AL-HĀDIL AMEEN is intended to serve as a valuable source of information about Islam and provide a means of spiritual enlightenment. The AL-HĀDIL AMEEN magazine which was started in the 1950’s by the honourable Moulana Abu Bakr Hussain Khatib* (may Allah have mercy on his noble soul) in Durban, South Africa; will now reach a larger audience and serve as a beacon of inspiration to the community of southern Africa and beyond, insha-Allah.
*Founder of Alhādil Ameen ~Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib
Early Life
Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib was born in a village called Damman in India on 13 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1320 AH (1900 AC). He was about 6 months old when his honorable father passed away. At the age of 5 years, he had completed the reading of the Qur’an. A very close friend of Maulana’s father was Maulana Ahmad Mukhtaar Siddiqui (RAH). He insisted that the Maulana Khatib be sent with him to pursue higher Islamic education, as a fulfillment of the promise he had made to the Maulana’s father. The Maulana’s mother sent him for higher education with Maulana Mukhtar Sahib and Maulana Abd Al Aleem Siddiqui (RAH).
His Training
At Meerat, the Maulana was admitted at Madrasah-ul-Islam in Sadr Bazaar as a student of Hifz-ul-Qur’an under the then able leadership of Hafiz Hafeezullah (RAH) where he completed the Hifz of the Qur’an in two-and-a-half years. He then went to Madrasah Qawmiyyah in Khair Nagar for studies in Arabic and Persian in the custody of Maulana Ahmad Mukhtaar. Thereafter, he was sent to Lucknow where he was a student at Madrasah Islamiyyah Firangee Mehal, where he spent seven years studying for the Alim Faazil Course.
It was here that he had begun reading Naaths both in Urdu and Persian in the presence of large gatherings. He was fortunate to serve and be in the company of a great spiritualist Hazrat Allamah Maulana Abdul Baari Sahib (RAH), where he was given the gift of reading the Qur’an, Mathnawi of Maulana Rumi (RAW), Deewane-Haafiz and other Nazms of social and political nature in public gatherings. Maulana Khatib served as Imam in various Masaajid throughout the world. He served as Imam in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Jaami’Masjid (Bombay) as well as in Maputo, Mozambique (known as Lorenzo Marques).
Maulana Khatib on one occasion whilst he was serving as imam in Colombo, he spent 11 nights in the Masjid seeking answers as to which direction he should take in life. He received glad tidings to go to the bottom of Africa to spread Islam and its teachings.
His Service to the Community
Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib spent 10 years in Lorenzo Marks Mozambique from 1934 to 1944. He established The first Hifz School in Lorenzo Marks, producing numerous Huffaath.In 1944 Maulana Khatib moved to Durban, South Africa and became the Imam of the Mayville Masjid, where he served until 1957. He established the first Darul Uloom in Durban. He was appointed as the inspector of all the Madressas in the Durban area. In 1958 he was appointed as Imam of the Jumuah Masjid in Grey Street, which he served from 1958 to 1975. He later spent 5 years in attendance at the Soofie Saheb Alpine Road Masjid in Durban, till 1979.
In 1956, he started publishing his monthly magazine and the annual Islamic calendar under the name of AL-HĀDIL AMEEN.
His Passing
He breathed his last on 8 January 1979 in his birthplace village of Damman and was also buried there.It was always his wish and desire that when Allah (SWT) calls him that he should be buried in his home town Damman, India, which he left at an early age. Allah (SWT) granted him his wish on Monday 8th Safar 1399 (8th January 1979).
Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib is acknowledged as a spiritual guide with vision, humility, profound wisdom and the unique ability to bind people together on faith and moral values.
