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This article is about an Islamic scholar. Mufti can also refer to civilian dress.

A mufti (Arabic: مفتي‎, muftī, Turkish: müftü) is a Sunni Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law (Sharia and fiqh).^[1] In religious administrative terms, a mufti is roughly equivalent to a deacon to a Sunni population. A muftiat or diyanet is a council of muftis.

Qualifications[link]

A Mufti will generally go through an Iftaa course and the person should fulfill the following conditions set by scholars in order that he may be able to issue verdicts (fataawa). They are eight:

1. Mastering the science of principles of jurisprudence,
2. Mastering the science of Hadith,
3. Mastering the science of Maqasid ash-Shari`ah (Objectives of Shari`ah),
4. Mastering legal maxims,
5. Mastering the science of comparative religions,
6. Mastering the foundations of social sciences,
7. Knowing Arabic, and
8. Having sufficient knowledge of social realities.^[2]

References[link]

1. ^ "muf·ti". thefreedictionary. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mufti. Retrieved 20 september 2011. 
2. ^ Ask the scholar, Islam online, http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1218558415726&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE%2FFatwaEAskTheScholar .

External links[link]

Look up mufti in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• (French) The ethics of Muftī by Imam Ibn Khaldûn
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "muftī". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
• The Grand Mufti of Egypt's English Website

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Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Urdu: مفتی محمد تقی عثمانی) (also spelled Uthmani) is a Hanafi Islamic scholar from Pakistan who was born in 1943. He served as a judge on the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan from 1981 to 1982 and the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan between 1982 and 2002. He is an expert in the fields of Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh), economics and hadith. He also held a number of positions on the Shariah Boards of prestigious Islamic institutions, and is one of the most influential Islamic authors outside the Middle East.^{[citation needed]} He is the brother of another notable Islamic scholar, Muhammad Rafi Usmani and Maulana Wali Razi.

Biography[link]

Taqi Usmani was born in Deoband, a city in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1943. After completing the Alim course at Darul Uloom Karachi, he specialized in fiqh under the guidance of his eminent father, Grand Mufti of Deoband school Pakistan Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani. He received his Takhassus degree in Islamic education from Darul Uloom Karachi in 1961.^{[citation needed]} He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Arabic literature from the University of Punjab and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Karachi. Usmani received ijaza to teach hadith from a number of scholars such as Sheikh Hasan Mashat, Mufti Muhammad Shafi Uthmani, Maulana Idris Kandhlawi, Mufti Rashid Ahmad Ludhianvi, and Shaikhul Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi. He pioneered the concept of Islamic banking in Pakistan when he established the Meezan Bank. Usmani has authored a number of books in Arabic, Urdu, and English on Islamic topics in addition to a large number of articles on Islamic banking and finance published in a number of journals and magazines.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2004, United Arab Emirates Vice President and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented an award to Taqi Usmani in recognition of his lifetime service and achievement in Islamic finance during the annual International Islamic Finance Forum (IIFF) in Dubai.^{[citation needed]}

In accordance with the tradition of the scholars of Deoband and recognizing the importance of tasawwuf, Usmani's bay'ah was accepted by Abdul Hayy Arifi Abdul Hayy Arifi and Maseehullah Khan. Usmani is currently a mentor to numerous spiritual aspirants all over the world and delivers weekly lectures on self-improvement at Darul Uloom Karachi on Sundays between Asr Salaah and Maghrib Salaah. [2]

He currently teaches Sahih al-Bukhari, fiqh, and Islamic economics at Darul Uloom Karachi and is known for his Islahi Khutbat. He was a key member of a team of scholars which helped declare Ahmadis (Qadianis), as non-Muslims by Pakistan's National Assembly during the era of former Pakistani president, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in the 1970s. During the presidency of General Zia ul Haq, he was instrumental in drafting laws pertaining to Hudood, Qisas, and Dayiat. He strongly opposed the Women's Protection Bill. According to him, it was designed to distract attention from issues such as flaws in the law enforcement system.^{[citation needed]}

