He is Al-Habīb Abu Bakr Al-‘Adny Bin ‘Ali Al-Masyhur whose lineage traces back to Sayyidinā Al-Imam Hussein radiyaAllāhu anhu and to the Master of Mankind, Sayyidina Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم.

Born in the town of Ahwar in the year 1366AH into a household of piety and learning, Al-Habib memorised the Quran in his youth and studied with numerous scholars in Hadramaut. In his youth, he had already began preaching and inviting people to Allāh, Al-Habīb recalls that his father would ask him to prepare a script for the Friday sermon and read it to him before stepping up on the podium to give the sermon.

Al-Habīb Abu Bakr describes his father as the most influential person in his development. His father placed much importance on the education and spiritual development of his family. From his father’s actions and lectures, he learnt the meaning and purpose of life. Al-Habīb recalls that he used to see his father weeping in the middle of the night as he recited the Quran or supplicated to Allāh.

Besides learning with traditional scholars, Al-Habīb Abu Bakr also attended formal schools and graduated with a degree in education from the University of Aden.

Al-Habīb Abu Bakr later moved to the Hijaz and met with the Spiritual Pole of his time Al-Habīb ‘Abd Al-Qâdir As-Saqqaf. Al-Habīb Abu Bakr found in Al-Habīb ‘Abd Al-Qâdir everything that he was searching for and abandoned his intention of studying in Egypt.

When the communists left Yemen and the south and north region were united, Al-Habīb Abu Bakr returned to Yemen. He brought with him the desire and plans in unifying hearts and minds in order to create a conducive and peaceful environment. He opened many centres of learning which numbered up to about 83 branches.

His Thought

Al-Habīb has authored more than 150 works in various disciplines such as jurispudence, history, literature, Islamic thought, and methodology. In fact, he has produced several unprecedented writings which are of crucial importance to the Islamic world.

He has coined many new terms in the field of Fiqh At-Tahawwulāt (Knowledge of Transitions) such Sunnah Mawāqif, Manhaj As-Salāmah, and other interesting terms.

Fiqh At-Tahawwulāt

This is among the fields which he particularly specialises in. A study of the fourth pillar of the religion after Islam, Iman and Ihsan i.e. the knowledge of the Signs of the End of Time. The pillars are based upon the Hadīth of Jibril in which the angel Jibril came to the Prophet in the form of a man and asked him several questions in the presence of his noble companions. The fourth pillar of the dīn is unlike the first three which is fixed and definitive while this fourth pillar is transformative depending on the stages.

As for the fruit and benefit of this knowledge, it is to know the proper way to address and behave in face of trials and tribulations in each different stage of the transition mentioned in the Prophetic tradition until the Hour.

Al-Habīb mentioned that many scholars have fallen into becoming a helper of the False Messiah and his system due to their ignorance of this field of knowledge. He added that the actions of some of the great companions and great Imāms in facing tribulations displayed their firm grounding in this knowledge.

It is clear that al-Habib’s thought and contribution to the Islamic world is of critical importance and needs to be spread for the benefit of the community at large.