Mawlānā (Arabic: مولانا‎, literally "our lord/master"^[1]) is a title, mostly in Central Asia and in the Indian subcontinent, preceding the name of respected Muslim religious leaders, in particular graduates of religious institutions, e.g. a madrassa or a darul uloom, or scholars who have studied under other Islamic scholars.

Other uses[link]

Although the word originated in the Arabic language, it adopted different meanings as it travelled from Arabia to Persia, Turkey, Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Persian use[link]

In Iran and Turkey the word normally refers to Rumi (Persian pronunciation Mowlana) (Turkish pronunciation Mevlana).

Africa[link]

This word has been borrowed into the Swahili language, where it is used also as a title of respect for revered members of a community, religious or secular, roughly equivalent to the English "Sir". In some circles it is used to refer to Ron Karenga, the Afro-American activist.

In the mostly Muslim region of West Africa, the root has been proposed as a source for the words Mallam (Hausa language) and Maame (Wolof language), which are used to denote Islamic scholars, or in areas practising folk Islam or folk magic, a local shaman. Among the Hausas the word Mallam is additionally used as equivalent of English Mr. A more likely explanation for this word (and for the Swahili mwalimu) is the Arabic word mu'allim (معلم), which in Moroccan Arabic is pronounced "m'allam" and means ‘teacher’ or ‘master’ in a Qur'anic school.

[edit] Difference in titles Mullah and Maulvi among Muslims in South Asia

In the Central Asian and South Asian (Indian Subcontinent) context, where "Mullah" does not carry a formal sense, Maulana is often the word of choice for addressing or referring to Muslim religious scholars that are respected, while Mullah is used often derogatorily for people the speaker considers to be more rabble-rousers than scholars.

Although the words Maulvi and Maulana are interchanged in the Indian Subcontinent as a title of respect, Maulana is more often associated with formal qualification following study at a madrassa or darul uloom and Maulvi is usually more a general title for religious figures. In Bangladesh, in the government Aliyah madrassa system, Maulvi is also associated with formal degrees for those who have passed the course of Maulvi (basic), Maulvi Alim (intermediate) or Maulvi Fazil (advanced).

Objection[link]

In past, some people^[who?] have objected to the use of 'Maula' and hence 'Maulana' as a title referring to humans, believing that 'Maula' should exclusively be used to refer to God.

Response[link]

Shia and Sunnis of India & Pakistan who also very often use the title, reject this objection on two grounds. First, Maula is not a name of God. Second, they cite a hadith of the prophet: "Man kuntu maulah fa haza Aliyyun Maulah" (Ali is a Maula of whom I am a Maula). So it can be used for a human being.

Disputes[link]

The Qur'an[link]

Surat Al-Baqarah of the Qur'an ends with the ayah or verse containing: "Anta maulana fansurnaa 'alal qawm al kafireen" (Al-Baqarah:286) This verse is used as part of Du'a or supplication by Muslims. When a Muslim says this they are calling Allah their maulana. Many Muslims believe that because this ayah has us stating that Allah is our maulana, that turning around and saying anyone else is our maulana is an attempt to elevate that person to Allah's level.

A rebuttal to this argument is that it's narrated in the Quran that Yusuf said 'innahu rabbi', in verse 23 of surah 12, meaning 'he is my lord' to refer to Aziz who was a protector for him. Of course, Yusuf was not equating Aziz's status with that of God's, and in the same light, one does not equate the status of a maulana with that of God's by using the title maulana. Furthermore it is stated in the Qur'an that the righteous amongst the Believers can be called Maula. "If ye two turn in repentance to Him, your hearts are indeed so inclined; but if ye back up each other against him, truly Allah is his Protector(Maula), and Gabriel, and (every) righteous one among those who believe― and furthermore, the angels― will back (him) up." Surah At-Tahrim (66:4)

See also[link]

• Marabout, West African religious teachers
• Sheikh
• Mawlawi
• Mullah
• Marabout
• Islamic term

