ABOUT US


SUFFA-TUL-ISLAM
Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul-Islam Grand Mosque, is a flagship Masjid and educational institute in the English city of Bradford, West Yorkshire. It was founded in 1983 by Shaykh Muhammad Habib-ur-Rehman Mahboobi who is a Sufi Master of a unique Khanaqah of the Qadri and Naqshbandi Sufi Orders. Management Operations are handled by Suffa-Tul-Islam (UK) Association.

Al-Jamia site borders the City centre, the city’s educational institutions, as well as the Bradford 5 and Bradford 7 areas. The architecture and serene setting of the Al-Jamia complex has already attracted national and international interest. Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul-Islam has a century and a half of history in serving the Qur’an and Islamic sciences through its spiritual founders, the Sufi Grand Masters of Tangrot and Dhangri Shareef, Kashmir. This devotion to the Qur’an and its sciences remains at the core of Al-Jamia’s ethos. To date more than 150 Huffaz have committed the blessed Qur’an to memory and tens of scholars have graduated from the Tarbiyya and Tasawwuf program. Many graduates are now responsible of their own Islamic institutes, both local and abroad.

WHERE WE'RE BASED
In 1983 a four-storey former textile mill situated in the city centre of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England – was acquired as a freehold property and modernised into a mosque and community centre. It was funded by voluntary contributions, interest-free loans and donations from the local community and membership. By the grace of Allah Almighty it was used as a mosque, community centre, madrasah and after-school club until 2012 by scores of people. This building currently houses pre-16 educational and personal development activities for both boys and girls, and is located close to the city centre on Sunbridge Road. The newer development - 'Bradford Grand Mosque' is located as shown in the map, and is open for Jama'ah 5 times a day and exclusive events, as it is still under construction.

GRAND MOSQUE

PROJECT

QIBLA HAZRAT SAHIB

SHAYKH MUHAMMAD HABIB-UR-RAHMAN MAHBOOBI

Founder of Suffa-Tul-Islam UK Association & Bradford Grand Mosque
Qibla Hazrat Sahib, Shaykh Muhammad Habib-ur-Rahman Mahboobi Sahib are the eldest son of Baray Hazrat Sahib, Hazrat Khawaja Muhammad Faazil Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) and was born on 15th of August 1954 and remained with his father until he was twenty nine years old. In his early years when at Dhangri Sharif, he was thought to be an ordinary student as he never displayed any visible pride and wore simple clothing. One would have had to stay there a few days before finding out that he was the eldest son of Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Muhammad Faazil Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him).

In his early days, Qibla Hazrat Sahib was studying at Sialkot. He would return home now and again and bless the locals with his company, talk and would mix with the students and disciples, offering pieces of wisdom and advice. Upon ending his education and graduation from Sialkot, Qibla Hazrat Sahib enrolled at the University of Jamia Na’eemia in Lahore where within a short space of time he won the hearts of all his teachers and fellow students. After completing his education in Lahore Qibla Hazrat Sahib returned permanently to Dhangri Sharif where he stayed very close to his father and received their special attention and instruction. However, after some time, Qibla Hazrat Sahib was instructed to visit England and whilst in England, Qibla Hazrat Sahib toured the country and gave advice and guidance to disciples and the general public. The journey was only to last a short while, but when Qibla Hazrat Sahib returned to Pakistan the people of England, so many of whom had been overwhelmed by the physical and spiritual presence of Qibla Hazrat Sahib, wrote letters to his father asking for him to be sent back to them.

After careful consideration, Hazrat Khawaja Muhammad Faazil Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) ordered his son to go back to England and propagate the true message of the Deen. So with this order of Baray Hazrat Sahib, Qibla Hazrat Sahib returned in 1981 and a unique mosque and Islamic School was set up, in 1983, under the name of Hayaat-ul-Uloom Suffa-Tul-Islam (U.K) Association. This institute is believed by many to be an existing miracle of Hazrat Khawaja Muhammad Faazil Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) that, in such a short space of time a four storey building, one of its kind in the whole of Europe was bought and set up. At, Suffa-Tul-Islam to date, over 150 students have completed Hifz and over 30 students have graduated from the Alim course. The education wing of the association is now known as STI School. Qibla Hazrat Sahib has always given their undivided attention to the welfare and running of this institute where he himself teaches on a daily basis. He often tours around the UK and is regularly invited to preach to the masses. People flock to meet him at the now Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul-Islam Grand Mosque every week, to receive advise and councelling. Alhamdulillah, just as his forefathers, he holds a special place in the heart of everyone who meets him be it just once to gain advice or request a dua.


