KARACHI: Thousands of people, including politicians and government functionaries, on Sunday attended the funeral of Pakistan’s grand mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani who passed away on Friday after prolonged illness at the age of 86.
His younger brother Mufti Taqi Usmani led the funeral prayers.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, President of Pakistan Democratic Movement Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other high-profile politicians were also present to perform his last rites.
Born in 1936 in the famous Indian town of Deoband to a leading Islamic scholar of British India, Usmani memorized the Quran in Karachi and recited the last lesson with Palestine’s grand mufti Amin Al-Husseini.
An undated file photo of Muhammad Rafi Usmani. (Photo courtesy: IQRA TV/YouTube)
Usmani got his Maulvi Fazil degree from the University of Punjab before specializing in Islamic Jurisprudence at Darul Uloom Karachi, where he later served as president until his death.
In a statement issued by his office, President Arif Alvi prayed for the deceased and expressed condolences to his heirs.
“Mufti Rafi Usmani has rendered valuable services in the field of Fiqh, Hadith and Tafsir,” he added. “His academic services for the promotion of religious knowledge will always be remembered.”
Usmani was appointed the grand mufti after the demise of Maulana Wali Hasan Tonki in 1995.
He remained member of the country’s moonsighting committee and Council of Islamic Ideology while serving as an adviser to the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
“Mufti Rafi Usmani was one of the prominent scholars and researchers of the Muslim world,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “He enlightened the world with the light of knowledge.”
Sharif also described his demise as a huge loss for Pakistan and the Muslim world.
Former prime minister Imran Khan expressed grief over Usmani’s death, saying he was saddened to learn about the passing of the prominent religious scholar.
He said Usmani “will be remembered for his invaluable scholarship.”
