Biography
His eminence, Shaykh al-Hadith Maulana Adam ibn Yusuf Hafizahullah, a grand scholar of UK, head of Jame'ah Uloomul Qur'an, Darul Iftaa, Jame'ah Girls Academy and Imam of Jame' Masjid and patron of many other institutions. Born in Manekpore, Western India, in the year 1937 in a poor family.
He was admitted at the Islamic University, Jame'ah Islamiyyah in Dabhel, India by his beloved late mother, where he completed his initial Islamic education and then completed his memorisation of the Holy Qur'an at the astounding age of nine. He then studied the initial sciences of the Arabic language including Nahw (syntax/grammar), Sarf (etymology), Adab (Arabic literature), Tajweed (intonation) and the principles of Islamic jurisprudence.
Thereafter, he was enrolled at Darul Uloom, Deoband, the renowned Islamic university of India to study Islamic subjects specialising in the field of Hadith, Tafseer, Fiqh and various interrelated sciences, including the further branches of Shari'ah by various great Shuyookh. At the age of twenty-two, he completed his scholarship and graduated as an Islamic Scholar, possessing doctorates in the various principles and teachings of Islam.
Subsequently, he taught many Islamic sciences for five years at the Jame'ah Islamiyyah in Dabhel. Later on, he moved to Malawi (Central Africa) where he resided for seven years and opened an Islamic institution, benefiting many individuals.
He then repositioned to Leicester, England in the November of 1975. He was at first an Imam of Masjid al-Noor and later on by help and grace of the Almighty Allah he purchased the Jame' Masjid and established the Jame'ah Uloomul Qur'an, which began with a single Hifzul Qur'an class consisting of only twelve students and at present accommodates thirteen hundred students.
There are many other institutions which run under his supervision; i.e. Darul Iftaa, Jameah Girls Academy, Khanqah Imam Muhammad Zakariyya Rahmatullahi Alayh and he is also the founder of Leicester Islamic Academy (Muslim Girls High School) which was initiated in 1981.
On the other hand he is one of the leading Shuyukh of Tasawwuf in the present era. He was granted Ijazah (authorization) in the Chistiyya tariqah (spiritual path). His spiritual chain traces back through a series of authentic teachers all the way to the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam.
At present, he is still the Imam of Jame Masjid, Leicester (where he has been Imam for over thirty years), and teaches Sahih al-Bukhari at Jame'ah Uloomul Qur'an. He also gives Dars (lectures) on Thursday and Sunday evenings and holds a Dhikr Majlis everyday after Fajr Salaah at the Khanqah.
He has three sons and two daughters who are all 'Ulamaa and 'Aalimat, and have dedicated their lives in endeavouring the Khidmah of Islam.
Shaykh al-Hadith, Maulana Adam ibn Yusuf Hafizahullah belongs to the auspicious chain of Saints, which is linked to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. This spritual tree is that of the Chistiyyah school of thought.
The founder of this school of thought is Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'eenudeen Chisti, Ajmeri, Rahimahullah.
The spiritual tree and chain of Khilaafah of Hadhrat Hafizahullah can be found here. Further information is available on the Khanqah Imam Muhammad Zakariyya Rahmatullahi Alayh website.