Draft:Abu Bakr al-Kaf

Abu Bakr al-Kaf
name	Abu Bakr al-Kaf
Personal details
religion	Islam

Abu Bakr ibn Shaykh al-Kaf (1305–1385 AH) was a leader and social reformer in the Wadi Hadramaut region of Yemen, wielding significant political and social influence across the southern Arab countries. He played a prominent role in establishing peace and extinguishing the flames of tribal conflicts in Hadramaut, tirelessly working to end uprisings and disputes among tribes. Furthermore, he expended substantial resources in service to the Hadrami nation and society across various national domains.

Lineage

Abu Bakr ibn Shaykh ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Alawi ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Kaf ibn Muhammad Kuraykirah ibn Ahmad ibn Abi Bakr al-Jifri ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Shahid ibn al-Faqih al-Muqaddam Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad Sahib Mirbat ibn Ali Khali' Qasam ibn Alawi ibn Muhammad ibn Alawi ibn Ubaydallah ibn Ahmad al-Muhajir ibn Isa ibn Muhammad al-Naqib ibn Ali al-Uraydi ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq ibn Muhammad al-Baqir ibn Ali Zayn al-Abidin ibn al-Husayn al-Sibt ibn Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. Imam Ali was the husband of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), the daughter of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family).

Thus, he is the thirty-fifth descendant of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family).

Birth and Upbringing

He was born in the month of Safar, 1305 AH / 1887 CE, on the island of Singapore. His father, Shaykh ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Kaf, possessed immense wealth in Singapore and Indonesia. His father remained with him in Singapore for five years before returning to Hadramaut in 1310 AH / 1892 CE. He was raised under the care of his parents in the city of Tarim, growing up in an environment rich with scholars and alongside righteous individuals and mentors.

He learned to recite the Quran from Habib Ahmad ibn Salih ibn Shaykh Abi Bakr ibn Salim during his family's residence in Damun. He studied the fundamentals of religious sciences in a corner of the Sarjis Mosque in the Suhayl quarter of Tarim under Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Salim al-Khatib. His father frequently took him to gatherings of scholars and mentors so that he might benefit from them, listen to their advice and instructions, and request their supplications. Consequently, he was profoundly influenced by the religious and spiritual preachers of Hadramaut during that era, including: Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad Mashhur, Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Kaf, Ali ibn Muhammad al-Habashi, Ahmad ibn Hasan al-Attas, and others.

His home served as a refuge for strangers. Shaykh al-Tayyib al-Sasi, the envoy of the Sultan of Hadramaut to the Hadrami Reform Conference held in Shihr and Singapore (1927–1928 CE), chose Abu Bakr al-Kaf's house for his accommodation and resided there during the conference. Engineer Muhammad Salah al-Din ibn Abd al-Wahhab al-Najjar, who was dispatched to Yemen by the German government along with a group of German pilots, visited him upon completing his mission in Yemen by order of Sayyid Muhammad ibn Aqil ibn Yahya and stayed in his house. Additionally, a group of agricultural experts from Egypt, along with individuals from Medina and others, visited his home.

Reformist Role

From childhood, he exhibited a tendency to resolve people's problems. Thus, he naturally embraced reform and frequently examined the general conditions of the country. He strove within his capacity to assist the oppressed. During the tribal reconciliations of 1934 CE, Harold Ingrams was dispatched to Hadramaut for reconnaissance and investigation. He returned again in 1936 CE to work with Mr. Abu Bakr, the Sultans of Hadramaut al-Qu'ayti and al-Kathiri, in persuading the resident tribes to accept a general ceasefire for a period of three years amidst cycles of battles and wars. His strong personality, combined with his generous expenditures, played a pivotal role in the success of the negotiations, which led to the achievement of peace and public tranquility throughout the Hadrami lands, laying the foundation for security and social stability.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

In 1938, the British government conferred upon him the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)—the highest rank within the order—in recognition of his efforts to establish peace and security in Hadhramaut, as well as his public services, including his participation in initiating numerous major projects for the country. On this occasion, two ceremonies were held:

The first ceremony: A congratulatory event honoring Leader Abu Bakr bin Sheikh al-Kaf, hosted under the auspices of Al-Haqq Association in Tarim. It attracted a large gathering of distinguished and literary figures and was scheduled for the evening of Thursday, 11/5/1356 AH, corresponding to 6/1/1938 CE, at the palace of Sayyid Umar bin Sheikh al-Kaf (al-Tawahi).

