Shaykh Jawhar Haydar ʽAli (or Jawhar bin Haydar bin ʽAli) was a mystic and Islamic scholar of Shonke, southeast Wollo, Ethiopia. He was usually referred to as the Shayk of Shonke, Shonkeyy and Abbayye (‘my father’).[1]
Shaykh Jawhar bin Hayder bin Ali شيج جوهر بن هيضر بن على | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title | Shaykh |
| Personal | |
| Born | c 1837 Danna, South Wollo, Ethiopia |
| Died | 28 February 1937 Shonke, Ethhiopia |
| Religion | Islam |
| Region | Ethiopia |
Sudanese author Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Ghani Ibrahim marvelously described Shaykh Jawhar in his book,[2] Ahl al-Bilal: Judhur al-islam al-ta’rikhiyya fi’l-habasha, as: "[Shaykh Jawhar was] one of the sources of pride for Abyssinia, one of the greatest scholars, a prominent [religious] leader, an exalted teacher, a possessor of the banner of knowledge, good works an exalted teacher asceticism, to whom the prominent men of the country traveled to obtain benefits from him”[1]
Early life
editShaykh Jawhar was born around 1837 at Danna, a village about 10km northwest of Kombolcha, South Wollo, Ethiopia. His parents, Hayder Ali and Misk al-Anbar, belonged to Illustrious and pious Muslim chiefly family. His uncle was al-Shaykh Sayid Aman of Gissir, a well-known Shafi jurist.[1]
Education
editHe got Islamic education from different scholars like: Shaykh Bushra of Karbana, Mohammed Shaykh, Muhammed of Ifat and Khalil of Mofa in Dawway[1]
Sufi-Order
editShaykh Jawhar was initiated into Qadiri order by Shayk Jamal al-Din b. Muhammad al-Anni and into Sammani order by Amir Husayn b. Abd al-Wahid, the grandson of famous Sudanese mystic Shaykh Ahmed al-Tayib b. al-Bashir.[1]
Influence
editHe trained countless disciples and influenced numerous adherents. Renowned graduates of His school include: Shaykh ‘Ali Sayid b. Yahya b. Bashir Dullati , Al-Hajj Ilyas b. Yusuf, Shaykh Dawud Walasma, Shaykh Al-Hajj Bashir, Shaykh Ahmed al-Busayri of Chiffata, Shaykh Abd al-Samad b. ‘Ali of Gaddo Chaffe, Shaykh al-Faqih Sa’id of Shabbat, Al-Hajj ‘Umar of Dawudo, Shaykh Adam of Qattataye in Warra Babbo, Shaykh Idris of Borana and so on.[1]
Legacy
editToday, his mosque is known by the Muslim community as Shonkey’s Mosque. A mosque is also built in Addis Ababa, around the French Embassy, for his commemoration.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Ahmed, Hussein (2004). "Shaykh Jawhar b. Haydar b. ʽAlī: A mystic and scholar of Shonkē, southeast Wallo, Ethiopia". Annales d'Ethiopie. 20 (1): 47–56. doi:10.3406/ethio.2004.1069. ISSN 0066-2127.
- ^ الغني., ابراهيم، عبد العزيز عبد (1994). أهل بلال : جذور الاسلام التاريخية في الحبشة. al-Dār al-Sūdānīyah lil-Kutub. OCLC 606275420.
- ^ Ali Yasin. The Development of Islamic Education System in Ethiopia: Its Features, Relevance and Influence on Muslim Culture with Reference to South Wallo. MA Thesis. AAU, Department of Curriculum and Teachers Professional Development. 2015. pp81