Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Ibn Ibrahim Is’haq
Sahib was born on the 24th of Shawwal 1364 AH (20th September
1946) on the auspicious day of Jumu’ah at 1 p.m. (the time of Jumu’ah) in
Primrose, a district of Germiston, on the East Rand, as recorded by his father
on the back of his birth certificate.
Hadhrat Moulana Sahib grew up in difficult
conditions. The dwelling of Hadhrat Maulana’s family was a stable which had
been converted into a house.
At the young age of nine, Hadhrat Moulana lost his
mother, Amina. (May Allah جَÙ„َّ جَÙ„َالُÙ‡ٗ shower her Qabr
with His mercy).
Moulana attained his Maktab education at Madrasah
Quwwatul-Islam in Germiston. Amongst his Asatizah, were: Moulana Fakhruddin
Sahib (RA), Hafiz Muhammad Salloo Sahib (RA), Moulana Ahmed Bera Sahib (RA) and
Apa Zubeida (RA).
Moulana attended the Singh Indian Primary School in
Germiston up to standard five (1370-1376/1952-1958). Thereafter, he proceeded
to William Hills High School in Benoni where he completed his Matric
(1377-1381/1959-1963).
In 1382/1964 (at the age of 17), Hadhrat Moulana
enrolled at the Waterval Islamic Institute (Mias Farm) to study the Aalim
Course. There, over a period of five years, Maulana studied various Kitaabs,
including Hidaaya Awwalain and Jalaalain, under the expert tuition of Asatiza
such as: Mufti Ibrahim Sanjalwi Sahib (RA), Mufti Bashir Sanjalwi Sahib (RA),
and Moulana Ibrahim Mia Sahib (RA).
During this very period Moulana utilized whatever
free time was available for the memorisation of the Qur’aan Majeed which he
completed under the renowned Ustaadh of Hifz, Hadhrat Hafiz Abdur Rahmaan Mia
Sahib (RA).
Thereafter in 1388 AH (1969), at the age of 22
Moulana travelled to India and took admission in the world famous institute,
Darul Uloom Deoband. The following year (1389) Hadhrat Moulana completed the
Aalim-Fadhil course, studying Bukhari Sharief under Hadhrat Moulana Fakhruddin
Sahib (RA) and Mufti Mahmud Hasan Gangohi Sahib (RA).
After qualifying, Moulana spent an additional year
at Deoband, solely to make effort on the Qur’an Majeed (revision and Tajweed.)
When Hadhrat Moulana had arrived in India, Moulana
took Bay’at at the hands of Hadhrat Shaikhul Hadith, Maulana Muhammad
Zakariyyah Sahib (RA) and had established an Islaahi Ta’alluq with Hadhrat
Mufti Mahmud Hasan Gangohi Sahib (RA).
Before returning to South Africa, Hadhrat Moulana
went to Saharanpur to spend Ramadaan in the auspicious company of his mentor.
It was during this period that Hadhrat Moulana was informed of the passing away
of his father, Ibrahim Bhai, who had passed away on the 29th of Ramadaan at the
age of 63, due to a heart attack. (May Allah جَÙ„َّ جَÙ„َالُÙ‡ٗ shower
his Qabr with His Mercy)
On his return from India, Hadhrat Moulana took up
the post of Imamat at the Germiston Masjid. Together with Imamat, Moulana
taught Maktab and later taught Hifz, and devoted himself to the effort of the
Tablighi Jama’at.
Moulana had a great fervour and interest to
translate the Kitaabs and great works of our Akaabir (religious elders) from
the Urdu language into English. For this, Moulana thought that he should do a
course in journalism so that he may have a better command of the language, etc.
On application for the course, he was informed that a bachelor’s degree had to
be done first. Moulana thus did his B.A. with Unisa, through correspondence.
In 1396 (1976), after completing his B.A. with
distinctions, majoring in Arabic and Linguistics, Moulana spent 1 year in
Jamaat, in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, together with his wife.
After completion of the 1 year in Jamaat, the Rand
Afrikaans University approached Mia’s Farm as they required a lecturer in
Islamic studies. Mia’s Farm referred them to Hadhrat Moulana.
Moulana made mashwarah concerning this with the
Ulama of Mia’s Farm, as well as with Marhoom Bhai Padia Sahib (Rahmatullahi
‘Alayh). It was eventually decided that Moulana accept the offer. Thus, Moulana
became a lecturer at RAU. Moulana not only lectured the students, Moulana also
taught lecturers from the Pretoria University, Potchefstroom University,
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and other Universities.
During this period, RAU offered Moulana the option
to do his BA Honours, which he did. Moulana lectured at RAU in 1977 and 1978.
The University, being pleased with Moulana’s results, registered him for his
M.A. and doctorate for which only one thesis each had to be written.
After having accepted the post, and whilst
studying, Hadhrat Moulana realized that the university had only requested for
Moulana to come in as a lecturer, to further their agenda to harm Muslims.
Since then, Moulana has publicly repented for studying for these degrees
and lecturing at the university, and hopes that that would be an eye-opener for
others.
Thereafter in 1979, Moulana left for his second ‘one-year’, travelling to
countries such as Holland, Belgium, Turkey, France and the UK. On his return
Moulana lost interest in university studies and lecturing.
Moulana continued with Imamat, teaching Hifz and
the Aalim Course in Germiston.
In 1401 (1981), many more students desired to do
the Aalim Course under Moulana. Great efforts were made to accommodate them in
Germiston, but this did not materialize.
In the Khanqah of Hadhrat Shaikhul-Hadith, Moulana
Muhammad Zakariyyah Saheb, Mashwarah took place as to Moulana moving to
Azaadville to establish a Darul Uloom there. Finally in 1402(1982) Moulana
moved to Azaadville and established the Darul Uloom there, with the Fadhl of
Allah Ta'ala.
In 1994 Hadhrat Moulana took Bay’at to Hadhrat
Arif-Billah Shah Moulana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Sahib (Rahmatullahi 'alayh).
Hadhrat Moulana thereafter accompanied his honourable Shaikh for Umrah. On the
Mubarak day of Jumu’ah, in front of the Ka’bah Sharief, in front of the
Mizaab-e-Rahmat, after the Asr Salaah, Moulana was blessed with Khilafat.
Despite old age, illness, and the responsibilities
of the Darul-Uloom, which rest upon Hadhrat Moulana’s shoulders, Hadhrat
Moulana’s deep hearted passion to spread the message of the love of Allah
(Jalla Jalaaluhu) has caused Hadhrat Moulana to travel the length and breadth
of his country as well as many countries of the world.
May Allah جَÙ„َّ جَÙ„َالُÙ‡ٗ bless Hadhrat
Moulana with long life, good health, the strength to continue in his blessed
endeavours and Divine acceptance. Ameen
