Title Abdul Gaffar Saheb Name Shaikh Gaffar Ethnicity Indian Died January 16, 1998, India | Era Modern Era Region India Religion Islam | |
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Born February 2, 1922 ( 1922-02-02 ) Mangalore, India Creed Quran and Hadith - Hanafi | ||
Main interests Translation, Tafsir | ||
Shaikh Abdul Gaffar Sullia (Kannada: ಶೈಖ್ ಅಬ್ದುಲ್ ಗಫ್ಫರ್) (February 2, 1922 – January 16, 1998), was an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar from Karnataka. He had undertaken numerous activities for the welfare of Muslims and was one of the first to translate The Holy Quran into Kannada Language which took him around twelve years to complete. He has also written several books and conducted many public lectures.
Contents
Life
Shaikh Abdul Gaffar was born in the city of Mangalore, Karnataka in the month of Jumada al-Thani 1340 A.H(Gregorian year 1922) to a family with renowned interest pertaining to religious study and development. His father Shaikh Burhaan Saheb was a School teacher and mother Wazir Bi a homemaker. He was a very hard working person, despite the fact that he had to put in great efforts toward supporting and upbringing his family, he made it his objective to study the Qur'an, Hadith, and Tafseer extensively. At the age of sixty nine, he suffered partial paralysis and moved to his family home in Sullia and lived there till his demise.
Family
Shaikh Abdul Gaffar was the eldest of five children to his parents, with three brothers and a sister. In the year 1945 he got married to Umm-Habeeb , with whom he's had seven children, two daughters and five sons.
Education
He was intellectually brilliant and hence educated himself to great heights of wisdom. Though he never held any acclaimed University degree, his knowledge and presence was scholastically high.
Career
He had assumed a number of posts and responsibilities:
Worked in 32 schools and also as Imam of several Mosques simultaneously.
Major works
Shaikh Abdul Gaffar had undertaken numerous charitable,social and religious activities. He opposed Shirk and Bida'at (Religious Innovations) with extreme austerity,as such practices were prevalent in the town of Udayawara (Udupi Dist.)at the time. He jeopardized his own life by venturing into substantial acts, refuting religious innovations during his tenure as the Imam of Town Mosque in Udyawara. He made great effort in establishing the weekly news paper and named it 'Sanmarga'.
There are a number of books written and translated by Shaikh Abdul Gaffar and the subject matter covered several topics.
Languages
Shaikh Abdul Gaffar was well versed in Kannada, English, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, Malayalam, Tulu and Byari
Death
On Friday, 16th of January 1998, Shaikh Abdul Gaffar Sullia breathed his last at the age of 76. The next day, the congregational prayer was followed by his funeral prayer, led by one of his sons after which he was laid to rest.