Pakistan is mourning the loss of a renowned Islamic cleric Mufti Rafi Usmani who passed away on Friday after a prolonged illness at the age of 86.
The late Mufti-e-Azam or Pakistan’s Grand Mufti was the President of Jaamiyah Darul Uloom Karachi, one of the largest seminaries of the Deoband school of thought in the country.
Condolences on the death of the country’s grand mufti began pouring in. The public, along with political figures, including the President and the Prime Minister are paying tribute to the scholar’s religious and academic services while extending their grievance.
“Mufti Rafi Usmani has rendered valuable services in the field of fiqh, hadith, and tafsir. His religious and academic services, and services for the promotion of religious knowledge,” the president said.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا معروف عالم دین اور صدر جامعہ دار العلوم کراچی مفتی رفیع عثمانی کے انتقال پر اظہار افسوس
صدر مملکت کا مفتی رفیع عثمانی کی وفات پر گہرے رنج و غم کا اظہار
صدر مملکت کا مرحوم کی دینی اور علمی خدمات کو خراج عقیدت
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 18, 2022
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended his condolences on the grand mufti’s demise. He called the death a great tragedy for Pakistan.
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“Mufti Rafi Usmani Sahib was one of the best scholars and researchers in the world of Islam. He enlightened a scholar with the light of his knowledge. His death is a great tragedy for Pakistan and the world of Islam. May Allah grant them a place in His mercy. Ameen,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.
مفتی رفیع عثمانی صاحب کا شمار عالم اسلام کے جید علماء اور محققین میں ہوتا تھا۔ انہوں نے اپنے علم کی روشنی سے ایک عالم کو منور کیا۔ ان کی وفات پاکستان اور عالم اسلام کے لئے ایک بہت بڑا سانحہ ہے۔ اللہ تعالی ان کو اپنے جوار رحمت میں جگہ دے۔ آمین
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 19, 2022
PML-N supreme leader and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif prayed for the departed soul and said his services will always be remembered.
“The heart is deeply saddened by the death of President Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi, Mufti Rafi Usmani. Muslims, Arabs, and non-Muslims, today lost a religious scholar, jurist, researcher, and a good speaker. His valuable academic services will always be remembered. May Allah bless him. Give them a place in Jannat al-Firdous and grant patience to the bereaved,” Nawaz Sharif said.
صدر جامعہ دارالعلوم کراچی مفتی رفیع عثمانی صاحب کی وفات پر دل بہت رنجیدہ ہے۔مسلمانان عرب و عجم آج ایک عالم دین،فقیہ،محقق اور جیّد خطیب سے محروم ہو گئے۔انکی گرانقدر علمی خدمات کو ہمیشہ یاد رکھا جائیگا۔اللہ تعالیٰ حضرت کو جنت الفردوس میں جگہ دے اور لواحقین کو صبرِ جمیل عطا فرمائے۔
— Nawaz Sharif (@NawazSharifMNS) November 18, 2022
The late Mufti-e-Azam was the elder brother of the Islamic university’s Vice President Maulana Mufti Taqi Usmani and the son of Pakistan’s former grand mufti Shafi Usmani. After his father’s demise in 1976, his close aide Maulana Abdul Hai Arifi became chief of the Darul Uloom Karachi and retained the office till his death in 1986. Afterward, Mufti Usmani assumed the office and served it till his demise.
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He had also served as vice president of Wifaqul Madaris Al Arabia Pakistan, syndicate member of public and private varsities including Karachi University and Dow University of Health Sciences, a senior member of Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, Council of Islamic Ideology, Zakat Council of the Government of Sindh and All Pakistan Ulema Council. He had also served as an adviser to the Shariat appellate bench of the Supreme Court.