Riyadh ul Haq (born 1971) is a British Islamic scholar. He has been lecturing and teaching as the lead scholar at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester since 2004.

Early life

Riyadh ul Haq was born in the village of

Nani Naroli Nani Naroli is a village in Surat district, State of Gujarat India. Located away from the Kim Char Rasta highway, the village currently has a population of up to 10,000 people. It occupies a land area of 1795-49-48 hectares, but is expanding due ...

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

, India in 1971 and moved to Leicester at the age of three with his father who was an Imam at one of the mosques in the city. His father, Muhammad Gora, was a scholar and the family were treated with a lot of respect by the community.

Education

Darul Uloom al Arabiyyah al Islamiyyah

In 1984, aged thirteen Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq enrolled at Darul Uloom Al-Arabiyyah Al-Islamiyyah, Darul Uloom al Arabiyyah al Islamiyyah, Bury, UK. Due to his academic abilities, he was fast-tracked into adult classes within a year of arrival at the seminary.

Authorisation

He has ijazah (authorisation) in various Islamic sciences from Yusuf Motala and the late Islam ul Haq. He also has ijazah in ḥadīth from Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi, Mahmood Hasan Gangohi and Muhammad Yunus Jaunpuri of Mazahir Uloom, Saharanpur, India.

Career

Fundamentals of the Holy Quran Course by Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq

Early work

After his graduation, he became the Khatib, Khaṭīb of Birmingham Central Mosque at the age of 21. He was recruited as the Khatib, Khaṭīb not only for his scholarship but also because of his ability to deliver the Friday sermon in Urdu, English and Arabic. At this time he also began teaching ḥadīth at Madinatul Uloom al Islamiyyah, Kidderminster, UK. Until 2003, Riyadh ul Haq served as the honorary headmaster of Madinatul Uloom Al-Islamiyyah, where he was previously ''Sadr Mudarris'' (head teacher/dean of the faculty).Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq
Haq Islam - Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq

Al Kawthar Academy

Since 2004, Riyadh ul Haq has been the lead scholar at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester. Al Kawthar Academy has been described as one of the "most important part-time Islamic colleges" in the UK. The Al Kawthar Academy offers a range of Islamic educational courses including up to ''Ulama, alim''-level. Riyadh ul Haq is accredited with developing the curriculum for their seven-year ''Ulama, alim'' course, taught with 12 hours of study per week.

Lectures and Publications

Since graduation he has devoted himself to the work of religion and actively engaged in propagation of Islam and teaching. He has taught and commented on numerous classical Islamic works and has lectured extensively on a range of topics including Qurʼānic tafsīr, ḥadīth, aqīdah, fiqh and spirituality. He has also travelled widely, teaching and lecturing in various countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America. Many of his sermons and lectures are recorded and are widely available. He has also authored two books, The Salah of a Believer in the Quran and Sunnah''The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah'', Islamic Shariah Institute (2002) and 'Causes of Disunity' One of Riyadh ul Haq's most notable contributions to Islamic scholarship has been his detailed commentary of 'The Abridged Sahih al-Bukhari'. which is a comprehensive collection of ḥadīth (sayings and actions of Muhammad). This collection is considered the most important book after the Qur'an for Sunni Muslims.''Muqaddimah Ibn al-Salah'', pg. 160-9 Dar al-Ma’aarif edition At the time that ul Haq began these lectures in 2001 it was noted that this was the first time that these ''aḥadīth'' had been taught in English in a systemic, detailed and thorough manner to the lay public. He has always argued that the hadith are an integral part of Islam and that fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) cannot be understood without the hadith.

Spirituality

Alongside teaching of hadith, Riyadh ul Haq focuses on spirituality (tazkiyah). His spiritual teachings, which date back around 20 years, focus on reformation of the character and purification of the soul. His spiritual chain (silsila) is well-documented. Short excerpts from his spiritual discourses are published online. These make it clear that his spiritual teachings cover a range of topics including social etiquettes and responsibility, love, and family ties. His emphasis on tazkiyah has led to him being labelled as a 'Sufi' and attacked by madkhali groups.