According to a comment piece in The Times, Usmani "believes that aggressive military jihad should be waged by Muslims 'to establish the supremacy of Islam' worldwide." and "Muslims should live peacefully in countries such as Britain, where they have the freedom to practise Islam, only until they gain enough power to engage in battle".^[1] On October 23, 2009, he published a response to alleged misrepresentations of his views on Jihad. To a question whether he had issued any fatwas saying “Muslims living in the West conduct violent jihad against the infidels at every opportunity.” he declared: "I never made any such statement either in writing or verbally nor issued any so-called fatwa. Nor is there any sentence to that effect in any of my writings, including “Islam and Modernism”. If this statement is attributed to me in Mr. Norfolk’s interview with me, it is not but a blatant lie, because I never said this during the interview."^[2] In Norfolk's piece in The Times this quote was not made. Usmani did write in his book “Islam and Modernism” about aggressive jihad that: “The question is whether aggressive battle is by itself commendable or not. If it is, why should the Muslims stop simply because territorial expansion in these days is regarded as bad? And if it is not commendable, but deplorable, why did Islam not stop it in the past?” and that peace agreements with non-Muslims in power is acceptable if: "If Muslims do not possess the capability of "Jihad with power" agreement may be made till the power is attained."^[3]

Associations[link]

Muhammad Taqi Uthmani is currently a member of the following organizations:

• Islamic Fiqah Academy, Jeddah (Permanent Member)
• Darul Uloom Karachi, Karachi (Vice Principal)
• Accounting and Auditing Organization of Islamic Financial Institutions, Bahrain (Chairman of Shari'a Standard Council)
• Central Bank of Bahrain, Bahrain (Chairman of Shariah Board)
• Amana Investments Limited, Sri Lanka (Chairman of Shariah Board)
• Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, UAE. (Chairman of Shari'a Board)
• Guidance Financial Group, USA (Chairman of Shari'a Supervisory Board)
• Meezan Bank, Pakistan (Chairman of Shari'a Board)
• BankIslami Pakistan Limited (Chairman of Shari'a Board), [3]
• Jamiatul Ulama USA, USA
• Pak Qatar Takaful (Chairman of Shari'a Board)
• Maldives Islamic Bank (Chairman of Shari'a Board)

Publications[link]

• Takmila Fathul Mulhim. An Arabic commentary on Sahih Muslim in six volumes.
• Ulum ul Qur'an. An Urdu work on the sciences related to the revelation and exegesis of the Qur'an. It has been translated into English under the title An Approach to the Qur'anic Sciences.
• Ma'ariful Qur'an. An eight-volume English edition of the famous commentary of the Qur'an compiled in Urdu by his father Mufti Muhammad Shafi.
• The Meanings of the Noble Qur'an. A two-volume English translation of the Qur'an with explanatory notes.
• Islamic Laws of Animal Slaughter.
• An Introduction to Islamic Finance.
• Islam and Modernism, Adam Publishers & Distributors, India, May 4, 2005.

Books[link]

English books[link]

1. The Authority of Sunnah

2. The Rules of I'tikaf

3. What is Christianity?

4. Easy Good Deeds

5. Perform Salaah Correctly

6. The Language of the Friday Khutba

7. Discourse on the Islamic Way of Life

8. Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

9. The Legal Status of Following a Madhhab

10. Spiritual Discourses

11. Islamic Months

12. Radiant Prayers

13. Qur'anic Sciences

14. Islam and Modernism

15. Contemporary Fatawa

Arabic books[link]

1. Ma Hia An Nasraniyya?

2. Nathrat Abarah Haul At Ta'limi Al Islami

3. Ahkamu Al Auraq An Naqdiyya

4. Buhooth Fi Qadaya Fiqhiyya Mu'asira

5. Ahkam uz Zibai’h

6. Takmila Fath al-Mulhim (6 volumes)

Urdu books[link]

