Our Legacy

Sheikhuna Tajul Ulama was a preeminent scholar of the contemporary Muslim world and a legendary leader of the Ahlus Sunnah. He was a member of the Prophet's family who lived a blessed life, passing away at the age of 95. Throughout his life, he was popularly known as "Ullal Thangal".

Heritage: He belonged to the prestigious Bukhari family, which traces its lineage to Sayyid Ahmad Jalaluddin Thangal, who brought the Prophetic family tradition to South India from Russia six centuries ago.

Education: After studying under giants like Kanniyat Ahmed Musliyar, he graduated with the first rank as a 'Baqavi' (MFB) from the renowned Bakiyat institution in Vellore.

Service: He arrived in Ullal in 1951. He served as a teacher (Mudarris) for 20 years and became the Principal of the Arabic College in 1972.

Leadership: In 1978, he accepted the position of Qazi. He eventually served as the President of Samastha (the official Ulema organization) from 1989. He was globally recognized, visiting countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq.

Born in 1949 as P.M. Ibrahim in the village of Poodal, Bekal Ustad was a scholar of immense depth who served the community for decades.

Career: He served as a teacher at the Bekal Juma Masjid for 40 years, which is how he became known as "Bekal Ustad". He later became the Principal of the Jamia Sa-adiya Sharia College.

Editor of Al Ansar: He served as the Chief Editor of the Al Ansar magazine for 26 years.

Guidance: He personally managed the "Keli Nodi" (Ask and See) Q&A column, providing highly valued and accurate religious answers to the community.

Qazi Position: He was the first Beary-speaking Shafi'i scholar to hold the high position of Qazi, overseeing over 150 localities.

Ibrahim Bava Haji was a BSc graduate and a dedicated social worker who served as the President of several institutions, including the Zeenat Baksh Yatimkhana.

Founding Al Ansar: In 1991, he founded the Al Ansar magazine.

Doctrinal Integrity: At a time when non-Sunni publications were circulating, people were often told not to read them, but there was no alternative providing correct information. Ibrahim Bava Haji filled this gap by providing Al Ansar as a source of accurate information aligned with the Sunni creed.

Vigilance: He personally reviewed every article and letter before publication. If he found any content that could lead to social unrest or deviate from the right path, he would cancel it immediately. This care ensured that the magazine never caused conflict within the community.

The success of Al Ansar was made possible by the selfless support of Unni Haji, the brother-in-law of Ibrahim Bava Haji. The two were best friends who had married each other’s sisters, creating a bond of immense trust.

Sacrifice: When Bava Haji faced financial constraints and struggles in maintaining the magazine, Unni Haji stood by him.

Silent Partner: Although his name was never officially listed as an editor or manager, he took the responsibility of raising funds and solving the daily operational problems of the office.

Legacy of Friendship: He prioritized his friend’s dream over his own fame, believing that as long as the magazine survived, his mission was a success. Both friends remained united in this mission until the end of their lives.