Hafiz Mustafa Ghani - Edmonton
Dr. Mustafa Ghani - Background:
- Mustafa Ghani is based in Edmonton and has been part of the Sufi ecosystem since high school.
- He endorsed several scholars in the past and carries himself like one. He comes off as a very passionate "Deen man," almost like an extension of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen. I asked a few community members, "describe Mustafa Ghani." They all described him as "knowledgeable in the Deen." I asked them to clarify what they meant by that. As in, describe to me what he studied, when he studied, who he studied with, and where he studied? No answer and a strange look.
- He is a Quran Hafiz (Masha'Allah) with a strong interest in religious sciences (according to him). Note that Quran Hafiz is not Islamic scholarship nor a certification in uprightness. It simply means one has memorized the Quran. It is noble, no doubt! It is not an uncommon practice in our communities to turn a hafiz into an Islamic scholar. "He must be knowledgeable." One can be an unscrupulous hafiz!
- He is partially self-studied (according to some members of the community) and we have no way to verify and validate that.
- He was a University MSA Ustad at one point who graduated into the Ghazalian Chair of Islamic Mysticism giving airy-fairy sufi talks at Tarjuma, a project of IFSSA. In fact, Mustafa Ghani has been building brand and teaching since high school!
- He may have read about Sufism, Imam Ghazali, his works, and other scholars. I don't know when and where did he do any meaningful traveling of the Sufi Path.
- A front-row munshid working alongside Shelby Haque in dhikr gatherings and mawlids.
- He endorsed Abdullah El-Haddad and Ramzy Ajem with a "they are mountains!!!" back when they first landed in Edmonton. I asked him what made him say they are "mountains" and if he did any due diligence at all at the time? No response.
- Mustafa Ghani's teacher is Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, who's credibility is in question at this point. As far as I am concerned, Mustafa Ghani must be investigated along with the rest of Ramzy Ajem's sufi cult and his endorsers.
- My question for Mustafa Ghani: If you are so interested in the Deen, why not go meaningfully study the Deen like the rest of high quality scholars? Come back with "I studied these texts with these scholars and this is where I studied and this is how long I studied for. People can go verify and validate."
Knowledgeable in the Deen = Whatever you make of it. It must be the green shawl.
Dr. Mustafa Ghani - Conversations:
I had two in-person interactions and a few email/text exchanges with Mustafa Ghani regarding Abdullah El-Haddad, Ramzy Ajem, and their Muqaddams in Canada. Key points from our conversation:
- He acknowledged that Abdullah El-Haddad "is not a real shaykh and is not a learned man." My investigation suggests that this is old news (pre-2019, The Great Unveiling).
- He acknowledged that Mohamed Mahmoud "is not a real shaykh, is not a learned man, and that Ramzy Ajem started calling him a Shaykh." My investigation suggests that this, too, is old news (pre-2019, The Great Unveiling).
- He acknowledged that Shelby Haque "doesn't know his Fard Ayn, the man has problems, and he loves leadership."
- He acknowledged that he never felt welcomed at Ramy Elhamalawy's Calgary Zawiya.
- He acknowledged that Ramzy Ajem is running a personality cult and that there is no real knowledge in these Tariqah circles.
- He acknowledged that they (Ramzy Ajem and muqaddams) are "too powerful." I wasn't sure what he meant by that. Perhaps he was concerned that they can cause him reputational damage; slander, gossip, etc?
Dr. Mustafa Ghani - Inconsistencies:
- Mustafa Ghani said to me, "If people think Ramzy is a good man, I don't have a problem with that." A few years ago, he publicly criticized Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (on his Facebook wall) for "being involved in American politics" and how "utterly disappointed" he was (I read it and witnesses available). He has publicly criticized other scholars and community personalities for various reasons (witnesses available). But, when it came to Ramzy Ajem, "If people think Ramzy is a good man, I don't have a problem with that." Why not use the same excuse for Shaykh Hamza Yusuf? A lot of people think he is a good man! I thought his statement was loaded with hypocrisy. Ramzy Ajem, in fact, is not a good man. He is a charlatan gaming the Tariqa system and exploits weak Muslims.
