Abu Ishaq al-Hawini

Abu Ishaq Al-Hawini

Abu Ishaq Al-Hawini, whose full name is Muhammad Yusuf Sharif, hails from the Hijaz region. He is often identified by his surname, Al-Hawini, which is derived from his hometown, Hawin, located in the Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. Born in 1956, he is a prominent scholar specializing in the science of Hadith. He also served as the imam for the Mosque of Sheikh Al-Islam in Hawin, delivering sermons twice each month.

Early Life and Education

Al-Hawini was born into a middle-class Egyptian family engaged in agriculture. During his early education, he frequently moved between his village and other surrounding villages in Kafr El-Sheikh. In his final year of secondary school, he relocated to Cairo with his brother, where he began attending lectures by Abdul Hamid Kishk. He pursued Spanish language studies at the Faculty of Languages in Ain Shams University, excelling academically and finishing at the top of his Spanish language class. Despite working in a small grocery store during the day, he would devote his nights to studying the works of Al-Albani. He spent two years focused on one particular book by Al-Albani, which he later described as the most beneficial period of his academic journey. After graduating with honors from the Spanish department, he was offered a scholarship to further his studies in Spain. However, he left soon after due to his dissatisfaction with life there and instead dedicated himself to studying Hadith literature and the works of Al-Albani. He studied under Muhammad Najib Al-Mutai’ and traveled to Sudan, later to Saudi Arabia, and then to Jordan, where he spent a month with Sheikh Al-Albani. He also had the opportunity to meet Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen and Sheikh Saleh Al-Sheikh, regularly attending scholarly gatherings held by various scholars in mosques.

Notable Works by Al-Hawini

• Fasl Al-Khitab fi Naqd Al-Mughni ‘an Al-Hifz wal-Kitab by Abu Hafs Al-Mawsi: This work focuses on Hadith science and critiques Ibn Qudamah’s book “Al-Mughni ‘an Al-Hifz wal-Kitab.” Al-Hawini meticulously reviewed each section of the Sunnah presented in the original work, extracting what he deemed unsound.
• Al-Inshirah fi Adab Al-Nikah: In this book, Al-Hawini compiles the etiquettes of marriage, including authentic Hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This text stands out for its accessibility, making it suitable for Muslims of varying backgrounds and comprehension levels.