The Al Ghazzali Institute (AGI) was established in 2013 by Shaykh Muhammad Munir Naqshbandi Hijazi. Since its inception, AGI has welcomed hundreds of students from various ages and backgrounds with the first two cohorts of students having graduated after undertaking 6 years of rigorous study.
Nurturing the Hearts and Minds of the Next Generation
Known simply as ‘Sufi Sahib’, Hazrat Sufi Muhammad Munir Hijazi (ra) was born on the 9th February 1946 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. After pursuing his primary education in Pakistan, he migrated to the UK in 1965 and initially settled in Birmingham and Burton on Trent thereafter, where he resided for 13 years serving as a community leader and Imam.
From a young age Sufi Sahib (ra) had a particular interest in Islamic spirituality as well as the Islamic sciences, and accompanied righteous Scholars and friends of Allah (awliya). However Sufi Sahib’s life changing moment arrived on 20th April 1974 when he first met his spiritual guide and teacher Shaykh Muhammad Abdul Wahhab Siddiqi (ra) in Bradford.
Hazrat Sufi Sahib witnessed the Shaykh’s spiritual and moral excellence first-hand over a period of 20 years, travelling with and accompanying the Shaykh on a regular basis. He frequented his gatherings and also travelled for hajj with the Shaykh in 1981.
In order to further his spiritual and educational journey, Hazrat Sufi Sahib relocated to Coventry in 1985 to study full time under the tutelage of Shaykh Abdul Wahhab Siddiqi (ra) at the Jamia Islamia in Coventry. Hazrat Sufi Sahib completed his traditional studies in the Islamic Sciences with distinction and began teaching various Islamic and secular subjects initially in Jamia Islamia and then Hijaz College from 1994 – 2008. He taught hundreds of students who are now qualified Scholars, and amongst the subjects he regularly taught with distinction were Islamic History, Tasawwuf, Hadith, Fiqh and Usul al Fiqh amongst others.
Under the spiritual guidance of Shaykh Abdul Wahhab Siddiqi (ra), Hazrat Sufi Sahib excelled in the inner sciences and his extensive spiritual training culminated in being granted the Khilafa (spiritual deputyship) in the annual Urs gathering in 1994, just before the passing away of Shaykh Abdul Wahhab Siddiqi (ra). Since then, Hazrat Sufi Sahib accepted spiritual students and worked tirelessly in the field of spirituality as well as in Islamic education. He travelled to various parts of the world to propagate true Sunni Islam and established centers of learning in Mauritius and the Republic of Ireland, where he maintained ties with students and the general community until his demise.
Hazrat Sufi Sahib’s influence in East London began in 2006 when he initiated gatherings of remembrance (dhikr) with local students. In 2011, he relocated to Ilford, London full time and began teaching and training those closest to him. This process continued on an informal basis until the 5th January 2013, when Al Ghazzali Institute was opened for the very first time. Since then, spiritual students as well as people from the local community have benefited tremendously from Hazrat Sufi Sahib’s teaching, training and guidance.
From the inception of the AGI until his demise, Hazrat Sufi Sahib (ra) was solely focused on teaching and he personally committed and oversaw its development which led to hundreds of students receiving exceptional Islamic education and spiritual development. Since Hazrat Sufi Sahib’s passing, the AGI has continued the mission of nurturing and guiding the next generation.
Hazrat Sufi Sahib (ra) returned to his creator in the evening of Tuesday 15 th September 2020 (27 th Muharram 1442) and is buried next to his Shaykh in the Garden of Blessings in Hijaz Manor, Nuneaton. May Allah Mighty accept his good deeds and elevate his status. Ameen
The Al Ghazzali Institute (AGI) was established in 2013 by Shaykh Muhammad Munir Naqshbandi Hijazi. Since its inception, AGI has welcomed hundreds of students from various ages and backgrounds with the first two cohorts of students having graduated after undertaking 6 years of rigorous study.
Based in the heart of East London, the AGI was established with the aim of providing the local and national Muslim community with a spiritually inspired and comprehensive programme of education with the ultimate objective of leading each student toward an enriched relationship with their Creator and the creation.
AGI aims to provide students with an authentic and analytical understanding of Islam, which will allow students to thrive mentally, spiritually and academically. In order to achieve this, special emphasis is given to contextualised study, where students are actively taught and encouraged to apply what they learn in their daily lives both personally and as active members of the community.
All students are provided a unique opportunity to embark upon a programme of inner purification and development. This is especially important at the AGI, as it is recognised that both outer education (ta’leem) and inner purification (tarbiyya) must be achieved in order to betruly successful. It is due to this reason that the AGI particularly focus on the teachings of spiritual masters such as Imam Abu Hamid al Ghazzali (ra) as well as organising regular gatherings of remembrance (dhikr) for all students.
