Umar Fallatah
- Died
- 1419 AH
- Born in
- -
Umar Fallatah (1345–1419 AH / 1926–1999 CE) was a Saudi hadith scholar, educator, and director of Dar al-Hadith in Medina who taught in the Prophet's Mosque.
Early Life and Education
His full name was Abu Muhammad Umar ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad Bakr al-Fullani, commonly known as Fallatah. The nisba al-Fullani traces his lineage to the Fulani tribe of West Africa. He was born in 1345 AH near Mecca while his parents were completing their migration from Africa, a journey that had taken nearly a year. In 1346 AH, his family settled in Medina, where he was raised. He began his studies in the traditional elementary school (kuttab) under Muhammad Salim, memorizing the opening sections of the Quran. He then enrolled in Dar al-Ulum al-Shar'iyyah and received his primary certificate, along with an elementary diploma from the Directorate of Public Knowledge in 1363 AH, before completing his advanced education at Dar al-Hadith in Medina in 1367 AH.
His primary teacher was the hadith scholar Abd al-Rahman al-Afriqi, whom he accompanied for years and from whom he studied hadith nomenclature, Quranic exegesis, and works such as Bulugh al-maram and Malik's al-Muwatta. He also studied grammar, rhetoric, and legal theory under Muhammad ibn Ahmad Takniyyah al-Sudani, received certifications from Muhammad al-Hafiz ibn Musa Hamid and Abd al-Haqq al-Hashimi al-Makki, and studied under Umar ibn Ali al-Faruq al-Fullani.
Career and Teaching
Fallatah taught at Dar al-Hadith and other educational institutions in Medina. Following the death of his teacher Abd al-Rahman al-Afriqi, he succeeded him as director of Dar al-Hadith. He also served as the Secretary-General of the Islamic University of Madinah. In addition to his administrative duties, he held long-running public teaching circles in the Prophet's Mosque, frequently delivering hadith lessons near the Rawdah.
Creed and Standing
Fallatah adhered to the theological creed and legal approach of the Salaf, emphasizing strict reliance on textual evidence. Scholars noted his warmth, generosity, and dedication to mentoring students. His close associate Abd al-Muhsin al-Abbad praised his integrity, humility, and steadfast adherence to prophetic traditions. He documented his teacher's life in a biographical work titled Tarjamat al-Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Afriqi ("Biography of Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Afriqi").
Death
Fallatah died on the morning of Wednesday, 29 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1419 AH (1999 CE) in Medina at the age of seventy-four. He had been hospitalized in Riyadh due to illness and returned to Medina on the morning of the 28th, passing away twenty-four hours later. His funeral prayer was performed in the Prophet's Mosque after the Asr prayer, and he was buried in the al-Baqi cemetery. He was survived by seven sons and two daughters.
Answer updated
List of Works
Tarjamat al-Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Afriqi is a biographical study dedicated to the life and scholarly legacy of the modern hadith scholar Abd al-Rahman al-Afriqi. The work examines his life, virtues, and intellectual contributions, documenting his career as an instructor of hadith and hadith nomenclature (mustalah al-hadith) at the Riyadh Scientific Institute (Ma'had al-Riyad al-Ilmi).