1. Tozeeh-ul-Quran (Aasan Tarjuma e Quran) (Urdu Translation of Quran e Majeed)

2. In'aamul Bari (Explanation/Commentary of Sahih ul Bukhari) (9 volumes, 3 published)

3. Asan Nakian (Easy Good Deeds)

4. Undulus Mein Chand Roz (A Few Days in Andalus)

5. Islam Aur Seasat-e-Hazra (Islam and Contemporary Politics)

6. Islam Aur Jidat Pasandi (Islam and Modernism)

7. Islahe Ma'ashara (Perfecting Society)

8. Islahi Mawa’iz (Discourses for Spiritual Perfection) (3 volumes)

9. Islahi Majalis (Discourses on Tasawwuf) (5 volumes)

10. Islahi Khutbat (Discourses on Individual Spiritual Perfection) (13 volumes)

11. Ihkami I'tikaf (The Rules of I'tikaf)

12. Islam Aur Jadeed Ma'eeshat Wa Tijarat (Islam and Modern Economics & Commerce)

13. Akabir Deoband Kya The? (The Significant Character of Scholars of Deoband)

14. Bible Se Qur'aan Tak (3 volumes)

15. Bible Kya Heh? (What is the Bible?)

16. Purnoor Dua'en (Radiant Prayers) (a collection of prayers for all occasions)

17. Tarashe (Excerpts from Islamic Works)

18. Taqleed Ki Shari'i Hasiat (The Legal Status of Following a Madhhab)

19. Jahan-e-Deda (Travelogue I)

20. Duniya Mere Aagaye (Travelogue II)

21. Hazrat Mu'awiyah (RA) Aur Tarikhi Haqa'iq (Hazrat Mu'awiyah (RA) and the Historical Facts)

22. Hujjiat Hadith (Authority of Hadith)

23. Huzur (SAW) Ne Farmaya (Sayings of Prophet (SAW)

24. Hakimul Ummat Ke Siasi Afkar (Political Thoughts of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi)

25. Dars-e-Tirmidhi (an explanation of the famous hadith collection, Sunan At Tirmidhi)

26. Deeni Madaris Ka Nisab Wa Nitham

27. Zikr-o-Fikr (a collection of articles written for Jang, a daily newspaper)

28. Zabat-e-Wiladat (Birth Control: Islamic Rulings)

29. Isayat Kya Hai? (What is Christianity?)

30. Ulum ul Qur'an (Qur'anic Sciences)

31. Idalat-e-Faisle (Court Rulings)

32. Fard Ke Islah (Individual Reform)

33. Fiqhi Maqalaat (Collection of Articles on Islamic Jurisprudence)

34. Ma'aasir Hadhrat Arifi (Sayings and Memories of Hadhrat Arifi)

35. Mere Walid, Mere Shaikh (My Father, My Shaikh)

36. Milkiat-e-Zamion Aur Uske Tahdid (Land Ownership and Its Limitations)

37. Nashri Taqreerain (Speeches Aired on Radio Pakistan)

38. Nuqoosh-e-Raftigan (Obituaries of Islamic Scholars and Other Dignitaries)

39. Nifaz-e-Shari'a Aur Uske Masaa'il (Establishment of Shari'a and Its Problems)

40. Namazein Sunnah Ke Mutabiq Parhe (Pray Salaah According to the Sunnah)

41. Hamare A'eli Masaa'il (Our Family Issues)

42. Hamara Ta'limi Nizam (Our Educational System)

43. Hamara Ma'ashi Nizam (Our Economic System)

44. Dastoor ul A'maal Baer-e-Talibeen-e-Islah (Instructions for Aspirants of Spiritual Improvement)

45. Murawwaja islami bankari

46. Gher soodi bankari

See also[link]

• Darul Uloom Karachi
• Muhammad Rafi Usmani
• Islamic Banking
• Meezan Bank
• Islamic Scholars
• Contemporary Islamic philosophy

References[link]

‎External links[link]

• Official website Darul Uloom Karachi
• [4] Bio of Mufti Taqi Usmani
• [5] Mufti Taqi Usmani's Profile
• An Introduction to Islamic Finance

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Born	Zahida Malik, Veena Malik Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Occupation	Actress, Model
Years active	2000 – present
Parents	Mohammad Ali Malik, Zeenat Malik

Veena Malik (Urdu: وينا ملک, born Zahida Malik) is a Pakistani actress, model and comedienne. Over a span of ten years, she has worked with news channels and in movies.

Early life[link]

Veena Malik was born in Rawalpindi in the province of Punjab,^[1] to Ali Malik, and his wife, Zeenat Malik.^[2] . She holds a BA in Sociology, Psychology and Persian.^[1]

Career[link]

Films[link]

Before starting her career off as an actress, Malik worked as a comedian for several television shows and series. She made her acting debut alongside Shaan and Zara Sheikh in Askari's Tere Pyar Mein (2000), which was a box office hit. She played a supporting role in the film and was barely acknowledged. However, she appeared in a supporting role in Javed Sheikh's Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa (2002).

