Habib ‘Umar is a 39th-generation direct descendant of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, through Imam al-Husayn and ‘Ali Zayn al-’Abidin. Born in Tarim, in Yemen’s Hadramawt Valley, in 1383 AH (1963 CE), he has become one of the leading scholars, teachers, and renewers of the Islamic tradition in our time.
Habib ‘Umar’s family has been based in Yemen for 30 generations. He continues in the tradition of his father, his father’s father, and all his forefathers, who were all scholars, and knowers of Allah.
Lineage & Ancestors
The Wadi (valley) of Hadramawt near the city of Tarim
Among Habib ‘Umar’s blessed forefathers are Imam ‘Ali Zayn al-’Abidin, as well as the first of the Prophetic Household to settle in Hadramawt, Imam Ahmad bin ‘Isa al-Muhajir and his noble descendants, al-Faqih al-Muqaddam Muhammad bin ‘Ali, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Abu Bakr bin Salim.
Habib ‘Umar’s full lineage is as follows:
He is al-Habib al-’Allamah ‘Umar bin Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafiz bin ‘Abdullah bin Abu Bakr bin ‘Aydarus bin ‘Umar bin ‘Aydarus bin ‘Umar bin Abu Bakr bin ‘Aydarus bin al-Husayn bin al-Shaykh al-Fakhr Abu Bakr bin Salim bin Abdullah bin Abd al-Rahman bin ‘Abdullah bin Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf bin Shaykh Muḥammad Mawla al-Dawilah, bin ‘Ali Mawla al-Darak, bin ‘Alawi al-Ghayur, bin al-Faqih al-Muqaddam Muhammad, bin ‘Ali, bin Muhammad Sahib Mirbat, bin ’Ali Khali ‘Qasam, bin ‘Alawi, bin Muhammad Sahib al-Sawma’ah, bin ‘Alawi, bin ‘Ubaydullah, bin al-Imam al-Muhajir il-Allah Ahmad, bin ‘Isa, bin Muhammad al-Naqib, bin ‘Ali al-’Uraydi, bin Ja’far al-Sadiq, bin Muhammad al-Baqir, bin ‘Ali Zayn al-’Abidin, bin Husayn al-Sibt, bin ‘Ali bin Abi Talib and Fatimah al-Zahra’, the daughter of our Master Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets ﷺ.
Training & Study Of The Islamic Sciences
A mosque in the city of Tarim
At an early age, Habib ‘Umar memorized the Qur’an and began studying the Islamic sciences under his father and many of the great scholars of Tarim of the time.
Among his teachers were:
Habib Ahmad bin ‘Ali Ibn Shaykh Abu Bakr
Habib ‘Abdullah bin Shaykh al-’Aydarus
Habib ‘Abdullah bin Hasan Balfaqih
Habib ‘Umar bin ‘Alawi al-Kaf
Habib Ahmad bin Hasan al-Haddad
Habib Hasan bin ‘Abdullah al-Shatiri
the brother of the preceding, Habib Salim
the Mufti, Shaykh Fadl bin ‘Abd al-Rahman Ba Fadl
Shaykh Tawfiq Aman
Habib ‘Umar also studied under his older brother, Habib ‘Ali al-Mashhur, who is now the Mufti of Tarim.
Persecution of His Family In South Yemen
In 1387 (1967), a socialist government came to power in South Yemen which attempted to eradicate Islam from society. Scholars were persecuted and religious institutions were forcibly closed.
Habib ‘Umar’s father, Habib Muhammad, was not intimidated by the government’s persecution, and continued calling the people to Allah without fear. In order to contain his activities, the government required Habib Muhammad to regularly inform the police forces of his location.
On the morning of Jumu’ah, 29 Dhu’l-Hijjah, 1392 (1973 CE), Habib Muhammad left his son Habib ‘Umar in the mosque before the Jumu’ah prayer, and went to register with the police. Habib Muhammad was never seen again. Habib ‘Umar was nine years old at the time.
Migration To Al-Bayda’
For a time, Habib `Umar remained in Tarim under the care of his blessed mother, Hababah Zahra bint Hafiz al-Haddar, and his older brother, Habib ‘Ali al-Mashhur.
