A LIFE DEVOTED TO KNOWLEDGE: SHEIKHUNA ZAINUDHEEN MUSLIYAR

 Discover the life and legacy of Sheikhuna Zainudheen Musliyar, a revered scholar, mufti, and teacher from Kerala, known for his deep knowledge of fiqh, hadith, and spiritual guidance. 

A scholar which Kerala didn’t give birth to before or after, a mufti of his time, teacher of all kinds of preachers and scholars of this time — he is none other than our beloved teacher Sheikhuna Zainudheen Musliyar.

Born in AD 1937 (Hijra 1356 Rajab 20) October, his parents were one of the most influential Sufi saints, Cherusherri Muhammed Musliyar, and his mother was Bangalath Pathummunni from Marayoor. Born at his mother’s house, we can’t go forward without peeping at his father’s side — a family with a rich culture of knowledge and lineage. The members of the family were one of the legendary families in Kerala with power and knowledge. However, he began his career at Marayoor Palli Parambil Sheikh Mollaka.

It was a madrasa system, then at the Kondoty school for 8 years. Then he shifted his career to books by his own father Muhammed Musliyar, at his father’s dars, and then moved to Mancheri under Urungal Abdurahman Musliyar for 2 years.

With the thirst for knowledge, he wished to go to Baqiyath, where the scholars took their religious degree. He proposed this concept to his father, while Muhammed Musliyar said, “My dear son, you don’t want to go anywhere; the ones who gather will come to you.” This story was told by one of our beloved ustads: while he was studying under Sheikhuna, he saw some scholars coming towards Sheikhuna and asking some masa’alas, and he gave answers to all of their questions. After that, Sheikhuna said this to his students; they include our beloved usthads.

Anyway, he began his dars at Koodangal at the age of 20. He taught there for 4 years. Thereafter, he moved to the dars of Chaliyar, where Sheikhuna O.K. Shaliyar Usthad taught. Sheikhuna spent 1 year there, taking the advice of Sheikhuna Kanniyath Usthad for studying astronomy.

After finishing this, Sheikhuna returned to Koodangal and taught there for 20 years. After that, from 25 September 1977, he began teaching at Chemmad dars and also joined Darul Huda. After the last break of Sheikhuna M.M. Basheer, principal of Darul Huda Islamic University, Sheikhuna joined in Musha’ara on 26/10/1978 and the fatwa committee the very next year.

Shamsul Ulama, the all-time legend from Kerala, understood the depth of knowledge of Sheikhuna in fiqh and made him the convener of the Samastha Fatwa Committee. After the last breath of Shamsul Ulama, Sheikhuna became the chairman of the fatwa committee, and also Sheikhuna became the secretary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulama after Shamsul Ulama in 1996, for 20 years.

If we look at the speeches delivered by Sheikhuna, we can see that they include fun, things to think about, and also to study. But they were so simple; they included all the meanings. A great scholar who deeply knew about fiqh and usul al-fiqh, he had the answer for all the masa’ala. Especially in this time, the answers we don’t get in the subjects of nikah, waqf, etc., were crystal clear for him.

Sheikhuna’s skill in solving problems of ancestral wealth was well known in Kerala and also approved by the officers of Kerala. Even if the court didn’t have the answers, they would send the people to the house of Sheikhuna for the answers. His answers included equality, logic, and coincidence. Many memories remain which give tender refreshments to the persons who recall them.

Our Sheikhuna had foreseen his own death. Darul Huda’s building, which was in progress while he said, “Bird will go before the nest,” was evidence for this. Before his death, Sheikhuna gave all of his own kitabs to the Darul Huda library. Sheikhuna also told them to bury him in front of the Darul Huda masjid.

A scholar who always taught fiqh started to teach hadith — yes, our Sheikhuna saw his own death, and his last days were along with hadith. The last hadith which he taught was the hadith of Amr ibn al-A’as (R) about his deathbed and the deeds for his eternity.

Our beloved teacher, Sheikhuna Zainul Ulama Cherusherri Zainudheen Musliyar, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2016, early morning at Kozhikode private hospital, and is resting in front of Darul Huda’s masjid.

Sheikhuna’s life was not merely a journey of scholarship, but a beacon of guidance for generations who sought knowledge, discipline, and spiritual refinement. His humility, sincerity, and unwavering dedication to Islamic learning continue to inspire thousands of students, teachers, and admirers across Kerala and beyond.