Mumbai
The passing of Hafiz Manzoor, the Maharashtra Amir (head) of the global Islamic reformist movement Tablighi Jamaat, is being mourned as a profound loss for the entire Muslim community. He had dedicated his life to the service of the faith, for the betterment of society, and the service of humanity.
Hafiz Manzoor, who was in his nineties. was laid to rest at the Nigdi cemetery in Pimpri-Chinchwad with thousands of his followers attending the burial on Monday night.
Hafiz Manzoor was active till the very last. He had arrived in Pune on Sunday night and offered his pre-dawn Tahajjud and Fajr prayers.
Following the Fajr prayers, he suddenly felt dizzy inside the mosque where he lived.
He was rushed to the hospital for treatment, where the doctors declared him dead. but was declared dead upon arrival. According to his close associates, he fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, and he was fasting on the day of his death.
Hafiz Manzoor always inspired the youth to acquire a good education, cultivate excellent morals, and walk on the righteous path. His hard work, simplicity, concern for the Ummah, and his unique ability to connect people will always be remembered.
Maulana Saad, the Indian head of the Tablighi Jamaat, and his son specially attended the funeral to pay their last respects. Hafiz Manzoor, who was in his 90s, passed away yesterday (May 18) in Pune. His passing has sent a wave of mourning across the Muslim community in Maharashtra.
Staying away from fame and any kind of ostentation, he dedicated his entire life to social reform and religious service.
Thousands of his followers from all over the country arrived in Pune on Monday night. His mortal remains were kept at the Fatima Masjid for people to pay their final respects.
The mourners moved in complete discipline and peace from the mosque to the cemetery, a true way to pay tribute to a man of religion whose life was an epitome of simplicity.
Residing at the Fatima Masjid in Pune, he served the religion and society for several decades. He worked tirelessly throughout his life to keep the youth away from addiction and to raise awareness against the dowry system in society.
He always strongly advocated for marriages and other ceremonies to be conducted with utmost simplicity. His passing is seen as a massive loss to the community, with many expressing the sentiment of losing a true guiding light.
For the uninitiated, Tablighi Jamaat is a global Sunni Islamic reformist and spiritual movement. The movement was started in 1926 by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi in the Mewat region of India.
The primary objective of this movement is to bring Muslims back to their fundamental religious values and teachings. They place heavy emphasis on offering regular prayers and living a simple life.
The group stays away from politics, social controversies, and publicity. Its members dedicate a specific number of days to travel from village to village and mosque to mosque, reminding their fellow Muslims to walk on the path of faith.
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Within this movement, there is a head designated to guide a state or a country, who is referred to as the 'Amir'. Hafiz Manzoor was the Amir of the Tablighi Jamaat for the state of Maharashtra.
