24 The Living Chain,The Torch of Tasawwuf: Knowledge, Adab, and Spirituality from Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) to Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami.
Sheikh Sameer Manzoor:
The eminent contemporary Islamic Scholar, Ustad-ul-Ulema, Shaykh-Al-Hidath Hazrat Shaykh Habib Al- Umer Bin Hamid -Jilani (Makkah Shareef Saudi Arabia) (RA) stands among the most eminent Shafi scholars of the contemporary Islamic world. A towering jurist, mufti, scholar, author, and orator, he devoted his entire life to the service of Islam, sacred knowledge, and the Ummah. He was widely recognized for his profound mastery of Fiqh-e-Shafi, Usul al-Fiqh, Hadith, Tafsir, and Islamic jurisprudence, and he served with distinction as a Grand Mufti of the Shafi school in the Arab world. Blessed with noble lineage (Nasab), Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) was a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, belonging to the honored household of the Ahl al-Bayt. This prophetic inheritance was reflected not only in his lineage but in his character, humility, knowledge, and spiritual depth. His life was a living example of the prophetic balance between scholarship and spirituality. A global ambassador of Islamic knowledge, Shaykh Habib Umer (RA) travelled extensively across the Muslim world, spreading authentic Sunni teachings and reviving love for the Prophet ﷺ. His journeys took him to Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan, various regions of the Arab world, and the Indian subcontinent, where his presence transformed gatherings into centers of learning, spiritual awakening, and unity. Wherever he went, he was received with immense love and reverence by scholars, students, and the general public alike. He was followed by lakhs of devotees and mureeds worldwide, many of whom benefited from his guidance in both Shariah and Tasawwuf. As a spiritual guide, he emphasized purification of the heart, sincerity, adherence to Sunnah, and love for the righteous while firmly grounding spirituality in orthodox Sunni jurisprudence. As a jurist and mufti, Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) was known for his balance, wisdom, and deep understanding of contemporary issues. His legal opinions reflected not only textual mastery but also insight into human realities, making his guidance relevant and compassionate. His eloquence as an orator moved hearts, while his clarity as a teacher shaped generations of scholars. In addition to his oral teachings, he was a prolific writer and author, contributing valuable works that continue to benefit students of knowledge and seekers of truth. His writings reflect depth, precision, and a profound commitment to preserving the Shafi tradition in its purest form. In every sense, Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) was a legendary personality, a scholar of law, a guide of souls, a guardian of Sunni tradition, and a beacon of prophetic light in the modern age. His legacy continues to live on in institutions, students, writings, and hearts across the world. Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami was among those fortunate seekers who benefited directly from the blessed company (Suhbah) of Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA). He sat in his gatherings of knowledge and learned from him at times when Shaykh Habib Umer (RA) was imparting advanced teachings in Usul al-Hadith, Fiqh (jurisprudence), Islamic law, Aqeedah, and Tasawwuf (spiritual purification). These sessions were not merely academic lessons but were deeply transformative, combining sound scholarship with spiritual illumination. Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami has always acknowledged and admired Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) as his greatest teacher, torchbearer, scholarly authority, and spiritual guide. His reverence for him was marked by immense respect, love, humility, and mercy, reflecting the classical adab of a true student toward his Shaykh. He openly accepted him as a source of intellectual clarity and spiritual direction, and this influence is evident in Allama Hami's balanced approach to Shariah, Tasawwuf, unity of the Ummah, and service to humanity. The relationship between the two was not limited to teacher and student alone, but represented a deep spiritual bond (nisbat-e-roohani) a transmission of knowledge, ethics, and prophetic values. Through this blessed connection, the light of Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) continued to shine in the mission, teachings, and reformative work of Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami. Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) not only taught Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami but also blessed him with profound spiritual wisdom, refined ethical training, and authoritative chains (Sanad) across multiple Islamic disciplines particularly Fiqh, Hadith sciences, Aqeedah, and Tasawwuf. Through his grace and guidance, he entrusted Allama Hami with deep spiritual insights, disciplined devotional practices, and sacred connections rooted in the classical Sunni tradition. Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) was deeply attached to Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami with genuine affection and concern. He regularly prayed for him, followed his progress with pride, and expressed heartfelt joy in his intellectual and spiritual growth. His bond with him was not merely instructional, but fatherly and spiritual, marked by sincere love and constant supplication. On several occasions, Shaykh Habib Umer (RA) is reported to have spoken of Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami as a scholar of the highest caliber, praising his balance of knowledge and spirituality. He regarded him as a pillar of love, faith, patience, and steadfastness, and described him as a mountain of spirituality, learning and a student in whom he took great pride. According to those close to this spiritual circle, Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) expressed confidence in Allama Hami's acceptance in the spiritual assemblies of the righteous, invoking symbolic expressions such as Darbar-e-Jilani and Madinah Munawwarah to signify divine favor, sincerity, and closeness to the Prophetic ethos. Such expressions reflect spiritual affirmation, not worldly status but highlighting Allama Hami’s humility, devotion, and unwavering commitment to the path of the Ahl al-Sunnah. Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) remained proud of Shaykh Hami throughout his life, seeing in him a continuation of sacred knowledge, ethical strength, and service to the Ummah. This relationship stands as a living example of how true scholarship is transmitted not only through books, but through hearts, character, and prayer. Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) was truly a global scholar and spiritual ambassador of Islam. His mission of knowledge and guidance took him to every corner of the Muslim world, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan, Egypt, and numerous Arab countries, as well as parts of the Indian subcontinent. He was frequently invited to deliver lectures, scholarly discourses, and spiritual addresses at renowned Islamic universities and academic institutions, most notably in Cairo, Egypt, where he spoke on several occasions, engaging scholars, students, and seekers of knowledge alike. His presence at these institutions reflected his international recognition as a jurist, Shafi authority, and spiritual guide, whose voice carried authenticity, balance, and depth. Wherever he traveled, his gatherings became centers of learning, unity, and spiritual awakening. At the special invitation of Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami, Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) undertook two historic journeys to Kashmir, the land of saints, shrines, and Sufi heritage. These visits were of immense spiritual and scholarly significance. During his stay, he participated in major spiritual gatherings and international conferences organized under the guidance of Allama Shaykh Hami. Among these landmark events were the International Shah-e-Jilani Conference held at Trigam Shadipora Sumbal, and the Dawat-e-Sunnah Conference organized at Lal Chowk, Srinagar attended by lakhs of followers and lovers of Rasoolullah, Ahlul Bayet,Suhaba and Awliya. These conferences brought together scholars, intellectuals, and spiritual leaders from various regions, reinforcing Kashmir’s historic role as a center of Sufism, peace, and Sunni scholarship.
