Shaykh Shukri al-Luhafi ق
Shaykh Shukri al-Luhafi ق leading a Hadra
Known for his humility, gentleness and asceticism, he would serve water to the attendees of the Shādhilī Hadras and continued even when he lead the majlis. He would also pick up scraps of food in the market and arrange shoes in front of mosques. He has the habit of constantly looking down towards the ground so much so that his neck bone has become crooked. He has also never been seen wearing more than two or three different types of clothing, and once, he only broke his fast with raisins when he did a 40 day fast.
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ya’qoūbī ق, has said that he is ‘The Pole of Humility’ (al-Qutb al-Tawādhu’), while Shaykh Tawfīq al-Būtī ق, son of Shaykh Ramadhān al-Būtī ق, said that ‘If you want to see a living example of the Companions, look at him!”
He is Shaykh Shukrī ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Alī ibn Ahmad al-Luhafī al-Hanafī (1920 - 2015 CE). He is the erudite ‘Allāmah, noble and renowned, a teacher of Qira’āt, a faqīh (jurist), a linguist, a calligrapher, a poet and an ascetic. From a young age, he took the Shādhilī-Darqāwī-Hāshimī Tarīqah of Shaykh Muḥammad al-Hāshimī (1881-1961 CE).
“Forget the good that you’ve done for others but don’t ever forget the good others have done for you. ”
His Life
Shaykh Shukrī ق was born in the Al-Qanawāt District of Damascus, Syria. He grew up in the care of both his parents. His father worked as a shoemaker and was a wise and extremely tolerant man. His mother was a pious woman descended from Algerians who settled in the Levant (al-Shām). His family originated from the Turkish city of Kalas, near Aleppo. Shaykh Shukrī ق married a sharīfa from the noble Al-Hasanī family and was blessed with four children. He went for the Hajj once.
His Studies
Shaykh Shukrī ق completed his primary and junior high school education in 1944, and then completed his high school education four years later. He began memorizing the Qur’ān when he was nine years old. He continued his Islamic studies at the Faculty of Sharī’a in the Damascus University established by Shaykh Tāj al-Dīn al-Hasanī ق, son of the great Muhaddith, Shaykh Badr al-Dīn al-Hasanī ق.
Shaykh Shukrī ق worked as a teacher in various primary schools located in Aleppo, Daraa and Damascus. He also served as the principal of a school in the Ashrafiyya Valley of Damascus for a period of two years after which he was transferred to various different education directorates within Syria.
Shaykh Shukrī ق is fluent in Persian (Farsi) and even taught it. He organized courses for memorizing the Qur’ān for both male and female teachers. Students also benefited greatly from his experience and proficiency in Arabic calligraphy. Among his teachers in Arabic calligraphy were: Ustādh Mamdūh al-Sharīf ق (d. 1935), Ustādh Muhammad Badawī al-Dirānī ق (d. 1967) and Ustādh Hilmī Habbāb ق (d. 2000).
His Teachers in the Islamic Sciences
Shaykh Shukrī ق read the Ten Qira’āt in the way of Shātibiyya and Durra with Shaykh Yūsuf Abū Dayl ق and received the ijāza from Shaykh Abū al-Hasan al-Kurdī ق (d. 2009). He also received the ijāza of the Ten Qira’at in the way of Shātibiyya and Durra from Shaykh Kurayyim Rājih ق. He memorized the entire Qur’ān with Shaykh ‘Izz al-Dīn al-’Irqsūsī ق , and was given the ijāza of the riwāya of Hafs from Shaykh ‘Āsim ق. He read the Arba’īn of Imām al-Nawāwī with Shaykh Abū al-Khayr al-Maydānī ق (d. 1960) and was given a general ijāza. He also received a general ijāza from Shaykh Lutfī al-Fayūmī ق. He read Fiqh and the Arabic language with Shaykh Mahmūd al-Rankūsī ق (d. 1985). He read Tawhīd with Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Shāghūrī ق. He read Hanafī Fiqh with Shaykh ‘Abd al-Hamīd Kīwan ق.
Anecdotes
Imam Zaid Shakir: “As the attendees filtered into the venue, Shaykh Shukri, with the hint of a smile teasing his lips, would serve water. He was the waterman. This beautiful practice, like his home, like everything about him, spoke volumes about his humility. What exactly is humility? Some define it as assuming a station lower than that one could rightfully claim. By this definition, Shaykh Shukri was truly humble. Why? Because he could claim being a leading scholar in Damascus. He could claim that he was a renowned callighapher. He could claim being a master of the ten canonical readings of the Qur’an. We could add to the list of the things he could rightfully claim, however, he renounced all claims. He was the waterman.”
Seeker of Allah: “My pulse quickened as I laid eyes on a face – for the first time in real life – that I can only describe, without a hint of exaggeration, as light upon light. Those were the very first thoughts that came to me. His beautiful, white, elderly, face radiated light so bright, and it was as if a cloak of wilaya enveloped his entire being. His blessed hands were outstretched in front of him, palms facing upwards, with the frailty of age, yet quietly rocking back and forth in short motions, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, engrossed in the dhikr of Allah (swt).
I found myself staring, I could not help myself, totally self-conscious that I probably wasn’t being subtle in looking at a face which just manifested noor in every direction. I suppose I’d seen that manifested this clearly so few times in my life, that it really took hold of me, and I didn’t want to stop looking, such was its esoteric beauty. It was just, so undeniable. Like a posteriori evidence. The light from the huge chandeliers seemed dim in comparison to what was emanating from his truly radiant – as Allah ta’ala is my witness till I die – face. Would that in that moment, Shaykh Shukri ق cast but a passing glance on me and I was somehow included in his du’a, I felt as if that would count for more than every paltry act of ibadah (worship) I’ve ever done. That yearning, right then, inside me, was tangible. It brought tears to my eyes, and as I sit here writing these words, I sense those same tears, from these recollections, welling up again.
This was dhawq [taste]. Not tales from books. Not listening to talks. Not attending classes. Not reading/hearing about the awliya. All of which have their place, and value. But none of which substitute for presence. So this was dhawq [taste], and I don’t even have an acquired taste. That moment ranked amongst those select few moments in my life that I consider invaluable and priceless. An experience so personal that it becomes inviolable, locked within, and kept precious. A well from which I can draw spiritual sustenance and inspiration, time and time again. And I made a heartfelt du’a of thanks to Allah (swt) for gracing.”
May Allah al-Lateef grant us to follow the ways of the Awliya like Shaykh Shukri al-Luhafi ق. May we be of the Folk who witness Allāh! Having an overflowing gratitude and intense love for Him in all our movements, stillness, speech, thoughts and intentions! Ameen!
