Hazrat Allamah Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui: The Scholar-Saint of Mauritius Who Carried Prophetic Love Across Continents

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 11 October 2025 Hazrat Allamah Maulana Shah Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui, a scholar-saint from present-day West Bengal, devoted his life to spreading Prophetic love, uniting communities, and founding Sunni institutions across continents, leaving a timeless spiritual legacy. Main Points: 1. Born in West Bengal in 1930, Hazrat Ibrahim Khushtar became a Hafiz at 13 and later a respected scholar trained under leading Sunni luminaries. 2. Reached in 1965 to establish the Sunni Razvi Society International in Mauritius, he built a global network of spiritual and educational centres. 3. A gifted Na‘at poet, his verses blended devotion and theology with heartfelt beauty. 4. Travelled to over 20 countries, uniting communities in the love of the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam. 5. Institutions, gatherings, and disciples continue his work after his 2002 passing. ------ Introduction In the age before social media could broadcast every word and deed, one man’s footsteps quietly crossed continents, carrying with him the fragrance of love for the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam and the message of traditional Sunni Islam. Hazrat Allamah Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui, remembered as Qutb-e-Mauritius, was more than a scholar and spiritual guide — he was a bridge between worlds, joining hearts from South Asia to Africa, from the Indian Ocean to Europe. Roots in Bengal, Heart in the Sacred Tradition Born on 8 March 1930 in the lush 24 Parganas of West Bengal, young Ibrahim Khushtar was nurtured in an atmosphere where the Quran was not just recited but lived. At just 13, he became a Hāfiz of the Quran Shareef, a feat that spoke not only of memory, but of devotion. His formal religious education followed the Dars-e-Nizami curriculum, culminating in a Fazil degree in 1956. His spiritual compass was shaped by towering figures of the time, including Hazrat Maulana Sardar Ahmad and Shah Muhammad Ibrāhīm Raza Khan alias Jilani Miyan. By 1957, he had received multiple Ijazah (authorisations) in Sufi Silsilas, a recognition of his readiness to guide others on the spiritual path. Before setting out on his missionary journey, he served as Principal and lecturer at Darul Uloom Rehmania, and as Khatib at Jama Masjid Gukarkhan, where his sermons were known for blending theological precision with a poet’s heart. The Call to Mauritius In 1965, under the direction of Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind Hazrat Allamah Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri, Hazrat Khushtar set sail for the island nation of Mauritius. His mission was clear: to establish a centre that would preserve and propagate the teachings of Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi, ensuring the Maslak-e-Aala Hazrat reached the scattered Sunni communities of the Indian Ocean. The Sunni Razvi Society International was born. From its humble beginnings in Port Louis, the society would soon plant its flag in France, the Netherlands, Kenya, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and South Africa — each new chapter a testament to Khushtar’s vision of a united, spiritually enriched Sunni network. Scholar and Diplomat of the Soul Khushtar’s leadership was not limited to organisational work. He had a gift for engaging with different strands of the Muslim world, even those with whom theological disagreements existed. In 1970, during a visit to Durban, South Africa, he held open and respectful discussions with the Tablighi Jamaat, gently but firmly emphasising that reform movements must be anchored in Ishq-e-Rasool — a deep, unwavering love for the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam. In Mauritius, he made the Thursday night gatherings at the Jummah Mosque a beacon for seekers. On 20 February 1983, he laid the foundation stone for a new spiritual complex on land gifted by a disciple. Just two months later, the first gathering was held there — a blend of Qur’anic commentary, hadith study, Sufi ethics, and heartfelt Na‘at recitation. The Poem of Khushtar Among his many gifts, Hazrat Khushtar was a poet whose words carried the fragrance of faith. His Na‘ats and Hamds were not mere verse — they were acts of devotion. Here is one of his works, presented followed by its English meaning: Maʿbūd Hai Tu Zāt Terī, Lam Yazal Kī Hai (You are the Eternal God, without beginning or end.) ʿĀbid Terā Har Ek Nabī Aur Walī Hai (Every prophet and saint is Your worshipper.) Tu Qādir-E-Mutlaq Hai, Terī Shān Jalī Hai (You are the Absolute Omnipotent, Your majesty is manifest.) Har Chīz Tere Ḥukm Ke Sāye Mein Dhalī Hai (Everything is shaped under the shadow of Your command.) Tu Khāliq-E-Kaunain Hai, Har Chīz Terī Hai (You are the Creator of the two worlds, all belongs to You.) Jo Chīz Mili Jis Ko, Tujse Mili Hai (Whatever is possessed by anyone comes from You.) Main Tērā Gunāhgār, Tu Ghafār Hai Merā (I am a sinner, yet You are my Forgiving Lord.) Yeh Banda Be-Ḥarḥāl Saʿīd-Ul-Ānī Hai (This servant is, in any case, blessed by You.) Be-Ḥukm Tere Paṭṭa Koī Hil Nahīṅ Saktā (Without Your command, not even a leaf can move.) Jab Ḥukm Huā Tera To Har Shākh Hilī Hai (When You command, every branch begins to tremble.) Yeh Daʿwat-E-Nazāra Hai, Jāvak Hai Shāyad (This is an invitation to behold; perhaps a summons.) Maḥbūb Kī Har Ek Kalī Terī Galī Hai (Every bud of the Beloved blooms in Your street.) Ae Dāwar-E-Maḥshar, Merā Satār Bhī Tu Hai (O Judge of Judgement Day, You are my Concealer too.) Ab Farz-E-Amal Merī Tere Āge Khalī Hai (Now my deeds are laid bare before You.) Kuch Aur Koī Khwahish-E-Dunyā Nahīṅ Maula (I have no other worldly desires, O Lord.) Ho Khātimah-Bil-Khair Tamannā-E-Dilī Hai (My heart’s only wish is a good ending.) Tu Kātib-E-Taqdīr Hai, Khush-Tar Use Karde (You are the Writer of destiny, make it favourable.) Likhi Jo Muqaddar Mein, Yad Ke Bhalī Hai (Let whatever is written in my fate be beautiful.) A Life Without Borders Long before “global connectivity” became a catchphrase, Hazrat Khushtar had already lived it. Travelling to more than 20 countries across six continents, he left behind mosques, madrasas, and centres of learning. Among them were the Sunni Razvi Academy, Khanqah Qadriya Razviya, Sunni Razvi Eidgah, Qadri Razvi Markazi Mosque in Mauritius, and important institutions in South Africa such as Darul Uloom Manzar-e-Islam in Durban. The Legacy Carried Forward After his passing on 9 June 2002 in Port Louis, the leadership of the Sunni Razvi Society International passed to his eldest son, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Masood Azhar Khushtar. His grandson, Maulana Muhammad Saad Zafar Khushtar, though an engineer by training, chose to follow the family’s spiritual mission, receiving khilafat and ijazah in 2014. Resting Place, Living Influence Today, Hazrat Khushtar rests in Vallée Pitot, Mauritius. But his influence remains alive — in the Thursday gatherings still held, in the recitation of his Na‘ats, and in the work of those he trained. He proved that one man, with sincerity and steadfastness, could carry the light of faith across oceans without ever compromising its warmth. ----- Syed Amjad Hussain is an author and Independent research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is the author of 'Bihar Aur Sufivad', a bestselling research book based on the history of Sufism in Bihar. Note: This is the first-ever research article available about Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui on the Internet. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/hazrat-allamah-khushtar-scholar-saint-mauritius-prophetic/d/137188 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism