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{{short description|British Islamic scholar (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Riyadh ul Haq
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|06|15}}
| birth_place = [[Nani Naroli]], [[Surat]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| occupation = [[Islamic scholar]]
| organization = Al Kawthar Academy
| known_for =
| notable_works = The Salah of a Believer in the Qur’an and Sunnah, The Causes of Disunity
| title = Shaykh
| website = http://akacademy.org/shaykhriyadhulhaq/
|alma_mater = [[Darul Uloom Bury]]
}}

'''Riyadh ul Haq''' (born 1971) is a British Islamic scholar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book
| url = https://www.amazon.co.uk/Medina-Birmingham-Najaf-Brent-British/dp/1849043019
| title = Medina in Birmingham, Najaf in Brent: Inside British Islam
| last = Bowen
| first = Innes
| date = 13 June 2014
| publisher = C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
| isbn = 9781849043014
| language = English
}}</ref> He has been lecturing and teaching as the lead scholar at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester since 2004.<ref name=":0" />

==Early life==
Riyadh ul Haq was born in the village of [[Nani Naroli]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]] in 1971 and moved to Leicester at the age of three with his father who was an Imam at one of the mosques in the city.<ref name=":0" /> He is the eldest of 11 siblings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Hadhrat-Mawlana-Muhammad-Gora-sahib-%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%DA%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87-629523147067220/|title=Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Gora sahib|website=|access-date=28 February 2016}}</ref> His father, Mawláná Muhammad Gora,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Thousands-attend-Imam-s-funeral/story-19518000-detail/story.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717164002/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Thousands-attend-Imam-s-funeral/story-19518000-detail/story.html |archive-date=17 July 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://www.fmo.org.uk/index.php/component/newsfeeds/219 FMO Press Release] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040300/http://www.fmo.org.uk/index.php/component/newsfeeds/219 |date=6 January 2014 }} Passing of Maulana Gora Sahib 13 July 2013</ref> was a scholar and the family were treated with a lot of respect by the community.<ref name=":0" />

== Education ==

=== Darul Uloom al Arabiyyah al Islamiyyah ===

In 1984, aged thirteen Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq enrolled at [[Darul Uloom Al-Arabiyyah Al-Islamiyyah|Darul Uloom al Arabiyyah al Islamiyyah]], Bury, UK. Due to his academic abilities, he was fast-tracked into adult classes within a year of arrival at the seminary.<ref name=":0" />

==== Authorisation ====

He has [[ijazah]] (authorisation) in various Islamic sciences from [[Yusuf Motala]] and the late Islam ul Haq. He also has ijazah in ḥadīth from the late [[Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi|Mahmood Hasan Gangohi]] and the famous Muhaddith, [[Shaykh Yunus Jaunpuri]] of [[Mazahir Uloom, Saharanpur]], India.<ref>[http://alwaqiah.co.uk/speakers Al Waqiah] Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq Biography</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Fundamentals of the Holy Quran Course by Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq.jpg|thumb|Riyadh ul Haq teaching 'Fundamentals of Understanding the Glorious Qur'an' Course in London, June 2009]]

===Early Work===
After his graduation, he became the [[Khatib|Khaṭīb]] of [[Birmingham Central Mosque]] at the age of 21.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Muslim Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe: Elemental and Residual Anti-Semitism |author= Raphael Israeli |year=2009|publisher=Transaction Publishers |isbn=978-1412810357 |page=284}}</ref> He was recruited as the [[Khatib|Khaṭīb]] not only for his scholarship but also because of his ability to deliver the Friday sermon in Urdu, English and Arabic.<ref name=":0" /> At this time he also began teaching ḥadīth at Madinatul Uloom al Islamiyyah, Kidderminster, UK. Until 2003, Riyadh ul Haq served as the honorary headmaster of Madinatul Uloom Al-Islamiyyah, where he was previously ''Sadr Mudarris'' (head teacher/dean of the faculty).<ref name="Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq">[http://www.haqislam.org/shaykh-abu-yusuf-riyadh-ul-haq/ Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq] Haq Islam - Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq</ref>

