The 12th Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Delhi, Maulana Syed Abdullah Bukhari, breathed his last on July 8 at All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) following a prolonged illness. He was 87.
Syed Abdullah Bukhari was appointed Vice Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Delhi in 1946, and Shahi Imam on July 8, 1973.
The various Muslim organisations, including All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM) and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) condoled the demise of Abdullah Bukhari. The AIMMM President Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan offered his sincere condolences to the family of the departed Imam and especially to his elder son and the current Imam Maulana Ahmad Bukhari.
Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan said in a statement that Imam Abdullah Bukhari played a leading role in the life of the Muslims of India during the fourth quarter of the 20th century and “boldly helped mould Muslim policies and air Muslim grievances during that period”.
Imam Abdullah Bukhari, with his brave and candid stands became the spokesman of the Indian Muslim community during a crucial time when the community faced communal onslaught and numerous challenges. He was respected both at home and abroad for his outspoken views.
Dr Khan said the Indian Muslims will always remember Imam Bukhari as a great son of India for his marked services and outspoken views in defence of the community.
Expressing his sense of sadness and grief on the demise of Imam Abdullah Bukhari, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said the Imam will be remembered for ever for his outspokenness, community concern, human brotherhood and welfare of the country.
While the Imam was undergoing treatment at AIIMS, the Jamaat chief went to the hospital to see him. On getting the information of the Imam’s demise, Maulana Umari along with other leaders of the Jamaat rushed to meet the present Shahi Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari and condole the demise of former Imam.
In a statement the Jamaat chief said Abdullah Bukhari kept the tradition of Jama Masjid alive and made it a centre of Dawah. The Imam raised his voice for Muslims’ rights and grievances, and against the atrocities and ill-treatment done to the Muslims. This soft-spoken man had close and good relations with prominent political and religious leaders.
The Jamaat chief prayed to Allah to bless the late Imam with a blissful seat in the Paradise and grant patience to the grieved.
A number of religious and political leaders thronged the Jama Masjid to pay their tributes to the late Imam. The visitors included Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit, MLA from Ballimaran constituency of Delhi Haroon Yusuf, Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad. Dikshit said the late Imam worked for the betterment of the people.
The late Imam Syed Abdullah Bukhari is survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, a number of grandchildren.