- If Mustafa Ghani or his loved one had been one of the victims, he would have written a book on fake and unscrupulous shaykhs. He is a very vocal and an opinionated man. Why not call for a meaningful investigation instead? It's a fair and a balanced response. Usama Canon (May Allah forgive him and have mercy on him) was investigated wasn't he? It was a board investigation. Also, why not take this opportunity to educate the community re: charlatan shaykhs and their tactics? This is a community safety issue, isn't it?
- I asked Mustafa Ghani if Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah would publish a statement regarding his involvement in the Egyptian Sisters case and his subsequent interaction with Ramzy Ajem as is evident in Ramzy Ajem's transcript, "Dr. Umar said you (Ramzy) are 100% correct." What was he correct about? Did he actually say that or was it a different conversation altogether? Ramzy Ajem lies through his teeth and he could be lying here. Mustafa Ghani's response was: Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah will not issue a statement. That was disappointing considering Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah had endorsed Ramzy Ajem, Risalah Foundation, and Masjid Vaughan on multiple occasions. At least, he could have made himself available for an investigation. Utterly disappointing.
- Mustafa Ghani facilitated Tariqas over the years. He worked alongside Shelby Haque at Tadhkirah for several years (knowing that "the man doesn't even know his Fard Ayn"). He knew about Abdullah el-Haddad and Mohamed Mahmoud not being real scholars well before 2019. Yet, he facilitated their shop.
- Mustafa Ghani said to me, "Tariqas are not my jam because Tariqas have problems." But, I don't have a problem supporting Tariqas? Why even engage with Tariqas if they are not your jam?! Instead of playing front-row munshid, he could've avoided participation altogether. "I would love to join your group but I will pass." That would've been consistent with his words.
- Mustafa Ghani said to me, "People have lost a lot of money and some have left Islam because of abuse in Tariqas." But, I don't have a problem facilitating Tariqas?
- Mustafa Ghani said to me, "You don't have a smoking gun."
- Mustafa Ghani said to me, "They (Ramzy Ajem and his muqaddams) can keep their Zawiya." What an inconsistent statement after acknowledging they are fake. They are untrained, have a history of community abuse and abuse of religious authority, have failed to acknowledge, and have failed to investigate. But, they can keep shop and operate as a threat to the community? This is called "facilitating oppressors and subsequently their oppression." Mustafa Ghani can look that up in our Shariah.
- Mustafa Ghani said to me, the Prophet (Upon him be peace) said: "If Fatimah bint Muhammad (May Allah be pleased with her) were to steal, I would cut off her hand." Suggesting high levels of accountability demonstrated by our beloved Prophet (Upon him be peace.)
- Mustafa Ghani said to me, "I am not interested in holding the Tariqa leadership accountable" because
"it harms unrelated individuals who become collateral to a war they never wanted to be part of." Cop out!
Let's not hold people accountable because it rocks the community?
There are two major problems with this statement:
First: victims have the right to an investigation and hold their oppressors accountable. They also have the right to clear their name. What does the Shariah say regarding the rights of oppressed victims?
Second: those "unrelated individuals" are now at-risk future victims. Today, it's me, tomorrow it will be someone else. It's like saying, there is a crazy man out there killing people. Let's not call the cops and warn the community. Let him kill because, you know, we shouldn't disturb our sleeping community.
A respectable and an unbiased response would have been: "Victims have the right to an investigation (Ramzy Ajem and Risalah Foundation) and they also have the right to seek revenge, if they choose to. However, given our current state of accountability and the lack of a governing authority in all things 'Islamic,' they are unlikely to get one. I am very sorry for having supported them for years. I will request Dr. Umar to issue a statement so we can protect the rights of the oppressed and hold the oppressors accountable. I will pray for the victims."
Mustafa Ghani has his own followers who revere him and the great knowledgeable man he is. Investigating Ramzy Ajem is not in his or his teacher's best interest. He benefits from this half-baked ustad culture prevalent in our communities. His statements are awfully similar to Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah's in relation to "Imam" Afroz Ali and Faraz Rabbani.
Mustafa Ghani's statements are loaded with bias and lack accountability. His arc tilted towards fear, power, and alliances. His proposed actions do not match his words. Like Ramzy Ajem, he is saying the right words instead of doing the right things. He encouraged this "personality over principles" culture for years. Now, he shifted gears to "principles over personalities." As far as I am concerned, he is not a trustworthy man. I served him the stay-out-of-my-sight notice.
Go Back: Ramzy Ajem