Syed Khalique Ahmed
NEW DELHI—A well-known Islamic scholar and a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Islahi breathed his last at 1.15 am in the Fortis Hospital, NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, today. He was 89. He was a member of the JIH’s central advisory committee.
Maulana Islahi is survived by five sons and three daughters, all married and well settled. One of his sons, Salman Asad is a member of the Delhi Waqf Tribunal and the rest are running their own businesses. One of his daughters is settled in the Netherlands, another in the US, and the third at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Maulana Islahi’s wife died two years ago.
He was ill for about a month. He suffered a heart attack on November 24 after which he was admitted to a private hospital at Moradabad. While undergoing treatment for cardiac problems, he developed breathing complications. He was referred to the Fortis Hospital in NOIDA, near Delhi, where he expired in the wee hours of December 21.
His funeral was performed in Rampur, his native town, about 200 km from the national capital of Delhi.
Senior JIH leaders, including national vice-president Prof. Muhammad Salim Engineer, attended his ‘Namaz-e-Janazah (funeral prayers). Other senior JIH functionaries, including Maulana Inayatullah Subhani, Mohiyuddin Ghazi, and Mohammed Ahmed also took part in the funeral prayers.
People connected with the Islamic movement in different parts of the world expressed their condolences over the death of Maulana Islahi. They prayed for his ‘magfirah’ (forgiveness) from Allah and high status for him in the Jannah, the Paradise.
A great loss for the Muslim Ummah: JIH chief Syed Sadatullah Husaini
JIH president Syed Sadatulla Husaini, expressing deep sorrow over his demise, said that JIH lost the second elderly and experienced person, after the death of former Kerala JIH chief T K Abdullah, in the last two months. His death is a great loss for the JIH and the Muslim community.
The most significant achievement of Maulana Islahi, Mr. Husaini said, was his popular Islamic books that influenced several generations. His most famous book ‘Etiquette of Life in Islam (Adaab-e-Zindagi), can be found in the bookshelves of millions of Muslims worldwide. This book is also gifted to brides and bridegrooms on the occasion of marriages to learn how to live their married life as per the principles of Islam.
The top quality of his books, the JIH chief said, is that these are written in a straightforward language and are equally popular among women, children, and the elderly.
Mr. Husaini said that another achievement of Maulana Islahi was that he worked for the propagation of Islam in the US, Australia, Japan, and the European countries. For the last few decades, he spent almost half of every year in these countries delivering lectures on various aspects of Islam.
A legacy difficult to match: Dr. Yasir Qadhi, a US Islamic scholar
Dean of Academic Affairs at the Islamic Seminary of America Dr. Yasir Qadhi described Maulana Islahi as “the embodiment of a noble scholar, with a legacy that shall be difficult to match.”
“I had the great fortune of meeting him many times and benefitting from him,” Dr. Qadhi said in his tweet.
Monumental loss for the Muslim community: AIMMM chief Navaid Hamid
All India Muslim Majlis Mushawarat (AIMMM) president Navaid Hamid, sharing his condolence message, said that “the demise of Maulana Yusuf Islahi is a monumental loss for the Muslim community and the students of Islamic studies of the sub-continent.”
“Throughout his long-cherished life, Maulana Yusuf Islahi was busy in propagating true Islamic values, and his books and articles had touched the hearts of millions of his admirers,” Hamid told India Tomorrow.
“I extend my heartfelt condolence to his family and admirers and pray to Almighty to raise his ‘darajaat’ (status) and bless him a high place in Jannah,” Hamid wrote in his condolence message.
A great champion of women’s empowerment: DMC’s former chairman Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan
In his condolence message, Delhi Minorities Commission’s former chairman Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, said that Maulana Islahi was a “pillar of the community.” Dr. Khan, whose Milli Gazette, a weekly publication that carried an interview of Maulana Islahi a long time back, said that he was a great champion of women’s rights. Maulana Islahi, in the interview, said that, like other societies, Muslims also exploited their women and did not give women’s share in inheritance. Maulana Islahi said in the interview that the Muslims must correct their mistakes about women and equip them with modern education, in addition to traditional and Islamic education, to face the Western onslaught on Islam and Muslims.
His death a loss for the Muslim Ummah: ICNA
The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) described his death as a significant “loss for the Muslim Ummah” in a condolence message.
“Maulana Yusuf Islahi was a man of wisdom who paved the path to Jannah for hundreds and thousands across the globe,” said ICNA’s message on its Facebook page.
Was born in Attock city, now in Pakistan
With his ancestors hailing from Afghanistan, Maulana Islahi was born on July 9, 1932, at Formulli in Attock city of Punjab in Pakistan. His ancestors hailed from the present-day Afghanistan.
Besides being a member of the consultative body of the JIH, he was the chief patron of a project, “Why Islam”, of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA).
He obtained his primary education in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Shaikh-ul-Hadees Maulana Abdul Qadim Khan, subsequently admitted him to Mazaher ul-Uloom, Saharanpur District, where he received education in Islamic Studies. He obtained higher education and Fazilat from Madarsat ul-Islah, Sarai Mir. He was also a Hafiz who memorized the Quran.
He was sent to Madrasa Mazahir ul Uloom, Saharanpur, to receive further education. After that, he joined Madarsat ul Islah, Sarai Mir, Azamgarh in east Uttar Pradesh. He spent four years under Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi and received Sanad Fazilat with distinction (Certificate of Graduation).
He became a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in 1953 and was entrusted with various important posts. He was a Markazi Majlis Shura (Central Advisory Committee) member for the last many years.
Yusuf Islahi was also guiding many educational and welfare institutions. He was the Rector of Jamiat us-Salehat, Rampur, which Maulana Abd al-Hayy al-Lucknawi founded as a unique and well-known institution for higher Arabic and Islamic education for girls.
Markazi Darsgah-e-Islami, Rampur, ran under his guidance for the last few years. Several other educational and welfare institutions also sought advice and guidance from him.
Maulana Islahi wrote more than 35 books; most prominent among them were Adaab-e-Zindagi (Etiquette of Life in Islam) and Asaan Fiqh(Easy Jurisprudence).
