About us

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, and peace and blessings upon His final Messenger, our master Muhammad, and upon his Family and Companions. Mahad al-Faqir is devoted to the spritual sciences of Islam which deal with the purification of the heart and soul. Allah Most High declares, "Verily, he who has purified the lower self (nafs) has triumphed, and he who has corrupted it has lost" (Qur'an 91:9-10).

Shaykh Sohail Irfan

Shaykh Mawlana Hafiz Sohail Irfan is a khalifa (representative) of Jami' al-Shari'a wa'l-Tariqa Shaykh Mawlana Hafiz Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi Mujaddidi. He received ijaza (authorization) in Tasawwuf in the Naqshbandi Mujaddid order from his blessed guide in 2001.

After completing the memorization of the Qur'an under his teachers at an early age, Shaykh Sohail engaged in spreading the light of the Holy Qur'an by teaching in schools and through the blessed work of Da'wa wa Tabligh (calling people to Islam). Thereafter, he came to America where he continued this valuable work and has been responsible for cultivating numerous huffaz throughout the country.

It was in America that he was introduced to Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed and soon became one of his top students and aides in the science of tasawwuf.

Shaykh Sohail began studying the traditional books of knowledge in the United States from local 'Ulama (scholars), later moving to Pakistan in order to study advanced books from other senior scholars. He has recently graduated from his 'Alim course studies and now in the footsteps of his shaykh, travels around the world to hold gatherings of zikr (rememberance) and 'ilm (knowledge). He presently resides in Lahore, Pakistan with his wife and children.

Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed

Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad is one of leading shaykhs of Tasawwuf in the present era. Formally granted authorization (ijaza) in the Naqshbandi spiritual path (tariqa), he retired from his position as an electrical engineer at the age of forty to devote himself entirely to the service of Islam. He regularly travels to more than thirty countries transforming the lives of people all over the world. A testament to his deep love for Allah Most High, his uncompromising dedication to sunnah of the blessed Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and his firm adherence to Islamic Law (sharia) is that thousands of religious scholars and students of Islamic learning are among his students (murids). Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad regularly delivers lectures in both English and Urdu across the world. Furthermore, he has written dozens of books many of which have been translated into several languages. Online versions of both talks and writings are availalbe on Tasawwuf.org.

Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad's spiritual chain traces back through a series of authentic teachers all the way to the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). To view a listing of the masters of this silsilah (chain), click on the link below.

The Silsilah of Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad - Trace the chain of the honorable Masha'ikh Naqshband from Shaykh Zulfiqar back to our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give his peace).