Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhī rājiʿūn. Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we are returning.
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of one of the most senior and influential Muslim leaders in the East Midlands, Shaykh Maulana Muhammad Adam ibn Yusuf, affectionately known as Shaykh Maulana Adam Sahib. [1]
The late scholar, who studied in India before moving first to Malawi, and then on to the United Kingdom in November 1975, returned to his Lord at 05:40am, just before Fajr. He had been enduring a period of illness. [2] [3]
From the entire team at Islam21c, we pray that Allah has mercy upon him.
The son of the late scholar, Shaykh Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari, said of the passing,
“My dear and beloved father — Shaykh Mawlana Adam Sahib of Leicester (UK) — just left this temporary abode to the mercy of Allah, at 86 years of age.
“Difficult to describe the feelings and emotions at this time. Please pray for him and the family.” [1]
A long legacy
Shaykh Maulana Adam Sahib was well-known, not only though the city of Leicester, but the wider country and internationally.
The patron, founder, and honorary figure in dozens of Islamic institutions, he established one of the first Muslim schools in Britain in 1981, now known as the Leicester Islamic Academy (LIA). [3]
The school has an enrolment capacity of 400 primary-aged boys and girls. [4]
We also remember the shaykh for his tireless efforts in founding Jame Masjid Leicester — one of the most established mosques in the city, and Darul Iftaa — led by one of his children, Shaykh Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari. [3]
In addition, the esteemed shaykh established Jame’ah Uloomul Qur’ān — which began with 12 students and now teaches approximately 1,500; Jameah Girls Academy; and Khanqah Imam Muhammad Zakariyya. [3]
Lifetime spent serving Islam
Born in the Surat village of Manekpore in 1937, Shaykh Maulana Adam Sahib began his Islamic education at a very young age, when he began and completed memorisation of the Qur’ān.
In addition to learning the Arabic and Persian languages, he studied various Islamic studies at the Jamia Islamia seminary in the Gujarat town of Dabhel. [3]
As a young man, he enrolled at Darul Uloom Deoband, where he quickly became well-versed in religious theology and attained qualification to teach at one of the institutes where he had previously studied — Jamiah Islamiah Dabhel.
Teaching in India from 1961-67, the shaykh then travelled to Malawi, where he taught for a further seven to eight years, before relocating once more, to the United Kingdom, in late 1975.
He leaves behind five children, all of whom are respected in their own right as servants of Islam, and dedicated to sustaining his legacy.
Janaza and burial
The funeral arrangements for the late educator, Imam, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, are as follows:
| Date | Friday, 08 March 2024 / 27 Sha’bān 1445 |
| Time | 09:30am (Janaza); 10:45am (Burial) |
| Janaza | Spinney Hill Park, St. Saviours Road, Leicester, LE5 3SG |
| Burial | Saffron Hill Cemetery, Stonesby Avenue, Leicester, LE2 6TY |
Analysis
ANALYSIS
Shaykh Maulana Adam Sahib was one of the main scholars to come to the UK at an early stage.
He founded many projects, including a large mosque in Leicester, a Dar al-Ulūm, in addition to boys and girls schools. It is certain that thousands of students all over the world have benefited from his knowledge.
In fact, in September 2019 the council of Leicester renamed the public area where the masjid is located as Shaykh Adam Square.
Along with Shaykh Farid Haibatan, Shaykh Shaqur Rehman, and Shaykh Fuad Abdo of Islam21c, we had the honour of visiting him a few months ago, where his eminence granted us ijāza in Hadīth Musalsal and Sahīh Bukhāri, Muslim, and Muwatta (he had a very high isnād of it).
He has now left a number of children who are following in his footsteps, including Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari, Maulana Ahmad Ali, and Maulana Imran.
We ask Allah (subḥānahu wa ta'āla) to have mercy upon the late scholar and to grant him the best of compensation in the Hereafter.
Also read
Source: Islam21c
Notes
