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Shaykh Abdullah Nooruddeen Durkee (1938-2020) left for his eternal home with Allāh on 13th September 2020. al-Fatiha

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Eulogies

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya al-Husayni al-Ninowy

Founder and director of Madina Institute, an Islamic seminary in Atlanta

Inna Lillah wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’oon.

To Allah Ta’ala we all belong, and to Him we all shall return.

With a heart filled with sorrow, deep sadness, and grief, yet full in Iman in Allah’s decree and its wisdom, we can confirm that our beloved, brother, friend, and teacher; Shaykh Abdullah Nooruddin Durkee has passed on returning to His Loving and Merciful Creator.

Words are disappearing and cannot be found, especially that Sidi Abdullah Nooruddin was so close to our heart and to that of many around the US and the world.

His Zawiyah in Charlottesville, Va was a place where the poor received help, the hungry got some food, the student learned, the orphans received love and care, the seekers got their answers, and people sought refuge in for hope, love, learning, good company, and smiles..

When I first met him he struck me as a giant in Tasawuff and with him meeting some of the recent giants such as Sidi Shaykh Abd al-Halim Mahmood, the Shadhili master and the Grand Shaykh of Al-Azhar, Sidi Shaykh Salamah al-Radi, Sidi Shaykh Salih al-Ja’fari, and many others, such as his Shaykh Ibrahim al-Battawi, I felt that I was in the right company, may Allah Ta’ala bless them all and grant them the company of the Prophets and pious.

Now, Sidi Nooruddin also joins that chain of scholars and servants insha’Allah.

The departure of his Shaykh, Shaykh Ibrahim al-Battawi has impacted him a lot, but he kept the mission and vision, and vowed to remain on the footsteps until his last breath.

Sidi Nooruddin was among the first to translate the whole Qur’an with transliteration, and produced many publications about the Shadhili school of Tasawuff, which will forever be a treasure to have, may Allah Ta’ala grant him the best of rewards for all his struggle, efforts and works.

It is personally very painful to hear of Sidi Nooruddin’s departure, and one is truly lost for words. Because hehas been through a lot in life, his wisdom evolved and eventually made him like a star you look up every now and then for guidance when lost. And there are fewer and fewer stars in the vast dark skies….This is yet another tremendous loss for the US and West in general. Sidi Nooruddin is difficult to be replaced. The balance and beauty that he left will forever remain with us, and we will be forever grateful that Allah Ta’ala facilitated for us to spend years with his presence and wisdom.

Our heart felt condolences to his family; Hajjah Norah, and their children. To all his students, murids, lovers, and truly all the Muslim world and all humanity.

With the world losing many who have a track record in working grass roots, struggling, helping, guiding, learning, teaching, working hard (and thus making mistakes in the process) and providing hope, one can only be more concerned and pleading to Allah Almighty Loving Creator for help for all.

Sidi Abdullah Nooruddin Durkee motto he embraced from Mawlana Moinuddin Chisti; love for all and malice towards none, will always be the motto we share, endear, and uphold.

His last text message to me he said: ” you pray for me, and I’ll pray for you. That’s what makes the world go round”.

Please join me in making Du’a and giving Sadaqah (no matter how little) on behalf of this beautiful and illuminated soul..

Sidi Abdullah Nooruddin was sitting like a lion in the conference (pic below) in the UK, where we had the honor of being with him. I will never forget his loving smile, warm welcomes, and gracious Nafs.

So long Ya Sidi, so long friend…, the mountain will always be green with you there, and the line of the school will never end, and the doors will never close. May we be forgiven for our shortcomings with you, and may He reunite you with all the Prophets and Saints you loved so much. May The All-Loving Creator of all forgive you, bless you for all the good service and sacrifices you made, and shower you with His Love and Mercies..

Al-Fatihah…

Sheikh Muhammad Salah al-Din Saleh and the sons of the eminent scholar Professor Ibrahim al-Batawy

Batawi Shadhuli Tariqa, Egypt

Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi

We received the sad news that Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee passed away, may Allah have mercy upon his soul.

The Muslim World, as well as Muslims in the USA, have just lost one of the great men of Allah and a lantern of guidance. Thousands accepted Islam at his hands and many more benefited from him.

As a great sufi Master, he was the khalifah of Shaykh Ibrahim Muhammad al-Battawi (d. 2009), of the Shadhili-Badawiyyah order. A man of knowledge and wisdom whose face shined with the light of dhikr, he followed in the footsteps of the great men of the Shadhili chain.

Shaykh Nooruddeen was born in New York in 1938 and embraced Islam in 1972.  He was Director of an-Noor Educational Trust and the Green Mountain School.

He is the editor, translator and author of more than a dozen books, the most recent of which is the Transliterated Tajwidi Qur’an.

We believe that his great contributions will not be forgotten and he will always be in our memories.

We send our sincerest condolences to his family and community and we pray that Allah reward him for his good works and shower him with His infinite Mercy and elevate his rank.

Abdul Hakim Murad

In the name of Allah, Compassionate and Merciful

Truly we are Allah’s, and truly unto Him is our return.

We have learned with sadness of the departure from this transient world to the Abode of Permanence, of our brother Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee.

For those of us who knew and learned from his shaykh Ibrahim al-Battawi, and from Shaykh Ali Ashraf, may Allah bestow light upon their graves, his departure represents the loss of a living and exemplary connection with the great men of light of Tariqa.

