New Delhi, 28 Aug. 2022: Renowned Islamic scholar and former President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari passed away here on Friday evening. He was 88.

Religious leaders from across the communities all over the world and from various organizations have expressed condolences over the death of Maulana Umari.

In a condolence message, JIH President Syed Sadatullah Husaini expressed grief at the demise of Maulana Umari and paid his respects to the departed leader. He said that Maulana Umari’s great scholarly works and his balanced, rational and bold interpretation of contemporary Islamic topics was a valuable contribution to the present era. Mr. Husaini called his death the end of an era and the end of a chapter of Islamic movement and religious knowledge. Mr. Husaini said, “Maulana’s entire life with constant struggle is a great example of sacrifices for the cause of Islam.  He was not only an eyewitness to the entire history of the Indian Islamic movement, but he has been an important character of it. From the 1950s to the 2020s, he has been continuously part of the leadership and actively guided the Islamic movement on both academic and practical fronts. In every phase of long history of ups and downs, through his Islamic knowledge, religious insight, deep understanding of the situation and courage, he not only showed the ways to the movement but also encouraged the people to follow on those paths. Maulana’s deep knowledge and experiences have trained at least three generations of the Islamic movement.”

Expressing grief over the death of Maulana Umari, Christian leader Fr. (Dr) M D Thomas said, “Hearty condolence. I knew him well. We had very cordial meetings. May Allah reward him a hundred fold.”

Sant Veer Singh Hatkari, in his condolence message, prayed Almighty Allah to give strength to the Maulana’s family and his relatives to bear the loss.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), in a tweet, also expressed its condolences over the demise of Maulana Umri. The board said that the Maulana, who was board’s vice president, gave his invaluable services to the board as well as the Muslim community in India. It described Maulana Umari as a well-known writer, an outstanding thinker and a prudent Islamic scholar.

Palestine Scholars Association has also condoled the death of Maulana Umari. Expressing sorrow over the demise of the former JIH leader, a statement signed by the association said, “We offer our condolences to the Muslim brothers in India in general and the brothers in the Islamic community in India in particular, as we offer our condolences to the Sheikh’s (Maulana Umari) family, loved ones, students and brothers for this great loss.”

Acknowledging the services of Maulana Umari, the association said that the former JIH president passed away “after a life full of calling people to Almighty God and advocating issues of the oppressed, foremost of which was the issue of Palestine.”

“We, in the Council of Palestinian Scholars, received with great sadness, patience, and anticipation the news of his death of His Eminence Sheikh Jalal Al-Din Al-Omari,” the statement said.

Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India Ali Chegeni, in a condolence letter to JIH president Syed Sadatullah Husaini, said he was “deeply grieved to hear about the passing away” of former JIH president Maulana Jalaluddin Umari.

“I express my deepest condolences on the passing away of this wise and learned personality to his respected family, you, and all the members of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,” said the letter from the ambassador of Iran.

High Commissioner of Malaysia to India Hidayat Abdul Hamid telephonically registered his condolences with the JIH officials.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani expressed his deep grief and srrow over the demise of the former JIH president. “Maulana Umari always welcomed the ‘ijtimaiyat’ (collective effort) in the cause of the Muslim community during his 10 years as the JIH president,” Maulana Madani said.

The JUH president described Maualna Umari as “a storehouse of knowledge, enodwed with intuition, a great thinker and a man of high moral precepts.”

JIH secretary general T. Arifali, condoling the death of Maulana Umari, said, “The Indian Muslim community has lost one of its prominent and outstanding leaders with the demise of Maulana Umari, a renowned Islamic scholar and former Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon (We belong to Allah, to Him we return).”

“May Allah help us fill the void left by the departure of such a personality! May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and bestow His blessings, and provide him the highest pedestal in Jannatul Firdous. Aameen”, JIH secretary general added.

Former chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan prayed for the “magfirah”of the Maulana and a high place in Paradise. “Another pillar of the community falls: Maulana Jalaluddin Umari, ex-Amir, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, celebrated author & orator, breathed his last today,” Dr. Khan said in a tweet.

All India Muslim Majlis Mushawarat (AIMMM) president Navaid Hamid, in a tweet, described Maulana Umari as a “celebrated Islamic scholar.”

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimin (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi said that the demise of Maulana Umar, a great islamic scholar and a former president of the JIH, was a great loss to the Muslim community in India.

Extending its deep condolences with the sad demise of the Maulana, Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) said, “Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari was one of the most erudite scholars of this century. His vision of Islam in a plural society laid down an incredible mark in the trajectory of Muslim Ummah across the globe and charted a way forward for an egalitarian society. He was also a great leader of Indian Muslims. His exemplary contributions, sacrifices and dedication towards Islamic movement till his last breath will inspire generations to carry the baton forward. We pray that Almighty Allah grant him the highest station in Jannatul Firdous and grant peace and tranquility to his near and dear ones.”