In 2003, Malik appeared in Indo-Pak cross venture Punjabi film Pind Di Kuri which failed to do so well, however, the film turned out be the first Indo-Pak venture film with a budget of approximately 70 million rupees. She also appeared in Askari's Sassi Punno (2003) alongside Sana and Moammar Rana, however the film failed to do well at Lahore's cinemas and further screenings had stopped in cinemas after a week of its release. She then appeared in Rafique's Jageer.

In 2005, she appeared in a short Punjabi film Bau Badmash (2005) which did not garner any recognition due to the lack of big stars. She then appeared in Reema Khan's Koi Tujh Sa Kahan (2005) which was a commercial success in Pakistan.In 2007, she won her first Lux Style Award for being the most stylish celebrity on the red carpet.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, Malik appeared in Rafique's Punjabi film, Mohabbatan Sachiyan, alongside ex-fiancee Babrik Shah and newcomers Maria Khan and Adnan Khan. The film went on to become a commercial success.^[3] The same year, she appeared in Raza's Kabhi Pyaar Na Karna in a supporting role, but the film was a flop. Her last film of 2008 was Altaf's Ishq Beparwah, which also failed to impress the audience.

In 2010, she worked in Rafique's Main Jeena Tere Naal, and Beyg's debut comedy film Miss Duniya.^[4]

Television[link]

In 2002, she was called by Prime TV to host a show called Prime Gupshup^[5] for them ushering a new direction for her comedic skills and she improvised on the hour-long show occasionally mimicking actors.

She hosted the Geo TV show Hum Sub Umeed Say Hain, in which she was hailed for her comedic parodies.^[6]

Veena Malik performing to the tunes of Naheed Akhtar at the Lux Style Awards 2007.^[7]

In 2007, she graced the red carpet event of the Lux Style Awards and was awarded as being the ‘most stylish celebrity on the carpet’.^[7]

In October 2010, Malik appeared in the Indian television reality show Bigg Boss Season 4.^[8] She was evicted two weeks before the finals, and was one of the final six contestants out of the original fourteen who had participated.^[9] Malik was also part of the finale of the show.^[10] After her Bigg Boss stay, she was mentioned in the media as the voice of liberal muslims, including leading dailies, Daily Times,^[11] Express Tribune,^[12] and The Australian.^[13] Sabbah Hajim, from the Haji Amina Charity Trust in Jammu and Kashmir, writing in the magazine Tehelka, when comparing her with liberal rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi said, "these two newly public figures might teach Muslims to stop feeling eternally outraged."^[14]

In February 2011,^[15] Veena Malik became part of the Cricket World Cup reality show^[16] in Delhi, India, called "Big Toss." Big Toss was a reality game show with contestants and Malik as the captain of one team, against Rakhi Sawant^[17] and her team.

In March 2011, Malik engaged in a passionate debate with a mufti, who claimed she had engaged in immoral behaviour as a contestant on Bigg Boss, even though he admitted to not having watched the show. Malik countered pointing out the double standards of Pakistani media against women among other rebuttals.^[18]

FHM Images[link]

Controversy resulted in Pakistan over a nude image of Malik on the cover of FHM magazine India edition in which she had "ISI" written on her upper arm – the initials of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency. ^[19] Malik says she was topless^[20] but did not pose completely nude,^[21] and has sued the magazine over the images.^[22]

Other works[link]

Malik has worked as a representative at the World Health Organization for two years. She also sponsors a child at the SOS Children's Village, an NGO based in Pakistan working with orphaned children.^[23]

Filmography[link]

Veena Malik on the sets of "Movers and Shakers"

Television[link]

Reality television[link]

As Contestant

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Veena Malik

• Official Website
• Veena, Vida, ViciExpress Tribune
• Veena Malik at the Internet Movie Database

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The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's general notability guideline. Please help to establish notability by adding reliable, secondary sources about the topic. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted. (February 2012)

Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf is an Islamic scholar who was born in England. He began his early Islamic and secular studies in Clapton in East London and went on to complete secondary school and further his knowledge of Islam at Darul Uloom Al-Arabiyyah Al-Islamiyyah where he completed the memorisation of the Qur'an by the age of fifteen.^{[citation needed]} Upon the completion of hifz by Hafiz Ali, he went on to study the rigorous, six-year aalim class.^{[citation needed]}

After graduation from Darul Uloom Al Arabiyyah Al Islamiyyah he undertook further studies in South Africa, where he completed ifta at Madrasah Zakariya and a B.A. with honors in Islamic studies at Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, under Professor Abdur-Rahman Doi.^{[citation needed]}

