Prominent Muslim Scholars arrive for countrywide programme

Muslims VisitGeorgetown: Three prominent renowned and respected Muslim scholars will arrive today in Guyana for a countrywide program.

The scholars will be in Guyana from January 6-18, 2016 and a concise itinerary is as follows: The Rabi-ul-Awal (the month in which the Prophet was born) programs commenced on December 13, 2015 and will climax in May, 2016.

They will be staged under the theme “Celebrating Mercy- The Universal Messenger to all creation –Prophet Muhammad.”

The scholars are Shaikh Safraz Bacchus Al Azhari (from New York, USA), Shaykh Yasar Malik and Shaykh Huzaymah Akhtar (from London, England). The Muslim community of Guyana continues to mark the Birth Anniversary of the Beloved Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex AA (ACIC), The Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (GUSIA) and The Muslim Youth Council in association with the respective Masjids will be facilitating activities for these observances.

The main Programs with these scholars are slated for January 10 and 17, at Meten Meer Zorg (West) Masjid and at the ACIC respectively, while there will be programs throughout the country. The delegations will also meet with other Islamic Organizations as well as the Inter Religious Organization of Guyana (IRO). While here, they will also pay courtesy calls on several government functionaries, Opposition Leader and Members of the diplomatic Corps.

An eminent Scholar in the ranks of Ulema, Guyanese born Shaykh Safraz Bacchus Al Azhari, now resides in New York, USA gaining the recognition of one of the most recognized Muslim cleric in the tri-state area. Safraz was born at Patentia, West Bank Demerara, Guyana and obtained his Islamic Education in Egypt at the famed Al Ahzar University, the world’s oldest University. He migrated to the USA three years ago to take up the important position of Imam at Masjid Al Abdin, the largest masjid of people of West Indian origin in the Tri-State. He is also a Member of the ACIC and was honoured by the prestigious National Islamic Awards Committee (NIAC) for his work in promoting Islamic education in Guyana. He has to his credit dozens of CD’s and book. An orthodox Sunni scholar, Safraz remained in constant contact with the Guyanese Muslim community here.

Meanwhile, Shaykh Huzaymah Akhtar hails from Stoke, Trent, England. He obtained his LLB from Staffordshire University. He currently stands as a partner of Saints Solicitors LLP and was one of the early graduates of the Suyuti Institute (London) and has studied under His Eminence Huzoor ShaykhZain-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi, Shaykh-ul-Hadith Maulana Shafruddin and Mufti Rafiq-ul-Hasni. He is currently the Vice Chancellor of the Suyuti Institute. He specializes in Islamic History and has also delivered lectures on various topics worldwide including South Africa, Australia, Fiji and Dubai.

Shaykh Yasar Malik also obtained his LLB from Staffordshire University and currently works at Saints Solicitors LLP. Shaykh Yasir also studied under His Eminence Huzoor ShaykhZain-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi, Shaykh-ul-Hadith Maulana Shafruddin and Mufti Rafiq-ul-Hasni. He has also studied at Jamia Al Karam.

He specializes in Fiqh/Islamic Rulings, a topic which he now currently teaches at Suyuti.