In mourning: Khateeb of Mahabat Khan Mosque dead

The staunch believer of blasphemy laws ceases to exist.

PESHAWAR: The khateeb of the historical Mahabat Khan Mosque, Maulana Muhammad Yousaf Qureshi, a renowned religious figure, passed away after a prolonged illness on Tuesday. He was around 70 years old.

He was laid to rest on Tuesday evening at his ancestral graveyard in Peshawar. Thousands of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds and professions attended his funeral prayers at the Jamia Ashrafia on Eid Gah Road, Faqirabad in
the city.

National and international influence

Qureshi was among the leading religious figures of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In Ziaul Haq’s regime, he led the Muttahida Sharia Mahaz and backed Maulana Samiul Haq, who had established a parallel JUI after the death of Maulana Mufti Mahmood.

He was among the seven most distinguished religious figures in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Zarqa was among his staunch followers. He was also invited by the United States to help fight the Afghan war against the Soviet Union.

His calling

Born into a respectable and influential family, Maulana Muhammad Yousaf Qureshi believed that serving God was his calling. He not only served as the Khateeb of Mahabat Khan Mosque for five decades, but also administered and headed the Jamia Ashrafia seminary.

He was famous for holding his sword in his hand during religious gatherings, especially at demonstrations and rallies against western countries on issues pertaining to blasphemy laws.

His family, belonging to the Deobandi school of thought, is related to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami chief. Although none of his sons or nephews were actively involved in politics, his entire family remained an avid supporter of religious parties including Jamaat-e-Islami.

His younger brother, Maulana Ashraf Ali Qureshi, was the khateeb of another historical masjid and seminary at Bajoori Gate, Peshawar. He died a few years ago.

The cleric left behind a widow and eight sons.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2015.