Lineage & Early Life
Hazrat’s father’s family has resided in the village of Varethi, within the Surat district, for centuries. Though their occupation was farming, his paternal grandfather relinquished his land on a contract and adopted business as his source of income. Due to his grandfather’s premature death, his father was raised in his mother’s care. After reaching puberty, he started a business. His first marriage was into an honoured family from Hathuan. From that marriage, he had a son named Mohamed Ali. His wife passed away within a few years, after which he married Hazrat’s mother, Amina bint Mohammed bin Ismail Desai. Hazrat’s maternal family lived in a village called Kholwad on the shores of the Tapisti River. For unknown reasons, this clan moved to Nani Naroli. There, they adopted farming as their profession and source of income.
Hazrat’s mother did not bear any children for a period of five to six years after marriage. Then, a pious man arrived in Nani Naroli, whom his father requested to supplicate for children. The pious man presented Hazrat’s mother with a ring and imparted the glad tidings of a baby boy. He wished well for the child to be characterized with qualities of knowledge and piety. After a year, the pious man returned to Nani Naroli. Shortly prior to his arrival, Hazrat’s brother, Hazrat Shaykhul Hadith Maulana Abdur Rahim bin Suleman bin Cassim Motala, had been born. For a second time, the pious man presented Hazrat’s mother with a ring and imparted the glad tidings of another child.
After having married Hazrat’s mother, the effect of her religiousness started to overcome Hazrat’s father. Eventually, his oath of allegiance (bay’ah) was accepted at the hands of Maulana Abdul Gafoor Bangali, as a result of which he commenced Zikr. As soon as Hazrat’s father commenced Zikr, the effects of it steadily began to influence his health to such an extent that it started to have a reclusive effect on his state of affairs. In this condition, he said to Hazrat’s mother, ‘I intend to forsake the world. You must return to your house.’ The elders and influential men of Hazrat’s family attempted to dissuade him in every possible manner, but to no avail. Eventually, he was forced to sign divorce papers in case his condition reached insanity. The iddah was until the day Hazrat was born. He was born at his maternal grandfather’s house in Nani Naroli on the night of Monday, November 26, 1946.
In 1953, his maternal aunt passed away in South Africa during the childbirth of a son, Shabir. Her husband was left a widower with eleven children. So, Hazrat’s grandfather sent his mother to South Africa to marry her brother-in-law and raise his children. Though she did not wish to abandon her sons, she agreed and reluctantly departed for South Africa. From then on, seven-year-old Shaykh Yusuf Motala and his nine-year-old brother were raised by their grandparents. However, within a few years, they passed away. Thus, they were raised by their maternal aunt, affectionately called Chotikala.
Education
His primary Islamic education of Quraan Sharif and Urdu was completed at Madrasah-e-Targib in Nani Naroli. In 1961, he enrolled at Jamea Hussainia, a well known Madrasah in Rander. There, he studied from the first year of Persian until the first year of Hidaya. Thereafter, in 1966, he enrolled at Mazahirul Uloom in Saharanpur. His classes commenced on February 23, 1966. He studied Mishkaat ul Masabeeh under Shaykh Yunus, Tafseer ul Jalalain under Maulana Muhammad Aqil, Volume 3 of Hidaya under Mufti Yahya and Mishkaat ul Masabeeh for a second time under Hazrat Shaykh Maulana Muhammad Zakariyyah Kandhlawi.
In the following year, Hazrat studied Sahih ul Bukhari under Hazrat Shaykh Zakariyyah Kandhlawi (RA), Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan An Nasa’i, Mu’atta Imam Malik and Mu’atta Imam Muhammad under Shaykh Yunus Jaunpuri, Sahih Muslim and Sunan At Tirmizi under Maulana Muzaffar Hussain, and Sharhu Maiani Al Athar under Maulana Asadullah. At around this time, Shaykk Motala wrote a letter to Shaykh Zakariyyah Kandhlawi requesting the acceptance of bay’ah. He replied, accepted Hazrat’s bay’ah and entered him into his silsilah. After this, along with his studies, Shaykh Motala commenced a consistent routine of the recitation of Quraan Sharif and performance of Tahajjud, Ishraaq, Chaasht and Awwaabeen Salaah.
