Birth and Lineage
Maulana Yusuf Desai was born on 23 Rabi‘ul Awwal 1400, corresponding to 10 February 1980, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Maulana’s maternal grandmother was a Catholic teacher who later accepted Islam. Her father was a white British journalist who married a black woman from the Khoisan community.
His maternal grandfather was a businessman from KwaZulu-Natal, whose mother was a Pathan woman from Kabul.
Maulana’s paternal grandfather, the late Ismail Hajee Desai رحمه الله, was a businessman who had taken Bay‘ah to Hakim al-Ummah, Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi رحمه الله. He was also a close friend and associate of Munshi Saheb رحمه الله of Inanda. Maulana’s paternal grandmother was from the respected Kajee family.
All praise is due to Allah Ta’ala, the Inspirer of Faith, The All Merciful and The All Beneficient. Salaat and Salaam upon the Crown of the Believers, Sayyedena Muhammade, eternally.
