Habib Abbas bin Muhammad bin Ali al-Saqqaf was a Singaporean Ba Alawi scholar and teacher. Born in Singapore in 1923, he studied the Islamic sciences with leading scholars of the city, including the jurist Shaykh Umar bin Abdullah al-Khatib and Qadi al-Shihr Habib Shaykh bin Abdullah al-Habashi.
He later taught in a number of settings around Singapore. A particularly important part of his work developed in his own home. Muwasala records that Habib Abd al-Qadir al-Saqqaf encouraged him to establish gatherings of knowledge there, and the house became a meeting place for scholars and students.
The best known of these gatherings was held on Saturday mornings. It included the recitation of Simt al-Durar, the mawlid composed by Habib Ali al-Habashi, followed by a lesson in tasawwuf. Visiting scholars to Singapore would also make a point of meeting him, reflecting his place within the local network of Ba Alawi scholarship.
Habib Abbas was remembered for repeatedly stressing humility and respect, including respect for people regardless of social or economic position. Muwasala described him at the end of his life as the most senior Ba Alawi scholar in Singapore. He died on 29 Dhu al-Hijjah 1439 AH, corresponding to 10 September 2018.
Sources
Muwasala, source biography: https://muwasala.org/2018/09/11/habib-abbas-al-saqqaf/