A Life of Love for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): A Biography of Shaikh Muhammad Al-Muhammad Al-Kasnazan

Shaikh Muhammad al-Muhammad al-Kasnazan al-Husayni (may Allah sanctify his secret) served as the Master of Tariqa ʿAliyya Qadiriyya Kasnazaniyya for over forty-two years, from early 1978 until he passed to Allah's mercy in the middle of 2020. Our honourable Shaikh dedicated his life to the service of Islam, Muslims, and people in general. He was a perfect role model for seekers on the way of the Qur'an and the Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through whom Allah guided countless people. Our beloved Shaikh devoted his life to teaching people to love the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) as a means of acquiring love for Allah Almighty, excelling as a teacher of the most sacred of love. He deserved to join those whom the honourable Prophet praised, saying, "They make Allah's servant loved by Allah and they make Allah loved by His servants".

As the Shaikhdom of Tariqa is a matter of divine selection, Allah Almighty looks after anyone He chooses for this spiritual role before promoting him to that position. Indeed, Allah cares for him even before he is born, providing the means, including the spiritual environment in which he is raised, that would develop him as He wants. This was clearly visible in the life of our Shaikh.

As is the case with all Shaikhs of Tariqa, the natural and the supernatural intertwined in the life of Shaikh Muhammad al-Muhammad. Karamas were the ink that penned much of his life. Writing his biography, then, means documenting some of the karāmas that Allah granted our honourable Shaikh.

Louay Fatoohi was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1961. He and his wife migrated to the UK in 1992. He lives in Birmingham, England. He obtained a BSc in physics from Baghdad University, Iraq, in 1984 and a PhD in astronomy from Durham University, UK, in 1998. Originally from a Christian family, Louay reverted to Islam in his early twenties. He is one of the representatives of Tariqa Kasnazaniyya. In addition to being his faith of choice and way of life, Islam is for him a subject of deep intellectual interest. He is interested in Qur'anic and Islamic studies in general, but his main areas of research are as follows: 1) The comparative study of history in the Qur'an, Jewish and Christian scriptures, and independent historical sources; 2) Sufism; 3) The history of the Qur'anic text and revelation; 4) Quranic exegesis. Louay is a prolific author who has published over twenty-five books in English and Arabic in Islamic studies. He has also published over twenty research papers in cosmology, applied historical astronomy, and the Islamic calendar.