The Biography of Shaykh Muhammad bin Muhammad Saghir Akur

His Name and Lineage:

He is the dignified Shaykh, Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ṣaghīr ibn Mūsá ibn Aḥmad ibn Jammah ibn Aḥmad Aāl ʿAkūr Humdī.

His Birth:

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ṣaghīr ʿAkūr was born in 1362^AH in the village of ʿIkra which is located in the south west region of the city of Jazan.

His Academic Development:

He began his pursuit of knowledge by enrolling at the elementary school in his village of Iʾkra. His teachers at this school were:

1. Shaykh ʿAbdullāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAkūr
2. Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Qāsim Aʾahimī
3. Shaykh Shabir ibn Muḥammad al-Najmī

He then progressed to The Salafi School in the city of Samita at a time which only comprised of three classes. Students were divided according to their level of memorisation of the Qurʾān. At The Salafi School, Shaykh Muḥammad ʿAkūr studied books such as Hidāyat al-Mustafīd fī Aḥkām al-Tajwīd, Forty Ḥadīth of al-Nawawi, The Three Fundamental Principals as well as the Qurʾān.

From His Distinguished Teachers in This School Were:

1. Shaykh Muḥammad bin Ḥassan al-Ghumar
2. Shaykh Muḥammad bin ʿAlī al-ʿIbī
3. Shaykh ʿAbd al-Ṣamad al-Malbārī

The Shaykh later advanced to higher education at the school, which comprised of  lessons that were mainly focused on a curriculum taught by way of dictation.

Among His Distinguished Teachers During This Stage Were:

1. Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī
2. Shaykh Zayd ibn Muḥammad al-Madkhalī
3. ShaykhʿAlī ibn Yaḥyá al-Baḥlakī
4. Shaykh Ḥassan ibn Aḥmad al-Najmī

He eventually graduated from the academic institute and enrolled at the Islamic University of Muḥammad bin Saʿ ūd in the city of Riyadh in the year 1388^AH.

His Teachers and Accomplishments:

1. Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān al-Fawzān
2. Shaykh Ṣāliḥʿ Alī al-Nāṣir
3. Shaykh Fāliḥ ibn Muḥammad al-Mahdī al-Dawsarī
4. Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī
5. Shaykh Zayd ibn Muḥammad al-Madkhalī
6. Shaykhʿ Alī ibn Yaḥyá al-Baḥlakī
7. Shaykh Ḥassan ibn Aḥmad al-Najmī
8. Shaykh Muḥammad bin Ḥassan al-Ghumar
9. Shaykh Muḥammad bin ʿAlī al-ʿIbī
10. Shaykh ʿAbd al-Ṣamad al-Malbārī

• He was appointed a teacher in al-Khadra school in the city of Samita in the year 1392^AH and continued teaching for a period that spanned almost 20 years before retiring from this role in the year 1421^AH.

• He was selected to be a participating lecturer and teacher in The Annual Conference of Shaykh ʿAbdullāh al-Qarʿāwī that began in 1416^AH. It is a conference in which he continues to take part in until this day.

• He was nominated to be a part of the ‘Daʿwah and Education in Hajj and ʿUmrah Project’ in the year 1423h, and it is a position that he holds until this day.

• He was then appointed to the ‘Daʿwah, Guidance and Education of Minority Communities’ project as part of the Daʿwah Centre in the region of al-Tiwāl in the year 1434^AH, and it is a position that he holds until this day.

• He was appointed as a member of The Committee Assigned for the Vetting and Selection of Imām and Muʾathinīn for Mosque in the region of Samita in the year 1435^AH, a post that he holds until this day.

His Distinguished Characteristics:

His Humble Nature:

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ṣaghīr ʿAkūr would adorn himself with highly honorable characteristics and mannerisms, thus becoming a leading example in his humility. Below are some occurrences that bear testament to the humility of the Shaykh.