THE SAINTS

OF DHANGRI SHARIF

Situated north east of the Mangla fort, near where the rivers of Jhelum and Poonch meet is a small group of villages famously known as Dhangri Sharif. About one and a half centuries ago, at this meeting of two rivers another great and historic meeting took place; a spiritual fusion between U’loom-e- Zaahiriyya and U’loom-e- Baatiniyya (exoteric and esoteric sciences) with the merging of two mighty rivers of spiritual power, Bhawli Sharif and Pir Sayyed Nayk A’lam Shah Sahib Bukhari (may Allah be pleased with them). This great fusion and merging of spiritual significance appeared to the world in the form of Hazrat Khawaja Muhammed Hayaat Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him).


Hazrat Khawaja Al-Hafiz Muhammad Hayaat Sahib

may Allah be pleased with him

Hazrat Khawaja Muhammed Hayaat Sahib, known as Baba Jee by his followers and disciples, spent his early years in education as well as prayer and worship. He taught Qur’anic wisdom and Islamic sciences to the thousands in many different areas of Kashmir before finally setting up a madrassa at Dhangri Sharif where he taught for his final years. Baba Jee had a special connection and a very special love with the Holy Qur’an. Read More
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Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Muhammad Ali Sahib

may Allah be pleased with him

In his childhood Hafiz Jee Sahib, Hazrat Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Ali Sahib, (may Allah be pleased with him), was given special bay’ah from Hazrat Pir Sayyad Lutf Shah Sahib Naqshbandi Mujaddidi (may Allah be pleased with him) of Rawatra Sharif which is in the district of Jehlum, Pakistan. Hazrat Pir Syed Lutf Shah Sahib was the Khalifa-e-A’zam of Hazrat Khawaja Khan-e-A’lam Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) of Bawli Sharif.
Read More
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Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Muhammad Fazil Sahib

may Allah be pleased with him

Baray Hazrat Sahib, Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Allama Muhammad Faazil Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) was the eldest son of Hazrat Khawaja Muhammad Ali Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him), and was also their spiritual successor. Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Muhammad Faazil Sahib, similar to their father, was a great and mighty leader of U’loom-e-Zaahiria and U’lum-e-Batiniyah (exoteric and esoteric sciences).
Read More

MEDIA

AT AL-JAMIA

In 2014 during the blessed month of Rabi' al-Awwal, the Al-Jamia Media Committee was formed under instruction of Qibla Hazrat Sahib, Fadhilat-us-Shaykh Muhammad Habib-ur-Rehman Mahboobi, to further the efforts of Al-Jamia Suffa-tul-Islam Grand Mosque in spreading the wisdom of Islam throughout the U.K. and to the wider world. The committee quickly came together and began meeting regularly. Existing social media outlets were reviewed, assimilated, and given a common objective. Further to this, a variety of dynamic projects were setup and turned around within a short space of time, with this being one of them, along with a versatile and interactive app you can download here.





