His Birth
The Shaykh Muhammad Safwat, son of Nur ud-Din Ahmad Mursi, was born on 20th June 1943 in Al-Malayqah village, a suburb of Balbees town, in Egypt's Eastern Province (Ash-Sharqiyyah).
His Study
He completed his elementary and secondary studies in the Egyptian public schools. In college, he studied chemistry and physics and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Science and Education. As for Islamic studies, the Shaykh started quite early by memorizing the Qur'an while he was a young boy.
From his youth, the Shaykh closely associated with Jama'at Ansar as-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah (JASM). JASM is one of the important Islamic organizations in the Muslim World that calls to full adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet.
During the 1960's, while he was a college student, he was also a regular student of the Shayukh of JASM. He attended the classes of the likes of 'Abdur-Rahman al-Wakil, Khalil Harras, Jamil Ghazi, and 'Abdur-Razzaq 'Afifi - both in his town Balbees and in the JASM headquarters. He also developed a special relationship with the latter and visited him frequently in Saudi Arabia until Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaq passed away.
He received recommendations from many of the contemporary great 'ulama, and was given permission to teach and write books.
His Positions
- He worked for a while as a teacher in intermediate and high schools of the Ministry of Education & Teaching in Egypt. He eventually reached the level of General Director of Teaching in his field of teaching.
- In the 1980's, he held the position of General Secretary of Da'wah in JASM.
- In 1412H (1991CE), Shaykh Muhammad 'Ali 'Abdur-Rahim, the fifth general director of JASM in Egypt passed away. On 22 Sha'ban 1412H (27 Feb 1992), Shaykh Muhammad Safwat was elected (by consensus) to replace him. Thus, he became the first director of the Jama'ah from the second generation after its original founders.
His Contributions
- As soon as he became in charge of JASM, the Shaykh took special care in maintaining and improving At-Tawhid, which is JASM's main publication. He worked on this diligently, aided by his close companion Safwat ash-Shawadfi who passed away two years before him. He wrote numerous articles and provided fatawa on a regular basis. His writings reflected knowledge and maturity and emphasized tawhid. During his time, At-Tawhid grew strongly and became wide-spread in most countries until it reached a monthly circulation of 100,000 in recent years.
- He helped improve and strengthen the relationship between JASM and Al-Azhar, especially during the time of Shaykh Jad ul-Haqq 'Ali Jad ul-Haqq. He also established cooperation channels with various da'wah organizations inside and outside Egypt.
- He travelled frequently to different parts of Egypt for the purpose of da'wah and guidance. He delivered khutbahs and daily lectures in JASM's various mosques and centres.
- He attended and lectured in numerous conferences in many Muslim and non-Muslim countries. His contributions always had the characteristics of seriousness, maturity, concern for the Ummah, and positive attitude for solving problems and improving.
His Personality
I (the compiler of this biography, Muhammad al-Jibaly) have known Shaykh Safwat personally and met with him frequently during various conferences organized by Al-Qur'an was-Sunnah Society of North America (QSS), as well as by other conferences and functions. I have known the Shaykh to be very well-mannered and humble. He was always concerned about the Muslims and keen to present advice and da'wah to them in the most effective ways. He would always meet others with a wide smile, calm and cheerful attitude, and overwhelming kindness.
He was very clear and mature about organizational and leadership matters. He provided us at QSS with numerous beneficial advices in this regard.
He had an organized thinking. He would present his arguments in a friendly and convincing manner.
His talks combined knowledge with affection, and they had a special power of moving the hearts into action. He strongly opposed raising issues that would unnecessarily bring division and hatred among the Muslims.
When he mentioned the great scholars of JASM or other Muslim 'ulama, he would praise them extensively and bring out all their good accomplishments and good works. At the same time, I never heard him praise himself or list his accomplishments, even while discussing relevant matters, such as the way the JASM leadership is conducted.
The banner that he always raised and frequently uttered was: Our manhaj is the kitab and sunnah with the understanding of the salaf of the Ummah.
The Shaykh was respected and loved by the contemporary 'ulama of the Ummah, such as Ibn Baz, Al-Albani, Al-'Uthaymin, Ibn Humayd, As-Sabil, Al-Fawzan, and many others.
His Death
He passed away, may Allah have mercy on his soul, on Friday 13 Rajab 1423H (20 September 2002).
He passed in Makkah one or two days after completing his 'Umrah, and shortly after praying Jumu'ah in the Haram (the Sacred Mosque). Janazah prayer was performed over him in the Haram right after maghrib, and he was then buried in Makkah.
We have great hope that the place and time and circumstance of his death are indications of his good end, and Allah is his Judge and Witness.
We ask Allah to engulf him with His mercy and forgiveness, and to accept him among the most righteous. We ask Allah to grant his family and the Muslim Ummah patience and submission in the face of this calamity, and to substitute him for us with other great scholars and leaders. Amin.