=== Al Kawthar Academy ===
Since 2004, Riyadh ul Haq has been the lead scholar at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester. Al Kawthar Academy has been described as one of the "most important part-time Islamic colleges" in the UK.<ref name=":0" /> The Al Kawthar Academy offers a range of Islamic educational courses including up to ''[[Ulama|alim]]''-level. Riyadh ul Haq is accredited with developing the curriculum for their seven-year ''[[Ulama|alim]]'' course, taught with 12 hours of study per week.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://akacademy.org/%CA%BFalim-course-16/
| title = Alim Course (16+) {{!}} Al Kawthar Academy {{!}} 'The Abundance of Good'
| website = akacademy.org
| access-date = 2016-03-01
}}</ref>

=== Lectures and Publications ===
Since graduation he has devoted himself to the work of religion and actively engaged in propagation of Islam and teaching. He has taught and commented on numerous classical Islamic works and has lectured extensively on a range of topics including Qurʼānic tafsīr, ḥadīth, aqīdah, fiqh and spirituality. He has also travelled widely, teaching and lecturing in various countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.<ref>[http://ccm-inc.org/oldsite/iqra/people/riyadhulhaq.html Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq] Iqra Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq</ref> Many of his sermons and lectures are recorded and are widely available. He has also authored two books, The Salah of a Believer in the Quran and Sunnah<ref name="Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq"/><ref name="The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah">''The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah'', Islamic Shariah Institute (2002)</ref><ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Salah-Believer-Quran-Sunnah/dp/B0016NMVZ2 The Salah of a Believer in the Quran and Sunnah] The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah</ref> and 'Causes of Disunity'<ref>[http://www.inter-islam.org/RightsDuties/disunity.htm Causes of Disunity] Causes of Disunity</ref>

One of Riyadh ul Haq's most notable contributions to Islamic scholarship has been his detailed commentary of 'The Abridged Sahih al-Bukhari'.<ref>[http://www.akacademy.co.uk/Bukhari/index Bukhari Lessons] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225070738/http://www.akacademy.co.uk/Bukhari/index |date=25 December 2013 }}</ref> which is a comprehensive collection of ḥadīth (sayings and actions of Muhammad). This collection is considered the most important book after the Qur'an for Sunni Muslims.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=nyMKDEAb4GsC&dq=The+Canonization+of+Al-Bukhari+and+Muslim&source=gbs_navlinks_s The Canonization of Al-Bukhari and Muslim: The Formation and Function of the Sunni Hadith Canon] by Jonathan Brown, [[Brill Publishers|BRILL]], 2007</ref><ref name="Muqaddimah">''Muqaddimah Ibn al-Salah'', pg. 160-9 Dar al-Ma’aarif edition</ref> At the time that ul Haq began these lectures in 2001 it was noted that this was the first time that these ''aḥadīth'' had been taught in English in a systemic, detailed and thorough manner to the lay public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bukhariblog.com/2006/03/amazing-study_19.html|title=Bukhari Dars Blog|work=bukhariblog.com|accessdate=16 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bysiness.co.uk/products/bukhariaudioshaykhriyad.htm|title=The Abridged Sahih al Bukhari|work=bysiness.co.uk|accessdate=16 April 2015}}</ref> He has always argued that the [[hadith]] are an integral part of Islam and that [[fiqh]] (Islamic jurisprudence) cannot be understood without the hadith.

===Spirituality===

{{Rquote|right|'''We may have reason to disagree but disagreement itself is no reason to hate. Our resentment is more a reflection of ourselves than others.'''|Riyadh ul Haq|<ref>[https://twitter.com/Sh_RiyadhulHaq]</ref> }}

