Imaam Allamah Yusuf ibn Ismail Nabhaani – By Mufti Moin Moeeni
Name/ Titles: al-Mujaddid Allamah Imam Yusuf ibn Ismail ibn Yusuf ibn Ismail ibn Muhammad Naasiruddin Nabhaani t
D.O.B: Born in in the year 1265 A.H. corresponding to 1848 A.D.
D.O.D: Passed away in the month of Ramadan during the year 1350 A.H. corresponding to 1932 A.D.
Region: he was born in a suburb called Ijzim in Palestine, which is today a part of Haifa[1].
Brief Biography: Imam Yusuf Nabhaani t was ethnically an Arab from the tribe of Nabhaan. He studied Qur’an by his father Shaykh Ismail Nabhaani and attained knowledge from many other scholars. At the age of seventeen he travelled to Egypt to study at the world famous Al-Azhar Islamic University. There he studied for six and a half years and graduated in the year 1289 A.H.[2] Allamah t himself says; I studied under such scholars that they would have been sufficient to guide entire cities on their own[3]. Allamah Nabhaani t was a prolific scholar and writer. He wrote a Qaseeda consisting of more than 750 couplets in which he compared the religion of Islam with other religions and he specifically refuted Christianity. Some of the people told the Ottoman Sultan of that time, Abdul Hameed that Allamah Nabhaani t was trying to cause mischief in his sultanate. Hence, when Allamah visited Madinah he was kept as a captive at the residence of the governor of Madinah on the orders of the Sultan. However, Allamah himself sates that he was treated as a guest and faced no difficulties. This incident was also witnessed by the Khalifa of Ala Hazrat Hazrat Shaykh Ziauddin Madani t[4]. Imaam Nabhaani taught in his town Ijzim, he then travelled to Constantinople twice and worked there on proofreading books and for the government. He was then appointed as the Qadi[5] of Al-Jaza’ (Al-La dhiqiyya on the Syro-Palestinian sea-shore) he served this position for approximately five years. He was then appointed as the head judge of Al-Quds for a period of eight months. He was then given the position of chief justice of the Beirut Court of Justice[6]. After his retirement he turned entirely to writing and worshipping. He travelled to the blessed city of Madinah and lived there for a while, he then returned to his home in Beirut and passed away there.
Teachers:
- Shaykh Ismail Nabhaani
- Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Shafi’i
- Allamah Shaykh Ibrahim Muttasil Az-Zard
- Allamah Shaykh Ahmed Al-Ajhori
- Shaykh Hasan Al-‘Adawi Al-Maliki
- Shaykh Sayyid Abdul Haadi Najaa Al-Ibyaari
- Shaykh Shamshudddin Muhammad Ash-Shafi’i (Shaykh ul Azhar)
- Shaykh Yusuf Barqaawi Hambali
- Shaykh Abdul Qaadir Ar-Rafi’i Al-Hanafi
- Shaykh ul Mashaaikh Allamah Ibrahim As-Saqaa Ash-Shafi’i
Books Authored: Allamah Nabhaani t wrote more than fifty books, below is a list of some of his renowned writings;
1) Al-Fathul Kabeer fi Dammiz Ziyaadati Ilal Jami’is Sagheer (a collection of more than 14000 Ahadith)
2) Jawaahir ul Bihaar fi Fadailin Nabiyil Mukhtaar (a book explaining the excellence of the Prophet )
3) Hujjatullahi alal Aalameen (collection of the miracles of the Prophet)
4) Kitaab ul Barzakh (discusses the topic of afterlife)
5) Jami’ Karamaat Awliya (a book on the biographies of Awliya and miracles)
6) Kitaab ul Azkaar (discusses the remembrance of Allah )
7) Salawaat ul Akhyaar alan Nabiyyil Mukhtaar (benefits of and excellence of sending salutations upon the Prophet )
8) Wasaail ul Usool ila Shamaail ir Rasool (discusses the appearance of the Prophet , his character, his belongings, etc.)
Allamah Yusuf Nabhaani passed away in the month of Ramadan in the year 1932 A.D. During the latter stages of his life he would offer a lot of Nafl Salah and send Durood upon the Noble Messengerm[7].
Grave Location: His grave is situated in Beirut, Jordan.
[1] Noor-Noor Chehrey by Allamah Abdul Hakeem Sharf Qadri 6 Pg. 379
[2] IBID Pg. 380
[3] IBID Pg. 380
[4] IBID 6 Pg. 382
[5] Islamic Judge
[6] Afdal us Salawaat ala Sayyidis Sadaat (book written by Allamh Nabhani )
[7] Noor-Noor Chehrey by Allamah Abdul Hakeem Sharf Qadri Pg. 395
