# What does Mufti Abu Layth think of Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi?

*His view of al-Yaqoubi: a level-headed pir, knowledgeable, and an unassuming figure in Damascus*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/otqqc3k4hwa/s/2/
- Date: 2019-08-21 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: A Reply to Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi on Sahih Al-Bukhari| Mufti Abu layth (2:35–6:36)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtQqc3K4HWA&t=155s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/otqqc3k4hwa/

**Topics:** Views on contemporary scholars; Cults, clergy and religious abuse

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Mufti Abu Layth likes al-Yaqoubi as one of the more level-headed and knowledgeable pirs, from a family of scholars, though he has only seen his generic talks. He recalls meeting him in Damascus two decades ago as an ordinary, respected academic with no entourage.

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth says that as pirs and shaykhs go he actually likes Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi: pirs of tariqahs lead what is in essence a cult, but al-Yaqoubi is among the more level-headed and balanced of them. He says al-Yaqoubi is knowledgeable, though he cannot say how knowledgeable since the one or two things he has seen were generic talks about being good rather than discussion of a deep issue, and he would welcome seeing that side. He says al-Yaqoubi comes from a family of scholars and is not a pir handed a silver spoon. He recalls that their paths crossed two decades ago in Damascus, in the late 1990s or early 2000s, when al-Yaqoubi, whose father was esteemed in Syria, was nothing special, taught at an institute and walked about like an ordinary academic, respected but without an entourage or anything resembling a cult, little knowing that the future held great power.

## Sources and names cited

- Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi
- pir (Sufi shaykh, subcontinent usage)
- tariqah (Sufi order)

## Transcript (machine tier, 2:35–6:36)

[2:30] who calls himself his eminence I know he's gonna say I don't call myself but he doesn't stop it either stop it stop teasing me this one right I don't call myself the most graceful but if you guys call me I don't mind either you know this happen don't mind her don't mind so he cools he doesn't cook okay but I he definitely okay with it this is definitely rolling with it

[3:08] this his eminence royalty look at the end of the day I think to be fee as far as beef subs go and shares go I actually like chef Muhammad yaqoob' he's as far as they generally go he's from the more level-headed kind of you know peers of tariqas these peeps who lead a whole lot as a leader it is in essence a cult right but they lead a coat but he's definitely much more balanced he's much

[3:47] more and he is knowledgeable I mean I don't know exactly how knowledgeable because I've not never really watched anything with in like with actual where he of the one two things I've seen they're just like generic talks they just like you know just be good and be nice so I don't I've never seen him discuss a like a deep issue I mean maybe he hasn't put those videos up on online but if he does that would be awesome we'd get to see that side but I would believe that he definitely comes from a family of scholars and he he's not just like one of these Peter sobs that is just like you know

[4:26] know anything and just just got handed a silver spoon he's not like that in fact many years ago our paths cross crossed over two decades ago in Damascus at that time chef yaku B Saab was he was he was nothing special really and had no real importance in that sense to him I mean I know his father was really steamed in in Syria at that time but in the late 90s I met him was it the late 90s or early

[5:02] 2000s ago I met him in Damascus just briefly and just shook hell nothing that he would remember of course it's you know the problem with me is that it's not when you first meet me it's our second meeting if our paths cross again then be sure to note that they will this time they will not go unnoticed but the first time I don't expect him to remember me but he was not somebody of great prominence in Damascus at that

[5:42] time he was known as in like you know of him but they weren't people around him he never had that kind of entourage he never had that you know share share share say IDI everything none of that business he was just like a normal guy just walking I think he was teaching at one of the Institute's and he would just come out just normal you know you could just go up to him people did they didn't know he was that he was this sure and he's still a chef in all of all of what he is today but he just was like a regular like an academic like that but respected revered I'm not saying people disrespected him but he never had this

[6:18] cult at all not even remotely at that stage unbeknownst to him the future was to unfold many things amongst them great power Allah so over the years he's obviously chef Jacoby has come to the UK but this is nothing new Shelia who be had been coming to the UK for many years never gained any serious prominence he used to come down cells and people would take him on tour tours and things like this but I think it was

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment OtQqc3K4HWA/s/2. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/otqqc3k4hwa/s/2/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.