Alongside teaching of [[hadith]], Riyadh ul Haq focuses on spirituality ([[tazkiyah]]). His spiritual teachings, which date back around 20 years,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.contentsoul.com/2010/07/16/religion-is-firm/|title=Religion is Firm - Content Soul – Nafsun Mutma'innah brought to you by Al Kawthar Academy|access-date=2016-03-06}}</ref> focus on reformation of the character and purification of the soul.<ref name=":0" /> His spiritual chain ([[silsila]]) is well-documented. Short excerpts from his spiritual discourses are published online.<ref>[http://www.contentsoul.com Content Soul] Content Soul</ref> These make it clear that his spiritual teachings cover a range of topics including social etiquettes and responsibility, love, and family ties. His emphasis on [[tazkiyah]] has led to him being labelled as a 'Sufi' and attacked by [[madkhali]] groups.<ref>[http://www.calltoislam.com/factsheets/What%20is%20Sufism.pdf What is Sufism?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000602/http://www.calltoislam.com/factsheets/What%20is%20Sufism.pdf |date=31 December 2013 }} The Aqeedah of Wahdatul Wajood, Luton Islamic Centre</ref><ref>[http://ahlusunnahwaljamaah.com/heads-of-the-sufi-ashari-maturidis/ Ahlus Sunnah awl Jamaat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235648/http://ahlusunnahwaljamaah.com/heads-of-the-sufi-ashari-maturidis/ |date=30 December 2013 }} Ashari Sufi Daaiees</ref>

==Charitable Work==

His expertise and experience is sought by many charities, organisations and bodies for whom he regularly lectures for. These include assisting with humanitarian appeals such as Ummah Welfare Trust's,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwt.org|title=Ummah Welfare Trust (UWT) Committed to 100% Donations|work=uwt.org|accessdate=16 April 2015}}</ref> 'Cries of the Ummah' appeal,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miJEL2gMPqw Ummah Welfare Trust 'Cries of the Ummah' London conference - Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq] London Sunday 19 May 2013.</ref> as well as local community work within Leicestershire (for example Leicestershire Youth Awards 2008 with the Federation of Muslim Organisations).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131229094936/https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vcNtP0c35cEMFyBFagdeSw Federation of Muslim Organistations (FMO) Leicestershire Youth Awards 2008 ] Unsung Hero Award 2008</ref> He has also been involved in assisting the work of Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC).<ref>[http://www.halalhmc.org/HMCAudio.htm HMC Audio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228084017/http://www.halalhmc.org/HMCAudio.htm |date=28 December 2013 }} Effects of Haram in our Worship & Offspring- Who's Responsible? Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq, First HMC Seminar 19 September 2004</ref><ref>[http://www.halalhmc.org/userfiles/file/NewsLetters/issue4.pdf HMC Newsletter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228081203/http://www.halalhmc.org/userfiles/file/NewsLetters/issue4.pdf |date=28 December 2013 }} HMC Newsletter, Issue 4, 2004</ref>

==Influence and international recognition==
Ul Haq is listed in the 2010 Third Edition of 'The 500 Most Influential Muslims' published by Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.<ref name="riss">[http://rissc.jo/docs/new/Muslim500-2010-Third-Edition-001.pdf] The 500 Most Influential Muslims PDF.</ref> It states: "Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq is a very influential speaker and leading Deobandi scholar in the UK. He has been markedly influential through his work with the Al Kawthar Academy in Leicester. Al Kawthar is a leading Islamic educational institution at the forefront of knowledge proliferation through diverse media forms."<ref name=riss/>

Ul Haq is also listed in the 2012 Second Edition of 'The Muslim 500: The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims 2012'<ref name="The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims, 2012 Second Edition">[http://www.coreis.it/documenti/2011-500.pdf ''The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210509/http://www.coreis.it/documenti/2011-500.pdf |date=23 September 2015 }}, pg. 135 The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. The ISBN printed in the document (978-9975-428-37-2) is bad; it causes a checksum error.</ref>

==Media Portrayal==

===Andrew Norfolk Articles===

In September 2007, [[The Times]] published a news item by Andrew Norfolk accusing Riyadh ul Haq of being the "homegrown cleric who loathes the British"<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2402998.ece The homegrown cleric who loathes the British] The Times, Andrew Norfolk 7 September 2007.</ref> and a commentary article from the same author claiming there was a "hardline takeover of British mosques" led by ul Haq. In an opinion piece by the same author on the same date there was a claim that ul Haq was in line to become the spiritual leader of the [[Deobandi]] 'sect' in Britain, despite allegedly having extreme views.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2402973.ece Hardline takeover of British mosques] "a stark manifesto of separationist loathing." The Times, Andrew Norfolk 7 September 2007.</ref> Andrew Norfolk published further opinion articles in [[The Times]] calling the Deobandis historically anti-British,<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2402997.ece A movement fostered by the fear of ‘imperial’ rule] - The Times, 7 September 2007.</ref> including an article about another Deobandi scholar, [[Muhammad Taqi Usmani]].<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2409834.ece Two faces of British youth in thrall to sinister Muslim sect] The Times, Andrew Norfolk 8 September 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2409833.ece Our followers ‘must live in peace until strong enough to wage jihad’] The Times, Andrew Norfolk 8 September 2007.</ref>

