India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, a former president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and author of more than 45 books, died at Al Shifa Hospital here at around 8.30 pm on Friday.
He was 87 and is survived by two sons and two daughters.
His funeral prayer will be held at 10 am on Saturday at the Ishaat-e-Islam Mosque, inside the JIH campus, in Abul Fazal Enclave, Okhla, New Delhi. His burial will take place in Shaheen Bagh Qabristan.
He was suffering from pneumonia and was under treatment in Al Shifa Hospital for the last one week.
Maulana Umari was born in 1935 in a village called Puttagram in the North Arcot district, Tamil Nadu. He has been the president (Ameer) of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind for three consecutive terms from 2007-2019.
He completed his Alimiat and Fazilat (Masters in Islamic studies) from Jamia Darussalam, Omerabad, Tamil Nadu. He obtained his baccalaureate (Munshi Fazil) in Persian from Madras University. He also received a B.A. (English) from Aligarh Muslim University.
Maulana Umari got associated with the JIH when he was a student. However, he officially became its member or rukn in 1956.
After completing his studies, he dedicated himself to JIH’s research department.
He served as the JIH Aligarh city president for a decade. He was the editor of its Urdu monthly organ Zindagi-e-Nau for five years from June 1986 to December 1990.
Later, he became JIH vice president and continued in this post for four consecutive terms from April 1990 to March 2007.
The Maulana also served as chairman of the JIH Shariah Council and rendered valuable services by giving his expert opinion on various issues relating to Islam.
He was also vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a premier umbrella body of Indian Muslims. He was also the founder editor of the quarterly Islamic research journal – Tehqeeqat-e-Islami – since 1982.
He also served as Sheikh-ul-Jamia of the Jamiatul Falah seminary at Bilariyaganj in Azamgarh district of UP and patron of the Sirajul Uloom Niswan College at Aligarh.
A noted Islamic scholar, educationist, researcher, orator, and author, Maulana Umari has penned over 45 books in the Urdu language and contributed hundreds of research articles in various journals and magazines, on different topics including Islamic doctrines, Islamic jurisprudence, Dawah, Islamic social system, human rights, contemporary challenges, and political issues. His books include Tajalliyat-e-Quran, Auraq-e-Seerat, Islam ki Dawat, Islam ka Shooraee Nizam, Islam mein khidmat-e-khalq ka tasawwur, Infaq fi Sabilillah, Ghair Islami riyasat aur Musalman.
Many of his books have been translated into Arabic, English, Turkish, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannad, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Bangla, and Tamil languages.
Religious leaders from across the communities all over the world and from various organizations condoled the death of Maulana Umari.
Condolences pour in from around the world
Condolences over the demise of Maulana Umari poured in from around the world. Prominent islamic organization Ikhwanul Muslimoon ( the Muslim Brotherhood) expressed its deepest condolences to the entire Muslim community in India on its Arabic website.
“The Muslim Brotherhood, as it mourns this venerable scholar, extends its sincere condolences to the Islamic community in India and to his family, students and lovers, in India and around the world, asking God Almighty to inhabit him in the highest paradise of Paradise with the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the righteous, and those who are good companions,” said the Ikhwan’s condolence message translated into Enlgish.
The Ikhwan’s message further said, “The Muslim Brotherhood extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the entire Islamic community in India and to the Muslims of the Republic of India and its scholars on the death of the scholar Sheikh Jalaluddin Al-Omari, the former Emir of the Islamic community in India, who passed away at the age of 87.”
The condolence message that began with a verse of Surah Ahzab that translates as “Among the believers are men who are true to their covenant with God”, ended with a verse of Surah Fajr that says, “Oh, the reassured soul. Return to your Lord, satisfied and well-pleasing. So enter among my (righteous) servants, and enter My Paradise.”
