Indonesia mourns as Al-Habib Munzir bin Fuad Al-Musawa passes away

Al-Habib Munzir bin Fuad Al-Musawa. Fatiha. Photograph Courtesy of Islamic Heritage Research Foundation.

Al-Habib Munzir bin Fuad Al-Musawa was born in Cipanas, West Java, Indonesia, on Friday, 23 February, 1973, coinciding with 19 Muharram 1393 AH.

Grave marker of Al-Habib Munzir bin Fuad Al-Musawa. Photograph Courtesy of Islamic Heritage Research Foundation.

He was one of the four children of Habib Fuad bin Abdurrahman Al-Musawa and Rahmah binti Hashim Al-Musawa. His father, Fuad, was born in Palembang, Sumatra, and raised in the holy city of Mecca. After graduating in journalism from New York University, his father later worked as a reporter at the daily News Yudha.

Shaykh Munzir's childhood was spent in Cipanas together with his brothers, Ramzi, Nabiel Al-Musawa, and Lulu Musawa. His father died in 1996 and was buried in Cipanas.

After he finished high school, shaykh Munzir began studying Islamic Shariah Sciences at Ma'had Assaqafah Al Habib Abdurrahman Assegaf in Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, Indonesia

In 1994 he went to the sacred valley of Tarim, Hadramawt, and Dar ul-Mustafa, to study religious sciences for four years. There he applied himself to knowledge of fiqh, tafsir of the Qur'an, hadith, da'wa, tasawwuf, and other Islamic disciplines..

Al-Habib Munzir bin Fuad Al-Musawa returned to Indonesia in 1998, and began preaching, visiting different cities and homes. Later, on request, he founded the Habib Munzir open majlis. From the beginning, when the number of attendees was about six men, he continued to preach the gentleness of Allah.

He started an organisation, "Majelis Rasulullah", to organise conferences bringing a voice of moderation to Indonesia, countering extremism and militancy. He was a role model of his ancestor Prophet Muhammad, May peace and blessings be upon him.

Shaykh Munzir preached on public transport, such as buses, wearing a robe and turban, and carrying books. Quite often he was ridiculed by people. He even slept in doorways when looking for students and preaching.

Every Tuesday evening at Masjid Al-Munawar in South Jakarta, where he at first attracted only three to six people, his preaching audience had grown to about 30,000 attendees every week. Habib Munzir opened dozens of majlis taklim around Jakarta and the neighboring areas. He also held an open house every Friday night at his residence.

Al-Habib Munzir bin Fuad Al-Musawa. This image, taken when he was ill at home, shows the green decor of his walls and bedding, which he adopted out of love for the colour of the green dome and the curtain inside the sacred chamber at the Shrine of Prophet Muhammad, May peace and blessings be upon him, in Medina. Photograph Courtesy of Islamic Heritage Research Foundation.

He finally responded to the call of his Lord in Jakarta hospital on Sunday, 15 September 2013, at around 3:30 pm.

'Abd Allāh bin 'Amr Ibn al 'As narrated that the Prophet Muhammad, May peace and blessings be upon him, said "Allah will not take knowledge from the hearts of the scholars but he takes the scholars (they die). There will be no more scholars to take their place so people will take extremely ignorant leaders. They will be asked questions and will give fatwas (legal rulings) without knowledge. They are misguided and they misguide others." Sahīh Bukhārī 1:33, Kitāb al-ilm. Sahīh Muslim #157, Kitāb al-ilm: "Inna Allāha la yaqbidu al-ilma intizāan yantaziuhu min al-ibād wa lākin yaqbid ul-ilma bi qabd il-ulamā hatta idhā lam yabqā aliman itakhada an-nāsu ruūsan juhālan fa suilu fa aftaw bi ghayri ilmin fa dallu wa adallu."

May Allah shower Al-Habib Munzir bin Fuad Al-Musawa with mercy and raise him to the highest of ranks in Paradise. May we continue to benefit by his work.

Al-Habib Munzir bin Fuad Al-Musawa welcomes U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia from 2010 to 2013, Scot Marciel. Photograph Courtesy of Islamic Heritage Research Foundation.

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