Shaykh Hasan Ibnu Usman Makdoomy Rahimahullah

Shaykh Hasan Ibnu Usman Makdoomy Rahimahullah is the first Moorish Saint of Srilanka, about whom chronological data are available. Sheikh Hasan is one of eminent wali of Srilanka. Sheikh Hasan popularly known as Alim Sahib Appa among his disciples (mureeds) in Srilanka.Shaykh Hasan born in Sholai, Thalapitiya , Galle in the year of 1785 AD (Hijri 1200) . His father was Usman Makdoomy Ibn Fareed of Aluthgama and his mother Fathima Siddeeka, the only daughter of Katheeb
Sheikh Mohamed , Galle. Shaykh Hasan is a direct descendant of Sayyidina AbuBakr Raaliyallahu Anhu. Sheikh Hasan mother died after ninth days of his birth. Sheikh Hasan came under his aunt care after his mother's death.

Shaykh Hasan had his early education in Quran reading and  the fundementals of religion in Madrasa. Later he studied under Shaykuna Lebbai Alim(d.1240 AD/1824AD) of Kayalpattinam, India. He studied Tafsir, Hadees, Fiqh and other fundementals of religon under Shaykuna Lebbai Alim ( also called Shaykuna Pulavar) . Shaykh Hasan was first katheeb of Galle Fort mosque and he was business man by profession. During Shaykh Hassan was live in Galle, One of his famous miracle (Karamath) of reported.

A malay lady woman afflicted with an unendurable stomach ache was at the end of her tether. The many treatments she tried had falled. Finally, She came to meet Shaykh Hasan, she vowed that she will sucide herself if her disease not cure before going to meet Shaykh Hasan and She carried a knife, hide it in her cloth. She complained about her disease to Shaykh Hasan and Shyakh Hasan replied ' Health, sickness and cure are in the hands of Allah. By the help of Allah your disease will be cured, you go and take treatmentfrom a physician'. Then, The impatient women has cut her throat with the knife she carried and killed herself as she planned. When the postmortem inquiry was held there no
evidence forthcoming as who  caused the death. Shaykh Hasan was inquired by Megistrate regarding her death, Shyakh said that only the dead women is witness for her death. Shaykh Hasan ask pemission of Megistrate to make the women talk, and the placing his one hand over head while the finger of the gripped together her slit thorat he said, " By the name of Allah speak and say how you died. The incident held the large crowd present.  It is recorded that words began to issue from the dead women lips with clear tone. she described how unable to bear up her pain. This incident is reported in records of Galle megistrate. Shaykh Hasan leave his birth place Galle after this incident.

Shaykh Hasan lived 42 years in his birth place Gallle . He spent his later life in Hambantota, Trincomalee, Kandy,Ganetanne,Maggona and finally in Aluthgama. Shaykh Hasan received the Kalifath of Seyed Sheik Ibmi Mohammadul Jiffry (Jiffry Thangal) from Seyed Ahmed Ibmi Abdulla Bafaki Rahimahullah.Sheik Hassan had only one son and the child passed away at a young age. Sheik Hassan loved his two nephews with whom he spent a major part of his life. They are Mohammed Lebbe and Sheik Abdul Cader, better known as Kaliyar Fakeen Lebbe and Sheik Hasan had bestowed his full power pertaining to Khilafath on him. He attended sainthood at a very young age.
He was a great scholar in Theology having studied extensively at the Al Azhar University in Cairo.

Shaykh Hasan lived in Aluthgama in his last days.After a spiritual rewarding life of over 80 years Sheik Hassan passed away in the night of Tuesday the 22nd May 1866 AD (7th Muharrum 1283 AH) and He was burried in Darga Town, Aluthgama. Imamul Aroos Mappillai Lebbai Alim Rahimahullah has composed a mowlid on him, which is called ' Mawahibur Rahman Fi Manaqibini Hasani Uthuman '. Further in a qasidah, Shaykh Ismail of Beruwela, Srilanka has given an account of his student life in Kayalpattinam. This qasidah is included in his work entitled 'Fathul Malikil Jalil A Dalli Ala Aqwami Sabil'.

References :
1. Shuayb Alim, Dr.Tayka (1996). Arabic, Arwi and Persian in Serandib and Tamil Nadu. Madras: Imamul Arus Trust.
2. A.L.M. Mohamed. Qutubuzzaman Sheikh Hassan bin Osmanul Magdoomy Radiyallahu Anhu -      ( Histroy)
3. The Masheik Feast in Dharga Town (by A.W.A. Azeez ) Archived from the original on 23 January 2002. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
4. A monument to spiritual development of Muslims (by B.M. Mukthar) Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2017.

Article Written by : Ifham Nawas