Habib Kazim Al-Saqqaf
Habib Kazim Jafar, a Sayyid, was born in Yemen and raised as a scholar since his birth. He was taught various Islamic disciplines along with tasawwuf at the Abu Murayyim institute. Travelling in search of knowledge, Habib Kazim found himself at Bayda of Yemen where he studied under many great scholars of this time. Finally he finished his studies by returning to Tarim and started his dawah there.
Habib Kazim bin Jafar bin Muhammad al-Saqqaf traces his lineage back through the great Imams, Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf and al-Faqih al-Muqaddam Muhammad bin Ali to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
He memorised the Qur’an under the tutelage of Habib Sad bin Alawi al-`Aydarus at the renowned school of Imam Muhammad Abu Murayyam. He also studied at the prestigious Ribat of Tarim and took knowledge from the main scholars of the city.
Habib Kazim is considered an expert in many areas of the sacred sciences including Jurisprudence (Fiqh), the Prophetic Biography (Sirah), Creed (Aqidah), Principles of Jurisprudence (Usul) and in particular, Hadith and its related sciences.
Background: Yemeni
Resides: Tarim, Yemen
Current Occupation:
Education: Hifz, Islamic Studies
Denomination: Sunni
Jurisprudence: Shafi’i
Aqeedah: Ashari
Preferred Subject: Tassawuf, socio-relations
Notable Teachers: Jafar bin Muhammad al-Saqqaf, Habib Sad bin Alawi al-`Aydarus, Habib Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Haddar
Habib Kadhim then left Tarim to study under Habib Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Haddar at his Ribat in al-Bayda’ in Northern Yemen. He also studied under Habib Zayn bin Ibrahim bin Sumayt in the same Ribat and Habib Ibrahim bin Aqil bin Yahya in Taizz.
He later returned to Hadramawt to assist Habib Umar bin Hafiz in his efforts calling people to Allah and reviving Islam in a region which had suffered greatly under the oppression of the socialist regime in South Yemen. He served as the director of the Ribat of al-Shihr for six years and then as the director of the Ribat of al-Mukalla’ for a further two years.
Habib Kazim has made numerous expeditions calling to Allah. He travels regularly to South East Asia and the United Kingdom has visited Australia, Canada and several European countries. Wherever he goes, he touches people’s hearts with his compassion and humility. He stops at nothing to fulfil the needs of anyone that comes to him. His unique oratory fills the hearts of his audiences with love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and the desire to do good and benefit society.
When he is not travelling, he teaches and sits on the Council for Legal Verdicts at Dar al-Mustafa in Tarim
Trivia
- Habib is a scholarly title given to an Imam/Shaykh within the Valley of Hadramawt, Yemen. Such a scholar can trace back his lineage to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through his grandson, Hussein.
- The al-Saqqaf clan are an illustrious not just in Yemen but also across the Indian Ocean where they settled. Numerous al-Saqqafs have emerged in the last seven centuries who have not only excelled in religious sciences but also business world, education, higher education and research, administration and other fields, and many of whom have worked tirelessly for the betterment of the Muslim ummah. There are also a large number of al-Saqqaf ulamas in the past and present who are the light of the communities they teach, serve and guide.
- There are many account of people converting to Islam on seeing the blessed face of the Shaikh.