References[link]

1. ^ defined in the Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic as "a form of address to a sovereign"

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2006)

External links[link]

• About Mawlana
• Islam Way Online - Your Religion and Spirituality Portal Web portal for Maulana Faizani, a traditional Afghan Maulana

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Hisham Kabbani
Born	(1945-01-28) January 28, 1945 (age 67) Beirut, Lebanon
Residence	United States
Religion	Islam (Sufi)
Spouse	Hajjah Naziha Adil

Muhammad Hisham Kabbani (born 13 Safar 1364 / 28 January 1945) is a prominent Lebanese-American Sufi Muslim. Kabbani advocates an understanding of Islam described by his supporters as fundamentally based on peace, tolerance, respect and love. Kabbani has been an outspoken critic of extremism as well as the Wahabi doctrine.^[1] Shaykh Kabbani is a spiritual teacher in the line of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order. He is chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America and the Sufi Muslim Council. ^[2]

Biography[link]

Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani descends from a long line of scholars, and was born in Beirut, Lebanon. For more than 50 years he has been a disciple of Nazim al-Qubrusi and his representative in United States.

On the order of al-Qubrusi, Kabbani relocated to the United States in 1991, where he has opened 13 Sufi outreach centers focused on spreading Sufism. He has lectured at many universities, including the University of Chicago, Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley, as well as at many spiritual and religious centers throughout North America, Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East.

Kabbani works closely with the governments and people of Muslim nations around the world to restore what he views as traditional Islamic practices and prevent the increase of religious radicalism.^{[citation needed]} He has supported military incursions in Bosnia, Kosovo and peace initiatives in the Middle East, Somalia, Bosnia, Kashmir, Afghanistan and Kosovo.

He is married to Hajjah Naziha Adil, the daughter of Shaykh Muhammad Nazim al-Haqqani. They have four children, three boys and a girl.

Controversy and criticism[link]

In 1999, Kabbani came into conflict with various Muslim groups including the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) after he stated that 80 percent of mosques are being run by "extremist ideologies".^[3] Muslim organizations harshly responded, stating that Kabbani's remarks "could have a profoundly negative impact on ordinary American Muslims".^[4] Kabbani plunged into further controversy when he accused Muslims who advise the United States about Islam as being "extremists themselves".^[4] When asked during a conference whether he would name the Islamic groups he believed were "extremist", Kabbani answered, "after the program".^[4] When subsequently confronted with the question during the end of the discussion, Kabbani refused to answer.^[4] In a joint statement pertaining to Kabbani's accusations, several Muslim groups said that "Mr. Kabbani has put the entire American Muslim community under unjustified suspicion. In effect, Mr. Kabbani is telling government officials that the majority of American Muslims pose a danger to our society."^[4]

Published works[link]

Works published by Kabbani include:

• Remembrance of God Liturgy of the Sufi Naqshbandi Masters, ISBN 978-1-871031-58-4 (1994)
• The Naqshbandi Sufi Way, ISBN 978-0-934905-34-3 (1995)
• Angels Unveiled, ISBN 978-1-930409-37-8 (1996)
• Encyclopedia of Muhammad's Women Companions, ISBN 978-1-871031-42-3 (1998)
• Encyclopedia of Islamic Doctrine and Beliefs, ISBN 978-1-871031-48-5 (1998)
• The Approach of Armageddon? An Islamic perspective, ISBN 978-1-930409-20-0 (2003)
• Classical Islam and the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, ISBN 978-1-930409-10-1 (2004)
• The Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition Guidebook of Daily Practices and Devotions, ISBN 978-1-930409-22-4 (2004)
• Pearls and Coral (Volume 1), ISBN 978-1-930409-07-1 (2005)
• Keys to the Divine Kingdom, ISBN 978-1-930409-28-6 (2005)
• The Sufi Science of Self-Realization, ISBN 978-1-930409-29-3 (2006)
• A Spiritual Explanation of the Chapter of Sincerity: Tafsīru 'l-Qur'ānu '-Karīm Sūratu 'l-Ikhlāṣ, ISBN 978-1-930409-42-2 (2006)
• Pearls and Coral (Volume 2), ISBN 978-1-930409-08-8 (2007)
• Universe Rising, ISBN 978-1-930409-48-4 (2007)
• Symphony of Remembrance, ISBN 978-1-930409-49-1 (2007)
• Illuminations: Compiled Lectures on Shariah and Tasawwuf, ISBN 978-1-930409-52-1 (2007)
• Angels Unveiled, A Sufi Perspective, ISBN 978-1-930409-74-3 (2009)
• Fifty Days: the Divine Disclosures During a Holy Sufi Seclusion, ISBN 978-1-930409-72-9 (2010)

