Abdullah Quraishi Al-Azhari

Maulana Alhaj Abdullah Quraishi Al-Azhari
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Born	(1935-09-19) 19 September 1935 Dundigal, Ranga Reddy District, Telangana
Died	8 December 2015
Nationality	Indian
School	Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h
Main interests	Hadith, Tafsir, Adab, Qirath, Khateeb and Islamic Philosophy

Maulana Haafiz Qari Alhaaj Abdullah Quraishi Al-Azhari (Arabic: مولانا عبداللہ قریشی) (born 19 September 1935 expired 8 December 2015, Hyderabad) was the Khateeb and Imam of the grand Mecca Masjid and Vice chancellor of Jamia Nizamia in Hyderabad. He is well known for his Qutbah in Mecca Masjid and unique way of reciting Qir'ath. Maulana has spent 29 years as Khateeb and Imam of Mecca Masjid and his 'Khutbah' (Friday Sermon) is appreciated by many scholars everywhere. Maulana has been teaching Qir'ath since 1974, and has hundreds of students who have mastered the Qir'ath under his teaching and have won several awards all over the globe.

Biography

Maulana is the son of Alhaj Abdur Raheem, who was born in Dundigal, District of Andhra Pradesh and was also the Imaam of the Makkah Masjid. He was a Scholar and teacher of the Qur'an. He had total 6 Sons...Abdullah Quraishi Al-Azhari died here on 8 December 2015

• Late Hafiz wa Qari Abdul Wahab
• Hafiz wa Qari Maulana Abdullah Quraishi
• Late Hafiz wa Qari Ali
• Late Hafiz wa Qari Abdul Hai
• Late Hafiz wa Qari Abdul Qayoom
• Hafiz wa Qari Abdul Aleem

Maulana presently stays in Panch Mohalla, which is near to the Mecca Masjid and adjacent to the Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad,

Education

Maulana Abdullah Quraishi Al-Azhari came to Hyderabad from Dundigal and started his studies as a student in Hifz and Qirath of the Quran in Mecca Masjid. Then he studied Metric from Aligarh Muslim University and Graduated from Osmania University. Then he completed Fazil in Jamia Nizamia and Academics from Nagpur University. Maulana then completed his M.Phil by research on "Dawatul Islamia Al Ma'aasirah Fil Hind". The Government of India then decided to send him to Al-Azhar University in Egypt in 1964 where he completed 'Shahadatul Aliya' and 'Shahadatut Taqassus'. He stayed in Egypt for 8 years and also learnt Qir'ath from Sheikh Ibrahim Awad in Egypt and recited the Qur'an at many places on several occasions there.

Return from Egypt

Maulana came back from Egypt in 1973 after completing his studies. After coming back to Hyderabad, the 8th Nizam, Nawab Mir Barkath Ali Khan was inspired with Maulana's Qir'ath and opened a school for teaching Qur'an with Tajweed. It was called Idaarah Mukarram Jah Dar-ut-Tajweed Wal Qir'ath, which was located in Purani Haweli. He is an Arabic Scholar and has also taught Adab since 1978 and was Sheikh-Ul-Adab in Jamia Nizamia. Presently, he is the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Nizamia.

Qur'an Recitation

Maulana has mastered Qir'ath from Qari Abdur Raheem, Qari Abdul Bari and Qari Kaleemullah Hussaini. He also learnt Qir'ath from Sheikh Ibrahim Awad in Egypt. Maulana has a unique way of reciting Qir'ath in which all the Tunes which are called 'Lehja' in Arabic, can be completed in 5–7 minutes. He has won several awards all over the world for his Recitation. There are many Competitions that are being held globally, and his deciples also go to these competitions to represent him and also to win them. His sessions on Qir'ath are conducted everyday after Fajr and has been continuing since more than 30 years. The name of the Qirath school is Idaarah Mukarram Jah Dar-ut-Tajweed Wal Qir'ath,, which was opened by the 8th Nizam of Hyderabad, after he was inspired by Maulana's Qirath. Below are the places where he has taught the Qir'ath.

• 1974-1977 - Purani Haveli
• 1977-2007 - Chowmahalla Palace, Khiwath
• 2007-2009 - Mecca Masjid
• 2009 – present - Khaja Ka Chillah, Moghulpura, Hyderabad

In 1974, Minister of Petroleum of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Zaki Yamani came to Purani Haweli and was very inspired by his Qir'ath. Since then, Maulana has judged many Qir'ath competitions all over India, including Malaysia in 1974 and the Middle East.

