Shaykh Syed Kumail Ashraf

About

Huzoor Shaikh-ul-Hind, Peer Syed Kumail Ashraf was a master having no synonym. A brilliant speaker, a follower of Prophet Muhammed's (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) teachings and a fierce Commander-in-Chief of the Ashrafi dynasty. Along with that, he is also the powerhouse of the mystic environment.

Early Life & Lineage

Born in 1932–33 into the renowned Ashrafi family, Shaykh Syed Kumail Ashraf was a direct descendant of Imam al‑Auliya Makhdoom Syed Ashraf Jahangir Simnani and the great saint Sayyiduna Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. He inherited both spiritual radiance and scholarly legacy from a household known for its piety, service, and devotion.

His father, a distinguished scholar and Sufi master, oversaw his early spiritual upbringing. From childhood, Kumail Ashraf displayed remarkable intelligence, sensitivity, and a deep inclination toward Islamic learning and service.

Education at Darul Uloom Ashrafiya

He was admitted to Darul Uloom Ashrafiya, Mubarakpur on 13 September 1949 (20 Zil Qaada 1368 AH). There he studied under leading scholars, mastering Arabic, Hadith, Fiqh, and classical Islamic sciences. He graduated on 12 March 1957 (1 Sha’ban 1376 AH), emerging as one of the most promising scholars of his generation.

During his time at the seminary, he was known for his strong grasp of logic, philosophy, literature, and oratory skills, all of which later shaped his dynamic public presence.

Spiritual Training & Khilafat

Shaykh Kumail Ashraf received spiritual training within the Aaliya Qadriyah Ashrafiyah and Aaliya Chishtiyah Ashrafiyah orders. His father honored him with khilafat, recognizing his sincerity and spiritual depth. Other prominent masters also reinforced his spiritual authority.

Across India and abroad, he became a beacon of Ashrafi spirituality, guiding disciples with compassion and wisdom.

Institution Building & Community Service

• Founded Darul Uloom Mehboob e Yazdani in Baskhari (1975).
• Established Aziza Muslim Girls School in 1985 to provide free education to girls.
• Built significant institutions in Goa (Vasco), Mumbra (Darul Uloom Makhdoom e Simnani, 2008), and other areas.
• Strengthened mosques and community centers in Mumbai including Al Madina Masjid, Agripada.
• Played a major role in establishing mosques and networks in the UAE, especially Dubai.

Oratory, Literature & Poetry

Known for spontaneous, heartfelt speech, Shaykh Kumail Ashraf's oratory was deeply moving. He was widely celebrated for his majlis on the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Imam Husain, where his words brought audiences to tears.

He also wrote spiritual poetry under the pen name "Kumail", blending devotion with classical literary elegance.

Major Life Events

• 1932–33 CE — Birth in Ashrafi household.
• 13 September 1949 / 20 Zil Qaʿda 1368 AH — Admitted to Darul Uloom Ashrafiya, Mubarakpur.
• 12 March 1957 / 1 Shaʿbān 1376 AH — Graduated from Darul Uloom Ashrafiya.
• 19 March 1975 / 5 Rabi al-Awwal 1395 AH — His father passed away; he became spiritual successor.
• 1975 CE — Founded Darul Uloom Mehboob e Yazdani in Baskhari.
• 1985 CE — Established Aziza Muslim Girls School in Baskhari.
• 1978 CE — Built Al Madina Mosque, Agripada (Mumbai).
• 2008 CE — Founded Darul Uloom Makhdoom e Simnani (Mumbra).
• 2013 CE — Honored with title “Huzoor Shaykh-ul-Hind”.
• 5 November 2020 / 18 Rabi al-Awwal 1442 AH — Passed away in Mumbai during Zuhr prayers.
• After Death — First funeral in Mumbai; second funeral in Kichaucha Muqaddasa, where he is buried.

The Title of “Huzoor Shaykh-ul-Hind”

In 2013, during his visit to Iraq (including Karbala, Najaf, and Baghdad), Shaykh Yusuf Ziauddin al-Jilani publicly honored him. In a gathering after Maghrib prayers, he embraced him and declared, “You are Shaykh-ul-Hind”. The crowd responded with heartfelt slogans of “Shaykh-ul-Hind zindabad (live long Shaykh-ul-Hind)”.

Golden Quotes of Huzoor Shaykh-ul-Hind

• “Rasoolo.n ki saf me chamakte ho aisa, anghuuti me ho jaise sacchha nagiinaa”
• “Sab rafiqo.n ne mujhko thukraya, ek tera aasra tufail ashraf”
• “Laraz utthe hai asnaam e jahaa.n aiwaan e batil me, nigaah e pur gazab farooq e azam ne uthaali hai”
• “Mauj e javaa.n ko qasr ke dhaane ka tha guroor, saahil pe jaake dekha to zulfe.n safed thi”
• “tere aane se raunaq aagayi gulzaar e hastii me, shariik e haal e qismat hogaya phir fazl e rabbani”
• “mila ye rang shayad isliye suraj ki kirno.n ko, sunehri mustafa ke rauza e aqdas ki jaali hai”

Three Sayings of Huzoor Shaykh-ul-Hind

1. “A sword made of iron cuts through a disbeliever, but a sword of love cuts through his disbelief and he enters Islam.”
2. “There are three types of eyes:
   (a) The ones with which people see;
   (b) The evil eye which can prove to be fatal and deadly;
   (c) And if the blessed sight of a wali Allah (saint) falls on a person, his life and afterlife will be blessed.”
3. “Always forgive people. As he explained in a couplet:
   ‘Mujaahid ka wo naara ho ke koh o dasht tharraae,
   Magar dushman bhi zakhmi ho to kheme me utha laaye.’
   (Rough meaning: Even if the enemy is wounded, one should bring him into his own tent to heal him.)”

Legacy

Shaykh Syed Kumail Ashraf left behind an unparalleled legacy of scholarship, spiritual upliftment, and community service. His institutions continue to educate thousands of students free of cost, and his spiritual teachings remain alive through countless disciples worldwide.