However, the persecution in Hadramawt became increasingly difficult and dangerous.
In the month of Safar 1402 (1981 CE), when he was 17 years of age, Habib ‘Umar migrated to the city of al-Bayda’ in North Yemen, to escape the persecution of the socialist government of South Yemen.
Habib ‘Umar resided in the Ribat of al-Bayda’, where he studied under the founder of the Ribat, the great Imam, Habib Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah al-Haddar, as well as Habib Zayn bin Ibrahim bin Sumayt, the Ribat’s main teacher. Habib Muhammad held Habib ‘Umar in high regard and could see the future that awaited him.
Marriage
After a time, Habib ‘Umar married the daughter of his teacher, Habib Muhammad.
Early Da’wah
In his late teenage years & early 20’s, Habib ‘Umar frequently visited the city of Ta’izz to visit the scholars there, especially Habib Ibrahim bin ‘Aqil bin Yahya
Habib ‘Umar inherited his father’s passion for teaching people and calling them to Allah. He had begun this noble work at the age of fifteen, while still in Hadramawt.
However, with the move to al-Bayda’, Habib ‘Umar had the opportunity to work freely. His da’wah had a great impact on the youth of the city, and through his work many of them became students in the Ribat. Many of those who responded to Habib ‘Umar’s da’wah have now become scholars and callers to Allah themselves.
During this period, Habib ‘Umar established a number of weekly lessons and gatherings of knowledge, both in al-Bayda’ and in the surrounding areas. He would often travel locally, and also frequently journeyed to the cities al-Hudaydah and Ta’izz. He would often visit the city of Ta’izz to study the great scholar, Habib Ibrahim bin ‘Aqil bin Yahya.
Repeated Visits To The Hijaz
During the time he lived in al-Bayda’, Habib ‘Umar also made frequent visits to the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia, especially the blessed cities of Makkah and Madina. There, he was able to study under and take from the many of the great Imams of the time, including:
Habib Abu Bakr al-Attas al-Habashi
He took license to narrate from the chains of transmission in Hadith and in other sciences from Shaykh Muhammad Yasin al-Faddani and the Hadith scholar of the Two Sanctuaries, Sayyid Muhammad bin ‘Alawi al-Maliki, as well as other scholars.
Move To Salalah, Oman
Habib ‘Umar lived in the city of Salalah, in Oman, for a year & a half around 1410 (1990)
After the fall of the South Yemen socialist regime in 1410 AH (1990 CE) and the unification of North and South Yemen, Habib ‘Umar was able to return to the valley of Hadramawt.
He visited Tarim, the city of his birth, for a time, but then chose to settle with some of his students in city of Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman. He remained in that city for over a year, teaching and calling the people of that region to Allah.
Move to Al-Shihr, Yemen
After a year and a half in Salalah, Habib ‘Umar moved to the city of al-Shihr, which lies on the Indian Ocean in the province of Hadramawt, in the year 1413 AH (1992 CE). The Ribat of al-Mustafa had recently been reopened after its long closure under the repression of the South Yemen socialist government.
Habib ‘Umar began teaching in the Ribat, and reviving the institution and its traditions. Students traveled from many different regions of Yemen, as well parts of South-East Asia, to study and seek knowledge from him.
Return To Tarim & Establishment of Dar al-Mustafa
After a year in al-Shihr, Habib ‘Umar finally returned to his home city of Tarim. He immediately began to revive the religious life of the region, and his work led to the establishment of Dar al-Mustafa in 1414 AH (1994 CE).
Dar al-Mustafa is a center for traditional Islamic learning based upon three foundations:
the first is ’ilm (knowledge), learning the sciences of the Sacred Law from those who are qualified to impart them through connected chains of transmission
the second is tazkiyah, purifying the soul and refining one’s character
the third is da’wah, calling to Allah and conveying beneficial knowledge.
Dar al-Mustafa began in Habib ‘Umar’s house next to the Mawla ‘Aidid mosque and a batch of students from South East Asia came to study with him, as well as students from Tarim and other parts of Yemen.
Habib ‘Umar speaking at a gathering. Courtesy of muwasala.org
As the number of students increased, the need for a purpose-built building became clear. Land was duly purchased and building started.
