Muhammad Ibrahim Siddiqui (8 March 1930 – 9 June 2002) was an Indian Barelvi Islamic scholar who was born in

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...

and died in

Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It incl ...

. He was particularly influential in Mauritius, where he founded the Sunni Razvi Society.

Education, Career and Sufi permissions

Siddiqui memorized the Quran by the age of 13 and graduated in Fazil-e-Darsi Nizami in 1956. He undertook his first Hajj with his teacher and guide, Sardar Ahmad. He received successorship and teaching licences in 1957 from Shah Muhammad Ibrahim Raza Khan Jilani Mian in 1376 (1957) and was appointed as faculty at the Darul Uloom Rehmania and Jama Masjid Gukarkhan, as principal and Khateeb (lecturer). He also received teaching licenses from Sufi master Ejaaz Wali Khan Razvi from

Mustafa Raza Khan Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri (1892–1981) was an Indian Muslim scholar and author, and leader of the Sunni Barelvi movement following the death of its founder, his father Ahmed Raza Khan. He was known as ''Mufti-Azam-i-Hind'' to his followers. I ...

Qadiri Razvi Nuri, Ziauddeen Qadiri Razvi and from Sufi master Taqaddus Ali Khan (son-in-law of Hujjatul Islam).

Service in Mauritius

In 1965, Siddiqui established the Sunni Razvi Society International in Mauritius, formed on the directions of

Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri (1892–1981) was an Indian Muslim scholar and author, and leader of the Sunni Barelvi movement following the death of its founder, his father Ahmed Raza Khan. He was known as ''Mufti-Azam-i-Hind'' to his followers. ...

. The organisation spread to France, Holland, Kenya, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, Suriname and South Africa. During his 1970 visit to Durban, South Africa, he gave lectures on the importance and significance of loving the Islamic prophet

Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 Common Era, CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Muhammad in Islam, Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet Divine inspiration, di ...

and debated with Tablighi Jamaat members. Siddiqui has composed and sung in praise of Mauritius, especially when it gained independence and its status as a republic. His friends included the Governor-general, Leonard Williams and Sir

Raman Osman Sir Abdool Raman Mahomed Osman, GCMG, CBE (29 August 1902 – 16 November 1992) was the third governor-general of Mauritius from 27 December 1972 to 31 October 1977. He was knighted in 1973, and was the first non-British Mauritian governor gen ...

, former Prime Minister of Mauritius

Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (in traditional Hindi: Shivsagar Ram Gulam) (18 September 1900 – 15 December 1985; often referred to as ''Chacha Ramgoolam'' or ''SSR'') was a Mauritian physician, politician, and statesman. He served as the island's o ...

, Anerood Jugnauth, A. Pasooraman (Minister Of Education, Arts and Culture). He began organizing continuous weekly Thursday study circles at the Jummah Mosque. On 20 February 1983, Siddiqui laid the foundation stone on a large piece of land which had been donated by a disciple. The first weekly study circle occurred on 14 April 1983 under his patronage.

Works

His works include: * ''Path of Salvation'' * ''Maqaam-e-Siddiq-e-Akbar Ba Kalaam-e-Ibrahim Khushtar''- a biography of

Abu Bakr Abu Bakr Abdallah ibn Uthman Abi Quhafa (; – 23 August 634) was the senior companion and was, through his daughter Aisha, a father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, as well as the first caliph of Islam. He is known with the honor ...

. * ''On the Holiest Earth of Islam'' - Guidance for Hajj and Umrah. * ''Fragrance of Khushtar'' - Islamic poetry book * ''Preparations for Death'' * ''Mystical teachings''

References

External sources

Official website of the Sunni Razvi Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Siddiqui, Muhammad Ibrahim 1930 births 2002 deaths People from West Bengal Indian imams Sufi poets Indian Sufi religious leaders Indian Sufis Sunni Sufis 20th-century poets Barelvis Mauritian Muslims Mauritian Sufi religious leaders