The second ceremony: Following Abu Bakr's declaration that he was unable to travel to London to receive the medal from King George VI due to fears of threats and conspiracies against national security and the peace efforts he had undertaken, a ceremony was held in Seiyun. This decision came after ninety-nine tribal leaders, upon hearing rumors of Leader Abu Bakr's intended journey to London, drafted and signed a letter urging him not to travel. Consequently, King George authorized the Governor of Aden, Mr. Riley, to present the CBE medal to Mr. Abu Bakr on his behalf. Upon Mr. Riley's arrival in Seiyun in June 1939, a formal ceremony was conducted beside the Sultan's Palace in Seiyun, attended by numerous political, literary, and social figures, as well as a large number of citizens.

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Abu Bakr's efforts yielded significant achievements for his country and its people. He devoted his life to launching major projects and undertaking large-scale contracts. Another British state honor bestowed upon him in 1953 was the title of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)—the highest class within the order. In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II visited the then-colony of Aden, and Mr. Abu Bakr was invited to a reception held in her honor in Aden, where he was formally decorated with this medal. The celebration was attended by: Sultan Hussein bin Ali Al Kathiri, Sultan Abdullah bin Mohsen Al Kathiri, Sultan Hussein bin Saleh Al Kathiri, Sayyid Muhammad bin Abdulrahman al-Saqqaf, Sayyid Saleh bin Ali al-Hameed, Colonel Abdullah Abdullah bin Mara'i bin Talib, Amin Abdulmajid, Mr. Umar al-Mahar bin Alawi al-Kaf, and from Al-Kuwaiti: Sultan Saleh bin Ghalib al-Kuwaiti, Qidal Pasha, Jahan Khan, Sheikh Abu Bakr Barahi, Ahmad Basra, Salem Balala, Ahmad bin Nasser al-Batati, Umar Basudan, and Mr. Ahmad al-Attas.

The Courage of Abu Bakr al-Kaf

Abu Bakr was renowned for his strength and courage, as he never hesitated to express his convictions, regardless of who stood before him or their position. During the traditional ceremony for receiving his new honor (KBE), he was requested to kneel before the British Queen while ascending the stage, in accordance with the protocols observed at such events. Enraged by this demand, he refused to kneel, declaring, "I am a Muslim, and a Muslim kneels only before God." He steadfastly maintained his position until the requirement to kneel before the Queen was waived for him.

Furthermore, in accordance with British governmental regulations regarding the conferral of the KBE medal, he initially declined to relinquish his previous title (CBE), stating, "You English give with one hand and take away with the other. But when we give a gift, we do not take it back." Consequently, the British government relented, and Leader Abu Bakr retained both medals, CBE and KBE. Both honors subsequently appeared on the letterheads of his commercial publications. During the same ceremony, Queen Elizabeth II also presented him with a personalized medal bearing his name and portrait.

His Works

When famine struck in the 1930s, he did not remain idle while hunger devastated his country; rather, he aided his nation. He established soup kitchens for those affected by the famine and also made available to the public a hospital and a school that the Al-Kaf family had founded in Tarim, thereby providing free medical services and free education to the people.

Among his initiatives was ordering a census of the population of Tarim city and counting its houses. The results of this census were recorded in a special register detailing each household and the number of its members, all of whom were Hadhrami men.

At the conference held in Shihr and Singapore, he signed the reconciliation agreement between the Kuwaiti and Kathiri governments.

In the realm of road improvement, he paved the road connecting Tarim (Madīnat Tarīm) in the Al-Ghuraf region with the Sah and Rasb areas. The purpose of paving this road was not only to shorten the distance to the coast but also to link these regions to the city of Tarim.

He constructed the Mi'yz road in 1924 CE, a mountainous route connecting Tarim to Sayun. This road begins at the Rahba area in Tarim via Mi'yz and terminates at Majaz Bur. The establishment of this road marked the end of tribal conflicts surrounding Tarim. He personally supervised the daily paving operations, including the compaction and watering of Tarim's streets. In 1929 CE, during the paving of the Sayun–Tarim road, he bore most of the project's costs.

Al-Kaf Road

In the 1930s, upon observing the difficulties along the routes from the Hadhramaut coast to its interior, Mr. Abu Bakr personally funded the construction of a paved road from Tarim to Raydat al-Ma'arra, at a cost exceeding 150,000 riyals. The paved road (known as Al-Kaf Road) faced significant dangers at the time, as it passed close to Bedouin tribes who dominated their respective territories. Consequently, he contacted them, secured their agreement, signed contracts with them, provided assistance, dug wells for them, and formalized documents to ensure travelers' safety along this route. He personally supervised the stone-paving operations, and road maps were prepared in three copies according to his instructions. The direct supervisor of the paving operations was an individual known by the pseudonym "Balangaris." Additional maps were commissioned at his request for other roads and valleys extending from Tarim to Mukalla. This was the first road linking the Hadhramaut coast with its interior; it commenced in Tarim and terminated in Al-Shihr. Construction of this paved road began in 1924 and was completed in 1937.