===Response of UK Muslim Community===
Andrew Norfolk's articles have been criticised by various Muslim groups and commentators.<ref name="Salaam Blogs">[http://www.salaam.co.uk/blogs-new/?p=564 Salaam Blogs] Muslim-bashing: sign of The Times 14 September 2007</ref> Andrew Norfolk's analysis of Deobandis was apparently based on a police report. However, it has been suggested that the source was a report written by an external consultant for the City of London Police, which had been in circulation for over a year before The Times article.<ref>[http://politics.muslimsinbritain.org/politics2.html Isolating Extremism] Mehmood Naqshbandi, Muslims in Britain Isolating Extremism</ref> The consultant, Mehmood Naqshbandi himself writes 'the attention given to a presumed cadre of extremist and foreign imams preaching in mosques is seriously misplaced'.<ref name="Salaam Blogs"/><ref name="Problems and Practical Solutions to Tackle Extremism; and Muslim Youth and Community Issues,">''Problems and Practical Solutions to Tackle Extremism; and Muslim Youth and Community Issues'', Mehmood Naqhsbandi, THE SHRIVENHAM PAPERS - Number 1 August 2006</ref>

Amongst the immediate responses, '[[The Guardian]] carried a "Comment is Free" opinion article by Inayat Bunglawala, media secretary for the [[Muslim Council of Britain]], calling Norfolk's work a "toxic mix of fact and nonsense".<ref>[http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/inayat_bunglawala/2007/09/a_toxic_mix_of_fact_and_nonsense.html A toxic mix of fact and nonsense] Inayat Bunglawala, Guardian "Comment is free", 9 September 2007.</ref> The [[Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK]] (MPACUK) claimed on their own web-site that even the [[Barelvi|Berelvis]] were coming out in defence of Riyadh al Haq.<ref>[http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/4012/34/ The Berelvis Come Out In Defence of Riyadh ul Haq] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917193553/http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/4012/34/ |date=17 September 2010 }} Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK), 11 September 2007.</ref> MPACUK also referred to the attacks on ul Haq as a "decapitation strategy" because he pro-actively advocated political activism.<ref>[http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/4011/35/ Decapitation Strategy - Sheikh Riyadh ul Haq & Dr Mahmood Chandi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611222028/http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/4011/35/ |date=11 June 2011 }} MPACUK, 11 September 2007.</ref>

===Condemnation of Terrorism===
Riyadh ul Haq joined religious leaders and the wider Muslim community in Leicestershire in condemning the [[murder of Lee Rigby]] in May 2013. He 'expressed his deepest sadness and condemnation at what unfolded in Woolwich'.<ref>[http://www.fmo.org.uk/index.php/component/newsfeeds/175 - Press release - Woolwich murder] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227021630/http://www.fmo.org.uk/index.php/component/newsfeeds/175 |date=27 December 2013 }} FMO 27 May 2013.</ref>

==Publications==

=== Books ===

*''The Salah of a Believer in the Qur'an and Sunnah'' (ISI: Birmingham, 2002)
*''Causes of Disunity'' (ISI: Birmingham, 1998)

=== Poems ===

*''Whispers of the Night'' (ISI: Birmingham, July 2000)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.akacademy.org Al Kawthar Academy - Lectures of Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq], 18 December 2013
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091104123929/http://www.akacademy.eu/includes/uploads/file/whispers%20of%20the%20night.pdf - Whispers of the Night], 28 December 2013

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ul Haq, Abu Yusuf Riyadh}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian imams]]
[[Category:British imams]]
[[Category:21st-century imams]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:People from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People from Leicester]]
[[Category:Deobandis]]
[[Category:Imams in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People educated at Darul Uloom Bury]]
[[Category:Islamic scholars in the United Kingdom]]

Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq - Revision history

imported>Filedelinkerbot at 19:53, 30 August 2021