Habib Ali bin Muhammad al-Haddar was born in Mukalla on the Indian Ocean coast around the year 1351 (1932). He was blessed to meet the great Habib Ahmad bin Muhsin al-Haddar (see footnote) as a small boy. He studied at al-Madrasah al-Wusta in the town of Ghayl Ba Wazir.
He lived a long life and received inward and outward knowledge from many great men, including the Qadi Sayyid Muhsin bin Ja’far Bu Numay in Ghayl Ba Wazir, Habib Muhammad bin Ali al-Habashi in Seiyun, Habib Abd al-Rahman bin Abdullah bin Shaykh Abu Bakr in Shihr and Habib Haddar bin Muhammad al-Haddar in Shihr and al-Madinah. He would often mention the time he spent with Habib Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafiz, Habib Umar’s father.
Towards the end of his life he moved to Tarim and was always present in the gatherings in Dar al-Mustafa. Habib Umar would often defer to him out of respect for his age and seniority and he would oblige with heartfelt duas.
He was loved for his gentleness and humility. He dressed as an ordinary person, not as one of the senior Habaib. He never sat or prayed on a chair in spite of his age. His presence will be sorely missed. May Allah have mercy on him and raise his rank. He passed away in Tarim on Saturday, 24th Jumada al-Ula 1447 AH / 15th November 2025 CE.
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Habib Ahmad bin Muhsin al-Haddar (died 1357) was one of the shaykhs through whom Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad received openings. See here