IOS on-line condolence meet over the death of Maulana Wali Rahmani

New Delhi: An on-line condolence meeting was organised by the Institute of Objective Studies on April 8, 2021 to mourn the death of the general secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Sajjadah Nasheen of the Khan-i-qah Rahmani, Munger, Bihar, Ameer-i-Shariah, Maulana Wali Rahmani. Presided over by the president of the All India Milli Council, Maulana Hakim Abdullah Mughesi, the condolence meet began with the recitation of a Quranic verse by Hafiz Syed Athar Husain Nadwi.

Paying his tribute to the maulana, the chairman, on-line fatwa, Mufti Arshad Farooqi said that the death of an alim was like the end of an age. Death was destined and could strike anyone any time, but the passing away of an alim was somewhat different because he was assigned a duty to spread the message of Allah and His Prophet (PBUH). His name was Wali and the life he lived had much to do with the word. Besides being head of Jamia Rahmani, Munger, he was the general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board. As general-secretary of AIMPLB, he strengthened its women’s wing in order to effectively put forward the Islamic point of view on the sensitive issue like divorce. He also effectively and proactively helped the Board to pursue the Babri masjid case in the apex court. He would always be remembered for his perseverance and patience, the mufti said. Bihar legislature Council member (MLC), Dr. Khalid Anwar, prayed for the maulana’s maghfirat and urged ummah to emulate him by taking forward his mission Former union minister for minority affairs, K. Rahman Khan, expressed his deep sorrow over the death of Maulana Wali Rahmani and described it as a great loss to the community. His deep understanding of the problems faced by the community helped him sensitise it about them. He observed that one month before his death, he called him up to inform that a meeting of the ulema was proposed to be held in Bengaluru to discuss the issues related to the ummah. He led the community in almost every field. He created Rahmani Foundation as his dream project to educate Muslim boys and girls. He said that the late maulana wanted to establish a university to facilitate Muslim youth with higher education.

AIMPLB member and senior advocate, Zafaryab Jilani, recalled his long association with Maulana Rahmani and said that he always made a point to meet him whenever the latter happened to be in Lucknow. He said that as a member of Bihar legislative council for 18-long years, he felt the pulse of politics. Member of AIMPLB and chairman, Islamic Centre of India, Lucknow, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahli, observed that Maulana Rahmani’s death came as shock not for the Indian Muslims, but also to the entire Muslim world. Describing him as a towering personality, he said that the maulana devoted his whole life to the cause ummah. His contribution as Ameer-i-Shariah and the general-secretary of the AIMPLB had been remarkable. He was actively involved in the drafting of the proposed Waqf Act and it was due to his unceasing efforts that the madarsas were exempted from the Right to Education Act. His Rahmani-30 vision was a milestone in the field of education as many students belonging to the minority Muslim community took competitive examinations through this initiative, Maulana Firangimahli added. Amir, Jamat-i-Islami Hind, Syed Sa’adatullah Husaini, described Maulana Rahmani’s death as a big loss to the community. It was tragic that the deaths due to Corona-19 had become routine. His death had created a void that was difficult to fill. He commented that the maulana was known for his candour and fortitude. Initiated by the Rahmani Foundation his vision Rahmani-30 was his brain-child that encouraged Muslim youth to take up competitive examinations for a better career, he noted.

Senior advocate of Mumbai high court and a member of the AIMPLB, Yusuf Hatim Muchhala, remarked that his death was a personal loss to him as his association with the maulana was about 30 years old. He was competent to understand the fundamentals of Islam and that was the reason why he never had a dogmatic view of it. He had a practical wisdom of the issues facing the community. While praying for him an elevated position in Jannah, he pledged full cooperation to his successor as the general-secretary of the Muslim personal law board, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani. President of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Navaid Hamid, praised him for possessing a number of good qualities that could have made a complete volume. He had a farsighted political vision that made him fully aware of the prevailing scenario. Ever since he took up as the general-secretary of the AIMPLB in 2016, he strove to make it more functional.

Vice-president of the All India Milli Council and member of AIMPLB, Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi said that he knew Maulana Rahmani since 1980 when he was studying in Darul Uloom, Deoband. It was due to the maulana that he was associated with Imarat-e-Shariah, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand. He observed that the maulana worked at the Imarat-e-Shariah for 30-long years where he was its Sajjadah Nasheen (in-charge). He used to regularly give lectures on Hadith. His writings were unbiased and logical. He was a regular participant in the meetings of the personal law board and was always willing to shoulder every responsibility bequeathed to him. The maulana served as an MLC uninterruptedly for 20 years and became the deputy chairman of the House. This helped him understand the niceties of politics, he concluded. Assistant general secretary of the AIMC, Syed Shah Mustafa Rifai Jilani Nadwi, pointed out that Maulana Wali Rahmani combined vision-2050 of the AIMC and Rahmani-30 together for promoting education among Muslim children. As amir of Imarat-e-Shariah, he immensely contributed to the resolution of issues relating to Islam and Muslims. He belonged to the Jilani descent. He described the Maulana as a role-model for the community.

