Shaikhul Hadith Mufti Abdur Rahman

A distinguished scholar, prominent Islamic thinker, eminent hadith expert, mufti and mufassir, and respected media commentator — Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Mufti Abdur Rahman Manuhorpuri (dāmat barakātuhum) stands among the most recognised Bengali ulama serving the Muslim communities of Britain and Bangladesh.

Birth and family

The renowned muhaddith was born on 22 August 1965 in the village of Monuhorpur, Kulaura sub-district, Moulvibazar — Sylhet, Bangladesh. His honoured father, the late Qari Abdul Mannan Sahib, was a Godly elder from head to toe. Although childhood adversities prevented him from completing the formal Dawra-e-Hadith path in the conventional way, his depth of knowledge in the deen was boundless, and he was blessed with the companionship of many great elders. His revered mother also came from a noble, deeply religious and pious family.

Education

He took his first lessons from his own father, then began his formal study of religious knowledge at the Monuhorpur Maktab under the guidance of Hadrat Maulana Abdul Majid Shaykh-e-Daudpuri (rahimahullah).

In 1971, when Hadrat Maulana Abdul Majid Daudpuri (rahimahullah) founded Anwarul Uloom Madrasa in Monuhorpur, he enrolled there and received his primary religious education.

In Ramadan 1975, while staying at his maternal grandfather's home — a household with deep religious tradition where major ulama would gather for annual Islamic mahafil — a defining moment in his learning took place. The neighbouring Faydh-e-Aam Ismailpur Madrasa, founded by Maulana Sikandar Ali Ismailpuri (rahimahullah), held a special Sarf-Nahu (morphology and syntax) intensive every Ramadan. His maternal uncle, Maulana Ahmad Ali Sahib, was attending the course; on his first day accompanying his uncle, the boy caught the attention of the celebrated ‘Imam of Sarf-Nahu’ Allama Ismailpuri (rahimahullah). Recognising his exceptional intellect and talent, Allama Ismailpuri urged the uncle to bring him back the very next day, and to keep bringing him daily. By the grace of Allah and through unrelenting effort, in the few short days of Ramadan he attained mastery in the science of Sarf.

His uncle Maulana Ahmad Ali was at the time studying at Sylhet's celebrated Jamia Tawakkuliyya Renga, and the only way to reach it in those days was by rail. The boy's love for trains — common at his age — became the unlikely doorway: he insisted on enrolling at Renga so he could travel by rail with his uncle. That childhood fascination with the railway carried him to Renga Madrasa.

For the entrance examination he was brought before the Shaikh al-Hadith of the jamia, Allama Shihab Uddin (rahimahullah). After hearing his precise answers to every Sarf question put to him, the muhaddith was utterly delighted and remarked: ‘His Sarf is entirely sound — let him be admitted to Nahwemir.’

His studies at Jamia Renga continued without interruption from Nahwemir through Dawra-e-Hadith. He excelled in nahw, balagha, mantiq, fiqh, tafsir, hadith and several other branches of the Islamic sciences. In every class, the first position was effectively his by acclamation.

In 1984/85 CE (1406 AH) he completed his Takmil fi'l Hadith, finishing first in the combined merit list of the entire board's first division — as in every earlier year of his studies.

On the advice of his teachers, he then proceeded to Al-Jamiatul Ahliyah Mu'inul Islam Hathazari Madrasa for higher studies, completing advanced degrees in the Hadith and Ifta departments.

Teaching career

He began his working life in teaching — and continues to teach to this day. Above all, he has shaped himself as a model teacher.

From 1986 to 1988 he taught at Jamia Tawakkuliyya Renga Madrasa. He then served as a senior teacher, muhaddith and mufti at Jamia Madaniya Kazirbazar Madrasa from 1988 to 1996, and returned again from 2001 to 2003 — serving in total ten years there as Shaikh al-Hadith and Mufti.

In between, from 1996 to 2000, he served for six years as the chief Shaikh al-Hadith and Mufti at Jamia Islamia Darul Uloom Deulgram Madrasa.

On 6 April 2003 he moved to London, joining Jamia Madinatul Uloom Plaistow as the chief Shaikh al-Hadith and Mufti from 2003 to 2007, while serving simultaneously as the senior imam and khatib of Baitur Rahman Manor Park Mosque.

From 2007 to the present, he has been the chief Shaikh al-Hadith and Mufti at Darul Uloom Ford Square (London Islamic School and Madrasa). From 2007 until 24 August 2023, he also served with distinction as the senior imam and khatib of Manor Park Shahjalal Mosque, London. He currently delivers the Jumu'ah khutbah as imam and khatib of leading London mosques including Jamia Darus Sunnah Jame Masjid and Al-Rawza Jame Masjid. Since 2019, he has also served as Shaikh al-Hadith and Mufti at Jamia Rawza Women's Madrasa and Tahawi Institute Madrasa.

He has also earned recognition as a media commentator, regularly hosting Iqra Bangla Islamic TV's flagship live programme ‘Alor Dishari’ (live discussion and Q&A) and its hadith programmes.

Wider responsibilities

He served for many years as Chairman of London's Khidma Academy. As the Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh — UK, he leads ulama from every school and persuasion across the United Kingdom. He continues to serve as Principal of his own village's Anwarul Uloom Monuhorpur Madrasa in Moulvibazar — bearing that weighty responsibility year after year.

He is also the founding Chairman of Darul Ifta London, through which a new chapter of fatwa-issuing scholarship was opened on British soil.

Tafsir of the Qur'an

Over twelve continuous years he completed the tafsir of the entire Holy Qur'an at his own mosque, and over six years completed the Dars-e-Fiqh and Ifta programmes — earning rare distinction in London as a Bengali alim. On 24 August 2019, the combined ulama of London hosted a grand reception in his honour to mark this milestone, attended by distinguished scholars from home and abroad.

Fatwa

While still a student at Jamia Renga, he regularly assisted Allama Qutub Uddin Jahanpuri (rahimahullah) in fatwa work. It was then that he developed his deep familiarity with the major fatwa compendia — Fatawa Shami, Fatawa Alamgiri, Fatawa Qazikhan and others. He carried out the principal fatwa work during his teaching years at Jamia Kazirbazar and Jamia Deulgram. On moving to London, alongside his teaching, the weighty responsibility of fatwa was placed on his shoulders — a service he formalised by founding Darul Ifta London. Each year, gifted and dedicated students complete the course and equip themselves in fiqh and fatwa, while through the Darul Ifta London website he continues to issue rulings on complex modern questions from across the world.

Bay'ah and khilafah

He took the bay'ah of Shaikh al-Islam Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi (rahimahullah), and was later honoured with his khilafah.

Hajj

A deep longing to perform the Hajj had always moved him. One of the larger reasons for leaving his country for distant London was the wish to perform Hajj himself and to take his parents on Hajj. Shortly after arriving in London, his dream of taking his parents on Hajj was fulfilled; he later performed Hajj himself, and to this day has been blessed with the rare honour of performing the Hajj eight times.

In 2018 he performed Umrah with his own father; a short time later his honoured father passed away (innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rāji'ūn).

Today

This distinguished personality continues his many-sided service in London. When visiting Bangladesh, he delivers important counsel and addresses at Islamic gatherings, madaris and masaajid across the country. As one of the foremost Bengali ulama, he stands at the centre of London's Muslim community and is renowned across Europe as a Bengali alim of distinction, serving the people of England with excellence.

We pray for his long life and continued service. Āmīn.