refer to the following:

Necessary qualifications of a Shaykh

The basic requirements for a person to be a Sufi Shaykh are as follows (from Shaykh Nuh Keller's Tariqa Notes).

1. Being a Sunni Muslim with valid tenents of faith ('aqida)
   
2. Being a scholar ('alim) of Sacred Law capable of answering most questions about what Allah expects of him and his students without having to ask someone else.
   
3. Having a verifiably public authorization from a spiritual guide to be a spiritual guide, connecting him through a chain of transmission (silsila) without a single break back to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).
   
4. Being male, as a guide is a heir of the prophets, all of whom were men.
   
5. Being suitable to take as an exemplar in the religion, not disobedient or wicked in his personal life.
   
6. Knowing the fundamental terms of Sufism such as fanaa' (annihilation), baqaa' (subsistence), marifa (gnosis), and the rest, by having actually tread the path under a shaykh and understood them at first hand.
   
7. Exalting the commands of the Allah in word and deed, and knowing that it is above every human being.
   
8. Having permission from Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) - beyond the authorization given to him by his shaykh - manifest in his tawfiq or 'success' in inculcating the perfections of Islam, Iman and Ihsan in his disciples.
   
9. Finding a disciple capable of taking his teaching and absorbing his secret from him; that is, being the shaykh that the Allah has destined for that disciple.
   
10. Not being self-satisfied, or veiled from his own neediness to the Allah by his disciples' need for him.
     
    
    Conditions for Being a Murid

1. Having a valid aim in taking the path, meaning seeking Allah alone and nothing besides.
   
2. Being genuine, meaning convinced of the secret between one's shaykh and Allah, and willing to submit, and listen, and follow.
   
3. Having good manners, noble character, and respect for others.
   
4. Having praiseworthy states such as patience, silence, reliance on Allah, nonattachment to material things, and lack of curiosity about what does not concern one.
   
5. Giving selfless service, whether convenient or inconvenient, to Allah, the sunnah, the tariqa, and to one's fellow man.
   
6. Venerating Allah and Muhammad, its religion, its friends (awliya'), and everything else it is said to have exalted.
   
7. Having high spiritual resolve.
   
8. Unfalteringly carrying out one's decisions, undeterred by the Devil, this world, one's ego, or vain caprice.

[Kiran-Fatima]

As-salamu 'alaykum,

To get the tread back on track, I submit an entry myself.

Shaykh: Nurul Alam, PhD
Residence: Toronto, Oman
Silsila: Several

Branches: Scandinavia, Iceland, Canada, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc.

Website: http://mission-alnoor.org/ and
http://mission-alnoor.org/biodata_details_front.asp?N_ID=1

[jillani-hussein]

Shaykh muhammad imdad hussain pirzada of jamia al-karam, uk: www.mihpirzada.com An inspiring scholar and great shaykh!