A Tribute to Shaykh Muhammad Ayyub – the great Qari of our generation!

I am writing this article to pay a tribute to Shaykh Muhammad Ayyub ibn Muhammad Yusuf ibn Sulaiman Umar (محمد أيوب بن محمد يوسف بن سليمان عمر‎), the great Qari of our generation, whose services to the book of Allah shall be remembered always.

Shaykh Muhammad Ayyub was born in 1952/1953 (1372 Hijri) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia and died on Saturday, the 16th of April 2016 (8 Rajab 1437 Hijri) in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. His father was a poor man whose family had migrated from their native land of Burma to Makkah to flee from the oppression that was carried out against the Muslims of Burma. Shaikh had a very harsh childhood with his elder brother working for the family, when his father was imprisoned in Burma. He used to attend his Quran classes in Makkah daily by traveling through the undeveloped roads of those times. There were no tunnels in the mountains during those days and he would travel on foot from his home to Masjid, climbing up the slopes and going down the slopes of the mountains. He mentions this in one of his rare interview that the path that he took to his Quran classes everyday would have wild dogs and other desert creatures on it. This truly showed the dedication with which Shaykh learnt the book of Allah.

He completed memorizing the Quran in 1965 (1385 hijri) under Khalil ibn Abd ar-Rahman al-Qari in Makkah. After completing his primary education in 1966 (1386 hijri), he moved to Madinah, where he completed his intermediate and secondary education at an Islamic school, graduating in 1972 (1392 hijri). He then enrolled in the Faculty of Sharia at Jamia Islamia (Islamic University of Madinah), receiving a bachelor’s degree in 1976 (1396 hijri). Then he specialized in Tafsir and Uloom al-Qur’an (Quranic exegesis and sciences of the Quran), receiving a master’s degree from the Faculty of the Holy Qur’an and Islamic Studies. He received a doctorate from the same faculty in 1987 (1408 hijri). [Source: http: // www .hudaelislam. org/ar/moh.ayub/moh.ayub. htm]

Besides studying at school, he also studied under several other Islamic scholars in Madinah, in subjects including tafsir and its related sciences, the fiqh of the four madh’habs, hadith and hadith terminology, and usul al-fiqh. [Source: http: // mdayyoub. com/nabda. html]

With age, he showed remarkable tendency of excelling in Qiraat of Qur’an. His esteemed teacher, Shaykh Khaleel-ur-Rahman, was highly impressed with him and considered him on a high standard. As was expected from such sheer dedication, Shaykh was offered the position of Imaam in Masjid Quba in the year 1990 (1410 hijri). Shaykh Abdul Azeez as-salih was the head of imams in Prophet’s Masjid and the praise of Shaykh Muhammad Ayyub’s beautiful voice and excellent Qiraat reached him. He had heard that this man was a newly appointed imam in Masjid Quba. So he summoned Shaykh Ayyub to one of his gatherings in which he requested him to recite Qur’an. Shaykh Ayyub, though was surprised, recited Quran naturally, in the most eloquent way, leaving everyone in that gathering amazed. This gathering took place during the start of Ramadaan that year. Shaykh Abdul Azeez as-Salih immediately said to him that he would be leading the Taraweeh in Masjid un Nabawi that year. Shaykh Ayyub was dumbstruck at that moment and later he prepared himself for it.

In 1990 (1410 hijri), he was appointed as the Imam of Masjid un Nabawi. He narrates about his first night in the Mihrab of Rasuallah (sallahu alahi wa salam)’s Masjid. He said how his heart was racing and his hands were trembling with the fear of the greatness of that place and in remembrance of those who stood in that place before him. He said his heart was gripped with fear thinking whether he could do justice to that position and whether he could fulfill his responsibility or not. With such a condition, Shaykh Ayyub gave a remarkable performance in leading Taraweeh for 20 rak’ahs alone. This was done only by one other Imam of the Haram, Shaykh Ali Jabir. Shaykh Ayyub was a close friend of him and also offered salat ul janazah over him.

