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| Moulana Shafi Moonis |
Ameer-e-Jamaat expresses his grief
Life and times of Moulana Shafi Moonis He was from Muzaffar Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh and born and brought up in a village. He was attached with the socialist group of Congress party. A Salfi Aalim tried to win him over but was originally not successful. As a strategy that Salfi Aalim provided him books written by Maulana Abul Aala Maudoodi. After reading volume three of the book Islam aur Siyasi Kashmakash he was convinced and started participating in the activities of the Jamaat. Thus instead of joining the Salfi movement, which the Salfi Aalim had intended, he was won over by the Jamaat.
He has served the Islamic Movement in various capacities. He was Ameer-e-Muqami of Ghaziabad and when he shifted to Delhi he became Ameer-e-Muqami of the Delhi Jamaat. He has also served as Ameer-e-Halqa of Delhi, Western UP and erstwhile Hyderabad Halqa and Andhra Pradesh zone at various occasions. He had served as Secretary General of the Jamaat for some time. He has been member of the Markazi Majlis-e-Numaindgan and Markazi Majlis-e-Shura for many many decades. Even for this term too he had been elected as a member of Markazi Majlis-e-Numaindgan. Read More
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| Jamaat's Iron Man sleeps forever |
A memorable incident involving Moulana Shafi Moonis
One memorable incident happened at that Ijtima. The conference concluded at the third day itself. The next day a grand public meeting was arranged. It was announced that the meeting would start at 9.00 AM next day. As I was anxious to occupy a seat in the front row I rushed to the auditorium at 8.30AM itself. The auditorium was near empty. Only Dr S. Q. R. Ilyas and some others were there.
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| Moulana gets down from the dias with the help of volunteers |
He was there in the dias throughout the programme. It took more than five and half hours. But Moulana Shafi Moonis didn't move from his seat. From where on earth we would bring such dedicated, disciplined workers of the movement. It aches.
நினைவில் நின்ற காட்சி!
மாநாடு முடிந்த பிறகு நான்காம் நாள் பொது நிகழ்ச்சி ஒன்றுக்கு ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்தார்கள். காலை ஒன்பது மணிக்கு நிகழ்ச்சி தொடங்கும் என அறிவித்திருந்தார்கள். முதல் வரிசையில் இடம் பிடித்து அமர வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக எட்டரை மணிக்கே மாநாட்டுத் திடலில் ஆஜராகிவிட்டோம். நிகழ்ச்சி தொடங்குவதற்கு ஐந்து நிமிடங்களுக்கு முன்பு சரியாக எட்டு ஐம்பத்தைந்துக்கு இரண்டு பேரின் தோள்களில் கைகளை ஊன்றிக் கொண்டு மேடையில் வந்து அமர்ந்துவிட்டார் மௌலானா முஹம்மத் ஷஃபி மூனிஸ். 94 வயது முதியவர் அவர். அறுபதாண்டுகளுக்கும் மேலாக இயக்கப் பணிகளில் ஊறித் திளைத்தவர். அவருடைய ஆர்வத்தைக் கண்டு கண்கள் பனிக்க திரும்பிப் பார்க்கின்றேன். பாதி அரங்கம் காலியாக இருந்தது.
நிகழ்ச்சி ஐந்து மணிநேரத்துக்கும் அதிகமாக நீடிக்க தம்முடைய இருக்கையிலிருந்து எழாமல் கடைசி வரை பங்கேற்ற அவர் எங்கே? நாம் எங்கே? நேரந்தவறாமையும் ஒழுங்கும் கட்டுப்பாடும் மிக்க அத்தகைய ஊழியர்களை எங்கிருந்து கொண்டு வரப் போகின்றோம்?
And one has to read his last interview. Dr Waquar Anwar interviewed him for Radiance Views weekly. It is pleasing, inspiring to read. The answers are to the point, blunt and very guarded. You can see the typical Shafee Moonis stamp on them. Dr Waquar Anwar has tried very hard to get stuff from the Moulana. But, it might have been a very adventorous experience of him. The Jijhak, dar with which he placed and phrased his questions is very palpable.
The issues raised are varied. You can see the thoughts and personality of the Moulana in it. Read the full interview Here and Here and Here
Pillar of the community
He played an active role in the Muslim community’s affairs during the last five decades and was considered as one of the important pillars of the community in recent decades.
-From Milli Gazette. More Here
Intellectual, visionary, guide and mentor amongst the pioneers of Islamic movement in India, Mr. Shafi Moonis has authored books on personal laws, history of Jamaat and the poems in Urdu.
-From Newzfirst. More Here
And a report in Karavali Times Here
Maulana Moonis was a great pillar of the the Indian Muslim community for the last six decades and played an active and leading role in all the affairs of the community these past decades. A certain void has been created by the death of such a senior leader of the community who was involved with its affairs till his last days. While we deeply condole his sad demise, we pray to Allah ta’ala for his maghfirat and high station in Paradise.
- Syed Shahabuddin, President All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat
Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, working president of the Mushawarat. Here
Br Sadat Husseini has described the last days of Moulana Shafi Moonis Sahib in his own way. It is very moving, mellowing and heartening. You could feel the dynamic personality and charm of the departed leader in this brief mail. More Here
12 comments:
Inna lillahi wainna ilaihi rajivoon. It is a great loss to the Islamic Movement as well as the Muslim community in the Indian subcontinent. He lived like a warrior and was always in the field.
What a punctuality! What a dedication! What a man! May Allah reward him abundantly. Ameen.