Marriage, Khilafat, and the Birth of His First Child
In 1968, after completing his final year, his relatives engaged him to a close friend of the family in England. His trip to England was booked for after Ramadan. In Ramadan of 1968, Shaykh Yusuf Motala was appointed to lead the five daily Salaah and Taraweeh Salaah. Two paras were to be recited in each Taraweeh Salaah. However, after three or four days, he became ill and was sent home to Surat. Approximately four months later, in early June, he travelled to England. His marriage was conducted within five or six weeks.
On April 23 1969, along with four friends, Shaykh Motala departed from England to perform Umrah. There, he had the opportunity to spend six to seven months in the company of his Shaykh. He passed the Ramadan of 1969 with his Shaykh in Makkah and Madina. One night, whilst in I’tikaaf, after the performance of Taraweeh Salaah, Hazrat Shaykh called him and Maulana Ismail Badat into his tent and granted them permission to accept Khilafah, wrapping turbans on their heads with his own hands. At the end of the month of Ramadan, he was sent back to England.
However, Shaykh Motala had the opportunity to spend Ramadan of 1970 in Saharanpur. On the 30th of Ramadan, by means of a telegram, he received glad tidings of the birth of his first child, a girl. Hazrat Shaykh immediately sent a telegram: ‘May the name ‘Khadija’ be blessed. The birth of a daughter is an indication of resemblance to the exalted Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).’
Upon the instructions of his Shaykh, Hazrat established Darul Uloom Al Arabia Al Islamia in Holcombe, Bury, Lancashire, in 1973. At present, he is the founder and patron of numerous Islamic institutes throughout the world and spiritual guide to thousands of Muslims all over the world.
Shaykh Yusuf Motala and Trinidad and Tobago
Hazrat has about 75 Mureeds on the island of Trinidad. Hazrat first visited was in 1998 for the opening of the Girls’ Madrasah. Hazrat would often attend the Khatme Bukhari Jalsa. Sometimes Hazrat would stay at the residence of Maulana Shiraz and sometimes at the residence of Qaari Alphan. As soon as the news of Hazrat’s coming to Trinidad reached Qaari Alphan, he would leave whichever part of the world he was in and return to Trinidad in time to receive Hazrat.
Hazrat likes very much our system of Dawat. The people are asked to cook the food and bring it to the home at which Hazrat stays. Preparation is usually made for about 50 people. With this system, everybody has the opportunity to come and have meals with Hazrat and it is also more convenient.
In 1999 Shaykh Yusuf Motala came to Darul Uloom, for the opening of the Girls’ Madrasah.
In 2008, Shaykh Yusuf Motala, again came to Trinidad for the Khatmi Bukhari Jalsa. About 30 people from Trinidad traveled with him to Tobago. Hazrat was took to Nylon pool, a shallow pool amidst the coral reef in Tobago. It is in the middle of the ocean.
Hazrat’s practice was such that most of the times he would stop in Barbados for a couple of days on his way back and visit Dr. Nagdee Sahib. This year Maulana Shiraz, Maulana Abdul Salam, Qaari Alphan, Haji Feraz, Haji Hafeez Karamath and Qari Masood Abdullah accompanied Hazrat and stayed with him in Barbados until he left for England.
In 2009 Hazrat again came to Trinidad for the Khatmi Bukhari Jalsa. About 20 people traveled with him this time to Grenada. We spent the day there. They were received by Maulana Farid Patel who is a Mureed of Hazrat. Hazrat had one program after Asr Salaah. This same year Maulana Shiraz, Maulana Abdul Salam, Qaari Alphan, Mufti Majeed, Haji Feraz and Qari Masood Abdullah accompanied him and stayed with him in Barbados.
His students, who number thousands, are spread across the globe, occupied in the service of Deen in varying capacities. More than 75% of English-speaking Ulamaa in the UK are graduates of institutes founded by Hazrat, many of whom are actively engaged in reinforcing community relations.
Shaykh Yusuf Motala is a dedicated educationist and has devoted much of his life to establishing schools and colleges for the betterment of the Muslim community.
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Extracted from: rashadifoundation.org with the previous permission of Qari Masood Abdullah