Member of the AIMPLB (a senior functionary of the women’s wing), Dr. Asma Zahra Tayyaba, held that she received training in shariah issues under his guidance. He believed in taking the community along. He was unquestionably a milli guide and philosopher who devoted his entire life for the cause of the community. Amir of Jamiat Ahle-Hadis, Hind, Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salafi Madani, suggested that a seminar on his life and works be organised to remember his services to the Muslim community. His death was an irreparable loss to the cause of ummah, he always championed. He had a long association with the maulana whose multi-dimensional personality endeared him to the community. A chain of institutions he created were a living testimony to his concern for the education of the deprived and means less Muslim boys, Maulana Salafi said. Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from Kishanganj, Akhtar-ul-Imam, expressed grief that a number of ulema had left this mundane world during the current pandemic. Maulana Rahmani was a great visionary and had guts to call a spade a spade. Khankah-i-Rahmania under his stewardship played an import role in preventing Qadiyanisim from spreading misinformation about Islam. He held that the maulana was politically well informed.

President of the AIMPLB, Maulana Syed Rabey Hasani Nadwi, observed that the Muslim community benefited from Maulana Rahmani a lot and prayed to Allah to bless it with a suitable replacement to fill the vacuum created by his death. He was an alim with several capabilities which stood him in good stead. He hoped that the new generation would benefit from his experiences. Maulana’s grandfather played a crucial role in the establishment of Nadwatul Ulema. He called for taking a path that could be beneficial for both the Muslim community and Islam. Maulana Shamshad Rahmani, Naib Amir, Imarat-i-Shariah, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand, held that the maulana spent his entire life for the well-being of the community. He used his money and the resources for the sake of economically weak Muslims who lagged behind in education. He served as MLC since 1974 and made it a mission to help everyone in need. He had a number of disciples who treated him as their patron. Under the new education policy, he raised the issue of education of Muslims. The maulana wanted a uniform school system based on Islamic education for all the three states under the Imarat-i-Shariah, he added. Member of AIMPLB and assistant secretary general of the IOS, Prof. Haseena Hashia likened him to a voice that became silent forever. He succeeded Maulana Nizamuddin as the general secretary AIMPLB and very ably discharged his responsibilities. Every moment of his life was devoted to the cause of the community. She said that Rahmani Super-30 was his dream project that helped the youth fulfill their urge for educational development.

Vice-chancellor of Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur and Professor emeritus, Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey pointed out that Maulana Rahmani was an epitome of truth and was never found wanting on this score. By creating Rahman-30, he sought to arm new generation with modern education. Recalling his sixty year-long association with the maulana, he said that as a member of the Upper House, he always raised minority issues with fortitude. He lent a helping hand to the Aligarh Tahreek in Bihar. He was always ahead of others in matters relating to the community, Prof. Wasey concluded. Secretary-general of the Islamic Fiqh Academy and officiating general-secretary of the AIMPLB, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani described Maulana Rahmani’s death as a big loss to Muslim ummah. He said that he (Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani), learnt the translation of the Qur’an from him. He treated the maulana as his teacher as his personality was discernible. He had thorough knowledge of Islamic Fiqh as well as deep understanding of current politics. He was influenced from the maulana while studying at Jamia Rahmani due to his courage. He used to speak on sensitive issues fearlessly and judiciously. He never shied away from speaking the truth. The system of Darul Qaza came into existence due to his efforts. By introducing Rahmani-30 and setting up Rahmani Foundation, he created a revolution in the field of education. His tenure as general-secretary of AIMPLB was cut short by his untimely death, Maulana Saifullah said.

Speaking as patron of the condolence meet, the chairman of the IOS, Dr. M. Manzoor Alam insisted that he learnt a lot from the maulana when he was an MLC. They often met and exchanged views on a variety of subjects. He had a strong grip over the prevailing situation in the country. He always laid stress on education because, according to him, only knowledge could strengthen the understanding and practice of Islam. He was a well-informed alim who kept himself posted of latest political developments. He said that besides working for the uplift of the Muslim community, efforts should be made to restore the lost human glory. Plans should be so formulated that even the minutest details were not left untouched. He asked the Imarat-i-Shariah to compile his writings and prepare a book on him that should contain account of his works. He said that instead of confining within the four walls of a house, Muslim intellectuals must seriously think over finding ways for preserving the rich Islamic legacy. He concluded by stating that this was necessary because the legacy would serve as torch-bearer of the community. Presiding over the condolence meet, the president of the AIMC, Maulana Abdullah Mughesi said that he knew the maulana for the last 40 years. He led the community with a pragmatic approach and farsightedness. He possessed a magnetic personality that saw him succeed in every field he entered. He said that the maulana left the world without finishing the task he took upon himself to complete.

The condolence meet ended with dua for the maghfirat of the maulana.

In-charge of Urdu section, IOS, Maulana Shah Ajmal Farooque Nadwi conducted the proceedings. He also extended a vote of thanks to the participants.