Tuesday, June 5, 2012

On the passing of Prof. Dr. Muhibuddin Waly (1937-2012)

Bismillah.

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ 

Prof. Dr. Muhibuddin Waly, a highly respected Sufi scholar of Indonesia had passed away on 7 March 2012.

This posting is late obviously, but you know they say, better late than never. I came to know about it in late March from one kind visitor who left a comment on this space. Thanks to him, otherwise I would have remained oblivious to the passing of the author who was instrumental in shaping my understanding of Islam when I began to re-learn the faith about ten years ago.

20 July 2002 was the date written on the book of Prof. Dr. K. H. Muhibuddin Waly which I have held on to dear life. Hakikat Hikmah Tauhid dan Tasawwuf (Al-Hikam) is a translation of Al-Hikam including commentaries from notable Sufi scholars. Dr. Muhibuddin Waly wrote the book's preface while he was attached to the International Islamic University of Malaysia in 1994.

A graduate of the prestigious Al-Azhar University, Dr. Muhibuddin Waly was also a renowned murshid of the Naqshbandi Al-Khalidiya Al-Waliya Tariqa. He was the son of a grand scholar of Aceh, Indonesia, Shaykh Mudo Waly Al-Khalidy who was a contemporary of a prominent Malay scholar based in Makkah, Shaykh  Yassin Al-Fadani (rahimahullah).

Dr. Muhibbudin Waly died in Aceh at the age of 75. He is remembered as one who was always calm, soft-spoken and had been devoted to da'wah despite being plagued by ill-health. 

I, for one shall testify that he helped restore my religion, albeit virtually through his book and I will forever be indebted.












Al-Fatihah.

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