His journey to Islam, and the waymarks of that road, in Taos, Abiquiu, and the Green Mountain, stand as memorials to the high aspiration and confidence of this scholar who was so uncompromising, strong and far-sighted in Allah’s Religion.

We pray that Allah Almighty shower His blessings, forgiveness and acceptance upon Shaykh Nooruddeen, and that He give consolation and peace to those he has left behind. Amin ya Rabb al-Alamin.

ISRA’S Khadim and President, Sayyid Zayn Al-‘Abedin pays tribute to Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee (RAA).

Considering it to be a personal loss to the family of ISRA, I feel that his passing is akin to the sun that warmed and brightened our lives with spiritual fervor, has set. And yet today at the moment of darkness of the human condition, when we look into our hearts, we still find the living flame of Divine love and remembrance which he lighted is illuminating our path of witnessing the Real. I have no more words to express my grief and condolences, I strongly feel that Shaykh Nooruddeen’s passing is a profound loss for the entire Muslim Ummah and is extremely difficult to be filled up soon in the foreseeable future.

From the beginning of the formation of the ISRA organization and movement, Shaykh Nooruddeen had played an unforgettable role of a passionate guide, inspirer, motivator, teacher and mentor for the ISRA family. His guidance, zeal, encouragement and participation in ISRA’s activities have played a key role in advancing and making the ISRA’s message of the Love of Allah (swt) and the Love of Rasoul Allah (saws) transcend all barriers and become popular throughout the Ummah.

He was one of the most prominent voices of ISRA during the organization’s campaign to promote and spread the celebrations of Mawlid-un-Nabi (saws) throughout the USA by holding large Mawlid conventions to increase the love of Prophet Muhammad (saws) as a way to follow his noble Sunnah. His heartwarming and passionate lectures and discourses at these events helped ISRA to lay the foundation of the revival of traditional Islam in America. Today by the Grace of Allah more than 500 events of Mawlid-un- Nabi are observed in North America.

He played a key role in spreading the teachings of the Shadhili Sufi Tariqa in the West as the Khalifa of Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Batawi AbuZaikri, a former professor of Al-Azhar University, In Egypt and the Shaykh of Batawi-Shadhili Sufi order (Tariqa). Additionally, Shaykh Nooruddeen played an outstanding scholarly role in producing the written works of Qur’anic understanding through his translation and transliteration of the Holy Qur’an and the works of Tasawwuf.

His translation and transliteration of the Holy Qur’an known as the Tajwidi Qur’an in American English became one of the most acclaimed works of excellence among American translations of the Holy Qur’an.

His masterly translation and transliteration of the Ahzab (litanies, prayers, or orisons), transmitted by Shaykh Abul Hasan Al-Shadhili (RAA), named as “Orisons, Volume 1, of the school of Shadhdhuliyyah” or Orisons, is one of the most valuable transmission of the most authentic Islamic Sufi spirituality in English. It contains an exhaustive introduction of the practices, aided by charts and illustrations. It was followed by “Origins (Volume 2) of the School of Shadhdhuliyya”. Not to forget the 99 spiritual books, booklets, and short treaties, written and edited by him. These writings laid the foundation of the revival of the Ihsanic vision and the science of Tasawwuf among the Muslims in North America and abroad.

Among his legacies is the Shadhili Zawiyah, also known as The Islamic Study Center, which he established in Charlottesville, Virginia. It stands today as a testimony of his love for the weak and the oppressed and empathy for the orphans and refugees in the Sufi tradition. It is a place where the poor, the hungry, the orphans, the refugees and the students receive help, food, love and care. And the seekers of knowledge learn by the Prophetic example in an atmosphere of hope, love, companionship, and spiritual joy.

Shaykh Nooruddeen had a special love for ISRA and its family and considered it to be his own extended family. He publicly declared his support for ISRA and its work on many occasions and worked closely with its endeavors. As such, the entire ISRA family expresses its profound grief and sorrow over his passing and prays to Allah (swt), asking to grant Shaykh Nooruddeen a special place in His Abode of Mercy (Jawar-ur-Rahmah) and bless him with His Qurb (proximity) in Jannat Al-Firdows. And to bestow him the company of the beloved of Allah, Sayyidina Muhammad Mustafa (Sallal-lahu ‘Alayhee Wa Sallam), and the Awliyya and Saliheen.

ISRA shares the profound grief and sorrow of his loss with all members of his family. Particularly with Shaykha Hajjah Noura Durkee and Hajjah Amr Rasheed, and all of their children, his students and community members. ISRA humbly asks Allah (swt) to grant them and us the most beautiful patience (sabr) and strength to be able to go through and bear this immense loss.

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhee Raji’un

Imam Pape

ILMA Center

Senegalese Association of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area (SADMV)

Tribute to a legend, with the passing of Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee, the Muslim Ummah has lost one of its most lustrous monuments. He will be missed by all circles of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a for his passion for Zikr. He extensively traveled across the world to spread the love of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and spearheaded many Mawlood events worldwide. His passion for knowledge and education was unmatched. He contributed immensely to the empowerment of the Muslim community through his teachings and guidance. He was a great advocate of peace and justice for everyone, in particular Muslims. May Allah rest his soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to Shaykha Noora Durkee who worked devotedly side by side with him to serve the Muslim community.

Submission of Eulogies

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