Charitable Work

His expertise and experience is sought by many charities, organisations and bodies for whom he regularly lectures for. These include assisting with humanitarian appeals such as Ummah Welfare Trust, Ummah Welfare Trust's, 'Cries of the Ummah' appeal, as well as local community work within Leicestershire (for example Leicestershire Youth Awards 2008 with the Federation of Muslim Organisations). He has also been involved in assisting the work of Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC).

Influence and international recognition

Ul Haq was listed in the 2010 Third Edition of 'The 500 Most Influential Muslims' published by Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.http://rissc.jo/docs/new/Muslim500-2010-Third-Edition-001.pdf The 500 Most Influential Muslims PDF. It states: "Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq is a very influential speaker and leading Deobandi scholar in the UK. He has been markedly influential through his work with the Al Kawthar Academy in Leicester. Al Kawthar is a leading Islamic educational institution at the forefront of knowledge proliferation through diverse media forms." Ul Haq was also listed in the 2012 Second Edition of 'The Muslim 500: The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims 2012'''The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims''
, pg. 135 The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. The ISBN printed in the document (978-9975-428-37-2) is bad; it causes a checksum error.

Media Portrayal

Andrew Norfolk Articles

In September 2007, The Times published a news item by Andrew Norfolk accusing Riyadh ul Haq of being the "homegrown cleric who loathes the British" and a commentary article from the same author claiming there was a "hardline takeover of British mosques" led by ul Haq. In an opinion piece by the same author on the same date there was a claim that ul Haq was in line to become the spiritual leader of the Deobandi 'sect' in Britain, despite allegedly having extreme views. Andrew Norfolk published further opinion articles in The Times calling the Deobandis historically anti-British, including an article about another Deobandi scholar, Muhammad Taqi Usmani.

Response of UK Muslim Community

Andrew Norfolk's articles have been criticised by various Muslim groups and commentators.Salaam Blogs
Muslim-bashing: sign of The Times 14 September 2007 Andrew Norfolk's analysis of Deobandis was apparently based on a police report. However, it has been suggested that the source was a report written by an external consultant for the City of London Police, which had been in circulation for over a year before The Times article. The consultant, Mehmood Naqshbandi himself writes 'the attention given to a presumed cadre of extremist and foreign imams preaching in mosques is seriously misplaced'.''Problems and Practical Solutions to Tackle Extremism; and Muslim Youth and Community Issues'', Mehmood Naqhsbandi, THE SHRIVENHAM PAPERS - Number 1 August 2006 Amongst the immediate responses, 'The Guardian carried a "Comment is Free" opinion article by Inayat Bunglawala, media secretary for the Muslim Council of Britain, calling Norfolk's work a "toxic mix of fact and nonsense". The Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK) claimed on their own web-site that even the Barelvi, Berelvis were coming out in defence of Riyadh al Haq. MPACUK also referred to the attacks on ul Haq as a "decapitation strategy" because he pro-actively advocated political activism.

Condemnation of Terrorism

Riyadh ul Haq joined religious leaders and the wider Muslim community in Leicestershire in condemning the murder of Lee Rigby in May 2013. He 'expressed his deepest sadness and condemnation at what unfolded in Woolwich'.- Press release - Woolwich murder
FMO 27 May 2013.

Publications

Books

*''The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah'' (ISI: Birmingham, 2002) *''Causes of Disunity'' (ISI: Birmingham, 1998)

Poems

*''Whispers of the Night'' (ISI: Birmingham, July 2000)

References

External links

Al Kawthar Academy - Lectures of Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq
18 December 2013
- Whispers of the Night
28 December 2013 {{DEFAULTSORT:Ul Haq, Abu Yusuf Riyadh Living people Indian imams British imams 21st-century imams 1971 births People from Gujarat Indian emigrants to the United Kingdom People from Leicester Deobandis Imams in the United Kingdom People educated at Darul Uloom Bury Islamic scholars in the United Kingdom