Dar al-Mustafa was officially opened in the year 1417 AH (1997 CE). Habib ‘Umar honored his father’s sacrifice by making the opening date 29th Dhu’l-Hijjah, the day on which his father was abducted.
Although the institution of Dar al-Mustafa was established relatively recently, it is intimately connected to the ancient scholarly tradition of Hadramawt, the newest link in a chain unbroken for over 1000 years. It is clear that Habib ‘Umar’s work is catalyzing the renewal of the religion (tajdid) in our time.
Dar al-Mustafa’s sister institution, Dar al-Zahra’, was opened in 1422 AH (2001 CE) to provide opportunities for women to study and seek knowledge in the same environment.
A number of branches of Dar al-Mustafa have since been opened, within Hadramawt, in other regions of Yemen, and as far away as Southeast Asia. One branch has been opened in the Yemeni capital, San’aa. Many older ribats have also been revived, including those of the cities of Mukalla’ and ‘Aynat, as well as that of al-Shihr, mentioned previously.
Dar al-Mustafa and its branches continue to grow, and now receives students from all regions of the world. More recently, it has established a short-term program called The Dowra, which also has an online component to serve students worldwide.
Recent Travels
Habib `Umar constantly travels to convey the Prophetic message and to call people to Allah. He delivers regular lectures and khuṭbahs within Hadramawt, and often makes trips abroad.
His travels have taken him to almost all the Arab states, as well as to East and South Africa, South East Asia and Australia, the Indian Subcontinent, Western Europe, and North America.
He has connected to the chains of transmission of the scholars of these regions, and has also participated in many Islamic conferences & summits.
Writings And Publications
Although Habib ‘Umar is best known for his speeches and lessons, he has also authored many works. Among his written works are:
Prayers on the Beloved, a collection of salawat from Habib ‘Umar based on the Names of Allah, was published by IGI in 2020
al-Dhakirah al-Musharrafah, which contains personally obligatory knowledge for every Muslim, as well as beneficial supplication
the short hadith compilation Mukhtar al-Hadith (recitation of hadith can be found here)
The Clarification of Noble Character, a series of 30 lessons on character refinement
Sufism: Its Essence & the Traits of its People, a discussion of the 10 most important traits of the people of tasawwuf
Setting Out on the Path to Calling Toward Allah, a transcript of a lecture about da’wah
The Islamic Discourse in Religious Institutions: Its Current State & Future Development, which discusses some of the challenges & opportunities facing Muslim institutions, & presents 10 steps for further development
Sacred Knowledge: Aims & Objectives, which gives a clear description of the higher objectives of sacred learning
Khulasat al-Madad al-Nabawi, a compilation of adhkar for the seeker to recite on a daily basis, containing Prophetic invocations and the litanies of many of the great Imams
His mawlid compositions, al-Diya’ al-Lami’ & al-Sharab al-Tahur (translated as The Resplendent Illumination & The Purifying Drink) are recited in gatherings throughout the world, as are his poems
Who is Muhammad ﷺ? is a collection of short didactic discourses on various aspects of the Seerah, published by IGI in 2021. It is suitable for both children and adults.
Prayers on the Beloved is a collection of salawat based on the Names of Allah, translated into English by IGI, published in 2020
Nur al-Iman & Qutuf al-Falihin
Qabas al-Nur al-Mubin is a summarised version of the third quarter of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ Ulum al-Din and is an expression of his concern for curing the ailments of the heart. It also reflects the love and respect that the Ba ‘Alawi scholars have traditionally had for Ihya ‘Ulum al-Din
Who is Muhammad ﷺ? is a collection of short discourses on various aspects of the Seerah, published by IGI in 2021
A selection of Habib ‘Umar’s speeches and wisdoms have been collected in Tawjihat al-Tullab and Tawjih al-Nabih,
some of his khutbahs have been collected in Fayd al-Imdad
Much of this article was adapted from material published on muwasala.org.
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Who is Muhammad ﷺ? is available together with Shaykh Salih al-Ja’fari’s The Luminous Moons in the IGI Bookstore’s Seerah Bundle.