USTADH MUHAMMAD BIN SHARIF SA’ID AL-BEIDH (1942 - 2013): A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF A UNIFIER, DA’I (PREACHER) AND MUSLIM INTELLECTUAL IN EAST AFRICA

Abstract

he study tried to analyse the life of Ustadh Muhammad bin Sharif Sa’id Al-Beidh (1942 - 2013). The evaluation of Al-Beidh’s life focused on social, spiritual and academic service he rendered to the East African ummah (community) and his influence on the Muslims in the region. The research was guided by five objectives: (i) to research and document biography of Ustadh Muhammad Al-Beidh both chronologically and thematically (ii) to analyze the role played by Ustadh Muhammad Al-Beidh in unifying Muslims in East Africa, (iii) to determine the intellectual contributions made by Ustadh Muhammad Al-Beidh (iv) to evaluate Ustadh Muhammad Al-Beidh’s achievements as a Da’i (Preacher) in East Africa, (v) to investigate the socio-economic influence of Ustadh Muhammad Al-Beidh on the Muslims of East Africa. Relevant sources of literature were reviewed and analysed. The study employed cross-sectional or mixed design and the Theory of Biography by Park Honan. Based on the nature of the respondents, the researcher prioritized oral interviews. Other methods including content analysis of audio, audio-visual materials and literary texts, observation and participation were used too. The study therefore tried to describe the life of Al-Beidh from birth, his academic life and finally his death. The research has tried to establish how Al-Beidh through social, spiritual and academic service to the East African ummah could have brought together the Muslims of East Africa. The annual travels Al-Beidh had for at least four decades in East African region seemed to have been a great catalyst to the unification, leading to the birth of a society called Majma’ul Ahbaab. The study has noted the intellectual contribution Al-Beidh had made capturing eight books that were written by Al-Beidh including Tarikh Habib Swaleh (Biography of Habib Swaleh) besides a curriculum, for Al-Ghannaa Al-Islaamiyyah. As a Da’i (Preacher), Al-Beidh tried to mobilize for the construction of close to a hundred institutions (madrasas and mosques combined), revived da’awah (preaching) travels and left behind recorded lectures. Al-Beidh travelled to many parts of East Africa in the month of Ramadhan for da’awah (preaching) leading him to be nicknamed as Al-Imam Arraahil (The Travelling-most Imam). The study noted that Al-Beidh had socio-economic role on the community too. He advocated for human rights, participated in zakat distribution and contributed to religious tolerance. The study concludes that, Al-Beidh was a Muslim intellectual who positively impacted on the community intellectually, spiritually, socio-economically. However, Al-Beidh was known to be hot tempered and vocal especially against his competitors something that affected his relations with some people. He was ultra-strict and conservative Sufi (mystic) something that made him outlandish and sometimes difficult to deal with. This study therefore recommends that there should be efforts to create unity in diversity, academicians to strive to reform the education systems, preachers should avoid borrowing in the name of preaching, the community should readily support preachers and that there is need for the society to nurture ethical values in leadership. vi USTADH