Ebrahim Desai
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Mufti Ebrahim Desai | |
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| Citizenship | South Africa |
| Alma mater | Jamia Islamiyyah Dhabel |
| Era | Modern era |
| Region | Islamic scholar, Grand Mufti of South Africa |
| School | Sunni Hanafi |
Main interests | Shari'a, Hadith, Islamic Finance, Tafsir, Sufism Fiqh, Islamic Economics. Evolution of Islamic Research, Economics, Banking, Education, Finance and Dawah in South-Africa |
| Part of a series on the |
| Deobandi movement |
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| Ideology and influences |
| Founders and key figures |
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| Notable institutions |
| Centres (markaz) of Tablighi Jamaat |
| Associated organizations |
Mufti Ebrahim Desai is a South African, Deobandi Muslim Grand Mufti of Indian origin and a teacher of Islamic law. He is based in Durban, Sherwood, South Africa. He runs the fatwa website Ask Imam[1] an online Islamic questions and answers (Q&A) database and used to head the Dar al-Ifta of Madrasah In'aamiyyah, He was the principal mufti and once the senior lecturer of Hadith (Shaykh al-Hadith) there[2] He currently heads the Darul iftaa and provides oversight for the Fatwa Department of Jamiatul Ulama KZN and the Sheikul Hadith of Darul Uluum Numaniyyah.
Early life
After completing the memorization (hifz) of the Qur'an at the Watervaal Islamic Institute (Mia's Farm), Desai studied Islamic sciences at the Deobandi seminary, in Dabhel, India at Jamia Islamia. Here, he studied the Darse Nizami curriculum for nine years, which included the study of Qur'anic Tafsir, Usul al-Tafsir, Hadith, Usul al-Hadith, Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic jurisprudence) according to the Hanafi school of Islamic law and Arabic language.
After completing his study in Darse Nizami, Desai pursued a takhassus (specialization) course in Ifta under Shaykh Ahmad Khanpuri of Dabhel for two years. There he learned the principles of issuing fatwa. After completing this course, he completed another year of studies in Ifta under the late mufti of India, Mahmud al-Hasan Gangohi, the author of the multivolume Fatawa Mahmudiyya.[3]
Career
He held workshops on matters related to Islamic Finance and Shari'ah-Compliance in business and trade in the United States.[citation needed] In March 2008 he traveled to Hong Kong, China to lecture students at the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College (IKTMC).[4]
He serves as a religious advisor to the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA).[citation needed]
In his role as an authority in Islamic finance, Desai took a strict stance on "Shar'iah Compliance" of certain banks and institutions. His opinion shunning the transparency of Al Baraka Bank (South Africa) in Islamic finance activities generated discussion among the Muslim community in South Africa.[citation needed]
In 2005, Desai was elected to the working committee of the South African Islamic Financial Services Authority (SAIFSA).[citation needed]
Publications
Desai authored two books, “Introduction to Hadīth: A general introduction to Hadīth and its sciences” and “Introductions to Islamic Commerce”. His fatawa have been compiled in a book titled Al-Mahmood. Another compilation of his talks at the Shariah Compliant Business Campaign is Shariah Compliant Business Campaign. The latest compilation of contemporary verdicts is Contemporary Fatawa.
See also
- Faqihul Millat Mufti Abdur Rahman
- Fazlul Hoque Amini
- Sheikhul Hadith Allama Azizul Hoque
- Islamic Research Center Bangladesh
- Mufti-e-Azam Allama Faizullah
- Mufti Mizanur Rahman Sayed
- Darul Uloom Zakariyya
References
- ^ AskImam About us page
- ^ Staff at Madrassah In'amiyyah Camperdown
- ^ About Mufti Ebrahim Desai at Dar al-Mahmood
- ^ "A inspirational talk was held for S.1 and S.2 students on 26-03-2008." IKTMC