Tasawwuf (Sufism)

Maulana was a Sufi and became a Disciple of Hazrath Shah Ismail Hussaini Qadri Multani and obtained Baiyyath and Khilafath from Hazrath Syed Moizuddin Qadri Multani in 1950. He obtained 'Silsilah Chishtiya' from Hazrath Syed Shah Noorullah Hussaini Ifteqari. Presently, Maulana has around 70-80 disciples who have been blessed with the Multani Silsilah and frequently attend the sessions on Tasawwuf conducted at his residence.

Islamic career

• 1974 – present - Teaching Qir'aath for 37 years
• 1978 – present - Vice Chancellor of Jamia Nizamia and Teaching Adab
• 1979-1981 - Recited Taraweeh in Chicago, USA continuously for two years
• 1982-1993 - Principal of Lateefia College for 11 years
• 1987–present - Khateeb and Imam of Mecca Masjid since 24 years

50 Years of Service to Islam

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Makkah Masjid decorated on the ceremony of Maulana's 50 Years of Service to Islam

On the occasion of 50 years of Islamic service, there was a huge ceremony conducted in Mecca Masjid on 15 May 2012, in honour of Maulana Abdullah Quraishi Sahab. His service includes teaching of Islamic Adab, Literature, Hadees, Qirath, Tasawwuf and he was also Imam and Khateeb of Mecca Masjid where thousands of Muslims have prayed behind him. He has also been reciting Taraweeh in the Month of Ramadan and has always been reciting the Qutbah on the occasion of Eid in the ‘EidGah’ and Milad-Un-Nabi in the Mecca Masjid for 4 Decades.

For these services, he was awarded for 50 Years of Service which was attended by thousands of people in Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad. There were many dignitaries along with the President and all lecturers of Jamia Nizamia. Many dignitiaries from AIMIM including Asaduddin Owaisi were also present at this ceremony.

Death, Funeral and Burial

Funeral prayers in Makkah Masjid

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Procession going from Charminar

File:Maulana's Janazah.jpg

Maulana's Janaazah (Body) being taken by the Funeral Procession.

Maulana had a mild cardiac attack in 2008, when he was delivering Taraweeh prayers in Masjid Mir Wazeer Ali in Hyderabad. After that, he was taken to Care hospital and since then, he had trouble in walking due to weakness. He also had a hernia surgery in April 2014 and since then he was having more trouble in walking. Even then he used to deliver all his lectures in Jamia Nizamia Islamic University and also used to teach Qirath in the morning. He never ignored his duties no matter how much ill he was. Maulana was also suffering from Respiratory problems since 2013 and had trouble breathing in his last days. He was taken to hospital multiple times and breathed his last on 8 December 2015.

Maulana's Funeral (Namaz-E-Janazah) was conducted on 9 December 2015, the very next day after his demise. It was delayed, as number of people including his Son-In-Law came from different parts of the world to attend it. Funeral prayer was conducted after 'Dhuhr' prayers in Makkah Masjid at around 1:30 PM. An estimated number of 2 Lakh people attended his Prayer and this was the highest turnout of people in Hyderabad for a funeral. The Funeral procession started from Makkah Masjid through Charminar, Laad Bazar, Masjid Chowk, Hussaini Alam, Shibli Gunj and was rested for a few minutes in Jamia Nizamia in front of the shrine of Maulana Anwarullah Farooqi (AR). After that, it was taken through Fateh Darwaza and finally to the Shrine of Muhaddis Deccan Maulana Abdullah Shah, where he was buried by his Son-In-Law and close family members, including his Nephew.

There was a systematic arrangement of Police personnel for controlling the crowd that turned out for the Burial, but due to the huge number of people coming to pay their respects, it was on the verge of getting out of control. In the end, the burial took place amidst the chaos in the vicinity of the Shrine of Muhaddis Deccan.

Family

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Maulana with his Son-In-Law, Abdur Razzaq Mohiuddin at his residence.

Maulana is survived by his Wife, Daughter, Son-In-Law, one Nephew and a Niece. His Son-In-Law works in Dammam as a Linux Engineer since August 2015 and was present at his death.

• • This article is written by Abdur Razzaq Mohiuddin, son-in-law of Maulana.

See also

• Jamia Nizamia
• Mecca Masjid
• Imam