Draft:Umar al-Mahdar
| Umar al-Mahdar | |
|---|---|
| Name | Umar al-Mahdar |
| Other Names | Umar bin Abdulrahman al-Saqqaf bin al-Faqih al-Muqaddam
|
| Personal Details | |
| Death Place | Hadhramaut, Yemen |
| Death Date | 833 AH (1429–1430 CE) |
| Teachers | Abdulrahman bin Muhammad al-Saqqaf (Father)
|
| Students | Abdullah bin Abi Bakr al-Eidaroos
|
| Religion | Islam |
Umar al-Mahdar (d. 833 AH (1429–1430 CE)) was an Imam, scholar, ethics teacher, and held a high social status among the people in Hadhramaut. He is considered one of the elders of the Ba Alawi Sadat. The nickname "al-Mahdar" alludes to the speed of arriving at a location and being present. He was known for his knowledge, works, struggles, virtues, and connections. He took charge of the Association of the Naqabat of Alawi Sadat. He was the first person chosen for the stewardship of the Ba Alawi Sadat Naqabat in the year 821 AH (1418–1419 CE). Afterward, his fame increased and his status grew, and various groups visited him. They appointed him as the trustee for the disposal of religious funds. He constructed and established the Al-Mahdar Mosque in Tarim.
It is worth mentioning that Shaykh Abubakr bin Salim, out of respect for Shaykh Umar al-Mahdar and for blessings and auspiciousness, named one of his sons Umar al-Mahdar, from whom the Al-Mahdar family descends.[1]
Lineage
Umar bin Abdulrahman al-Saqqaf bin Muhammad Mawla al-Dawilah bin Ali bin Alawi al-Ghayyur bin al-Faqih al-Muqaddam Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad Sahib Mirbat bin Ali Khali' Qasam bin Alawi bin Muhammad bin Alawi bin Ubaydullah bin Ahmad al-Muhajir bin Isa bin Muhammad al-Naqib bin Ali al-Uraydi bin Ja'far al-Sadiq bin Muhammad al-Baqir bin Ali Zayn al-Abidin bin al-Husayn bin Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Ali was the husband of Fatima bint Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny).
He is the twenty-first descendant from the lineage of the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny).
Birth and Upbringing
He was born in Tarim, Hadhramaut, and grew up with his brothers under the guardianship of his father, Abdulrahman al-Saqqaf. He memorized the Quran and attained the sciences of his time with all levels of knowledge that were circulating at that time. Then he traveled to many points in Hadhramaut, Yemen, and Hejaz seeking knowledge and benefiting from scholars. His first emergence was through great efforts by which he became known, and after that, early teaching and the gathering of scholars and jurists to hear his words.[2]
Teachers
He benefited from the presence of numerous scholars and teachers in Tarim, Al-Shihr, Yemen, Hejaz, and elsewhere, among whom are:[3]
- His father Abdulrahman bin Muhammad al-Saqqaf
- Abubakr bin Muhammad Belhaj Bafadl
He also had a number of people of knowledge and wisdom with whom he had a companionship status, among whom are:
- Abdulrahim bin Sa'id Bawazir
- Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Bawazir
- Ja'far bin Abdullah al-Kathiri
Students
The circle of Shaykh Umar al-Mahdar's students was extensive, and hundreds of great scholars from various cities benefited from his presence, among the prominent students are:[4]
- His nephew Abdullah bin Abi Bakr al-Eidaroos
- His nephew Ali bin Abi Bakr al-Sakran
- His nephew Ahmad bin Abi Bakr al-Sakran
- Ahmad bin Umar bin Ali Ba Alawi
- Husayn bin Ahmad bin Alawi Ba Alawi
- Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Ali Ba Alawi
- Abdullah bin Ali Baharmi
- Muhammad bin Ali Bazughayfan
- Ahmad bin Muhammad Ba'abad
- Sa'id bin Ahmad Baghrib
- Abubakr Baftil
Stewardship of the Naqabat
One of his great works was gathering his brothers, the Banu Alawi Sadat, and creating an organized structure for the establishment of the Association of the Naqabat of Alawi Sadat in the year 821 AH. They signed a written, official, and governmental document consisting of solidarity and joint cooperation in elevating the word of truth, suppressing the foundation of falsehood, enjoining good, forbidding evil, and aiding the oppressed. With this comprehensive document, Shaykh Umar's activity began and spread in society, and the Association of the Naqabat of Alawi Sadat entered a new stage of scientific and practical influence in all Alawi families and other social groups.
Notes
- ↑ Al-Jamal al-Layl, Yusuf bin Abdullah (1423 AH). Al-Shajarah al-Zakiyah fi al-Ansab wa Sir Al Bayt al-Nubuwah. Part One. Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Maktabat Jal al-Ma'rifah.
- ↑ Al-Habshi, Ahmad bin Zayn. Sharh al-Ayniyah. Singapore: Karjai Press Limited. p. 192.
- ↑ Al-Habshi, Eidaroos bin Umar (1430 AH). Aqd al-Yawaqit al-Jawhariyah. Part Two. Tarim, Yemen: Dar al-Ilm wa al-Da'wah. p. 1072.
- ↑ Al-Shili, Muhammad bin Abi Bakr (1402 AH). Al-Mashra' al-Rawi fi Manaqib al-Sadah al-Kiram Al Abi Alawi (PDF). Part Two (2nd ed.). p. 525. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2020.
References
Works
According to biographies, Sheikh Umar al-Mahdar was the wealthiest among the Alawi Sadat of his time. He owned vast lands which he cultivated, established gardens, and meticulously monitored their crops and fruits. In the coastal region, he procured several ships for fishing operations, the income from which was spent on the benefits of knowledge, propagation and invitation to Islam, and aiding the poor and needy. Consequently, he became famous and renowned everywhere, attaining a high social status. Wealth was sent to him for distribution among the poor, widows, and orphans. He fed the needy the best food and honored groups of travelers and pilgrims. He also cared for the conditions of students and those interested in teaching, attending to their education and livelihood, and his table was spread for strangers who came from abroad.
Among his activities was mosque construction. For one of the mosques he built, known as Al-Mahdar Mosque, he endowed palms, wealth, and many benefits. He built another mosque in the Al-Shihr region in a village called Urf, where he often stayed when going to the coast, and for this reason, he became known as the "Owner of Urf"; to this day, his hut, endowments, and residence exist. He also reconstructed what had been destroyed, such as the Ba'alawi Mosque in Tarim. Sheikh Umar al-Mahdar established many villages. He created three villages around Al-Shihr, one of which is the village of Wasit on the outskirts of Al-Shihr.
Among his activities was requesting Sultan Ja'far ibn Abdullah ibn Ali ibn Umar al-Kathiri, due to his good intention and favorable opinion, to assume governance, although Ja'far, away from politics, was engaged in trade and communicating with men of virtue; however, Sheikh Umar's encouragement to accept the leadership of the city of Bur had an effect, and thereafter he assumed the sultanate.
Children
He left behind four daughters named Aisha, Fatima, Maryam, and Alawiyya, and had no son.[1]
Death
He died on Monday, 2nd Dhul-Qi'dah 833 AH (May 1430 CE) while prostrating in the Dhuhr prayer and was buried in the Zanbal Cemetery alongside his family and ancestors.[2]
Notes
References
Al-Mashhur, Abu Bakr ibn Ali (1424 AH). Imam al-Sheikh Umar al-Mahdar, Series of Hadhramaut Figures 10 (PDF). Aden, Yemen: Cultural Creativity Center for Studies and Heritage Service.