See also[link]

• Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order of America
• Sufi Muslim Council

References[link]

External links[link]

• Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order of America
• Sufilive - The Official Media Library of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order of America
• Rabbani Sufi Institute of Indonesia
• Islamic Supreme Council of America website
• Eshaykh - relevant Islamic answers to questions of creed, law, society, family and spirituality
• Social Network Site for followers of Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani
• Website of as-Sunnah Foundation of America

v t e Sufism and Tariqa Ideas Qutb Wali Abdal Fakir Dervish Tazkiah Baqaa Fanaa Haal Keramat Haqiqa Ihsan Irfan Kashf Lataif Manzil Marifa Nafs Noor Sufi cosmology Sufi metaphysics Sufi philosophy Sufi poetry Sufi psychology Sulook Yaqeen Silsila Practices Anasheed Dhikr Haḍra Muraqaba Qawwali Sama Whirling Ziyarat Sufi orders Azeemia Akbarī Alians Ba 'Alawī Bayramī Bektashī Chishtī Galibī Gulshanī Ḥurūfī Idrīsī Jelvetī Jerrahī Khalwatī Kubrāwī Madarī Malāmatī Mawlāwī Mourīdī Naqshbandī Naqshbandi Uwaisī Khalidiyya Nasuhī Ni'matullāhī Nuqtawī Qadirī Qalāndārī Rifa'ī Safāvī Shadhilī Suhrawardī Sunbulī Tijanī Ussakī Uwaisī Zahedī Notable early Sufi saints and mystics Abdul-Qadir Gilanī Abul-Khayr Ahmad Ghazālī Ahmed Yasāvī Al-Ghazālī Al-Hallaj al-Misrī Al-Qāsim al-Qunawī Amīr Kulal Ardabilī Ata Allah Attar Balım Sultan Baha ūd-Dīn Naqshband Bande Nawāz Baqī Billah Bastamī Bhita'ī Bulleh Shah Shah Waliullah Dehlāvī Farīd ūd-Dīn Fozail Gālib Gharīb Nawāz Ghujdawanī Ghulam Farīd Sheik Edebali Gül Baba Hajji Bayram Hajji Bektash Hazrat Mai Safoora Qadiriyya Haddad Hamadānī Hansvī Harabatī Baba Hasan Basri Mahmud Hudayī Hujwirī ibn ʿArabī Jābir ibn Hayyān Jahangasht Jamī Jan-e-Jānāān Jazoulī Junayd Baġdādī Kākī Kaliyarī Karkhī Kharaqanī Kubrā Nāimī Najib al-Suhrawardī Nasīmī Mansur Al-Hallaj Ni'matullāh Nizām ūd-Dīn Nurī Otman Baba Pir Sultan Qutb ūd-Dīn Haydār Rabbānī Rabia Basri Razī Rifa'ī Rukn-e-Alam Rūmī Ibrahim ibn Adham Saadī Salman al-Farisī Sanai Mevlana Halid-i Bagdadi Sarı Saltuk Semnanī Shadhilī Shahāb al-Dīn Suhrawardī Shams Tabrizī Shiblī Shirazī Sultan Walad Surkh Bukhari Taj al-Dīn Gilanī Umar al-Suhrawardī Uwais al-Qarni Yunus Emre Magtymguly Pyragy Zakariya Zarruq Notable modern Sufi saints Auliya Azeemi Nagpuri Meher Ali Sheikh Muhammad Uthman Sirajuddin Qadeer Piya Muhammad Maliki Gohar Shahi Tahir ul-Qadri Tahir Allauddin Taqi Usmani Abdal Hakim Murad Nazim Al-Haqqani Hisham Kabbani Nuh Keller Nooruddeen Durkee Abdalqadir as-Sufi Zaheen Ghulam Mustafa Reshad Feild Ahmad al-Alawi Ashraf Ali Thanvi Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Abd al-Rahman al-Shaghouri Omar Shah Haeri Raza Khan Syed Shujaat Pir Zulfiqar Abdullah Naqshbandi Sufi Barkat Ali Hafiz Qamaruddin Saheb Qibla Fultali Feisal Abdul Rauf Osman Nuri Topbaş Sufi studies Aguéli Almqvist Burckhardt Chittick Corbin Ernst Frager Guénon Hixon Lindbom Lings Nasr Schimmel Sells Shah Schuon Topics in Sufism Art Fiction History Music Poetry Shrines Texts Portal

