Is Ja’far the One Who has Departed?
I shall never forget the man who walked upon this earth, whose loss I mourn today (Wednesday, 15th Rajab, 1446 AH, corresponding to 15th January 2025 CE). The announcers of death have conveyed the news of Ja’far’s passing, leaving ears stunned and hearts shattered. They have mourned our noble colleague and friend, a man of deep integrity. He departed this world as an exile, leaving his companions and loved ones grief-stricken, and plunging the Nadwatul Ulama and its academic house into sorrow. The towns of Rae Bareli and Lucknow are steeped in melancholy. Alas! How great is the sadness that fills my heart; my eyes overflow with tears.
Returning from the Asr prayer, I found my phone flooded with messages and calls informing me that Ja’far had been struck by a vehicle while walking across a pedestrian path in Rae Bareli. The impact took his life instantly. Death chooses the noble and takes the esteemed. Our hearts are pained, our breaths labored, and our tears flow in unrelenting streams. People claim that wounds heal with time, but can this monumental loss truly fade?
I hastened to call his beloved sons, Khalil and Ameen, but their grief rendered them unable to respond. I then contacted my friend, Shaykh Muhammad Abdul Hayy Nadwi in Qatar, only to find him overwhelmed with sorrow. Our loyal friend, Muhammad Yusuf Baufali, also reached out, sharing grief that defies expression.
O son of the noblest lineage! O one who resides forever in my heart and being! If only you had not left us, if only you had not filled our hearts with anguish and despair, if only you had not ignited the flames of longing within us! How will we now visit Lucknow and be greeted by darkness instead of your radiant presence? Will the winds of Rae Bareli no longer carry the sweet fragrance that we cherished? Will I pass by your home, greet you, and receive no response? I beg you, let your silence echo as a reply, a message more profound than words.
O noble, esteemed scholar and brilliant writer! You were a pillar of support to Shaykh Bilal in leading the Nadwatul Ulama and its blessed institution. Together, you breathed life into this academy, nurtured by the likes of Maulana Mongeri, Shibli Nomani, and the author of Nuzhatul Khawatir. It flourished under Suleiman, Masood Ali, Abdul Salam, and was elevated further by Abul Hasan, Muhammad Nazim, and Masood Alam. Your actions stood tall among those giants, and now I see no one around who can truly replace you.
To Khalil, Ameen, and their family: You now find yourselves fatherless, just as years ago you lost your grandfathers, our revered Shaykh Muhammad Wazih Rashid al-Hasani and Muhammad al-Rabi’ al-Hasani. That blessed land, where your noble ancestors established an enduring legacy of education and guidance, is now bereft. Bear this loss with patience, carrying forward the banner they entrusted to you.
O Ja’far! O most beloved of the Nadwis! You were my companion at Nadwatul Ulama for six years and a cherished friend for forty-five years. You were a loyal confidant, sharing secrets and joy alike. You welcomed me with open arms, as if bound by kinship. Your love for me was as deep as my love for you. Never once did I say to you, “You are mistaken.” Truly, losing such a dear friend, one who held a rightful claim to my heart, is devastating.
O shining star! O noble brother! You were sincere in your endeavors, the adornment of our gatherings. Your silence spoke volumes, your smile brought peace, and your heart was pure. You were a fountain from which we drew refreshment. Today, lamentation has arrived uninvited to console us. Ja’far, is it true that life will continue for your companions while you are no longer among us? Yesterday, you were worthy of praise and admiration; today, tears are the only offering we can present to you.
May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you, Ja’far ibn Wazih, as you abide in the eternal gardens of bliss.
Original Article: https://t.me/DrAkramNadwi/5808
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