He also travelled to numerous other places to gain knowledge, including Syria, where he gained ijazah from Shaikh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi and Saharanpur, India, where he received formal accredition to issue fatwas.^{[citation needed]}

He is a signatory of the Pledge of Mutual Respect and Cooperation Between Sunni Muslim Scholars, Organizations, and Students of Sacred Knowledge.^[1]

Work[link]

Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf has authored, commented upon and translated many works including:

Reflections of Pearls (1995)
Fiqh al Imam - Key Proofs In Hanafi Fiqh (1996)
Provisions for the Seekers (1996)
Prayers for Forgiveness (2004)
The translation of Imaam Abu Hanifah's Al Fiqh Al Akbar^[2]

He presently serves as Imam at Masjid E Quba North London Stamford Hill UK.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]

External links[link]

• Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf audio and video lectures from Halal Tube
• White Thread Press Publishing company founded by him
• Masjid e Quba Mosque where Shaykh is currently Imaam

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Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari is a public speaker and author of Islamic books and translator of several Arabic works to the English language.

Early Life and Education[link]

Born in Leicester, UK, Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari started learning about Islam from a very young age and memorized the Qur’an at the age of nine.^{[citation needed]} He initially studied the Arabic language and various other traditional Islamic sciences including Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir), Hadith and Fiqh at Dar al-Uloom, Bury.^{[citation needed]} He received Ijazah in Hadith from the late Grand Mufti of India, Mahmud al-Hasan Gangohi, and underwent a one year course of specialization in the science of issuing religious verdicts (Fatwa). He also studied in the Arab world.^{[citation needed]}

Career[link]

He is a teacher of various traditional Islamic sciences and Director and Researcher at the Institute of Islamic Jurisprudence. He is a Board Member of the Al-Qalam Shari’ah Scholars Panel, established for Muslim consumers and businesses for Shari’ah-based guidance. He is also an Advisory Member of the Islamic Medical Ethics Forum (IMEF)and a Shari’ah Advisor on Islamic Banking.

Works[link]

His authored books include Islamic Guide to Sexual Relations,^[1] Birth Control & Abortion in Islam,^[2] and The Issue of Shares and Simplified Rules of Zakat. He has also published Shaykh Zakariyya Kandahlawi’s Wujub I’fa’ al-Lihya (the obligation of growing a beard) and Shaykh Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri’s Mabahith fi Aqa’id Ahl al-Sunna aka: Al-Muhannad ala‘l-Mufannad (Discussions in the beliefs of the Ahl al-Sunna), both with critical analysis and footnotes in Arabic.

Controversy[link]

In February 2011, University of York student media reported on the controversy surrounding al-Kawthari's visit.^{[3] [4]} Various campus groups launched an official complaint on the grounds of social cohesion, focusing on a recent report by Civitas.^[5] Key criticisms included allegations that al-Kawthari's views "legitimis[ed] rape," and accusations that his opposition to women traveling more than 48 miles without their husbands was inherently sexist. The Member of the UK Parliament for York Outer, Julian Sturdy also weighed in on the debate, stating, "I believe in the absolute importance of freedom of speech, but I am not happy that this vile speaker is using the university as a platform to create tension in the community."^[6]

Defenders of al-Kawthari, including the University of York Islamic Society, stated that his views were taken "bizarrely out of context" and accused the campaigners of hypocrisy in selectively defending free speech.^[7] A statement by al-Kawthari responding to the allegations was read on BBC York.^[8] Following the controversy, al-Kawthari delivered the talk entitled "Misconceptions of Islam" on February 16, 2011 without incident.^[9] The evening ended with a question and answer session, which raised some controversial and challenging questions about homophobia and honour killings. Al-Kawthari argued that honour killings are a result of culture, not religion, and ended by hoping Islamaphobia will reduce, not only here at York, but across the country. ^[10]

References[link]

• Muhammad ibn Adam's Biography
• http://www.whitethreadpress.com/authors/muhammad_adam.htm
• http://www.turath.co.uk/tp/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69&Itemid=28
• http://www.sunnipath.com/about/shaykhmia.aspx
• http://www.lamppostproductions.com/node/189

External links[link]

• Darul Iftaa
• * Sunni Path
• SeekersGuidance
• Islamic Manners