Maulana Umari was among the few world leaders who had strongly criticized the Saudi government when it called the Ikhwan as a “terrorist outfit” in 2014. The Maulana had asked the Saudi government to review its decision about the Ikhwan.
Expressing grief over the death of Maulana Umari, Christian leader Fr. (Dr) M D Thomas said, “Hearty condolence. I knew him well. We had very cordial meetings. May Allah reward him a hundred fold.”
Sant Veer Singh Hatkari, in his condolence message, prayed Almighty Allah to give strength to the Maulana’s family and his relatives to bear the loss.
JIH secretary general T. Arifali, condoling the death of Maulana Umari, said, “The Indian Muslim community has lost one of its prominent and outstanding leaders with the demise of Maulana Jalaluddin Umari, a renowned Islamic scholar and former Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon (We belong to Allah, to Him we return).”
“May Allah help us fill the void left by the departure of such a personality! May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and bestow His blessings, and provide him the highest pedestal in Jannatul Firdous. Aameen”, JIH secretary general said.
Extending its deep condolences on the sad demise of the Maulana, Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) said, “Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari was one of the most erudite scholars of this century. His vision of Islam in a plural society laid down an incredible mark in the trajectory of Muslim Ummah across the globe and charted a way forward for an egalitarian society. He was also a great leader of Indian Muslims. His exemplary contributions, sacrifices and dedication towards Islamic movement till his last breath will inspire generations to carry the baton forward. We pray that Almighty Allah grant him the highest station in Jannatul Firdous and grant peace and tranquility to his near and dear ones.”
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the demise of the former JIH president. “Maulana Umari always welcomed the ‘ijtimaiyat’ (collective effort) in the cause of the Muslim community during his 10 years as the JIH president,” Maulana Madani said.
The JUH president described Maualna Umari as “a storehouse of knowledge, enodwed with intuition, a great thinker and a man of high moral precepts.”
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimin (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi said that the demise of Maulana Umari, a great Islamic scholar and a former president of the JIH, was a great loss to the Muslim community in India.
Former chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan prayed for the “magfirah”of the Maulana and a high place in Paradise. “Another pillar of the community falls: Maulana Jalaluddin Umari, ex-Amir, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, celebrated author & orator, breathed his last today,” Dr. Khan said in a tweet.
All India Muslim Majlis Mushawarat (AIMMM) president Navaid Hamid, in a tweet, described Maulana Umari as a “celebrated Islamic scholar.”
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), in a tweet, also expressed its condolences over the demise of Maulana Umari. The board said that the Maulana, who was board’s vice president, gave his invaluable services to the board as well as the Muslim community in India. It described Maulana Umari as a well-known writer, an outstanding thinker and a prudent Islamic scholar.
Palestine Scholars Association has also condoled the death of Maulana Umari. Expressing sorrow over the demise of the former JIH leader, a statement signed by the association said, “We offer our condolences to the Muslim brothers in India in general and the brothers in the Islamic community in India in particular, as we offer our condolences to the Sheikh’s (Maulana Umari) family, loved ones, students and brothers for this great loss.”
Acknowledging the services of Maulana Umari, the association said that the former JIH president passed away “after a life full of calling people to Almighty God and advocating issues of the oppressed, foremost of which was the issue of Palestine.”
“We, in the Council of Palestinian Scholars, received with great sadness, patience, and anticipation the news of the death of His Eminence Sheikh Jalal Al-Din Al-Omari,” the statement said.
Syrian Muslim Brotherhood also extended deep condolences on the death of the former JIH president.
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India Ali Chegeni, in a condolence letter to JIH president Syed Sadatullah Husaini, said he was “deeply grieved to hear about the passing away” of former JIH president Maulana Jalaluddin Umari.
“I express my deepest condolences on the passing away of this wise and learned personality to his respected family, you, and all the members of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,” said the letter from the ambassador of Iran.
High Commissioner of Malaysia to India Hidayat Abdul Hamid telephonically registered his condolences with the JIH.