Bin Da'er Palace

This palace is one of the historical structures built in Wadi Hadhramaut in 1354 AH (1935 CE) by Leader Abu Bakr. It was erected over a vast area in a locality known as Ibn Da'er, east of Sayun city. Ibn Da'er was a clan of the Yafa' tribe residing in this region. The engineering designs for this palace were created by the architect Alawi Abu Bakr Al-Kaf, a pioneer of mud-brick architecture in Hadhramaut, who constructed numerous palaces in Sayun and Tarim.

Abu Bakr Al-Kaf Through the Eyes of Others

Professor Muhammad bin Hashim stated regarding him: "Mr. Abu Bakr bin Sheikh Al-Kaf is renowned for his determination and lofty aspirations, which progressively elevated his immense wealth. Whoever observes him, his possessions, and his living conditions perceives a man extraordinary in his resolve, remarkable in his character, and unparalleled in his steadfastness. One realizes that he achieved, through tremendous effort, what would normally be impossible to establish in such a desert environment. He is one who gives whenever asked, forgives even when harmed, and stands as a model of virtue for seekers of the right path; his memory adorns every gathering."

He further stated: "Sayyid Abu Bakr possesses, in totality, praiseworthy qualities with which he was innately endowed, including greatness, superiority, generosity, forbearance, perseverance, humility, mercy, justice, love for reform, strength of will, and high resolve."

Mr. Muhammad Ahmad Barakat said concerning "Mr. Abu Bakr bin Sheikh Al-Kaf": "I first met him in Mukalla city in 1940 CE, during his semi-official visit to the coast... Despite his fame filling the horizons and everyone recognizing him as a great reformer in Hadhramaut, no one ever felt like a stranger in his presence! His conversations were sweet and pleasant, and his humility surpassed what one might expect from a noble man toward another noble man."

In the newspaper Fatāt al-Jazīra (Daughter of the Peninsula): "The people regard Sayyid Abu Bakr bin Sheikh Al-Kaf as a leader of Hashemite values, a generous host, and a scion of a noble lineage. Mr. Abu Bakr bin Sheikh Al-Kaf, head of the renowned Al-Kaf family in the southern Arabian Peninsula, was a visionary sheikh endowed with extensive experience, knowledge, quick wit, and a perpetual smile. The people of Aden in Hadhramaut considered him a father to all, and his gatherings were never without guests."

Ingram Film

In 1953, Mr. Harald Ingrams, following the conclusion of his mission as an advisor in the Kathiri and Qu'aiti states, traveled to Hadhramaut. This journey was undertaken to produce a film based on Ingrams' book concerning the role of Britain in the Arabian lands and its islands. The film highlights the security situation in Hadhramaut and the reform measures implemented there, in which Mr. Abu Bakr bin Sheikh al-Kaf played a significant role. He contributed to expanding security in Hadhramaut and personally funded efforts to consolidate social peace among the tribes. Ingrams wrote extensively about him in his book The Arabian Peninsula and Its Islands, covering his life from the early 1930s until his death in 1965 CE.

Death

He passed away at dawn on Thursday, the 9th of Sha'ban, 1385 AH, corresponding to December 2, 1965 CE. At the official funeral ceremony, scholars, dignitaries, the people of Seiyun, and a large crowd from all regions of Hadhramaut gathered. His funeral prayer was held at the Mosque of Habib Taha bin Omar al-Saqqaf al-Thaqafi, led by Habib Alawi bin Abdullah al-Saqqaf. He was buried in the shrine of Habib Qadi bin Abdulrahman al-Saqqaf al-Alawi in Seiyun, Yemen, in the southwestern corner of his tomb. Sayyid Adib Muhammad bin Abdullah Saqqaf composed a lamentation in his memory.

John Duker, a political officer, described the atmosphere in Hadhramaut on the day of Mr. Abu Bakr's death: "I was in Seiyun on the day of his death, and hundreds of mourners from across Hadhramaut gathered to see him for the last time and pay their respects. I joined and accompanied them from behind the funeral procession. During his burial, women wailed and lamented from the balconies. It was a warm morning in Seiyun, with much dust suspended in the air. Eventually, we gathered at the mud palace of his son-in-law, Mashhur bin Hussein al-Kaf, to express our grief and offer condolences to the family members.

References

Al-Saqqaf, Ja'far bin Muhammad; Al-Kaf, Ali bin Anis (1431 AH). Leader Abu Bakr bin Sheikh al-Kaf, Peacemaker and Architect of Economic and Social Renaissance in Hadhramaut. Seiyun, Yemen: Al-Kaf for Studies and Publishing. Archived from the original on 01 January 2020.