On the morning of 23rd of Rabi’ul Awwal 1447 (15/09/25) Al-‘Allamatul Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah’ (hafizahullah) briefly spoke about one of his teachers, Shaykh Muhammad Najib Khayyatah (rahimahullah), a person whose life, was centred around the Quran. In his time, he was the Shaykhul Qurra (the master of Quran reciters) as well as the Shaykhul Faradiyyin (the master in inheritance laws).
Recitation of the Quran Heard from His Qabr
Shaykh (hafizahullah) said:
“Some months after Shaykh Najib Khayyatahs (rahimahullah) passing, his sons visited his grave. While standing at there, the person in charge of burying the deceased came and said to them: ‘Who is the occupant of this grave to you?’ They replied: ‘Our father.’ He said: ‘I hear Quran recitation coming from this grave.’”
His Life Revolved Around the Quran
Shaykh (hafizahullah) continued [to explain the probable reason for this honour]:
همُّه وأهم اهتمامه قراءة القرآن
“Reciting the Qur’an was his greatest concern and foremost preoccupation. Even while walking in the street, he did not want anyone to greet him, lest it interrupt his Quran recitation. May Allah have mercy on him and may Allah be pleased with him.
During the period when I lived in Al Farafira (a neighbourhood in Aleppo), near Madrasah Sha’baniyyah, Shaykh Najib’s eldest son, took me into his home, we were practically wall-to-wall neighbours, he said to me: ‘Look at Shaykh Najib’s parting bequest to his children, written in his own handwriting.’ Shaykh Najib instructed each of them to make a copy of it and place it at the head side of their beds.
Among the bequests in his will was: ‘If worldly life becomes difficult for you to the point that you are forced to leave for the villages, then even in that situation, learn the Noble Quran.’
That was how important he held the study of the Quran!
Another bequest was: ‘If any of you needs to continue his studies outside Syria, I do not permit him to go study in lands of disbelief’, such as America or England.”
When one of his sons wanted to pursue his studies abroad, he went to Morocco.
Self-Accountability
On 2 Dhul Hijjah 1447 A.H. (19/05/2026) Shaykh (hafizahullah) mentioned the following incident from the life of Shaykh Muhammad Najib (rahimahullah):
“Shaykh Najib (rahimahullah) had authored two books on tajwid and two books on inheritance law [being a master in both fields]. In those days, publishing houses and bookstores were not as organized as they are today. Shaykh would print whatever he could afford from his own pocket, then distribute the books to bookstores. He would pay hundreds of liras and receive only small amounts in return.
On one occasion he gave a student copies of each book and included a note listing: the book title, price per copy, quantities, and the total price. He told him: ‘Distribute them to the bookstores, then collect the money later.’
The student went and distributed them. After some time, he collected the money and returned, handed Shaykh the paper and the money, explained the calculation and then walked away.
After a few steps, Shaykh Najib called out to him: ‘Shaykh Muhammad! Shaykh Muhammad!’ He returned and said: ‘Is everything alright? Shaykh Najib handed him back the paper and the money and said: ‘Repeat the calculation.‘ The student recalculated everything and said: ‘Is it correct?’ He replied in the affirmative. The student then said: ‘Then what is the matter?‘ Shaykh Najib said: ‘The first time, I took the payment from you with my left hand. Now I have taken it with my right.’”
Shaykh ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) says: “Look at this level of accountability. May Allah have mercy on him, be pleased with him, and reward him and all our teachers on behalf of us and Islam with every good.”
Comment
Shaykh (hafizahullah) often adds the following note to incidents like the above:
“These are episodes of people in our very lifetime, not people from ancient history! These achievements are still possible even now.”
May Allah Ta’ala inspire us all.
26/05/2026 | 08/12/1447