Below: A rare video shows Shaykh Ayyub leading Taraweeh in Masjid un Nabawi in 1990 (1410 hijri)

Until 1417 Hijri, Shaykh continued to lead Tahajjud and Taraweeh in the Prophet’s Masjid, after which he was removed. Later he spent few years as an Imam in Masjid Quba and other Masajids. He also taught tafseer at Jamia Islamia (Islamic University of Madinah) until his retirement in 2014. Shaykh Ayyub also traveled extensively on Dawah tours to India, Senegal, Turkey, Pakistan & Malaysia teaching Qur’an, Aqeedah, Fiqh and Arabic language.

He continued teaching Quran at Haram daily until he passed away. His students narrate that despite his sickness, he would turn up daily without fail. He would listen simultaneously to multiple students and at the same time correct each one of them. This is something which only an expert in the field of Quran can do. Generally we see Quran teachers listening to not more than two students at a time. But Shaykh went beyond this.

Praising him, Shaykh Mishary Rashid said “He was the Mustafa Ismail of the Arabian Peninsula, in that he was far more influential in shaping the recitation of many reciters and imams of masaajid in that region than anyone else”. He said this in one of his shows on biographies of modern day Qurra. (source: Ilmfeed .com)

Sheikh Ayyub is highly honored in the world of Qurra, who is respected and loved by Quran reciters from around the world. He was a master of Hijazi style and thus had great impact on the reciters of Saudi Arabia. Today, he is widely imitated even in the two Harams with Imams such as Shaikh Abdullah Johani, Sheikh Bandar Baleela, Shaykh Ahmad Talib Hameed and Shaykh Khalid Al-Ghamidi demonstrating that they are deeply influenced by him.

Shaykh carried sadness in his heart that he was removed from the position of Imam of Masjid un Nabawi. In one of the interviews of Shaykh Ayyub, when asked about his future wish, he replied that he hoped to be given one last opportunity to lead salah in Prophet’s Masjid before he dies. His dua was answered by Allah and he was appointed back for one last time to lead Taraweeh salah in the last ramadaan of his life in 2015 (1436 hijri). I was fortunate to attend this Taraweeh behind him, alhumdulillah!

After a long struggle with illness, Shaykh Ayyub breathed his last on Saturday, the 16th April 2016 (9th Rajab 1437 hijri), during the fajr time, leaving millions of his loved ones shocked around the world.  His Janazah was offered in Dhuhr in Masjid Un Nabawi and he was buried in Baqi, Madinah.

Above: The Funeral (janazah) of Shaikh Muhammad Ayyub (rahimahullah)

In a whatsapp audio that I received on 17th April 2016, Shaykh Anees-ur-rahman Azmi (Hafidhuhullah) said that “It seems that Dr ayyub (rahmatulla alay) realized & felt that his last moments were drawing near. One of our trusted companion sent the recording of Salat-ul-Ishaan which was led by (the night before his death) him. In the first rakah, he recited ‘Izash shamsu kuwwirat’ (surah takwir) and went into ruku after reciting half the surah. In the second rakah, he recited ‘Alam nashrah laka’ (surah sharh). When he reached the ayah ‘fa iza faragta fansab, wa ila rabika fargab’ {translation: So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing.}, my heart immediately said that he has completed his duties and he must go to Allah. This was the last surah that he recited in salat-ul-Ishaan. Such a great Qari has left this world. May Allah have mercy on him, may Allah accept his services. Some pious slaves of Allah realize before their death that they are going to die, so they tend to do something or say something that indicates it. Maybe even he realized this and hence he recited ‘Alam nashrah laka’. Wallahualam” (End Quote.)

Below: Audio of Shaykh Anees ur rahman on Dr Ayyub’s death

Shaykh Muhammad Ayyub (may Allah have mercy on him) was a man who spent his entire life in service of Qur’an & its sciences, from the early age until the final moments of death. What a man he was and what a great inspiration he is for our Ummah!

May Allah grant him the highest level in Jannah! Ameen!

–  By Abu Isaam Imran Ali