On one occasion, the Shaykh was on a round trip for the purpose of daʿwah and the lecture on that particular day was to be held in Masjid al-Qarʿāwī in the city of Samita. Prior to the lecture, the Imām of the mosque delivered a formal introduction regarding the lecture of Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ṣaghīr ʿAkūr. When the Imām concluded, the Shaykh began his lecture by firstly thanking the Imām before going on to say “I am not worthy of such mention, rather I am merely a student from the students of knowledge who has come here today for the purposes of studying and discussion, and this entire gathering only involves us hearing some words and statements that I will present to you and that you shall hear, we are all considered to be that individual who is here to benefit, but perhaps the one speaking [implying himself] is in greater need than the listeners”.

On this occasion the Shaykh delivered a lecture in the city of Samita, however on this night the lecture was held in the mosque of his Shaykh,  Zayd ibn Muḥammad al-Madkhalī, (Allāh have mercy upon him). Before the lecture commenced, one of the students of knowledge introduced the Shaykh to the attendees by eventually saying ‘we leave you with al-Shaykh al-ʿAllāmah Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ṣaghīr ʿAkūr’. Once the speaker concluded his introduction, the Shaykh said “My attention has been drawn to Shaykh Ḥassan’s description of me in which he stated the term ‘al-ʿAllāmah ’, rather I am from the smallest of students of knowledge”.

His Ardent Diligence in Propagating Knowledge:

Shaykh Muḥammad begins teaching immediately after the Fajr prayer until approximately 7.30am, he then attends to his daʿwah program in his house before commuting to The Office of Endowments, Call and Guidance; there, he counsels whoever may need it. After the Dhuhr prayer he teaches in his local mosque in the village of Iʾkra. Then after the ʿAsr prayer, he teaches the general public and the students of knowledge. Following the Maghrib prayer, he delivers general lessons that take place across numerous mosques across the district before occasionally conveying some sermons of advice on topics matched and pertaining to particular events. He then proceeds to his house wherein students and questioners contact him from various international countries, he receives their calls, answers their questions and offers words of guidance, direction and counsel. The aforementioned activities make up the schedule of the Shaykh the majority of the time, and those who closely accompany the Shaykh know this well. I ask Allāh ﷻ to keep him firm upon this steadfastness.

His Defence of the Sunnah and the Salafi Methodology:

This is evidently clear through the lectures and lessons that the Shaykh delivers, as they are filled with clarification of the Salafi creed and warning against anything that opposes it, whether it be polytheism or innovation, regardless of their various originating groups or methodologies. An example of this is the rebuttal our Shaykh penned against an author for his complete rejection of the Islamic legitimacy for female circumcision and its description as a pre-Islamic practice. The Shaykh refuted this claim academically whilst bolstered with proofs and clear evidences. [In print]

The Praise of the Scholars For Him:

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī:

“I heard a statement during the speech of our brother Shaykh, Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ṣaghīr ʿAkūr – [small] by name but large in stature and status in the worldly life and the hereafter. It was regarding his statement in which he said”, ‘when a person of Sunnah has precedence, seniority and vast experience in life, he will be granted success by the permission of Allāh due to the factors of his age and experience.’

Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī and Shaykh Zayd ibn Muḥammad al-Madkhalī:

The aforementioned person is from the scholars of knowledge in this region and among those who are actively propagating the call to Allāh upon sure insight in sermon giving, teaching, lecturing and efforts in reforming. Thus, we deem him to be apt in delivering sermons and leading congregations as this is coupled with the sound Salafī creed and methodology that he possesses.  Due to this, and his request from us for an account of his affair that we know as being his constant companionship with us the majority of the time, we have decided to write these lines whilst only seeking righteousness. May Allāh grant us all the success to attain His pleasure – may the blessings and salutations be bestowed upon our Prophet Muḥammad, his household and companions.

Conclusion:

To conclude this concise biography of Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad Ṣaghīr ʿAkūr, we would like to point out that this is a humble version of the biography that has been committed to paper by the students of the Shaykh and other admirers in an attempt to honor and value the Shaykh for what he has put forth for us and the rest of the Muslims. The Prophet said (If anyone offers an act of good to you, then you should recompense him, but if you do not have the means to do so, then supplicate for him until you deem that you have recompensed him).