In addition to these conferences, Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) also graced various other Islamic and spiritual gatherings, laid the foundation stones of several Islamic institutions, and offered guidance for their future direction. One of the most notable moments of his visit was his tour of the Islamic Museum at Markaz ul Madaris Al-Jammiat Ul Qadriyyah, Trigam Shadipora Sumbal, where he observed with reverence the preserved sacred relics attributed to Rasulullah ﷺ, the Ahl al-Bayt, the Sahaba, and the Awliya Allah, a collection numbering over 400 relics. He deeply appreciated this effort to preserve Islamic heritage and prophetic memory for future generations. These visits further strengthened the spiritual bond and scholarly partnership between Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) and Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami, symbolizing a meeting of global Islamic scholarship with Kashmiri Sufi tradition. Together, they worked toward reviving authentic Sunni thought, spiritual discipline, and love centered Islam rooted in knowledge and mercy. Beyond teaching and spiritual mentorship, Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) consistently demonstrated his deep trust and confidence in the scholarly stature of Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami by inviting him as a distinguished scholar and keynote speaker to numerous international conferences, academic forums, and spiritual conventions across the Muslim world. On Shaykh Habib Umer’s invitation, Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami has participated alongside him in major scholarly and spiritual gatherings in Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan, and several Arab countries. At these platforms, Allama Hami delivered keynote addresses and scholarly lectures, engaging international audiences on subjects such as Islamic jurisprudence, Aqeedah, Tasawwuf, unity of the Ummah, and contemporary challenges facing Muslim societies. These joint appearances reflected not only a teacher-student relationship, but a shared intellectual and spiritual mission. Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) openly acknowledged Allama Hami's depth of knowledge, clarity of thought, and spiritual insight, presenting him before global audiences as a scholar of high caliber and a representative of authentic Sunni scholarship. Their collaboration on international platforms further strengthened the global recognition of Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami, while also illustrating Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani’s (RA) vision of nurturing scholars who could carry forward the legacy of balanced Shariah and Tasawwuf. These invitations stand as a testament to the Shaykh’s pride in his student, his endorsement of his scholarly authority, and his desire to see him contribute meaningfully to the intellectual and spiritual discourse of the Ummah worldwide. Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami often states before his mureeds and students that Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) was his guide, master, and teacher, whom he acknowledged with the highest degree of honor and gratitude. He openly affirmed that whatever he had attained in the realms of knowledge, adab (scholarly ethics), and spirituality was deeply influenced by the guidance and companionship of Shaykh Habib Umer (RA). In his gatherings, Allama Hami consistently described Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) as one of the finest embodiments of Islamic scholarship, referring to him as a towering mountain of ilm, adab, and spirituality. Such expressions were not mere praise, but heartfelt acknowledgments of a teacher whose life reflected depth of knowledge, refinement of character, and unwavering devotion to the Prophetic path. By conveying this to his mureeds, Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami reinforced a central principle of the Islamic scholarly tradition that true knowledge is rooted in humility, gratitude, and loyalty to one’s teachers, and that honoring one’s Shaykh is itself a form of preserving the sacred trust of knowledge. Upon the passing of Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) which occurred while he was traveling on a spiritual tour to Indonesia, where he returned to his Lord during the journey.Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami expressed extreme and profound grief,sorrow, reverence, and heartfelt gratitude. He paid a moving tribute to his beloved teacher and guide, acknowledging him as a giant of knowledge, spirituality, and adab, whose loss is deeply felt across the Muslim world. Allama Hami offered earnest prayers for the elevation of Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani’s (RA) rank, asking Allah ﷻ to envelop him in divine mercy, grant him the highest stations among the righteous, and unite him with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Ahl al-Bayt, the Sahaba, and the Awliya Allah. He affirmed that Shaykh Habib Umer’s legacy would continue to live on through his students, institutions, and the countless hearts he illuminated with knowledge and love. He also conveyed his sincere message of condolence to the bereaved family, as well as to his mureeds, students, and admirers across the world, urging patience (Sabr e jameel) and reminding them that the true scholars never depart in essence, for their knowledge and guidance remain a perpetual charity (sadaqah jariyah). Allama Dr. Shaykh Hami concluded his tribute by reaffirming his lifelong gratitude and loyalty to his Shaykh, praying that Allah ﷻ accept Shaykh Habib Umer Al-Jilani (RA) among His most beloved servants and grant the Ummah the ability to uphold and preserve his sacred legacy.
Research Scholar(KI)
Sheikh Sameer Manzoor
sheikhsameermanzoor@gmail.com
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