Introduction

Kanz ul Huda is an Institute for the teaching and propagation of the sciences of traditional Islam and Spirituality based in Birmingham, UK. The Institute was founded in 2003 by Shaykh Muhammad Saqib Iqbal Shami. Its work is currently taking place in over three countries, and in around four cities in the United Kingdom. The work of the Institute has been featured on national and international Islamic TV stations.

Early life

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Shaykh Muhammad Saqib bin Iqbal al-Shami is the founder and Ameer of Kanz ul Huda. Born in Azad Kashmir, the Shaykh spent the initial years of his life in the ‘then’ rural terrains of Kashmir. The Shaykhs family decided to emigrate and resultantly chose England as their new abode.

The Shaykh committed himself to practicing and studying Deen from a very young age. As a consequence for wishing to further his studies and gaining maximum benefit, at the age of thirteen the Shaykh travelled back to Pakistan. Upon reaching there the Shaykh committed himself to memorise the Qur’an, which he then achieved in a little more than eleven months, whilst at the same time studying the principles of Tajweed.

Having undertaken a period of study in Pakistan, the Shaykh returned to England and immediately placed himself under the guidance and tutelage of one the most eminent scholars to have reached these shores, namely, Shaykh Rasool Baksh Sa’idi, and thus the Shaykh began to study the Dars e Nizami course.

The Shaykh with continued vigour tired all of his efforts towards his studies. After a period of study, the Shaykh took on an undergraduate Law Degree (BA, Staffordshire University). On completion of the Dars e Nizami, the Shaykh felt it was the right time to further his studies abroad, and the chosen destination was Syria. Whilst in Syria the Shaykh benefited from many scholars in the region, most notably Shaykh Samir an Nass.

After the completion of his studies in Damascus, the Shaykh immediately set out to teach the sciences of Shari’ah. Many of the students who had studied under him during this period, benefited from him greatly. They were enabled to further their studies in Syria and other places in the Arab world, and consequently have come back to teach the sciences of Shari'ah themselves.

It was then (2003) decided that the Shaykh would establish Kanz ul Huda as an institute that would serve as a centre for teaching Islamic sciences and tarabiyya.

The Shaykh is also the Ameer of Tehreek-e-Ahle-Sunnat Britannia, who are responsible for organising a range of various activities and programmes for the Muslim community in the UK.

Migration

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The Shaykh frequently travels to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, and whilst being there, he is known to spend most of his time in Al-Madina. It is in Al-Madina where the Shaykh initially met with his Murshid, Hazrat Pir Allamah Mufti Manzur Ahmad Faizi (rahmatullahi ta’ala alayhi), and after pledging his allegiance, the Shaykh received Ijaza in the Chistiyya Faiziyya discipline, the Shaykh also holds Ijaza in the Qadri, Naqshabandi and Owaisi turuqs.

At present the Shaykh is residing in his hometown of Birmingham, where he is teaching the Uloom of Deen daily through the Kanz ul Huda institute and also holding weekly and monthly spiritual gatherings. His lectures are occasionally broadcast by Unity TV and QTV on satellite TV networks. The Shaykh also frequently travels to Paris where he holds monthly spiritual gatherings and also delivers lectures.