Jawhar bin Haydar bin ʽAli

Shaykh Jawhar Haydar ʽAli (or Jawhar bin Haydar bin ʽAli) was a mystic and Islamic scholar of Shonke, southeast Wollo, Ethiopia. He was usually referred to as the Shayk of Shonke, Shonkeyy and Abbayye (‘my father’).[1]

Shaykh Jawhar bin Hayder bin Ali
شيج جوهر بن هيضر بن على
TitleShaykh
Personal
Bornc 1837
Danna, South Wollo, Ethiopia
Died28 February 1937
Shonke, Ethhiopia
ReligionIslam
RegionEthiopia

Sudanese author Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Ghani Ibrahim marvelously described Shaykh Jawhar in his book,[2] Ahl al-Bilal: Judhur al-islam al-ta’rikhiyya fi’l-habasha, as: "[Shaykh Jawhar was] one of the sources of pride for Abyssinia, one of the greatest scholars, a prominent [religious] leader, an exalted teacher, a possessor of the banner of knowledge, good works an exalted teacher asceticism, to whom the prominent men of the country traveled to obtain benefits from him”[1]

Early life

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Shaykh Jawhar was born around 1837 at Danna, a village about 10km northwest of Kombolcha, South Wollo, Ethiopia. His parents, Hayder Ali and Misk al-Anbar, belonged to Illustrious and pious Muslim chiefly family. His uncle was al-Shaykh Sayid Aman of Gissir, a well-known Shafi jurist.[1]

Education

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He got Islamic education from different scholars like: Shaykh Bushra of Karbana, Mohammed Shaykh, Muhammed of Ifat and Khalil of Mofa in Dawway[1]

Sufi-Order

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Shaykh Jawhar was initiated into Qadiri order by Shayk Jamal al-Din b. Muhammad al-Anni and into Sammani order by Amir Husayn b. Abd al-Wahid, the grandson of famous Sudanese mystic Shaykh Ahmed al-Tayib b. al-Bashir.[1]

Influence

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He trained countless disciples and influenced numerous adherents. Renowned graduates of His school include: Shaykh ‘Ali Sayid b. Yahya b. Bashir Dullati , Al-Hajj Ilyas b. Yusuf, Shaykh Dawud Walasma, Shaykh Al-Hajj Bashir, Shaykh Ahmed al-Busayri of Chiffata, Shaykh Abd al-Samad b. ‘Ali of Gaddo Chaffe, Shaykh al-Faqih Sa’id of Shabbat, Al-Hajj ‘Umar of Dawudo, Shaykh Adam of Qattataye in Warra Babbo, Shaykh Idris of Borana and so on.[1]

Legacy

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Today, his mosque is known by the Muslim community as Shonkey’s Mosque. A mosque is also built in Addis Ababa, around the French Embassy, for his commemoration.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Ahmed, Hussein (2004). "Shaykh Jawhar b. Haydar b. ʽAlī: A mystic and scholar of Shonkē, southeast Wallo, Ethiopia". Annales d'Ethiopie. 20 (1): 47–56. doi:10.3406/ethio.2004.1069. ISSN 0066-2127.
  2. ^ الغني., ابراهيم، عبد العزيز عبد (1994). أهل بلال : جذور الاسلام التاريخية في الحبشة. al-Dār al-Sūdānīyah lil-Kutub. OCLC 606275420.
  3. ^ Ali Yasin. The Development of Islamic Education System in Ethiopia: Its Features, Relevance and Influence on Muslim Culture with Reference to South Wallo. MA Thesis. AAU, Department of Curriculum and Teachers Professional Development. 2015. pp81