His Birth
The Shaykh Muhammad Safwat, son of Nur ud-Din Ahmad Mursi, was born on 20th June 1943 in Al-Malayqah village, a suburb of Balbees town, in Egypt's Eastern Province (Ash-Sharqiyyah).
His Study
He completed his elementary and secondary studies in the Egyptian public schools. In college, he studied chemistry and physics and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Science and Education. As for Islamic studies, the Shaykh started quite early by memorizing the Qur'an while he was a young boy.
From his youth, the Shaykh closely associated with Jama'at Ansar as-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah (JASM). JASM is one of the important Islamic organizations in the Muslim World that calls to full adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet.
During the 1960's, while he was a college student, he was also a regular student of the Shayukh of JASM. He attended the classes of the likes of 'Abdur-Rahman al-Wakil, Khalil Harras, Jamil Ghazi, and 'Abdur-Razzaq 'Afifi - both in his town Balbees and in the JASM headquarters. He also developed a special relationship with the latter and visited him frequently in Saudi Arabia until Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaq passed away.
He received recommendations from many of the contemporary great 'ulama, and was given permission to teach and write books.
His Positions
- He worked for a while as a teacher in intermediate and high schools of the Ministry of Education & Teaching in Egypt. He eventually reached the level of General Director of Teaching in his field of teaching.
- In the 1980's, he held the position of General Secretary of Da'wah in JASM.
- In 1412H (1991CE), Shaykh Muhammad 'Ali 'Abdur-Rahim, the fifth general director of JASM in Egypt passed away. On 22 Sha'ban 1412H (27 Feb 1992), Shaykh Muhammad Safwat was elected (by consensus) to replace him. Thus, he became the first director of the Jama'ah from the second generation after its original founders.
His Contributions
- As soon as he became in charge of JASM, the Shaykh took special care in maintaining and improving At-Tawhid, which is JASM's main publication. He worked on this diligently, aided by his close companion Safwat ash-Shawadfi who passed away two years before him. He wrote numerous articles and provided fatawa on a regular basis. His writings reflected knowledge and maturity and emphasized tawhid. During his time, At-Tawhid grew strongly and became wide-spread in most countries until it reached a monthly circulation of 100,000 in recent years.
- He helped improve and strengthen the relationship between JASM and Al-Azhar, especially during the time of Shaykh Jad ul-Haqq 'Ali Jad ul-Haqq. He also established cooperation channels with various da'wah organizations inside and outside Egypt.
- He travelled frequently to different parts of Egypt for the purpose of da'wah and guidance. He delivered khutbahs and daily lectures in JASM's various mosques and centres.
- He attended and lectured in numerous conferences in many Muslim and non-Muslim countries. His contributions always had the characteristics of seriousness, maturity, concern for the Ummah, and positive attitude for solving problems and improving.
His Personality
I (the compiler of this biography, Muhammad al-Jibaly) have known Shaykh Safwat personally and met with him frequently during various conferences organized by Al-Qur'an was-Sunnah Society of North America (QSS), as well as by other conferences and functions. I have known the Shaykh to be very well-mannered and humble. He was always concerned about the Muslims and keen to present advice and da'wah to them in the most effective ways. He would always meet others with a wide smile, calm and cheerful attitude, and overwhelming kindness.
He was very clear and mature about organizational and leadership matters. He provided us at QSS with numerous beneficial advices in this regard.
He had an organized thinking. He would present his arguments in a friendly and convincing manner.
His talks combined knowledge with affection, and they had a special power of moving the hearts into action. He strongly opposed raising issues that would unnecessarily bring division and hatred among the Muslims.
When he mentioned the great scholars of JASM or other Muslim 'ulama, he would praise them extensively and bring out all their good accomplishments and good works. At the same time, I never heard him praise himself or list his accomplishments, even while discussing relevant matters, such as the way the JASM leadership is conducted.
The banner that he always raised and frequently uttered was: Our manhaj is the kitab and sunnah with the understanding of the salaf of the Ummah.
The Shaykh was respected and loved by the contemporary 'ulama of the Ummah, such as Ibn Baz, Al-Albani, Al-'Uthaymin, Ibn Humayd, As-Sabil, Al-Fawzan, and many others.
His Death
He passed away, may Allah have mercy on his soul, on Friday 13 Rajab 1423H (20 September 2002).
He passed in Makkah one or two days after completing his 'Umrah, and shortly after praying Jumu'ah in the Haram (the Sacred Mosque). Janazah prayer was performed over him in the Haram right after maghrib, and he was then buried in Makkah.
We have great hope that the place and time and circumstance of his death are indications of his good end, and Allah is his Judge and Witness.
We ask Allah to engulf him with His mercy and forgiveness, and to accept him among the most righteous. We ask Allah to grant his family and the Muslim Ummah patience and submission in the face of this calamity, and to substitute him for us with other great scholars and leaders. Amin.