Chairman of Riyadha Mosque & Islamic Centre

Mwenye Baba was born on the day his father, Sayyid Ahmad Badawy, died on the 9th of February 1939 Hence, he was named after his father’s famous name - Mwenye Baba.

Mwenye Baba grew up studying under his six elder brothers with close supervision of Sayyid Ali Badawy, Shariff Muhammad Badawy and Sayyid Abdulrahman. He was also enrolled at the Najaah Islamic School in Lamu and frequently used to attend classes of Lamu’s most reputable scholars of the time:

  • Sayyid Muhammad Adnan Al-Ahdal
  • Sayyid Muhammad Ahmad Saggaf
  • Sayyid Umar Ahmad Saggaf
    • and
  • Sayyid Muhammad Twalib Rudainy
among others. His main Qur’an teachers were
  • Maalim Muhammad Uthman Al-Qumury
    • and
  • Maalim Ahmad Salmin Bagufa
.

Mwenye Baba travelled to Zanzibar and studied under:

  • Al-Habib Umar bin Ahmad bin Sumeit
  • Sayyid Abil Hassan Jamaalu Leyl
  • Sheikh Suleyman Al-Alawi
    • and
  • Sayyid Umar bin Abdallah Al-Sheikh Abi Bakr Bin Salim

Mwenye Baba began his teaching career as a Qur’anic teacher in the Ribat of Riyadha Mosque and Najaah Muslim School. He was later ordered by Sayyid Ali Badawy to offer a session on Qur’an translation in Kiswahili during the month of Ramadhan after Asr prayers in the Ribat of Riyadha Mosque.

In 1963 at the age of 24 years,he was invited by the Secretary General of Muslim World League,Sheikh Muhammad Surur Al-Saban to Saudi Arabia where he performed the Pilgrimage, the fifth pillar of Islam. At the time of his pilgrimage he was helping his elder brother Sayyid Hussein Badawy as a teacher in Dar-es-Salaam. Upon Sayyid Hussein’s migration from Dar-es-Salaam, Mwenye Baba moved to Mambrui and joined his nephew Ustadh Muhammad Shariff Saeed Al-Beidh to teach at Annur Islamic School.

The invitation to Saudi Arabia was a great opportunity for Mwenye Baba. He had the chance to meet Saudi and Hadhrami scholars and attended their academic sessions. There, he studied under Hejazi scholars such as:

  • Habib Muhammad Amin Kutbi
  • Al-Habib Hassan Fada’q
  • Al-Habib Alwy Al-Malky
and Hadhramout scholars:
  • Al-Habib Abdulqader bin Ahmad Saggaf
  • Al-Habib Ahmad Mashhur Al-Haddad
  • Sayyid salim Khard
    • and
  • Al Habib Shatry

Furthermore, the visit to Saudi Arabia precipitated frequent visits to Egypt, Mauritania, the Gulf countries and Comoros Islands where he met many distinguished Islamic and academic personalities. Mwenye Baba grew up to become one of East Africa’s most famous and distinguished scholars. Apart from being a very effective teacher, he is an Eloquent Orator and also loves to write,his works include

  • Annusus Swarihah feel Aqeedati Swahihah
  • Mandhumat Takhfeedh Ase’er fee Bayan baadh Dharurat Ashe’er
  • Tarweehul Fikar Sharh Mandhumat Takhfeed Ase’er
  • Al-Maurid Al-Badawy fee Al-Maulid An-nabawy
  • Annujum Zahiyyah wa Al-Laaly Al-Bahiyah fee Ikhtiswar Al-Qawaid Al-fiqhiyah
  • Dhul fiqar
  • Aswaa Musa
  • Hatta Anta

He is a very talented poet in Arabic and Swahili languages, lyricist and is blessed with a very beautiful voice. Mwenye Baba is currently the Chairman of the Riyadha Mosque & Islamic Centre and also runs his own Najaah Islamic Center and Technical College situated in Malindi. His students are scattered all over the world.