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, Gujarat, 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,FMO Press Release Passing of Maulana Gora Sahib 13 July 2013 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, 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 Mahmood Hasan Gangohi and Muhammad Yunus Jaunpuri of Mazahir Uloom, Saharanpur, India.Al Waqiah Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq Biography

Career

Early work After his graduation, he became the Khaṭīb of Birmingham Central Mosque at the age of 21. He was recruited as the 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 alim-level. Riyadh ul Haq is accredited with developing the curriculum for their seven-year 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.Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq Iqra Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq 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 SunnahThe Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah, Islamic Shariah Institute (2002)The Salah of a Believer in the Quran and Sunnah The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah and 'Causes of Disunity'Causes of Disunity 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'.Bukhari Lessons 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.The Canonization of Al-Bukhari and Muslim: The Formation and Function of the Sunni Hadith Canon by Jonathan Brown, BRILL, 2007Muqaddimah 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.Content Soul Content Soul 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.What is Sufism? The Aqeedah of Wahdatul Wajood, Luton Islamic CentreAhlus Sunnah awl Jamaat Ashari Sufi Daaiees

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's, 'Cries of the Ummah' appeal,Ummah Welfare Trust 'Cries of the Ummah' London conference - Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq London Sunday 19 May 2013. as well as local community work within Leicestershire (for example Leicestershire Youth Awards 2008 with the Federation of Muslim Organisations).Federation of Muslim Organistations (FMO) Leicestershire Youth Awards 2008 Unsung Hero Award 2008 He has also been involved in assisting the work of Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC).HMC Audio Effects of Haram in our Worship & Offspring- Who's Responsible? Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq, First HMC Seminar 19 September 2004HMC Newsletter HMC Newsletter, Issue 4, 2004

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"The homegrown cleric who loathes the British The Times, Andrew Norfolk 7 September 2007. 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.Hardline takeover of British mosques "a stark manifesto of separationist loathing." The Times, Andrew Norfolk 7 September 2007. Andrew Norfolk published further opinion articles in The Times calling the Deobandis historically anti-British,A movement fostered by the fear of ‘imperial’ rule - The Times, 7 September 2007. including an article about another Deobandi scholar, Taqi Usmani.Two faces of British youth in thrall to sinister Muslim sect The Times, Andrew Norfolk 8 September 2007. The Times, Andrew Norfolk 8 September 2007.

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.Isolating Extremism Mehmood Naqshbandi, Muslims in Britain Isolating Extremism 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".A toxic mix of fact and nonsense Inayat Bunglawala, Guardian "Comment is free", 9 September 2007. The Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK) claimed on their own web-site that even the Berelvis were coming out in defence of Riyadh al Haq.The Berelvis Come Out In Defence of Riyadh ul Haq Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK), 11 September 2007. MPACUK also referred to the attacks on ul Haq as a "decapitation strategy" because he pro-actively advocated political activism.Decapitation Strategy - Sheikh Riyadh ul Haq & Dr Mahmood Chandi MPACUK, 11 September 2007.

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)

See more List of Deobandis References

External links Al Kawthar Academy - Lectures of Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq, 18 December 2013 - Whispers of the Night, 28 December 2013