BRADFORD GRAND MOSQUE

THE SAINTS OF DHANGRI SHARIF

THE COMING TOGETHER OF TWO GREAT RIVERS
Situated north east of the Mangla fort, near where the rivers of Jhelum and Poonch meet is a small group of villages famously known as Dhangri Sharif. About one and a half centuries ago, at this meeting of two rivers another great and historic meeting took place; a spiritual fusion between U’loom-e- Zaahiriyya and U’loom-e- Baatiniyya (exoteric and esoteric sciences) with the merging of two mighty rivers of spiritual power, Bhawli Sharif and Pir Sayyed Nayk A’lam Shah Sahib Bukhari (may Allah be pleased with them). This great fusion and merging of spiritual significance appeared to the world in the form of Hazrat Khawaja Muhammed Hayaat Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him). Hazrat Khawaja Muhammed Hayaat Sahib, known as Baba Jee by his followers and disciples, spent his early years in education as well as prayer and worship. He taught Qur’anic wisdom and Islamic sciences to the thousands in many different areas of Kashmir before finally setting up a madrassa at Dhangri Sharif where he taught for his final years. Baba Jee had a special connection and a very special love with the Holy Qur’an. It was one of his many miracles that even when asleep, if someone reciting the Quran made an error, Baba Jee would correct him in the state of sleep. News of Baba Jee’s spiritual counselling, Islamic guidance and growing fame for foretelling forth-coming events spread far and wide. As time passed, many spiritual masters, saints and scholars would also come to visit Baba Jee. Some of the more well known and frequent visitors included Hazrat Khawaja Sultan Mahmood Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) more commonly known as Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaz of Awaan Sharif, the name Ghareeb Nawaz emphasising his love, care and affection for the poor; those poor of spiritual health or material wealth. The second saintly figure who often came to Baba Jee was Hazrat Zulfaa Waali Sarkaar of Choora Sharif (may Allah be pleased with him), who when visiting this side if the country would only stay with Baba Jee, the first of the noble saints who were to set the spiritual foundations of Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul-Islam.
BABA JEE’S GREATEST MIRACLE
Baba Jee, Hazrat Khawaja Muhammed Hayaat Sahib’s list of miracles is very vast but what he is mostly remembered for and renowned for is phrased as ‘al-istiqaamatu fowqal-karaamati’ (Steadfastness of Shariah is greater than miracles). Every aspect of Baba Jee’s life whether it be their sitting, standing, eating, drinking, walking, talking and even sleeping was according to the sunnah of Rasoolullah, peace and blessing be upon him. Baba Jee also advised his followers and students to do the same. If somehow someone acted against the Shariah then Baba Jee would not be satisfied with him until he or she had repented and asked forgiveness from Allah Almighty. Baba Jee would not only take care to fulfil Sunnah-Muakkadah actions but were also persistent in Sunnah-Ghair- Muakkadah and Nawaafil (Optional prayers). Missing obligatory (Fard) salah was out of the question, Baba Jee wouldn’t even let his Nawaafil l’badat like Tahajud go missed (Qaza). There are dozens of accounts where in Baba Jee was invited to a follower’s home for a meal and the host had catered for only five to six people but on the hearing of Baba Jee coming people would flock to see him. The host would obviously get anxious and worried but Baba Jee would have the food brought to the mosque, he would then place his blanket over the food and tell the people to distribute it. When everyone had finished eating, Baba Jee would remove his blanket and the food was as full as it was in the beginning.
KHULAFAA
Baba Jee had many khulafaa (spiritual descendants), who were all pious and saintly people. Some of the more known personalities to have been given khilafa include Hazrat Khawaja Sultan A’lam sahib (may Allah be pleased with him), father of Qazi Muhammmad Sadiq Sahib of Aghaar Sharif (may Allah be pleased with him), in the area of Kotli. Qazi Sahib served Baba Jee for many years and worked hard in the ‘Langar’ (dining area) serving people. Khawaja Sultan A’lam Sahib’s grave is in Kaal-Dewa near Jehlum. All of Baba Jee’s children inherited knowledge, wisdom and spirituality from their father but their eldest son Hazrat Khawaja Muhammad Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), was the one whom Baba Jee nurtured the most.
FINAL RESTING PLACE
Hazrat Khawaja Muhammad Hayaat Sahib’s tomb is at Dhaangri Sharif in Kashmir . His eldest son, Khawaja Al-Hafiz Muhammad Ali Sahib, succeeded his legacy upon his demise.


