Renowned scholar Maulana Iskander passes away

Prominent Islamic scholar Maulana Abdur Razzaq Iskander, president of the Wafaqul Madaris Al-Arabia, passed away on Wednesday in Karachi, Maulana Taha Rahmani, spokesperson of the federation of madrassas said.

Maulana Iskander was 87 and had been under treatment at a local hospital for some time, Rahmani said. His mortal remains were brought to the Binori Town Mosque, where his funeral prayers were offered after Isha prayers.

Maulana Iskander was considered to be one of the most influential scholars of the country. He was author of several books in both Arabic and Urdu. The renowned scholar spent his entire life in teaching and propagation of Islam.

Maulana Iskander took over as Shaikh-ul-Hadis at the Binori Town Madrassa after the martyrdom of late Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai. He was also president of the Iqra Roza-tul-Atfal Trust and Amir of the Aalami Majlis Tahaffuz Khatam-e-Nabuwwat Pakistan.

Maulana Iskander had been serving as the president of Wafaqul Madaris Al-Arabia since 2017, and was also the chairman of its curriculum and examination committee.

Iskander was born in 1935 in a religious family in Kakul. He completed his primary education and matriculation in his native Abbottabad district. He later joined the Darul Uloom Chauhar Sharif Madrasa in Haripur and then went on to study at Ahmad-ul-Madaris in Sikandarpur. He did his PhD from Al-Azhar University in Cairo in 1972.

‘Great loss’

Mufti Nauman Naeem, the Mohtamim of Jamia Binoria Aalamiya and other scholar expressed their condolences over Maulana Iskander’s demise, terming it a great loss. “Today the Muslim Ummah has lost a mentor,” lamented Mufti Naeem.

“He [Maulana Iskander] was a great asset of the country and nation. His valuable services will always be remembered,” he stated.

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa also expressed heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Maulana Iskander. “May Allah bless his soul and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen,” the chief of army staff was quoted by DG ISPR in a tweet.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of Maulana Iskander. The governor prayed to Almighty Allah to place the departed soul in eternal peace and accept all his services for the cause of religion and grant patience to the bereaved family.