Inna lillahi...! May Allah bless him with Jannatul firdaus. Ameen
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiyoon. Moulana dedicated his entire life for the mission of establishing Deen in its totality. He was a sincere dayee and untiring mujahid.
He was the moving spirit behind the tahreek. He built the Markaz Headquarters brick by brick.
Seldom we see his photo in the magazines. Very rarely do we read about report of his endeavours. He was a typical silent worker.
May his tribe increase. We need more and more workers like him at present.
Moulana was known for his punctuality. It is heartening to know that inspite of his fragile health he managed to be at time. He was also known for his simplicity and down to earth attitude
Moulana Shafi Moonis Sahib had shown keen interest in the affairs of the nation as well as the Muslim Ummah.
He was dead against the formation of Forum for Democracy and communal amity (FDCA). He argued vociferously against such move. But, ultimately when the Jamaat decided to form it, he was the one who was assigned with the responsiblity of forming it!
As a true Qadim of the Huq, Moulana took the job wholeheartedly and made a whirlwind tour throughout the country and made it a success.
It was a classic example for Ita'at-e-Amr and Ijtimayiyat.
Moulana Shafee Moonis has been laid to rest in Batla House Burial ground. Janaza prayer was held last night after Isha.
As the All India Representatives Council was in session the top cream of the movement was there in Markaz. All the zonal presidents, Central leaders, Secretaries, members of central Advisory Council, thinkers, orators, writers, and karkunan were there. Everybody who is somebody in the Islamic movement were there. Everybody who were more dearer, nearer and important in the life of Moulana Muhammad Shafee Moonis were there.
It would have been the most moving scene.
Moulana Shafee Moonis dedicated his entire life for the mission and he became synanimous with the movement. And when the end came the movement in entirety was there to bid him farewell.
What a way to depart! What a way to heed the final call!
May Allah bestow him Jannat. Aameen.
'HAZAAROAN SAAL NAERGIS APNI BAYNOORI PAY ROATHEE HAI
BATHUTH MUSHKIL SAY HOATHA HAI CHAMAN MAY EKH DEEDAWAR PAIDAH'
INNA LILLAHI O INA ELAIHI RAJEEOUN
S.M.PASHA
Let us pray for him.Let us derive inspiration from him
I fully agreee with Br T Azeez Luthfullah. The last journey of Moulana Muhammad Shafi Moonis is incredible Indeed!
I envy him for the way he lived. I envy him for the way he strived for the cause of Islam. I envy him for the way he conducted himself.
I envy him for the way he departed from this temporary world. Who would get such a gathering in one's janaza prayer? It is Allah's mercy Indeed.
May Allah Shower His utmost blessings upon the departed soul! Ameen
Oh Allah! Forgive those of us that are alive and those of us that are dead; those of us that are present and those of us who are absent; those of us who are young and those of us who are adults; our males and our females. Oh Allah! Whomsoever You keep alive, let him live as a follower of Islam and whomsoever You cause to die, let him die a Believer.
Moulana Muhammad Shafi Moonis Sahib was a phenonmenon. He belonged to that age when the Tahreek was in the formative stage.
He belongs to a generation of karkunan who were obsessed with the vision of Moulana Syed Abul A'la Moududi. They didn't have any readymade organisational infrastructure; they were lacking in worldly amenities; they were far behind material resources; they were few in numbers; yet they were never disheartened or disillusioned. Because they believed in God rather than His tools. Hence they successfully marched forward in the path of establishing Deen in their homeland. They were the ones who started everything from the scratch. They were the pioneers.
Nowadays there is abundance of resources in the tahreek. We have more man power than they had. We have more resources than they had. Yet we do not dare to dream or conquer new peaks. Yet we don't dare to tread in more challenging paths. We want to play it safe. We don't want to take risks. We do not dream. We are content with what we have achieved. We are pleased with our weekly meetings. We are happy with our camps and campaigns.
We need more and more number of Shafi Moonis than he himself needed at his time. We need men like him.
May Allah bless us. May Allah bless the Jamaat.
Thank You for posting this article and as well as the links to the Radiance interview. It answered a lot of questions about my grandfather's past and Abul Fazl Enclave.
Moulana Shafi Moonis sahib is no more.
But his significant and remarkable contribution to muslims, Islam, Islamic Movement and the country will be ever remembered in history inspiring millions of Jamaat workers to render yeomen service to Islamic Movement and the country.
I feel fortunate and previleged to have been under his able guidance and advice during my days as General Secretary of SIO of India, going to him to seek advise and guidance .
On many occasions he represented the then Chief Patron of SIO, the then Ameer Jamaat e Islami Hind Moulana Abul Lais Islahi to hear the major decisions of SIO of India and advise us accordingly.
During my days in SIO and after, I found him to be a brilliant person with extraordinary leadership abilities. He had a sharp presence of mind and addressed the problems with much ease and comfort.
Invariably, whether it is summer or winter, I have seen him to be the first person for morning prayers in the Masjid of Jamaat Headquarters sitting quietly in deep meditation relating himself with God.
In the demise of this senior most Jamaat leader , Islamic Movement of India have lost a great soul and a veteran leader whose space will remain dormant for years to come.
I pray to Allah to shower His blessings upon him, accept his selfless service to Islamic Movement, rest his soul in peace and raise his status on the day of judgement.
At this time of loss and grief, May Allah shower patience on his family members and the members of the Islamic Movement to bear this great loss and bless the Islamic Movement with persons like him to steer through the Islamic Movement towards the desired goals and objectives.
I. Karimullah
Chennai
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