THE SAINTS OF DHANGRI SHARIF

EARLY LIFE
In his childhood Hafiz Jee Sahib, Hazrat Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Ali Sahib, (may Allah be pleased with him), was given special bay’ah from Hazrat Pir Sayyad Lutf Shah Sahib Naqshbandi Mujaddidi (may Allah be pleased with him) of Rawatra Sharif which is in the district of Jehlum, Pakistan. Hazrat Pir Syed Lutf Shah Sahib was the Khalifa-e- A’zam of Hazrat Khawaja Khan-e- A’lam Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) of Bawli Sharif. When Baba Jee, Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Muhammad Hayaat Sahib, took Hafiz Jee Sahib to Rawatra Sharif, Syed Lutf Shah Sahib refused to give bay’ah saying that he was too old and nearing the end of his time whereas Hafiz Jee Sahib was still of very young. In reply to this Baba Jee Sahib requested that the only reason for bay’ah was to gain more blessings of Bawli Sharif. Syed Lutf Shah Sahib then took Hafiz Jee Sahib’s hand and made him recite the declarations of faith (Kalimahs) and taught him the composition of Zikr-e- Ilaahi (Remembrance of the Lord). He then told Hazrat Baba Jee to enrich Hafiz Jee Sahib with faiz (spiritual benefit) and blessing on his behalf as well. When Hafiz Jee Sahib, Hazrat Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Ali Sahib, grew to be a young man, his father taught him all the spiritual exercises and speculations and gave him khilafah (permission to continue the spiritual lineage).
SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS AND TRAVELS
Hafiz Jee Sahib themselves, gave bay’ah to many people. Then one night he had a dream in which he saw Hazrat Baba Pir Shah Ghazi (may Allah be pleased with him) of Kharri Sharif flying up towards the heavens and behind him was Ghawse Zamaan Kutbe Dawraan Hazrat Qazi Sultan Mahmood Sahib Qadri of Awaan Sharif. Behind them was Hazrat Sai Noor (may Allah be pleased with him), and behind him was Hafiz Jee Sahib himself. Upon waking up from this dream, Hafiz Jee Sahib knew that he was to receive faiz from Awliyaa (friends of Allah) who have passed away as well from Sai Noor Majzoob (may Allah be pleased with him). In short Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Mahmood Ali Sahib received spirituality from not only these masters of spirituality, but he frequently attended Data Darbaar in Lahore, and the shrines at Multan Sharif, Paak Patan Sharif, Sarhand Sharif and many many more and received blessings and spiritual strength from every sacred place he visited. Hafiz Jee Sahib used to tell his companions to attend these places also, as these people are very Lajpaal (of lofty statuses). Sarkar Ghareeb Nawaz of Awaan Sharif told Hafiz Jee Sahib to continue his travels and bless and enlighten the creation of the Allah Almighty on his journeys. Hafiz Jee Sahib went on spiritual outings, spending months sometimes years in the mosque of an area preaching and spiritually nurturing the people living in that area, many groups of people would come from all around the area where he was staying to directly benefit from him.
MIRACLES
At one time when Hafiz Jee Sahib was away on a tour, a snake bit his brother at home. The news of this incident reached Hafiz Jee Sahib and on hearing this Hafiz Jee Sahib said that his brother would not die from this illness and that he was still to be married. The people around him were astonished and confused because Hafiz Jee Sahib’s brother’s wife was still alive and well. A short time after Hafiz Jee Sahib’s brother’s wife passed away and people saw that his sayings became true as his brother remarried. A very old man once came to Hafiz Jee Sahib and said that he had a number of problems but the situation was so bad now that if he did not find a solution his wife would pass away. Hafiz Jee Sahib asked him of his problems, and he told him that it had been fourteen years, since he had heard from his eldest son and that they were not sure whether he was alive or dead. Hafiz Jee Sahib pointed him towards a certain grave, and told him to spend the night there and to come the next day and inform him what he had experienced. The man did as he was told and returned the following day. He told Hafiz Jee Sahib that a voice from the grave told him his son is dead. On hearing this Hafiz Jee Sahib told the man that it was all right and that his son was alive and that only the love of his parents had gone from his heart. Only a few days later a letter was received with the news was that the man’s son was well and was returning home soon. There were so many miracles of Hafiz Jees Sahib which manifested throughout his life that one could possibly go on narrating them for months and still not list them all but the most important miracle was their steadfastness to the Shariah and all their life they would preach that being consistent in Sharia is higher than any miracle.
STORY OF TWO FUNERALS
Hafiz Jee Sahib passed away on the 15 th of April 1964 at 12:30pm. His funeral prayer was prayed the following day at 3:00pm. Three years after the burial, Hafiz Jee Sahib’s coffin was excavated due to the construction of the then new Mangla Dam. On Sunday the 16 th of July 1967, their body was removed from the ground and even though over three years had passed, masses of people witnessed that the body had not decayed the slightest. The body was then bathed and the funeral prayer performed again before being buried in Dhangri Sharif where it lies today.