Shaykh Habib Ali Al-Jifri
Native name	الحبيب علي زين العابدين الجفري
Born	(1971-04-16) April 16, 1971 (age 41) Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Residence	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ethnicity	Arab
Occupation	Islamic scholar, academic, author
Home town	Hadhramaut, Yemen
Title	Shaykh
Religion	Islam
Denomination	Sunni (Sufism)
Parents	Abdul Rahman bin Ali Al-Jifri (father) Marumah bint Hassan Al-Jifri (mother)
Website
www.alhabibali.com/en/

Habib Ali Zain al-`Abideen al-Jifri (Arabic: الحبيب علي زين العابدين الجفري‎; born April 16, 1971) is an Islamic scholar from Hadhramaut, Yemen of the Shafi'i school of Fiqh, and the Ashari school of Aqida.

Background[link]

Shaykh Habib Ali al-Jifri was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He is a sayyid (a descendent of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) and traces his lineage to the family of 'Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.

He follows the Ba'Alawi sufi order, a tradition that has been based in Yemen for approximately 800 years and traces back to the Prophet Muhammad.

Education[link]

Al-Jifri grew up in an educated environment, and became interested in Islamic sciences, studying under a number of scholars in the Hejaz and Hadhramaut, Egypt, Syria and other countries, and receiving their sole discretion. He is the holder of degrees in Islamic sciences.

Career[link]

Al-Jifri is the founder and director-general of the nonprofit privately-funded Tabah Foundation for Islamic Studies in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He is a member of the board of Dar al-Mustafa Islamic University in Tarim, Yemen. He runs the Islamic Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

He is a member of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan, and is also affiliated with various other international Islamic organizations.

He has strong connections with many centers and academies involved with international dialogue in religions and civilizations, including the Center for Faith and Culture at Yale University in the United States. He is also a contributor to A Common Word Between Us and You, an Islamic-Christian dialogue. He received the annual award of the Augen Biser Foundation in Germany for the year 2008 for his contribution to Islamic-Christian dialogue.

Al-Jifri is a noted critic of Wahhabism, he has made his reputation on conference and television appearances. He wrote the book Jesus Christ the Son of Mary and His Most Blessed Mother.

He was interviewed by Dalia Mogahed from the Gallup Centre for Muslim Studies.^[1]

Awards and recognition[link]

In 2009, Al-Jifri was listed 37th in the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by Georgetown University’s The Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talaal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

See also[link]

• Arab people
• Ba'Alawi
• Shafi'i
• Sufism

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website
• A Common Word
• The 500 Most Influential Muslims

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