THE SAINTS OF DHANGRI SHARIF

INTRODUCTION
Baray Hazrat Sahib, Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Allama Muhammad Faazil Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) was the eldest son of Hazrat Khawaja Muhammad Ali Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him), and was also their spiritual successor. Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Muhammad Faazil Sahib, similar to their father, was a great and mighty leader of U’loom-e- Zaahiria and U’lum-e- Batiniyah (exoteric and esoteric sciences). Yet despite being gifted by Allah Almighty, Hazrat Khawaja Muhammad Faazil Sahib was most humble. Ostentation, worldly talk and pride were greatly disliked by him. Whenever someone came to him, he would always advise them to be steadfast in Shariah and not to dwelve too much in wordly matters that you lose focus of the Aakhirah (Hereafter).
EDUCATION
Baray Hazrat Sahib was taught by some of the greatest scholars of his time. He gained his initial tutition from his father Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Muhammad Ali Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him). Other notable teachers included Mawlana Abdur-Rehman Sahib of Pandori village near Mangla and Maulana Yousaf Sahib of Mirpur city. After this period of study, Baray Hazrat Sahib enrolled in the institute established by Shahenshah-e- Wilaayat Shah Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) called Khadam-e- Sufia. Baray Hazrat Sahib also learnt from Sheikh-ul- Qur’an Hazrat Allama Abdul Ghafoor Sahib Hazaarvi (may Allah be pleased with him) and another great scholar of the Asian subcontinent, Hazrat Sultan Ahmad Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him). It was during this time of study that Muhaddith-e- A’zam Pakistan Allama Muhammad Ahmad Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) came on a religious tour. Muhaddith-e- A’zam had become a master of the science of Hadith at Brailly Sharif in India. Baray Hazrat Sahib met Muhaddith–e-A’zam at an event in Lahore and expressed his intention of doing Dawra (advanced Hadith studies). Muhaddith-e- A’zam agreed and thus, Baray Hazrat Sahib furthered their studies in their guardianship. All of Baray Hazrat Sahib’s teachers praised him of his piety and consistency in Shariah and Tariqah (spiritual path). Allama Sultan Ahmad Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that when he would go to the mosque before Fajr he used to see Baray Hazrat Sahib praying Tahajjud. Muhaddith-e- A’zam Pakistan Abdul Fazal Muhammad Sardar Ahmad Sahib referred to Baray Hazrat Sahib as a Wali (friend) of Allah. After completing their education, Baray Hazrat Sahib taught and preached at his grandfathers, Hazrat Khaawaja Hafiz Muhammad Hayaat Sahib’s home in Tangrot. He continued teaching at his grandfather’s home until the building of the dam, and then moved to the present establishment in Dhangri Sharif.
SPIRITUAL ORDER
Baray Hazrat Sahib inherited spiritual powers from the four main Tariqahs and also gave permisions to his disciples in the Naqshbandi, Qadri, Chishty and Suhrwardi tariqahs. Baray Hazrat Sahib, although being a great saint himself, always showed admiration to all saintly figures of every tariqah. All day long people would flock to meet Baray Hazrat Sahib and he would tell them stories of great saints of the past and how they lived their lives and would then advise people to follow their examples. Baray Hazrat Sahib would visited shrines often, especially at Bawli Sharif, Awaan Sharif, Rawatra Sharif and Kharri Sharif. Whenever he would come within a couple of miles of the shrine he perform wudu and would instruct anyone he sent to the shrines to do the same. Baray Hazrat Sahib regarded all scholars, Hufaaz, Qurra’ and naat khaan as very important, if any of these people came to Baray Hazrat Sahib they would be given great respect and hospitality and would not leave empty handed.
MIRACLES
Baray Hazrat Sahib, Hazrat Khawaja Hafiz Allama Muhammad Faazil Sahib’s list of miracles is so vast that it cannot be done justice in a few words. The result of many of his miracles are still present today and thousands of people are still alive who have witnessed them or benefitted from them. Many sick and injured people were cured through them by the will of Allah Almighty, yet they too considered steadfastness to the Shariah to be the main goal and achievement in life. A well-known Dr. Fazal Dadd says that once i urgently needed some honey but in the area that i lived in I could not find any pure honey. I was very hopeless so I went to visit Baray Hazrat Sahib in Dhangri Sharif, soon after arriving I greeted him and sat down. I was thinking to ask Baray Hazrat Sahib for some honey but before I spoke a word, Baray Hazrat Sahib said “Dr Sahib there is a bottle of honey in front of you, take it!”. I took the bottle and was very astonished that how did Baray Hazrat Sahib know? The truth is that a Wali (friend) of Allah is granted a sight far greater than the limited sight of our eyes. Once, in the village of Nimrah, there lived a man called Sufi Muhammad Ayub who was a very religious and pious man. He says that including himself, three to four mureeds (disciples) made a trip to Faizpur Sharif from Dhangri Sharif with Baray Hazrat Sahib. The river Jehlum is situated in-between the two places. When we reached the banks of this river we realised that we only had a small boat with which we could cross the river. Baray Hazrat Sahib told us to go across the river in the boat. We decided to follow their instruction and decided that upon reaching the other side of the river, one of us would return for Baray Hazrat Sahib. However, when we reached the opposite bank, to our astonishment Baray Hazrat Sahib was already there waiting for us!
DEMISE
Baray Hazrat Sahib passed away on 15 th of May and was buried beside his father on 16 th May in the year 1991. Baray Hazrat Sahib are survived by their two sons, the eldest son is the founder of Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul- Islam Grand Mosque Bradford, Qibla Hazrat Sahib, Shaykh Muhammad Habib-ur- Rahman Mahboobi Sahib, and the younger son Sahibzada Muhammad Atique-ur- Rehman Sahib who manage the day-to- day affairs at Dhangri Sharif, Pakistan.