Obituary: Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Ludhianwi

Obituary: Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Ludhianwi

His assassination was predicted, but not expected in such dastardly fashion. In a manner reminiscent of the Italian Mafioso, Maulana Yusuf Ludhianwi was gunned down in cold blood on Thursday morning May 18, 2000, on his way to the International Khatm-e-Nubuwwat offices in Safirabad, one of the central districts of Karachi. His driver, a Maulana 'Abdur Rahman was also killed, and both his sons were wounded. The son critically wounded, Maulana Muhammad Yahya, died a day thereafter in the 'Abbasi Shahid hospital. It has come to light that Maulana was followed from his home, and when he stopped to purchase some fruit from a vendor on MA Jinnah road, the terrorists took the opportunity of assassinating him. The fruit vendor, in an attempt at saving Maulana, was also wounded. Maulana Yusuf Ludhianwi was 75 years old at the time. May Allâh illuminate his resting place with celestial light and grant his family fortitude and perseverance in patience -Amîn.

Maulana Yusuf's gruesome martyrdom once again brings the like of Maulana Habibullah Mukhtar, Maulana Ihsan Ilahi Zaheer, Maulana Habibul Haq Jangwi, and those glorious 'Ulama who form the nucleus of the Sunni vanguard in the Muslim world who also met such a fate, to light. When Maulana Habibullah Mukhtar was martyred in a like fashion, a hitlist was later procured from one of the murderers. Maulana Yusuf's name was thereon, so as other prominent 'Ulama like Mufti Jameel, and Mufti Nizamud Din. Maulana Yusuf was certainly no favorite to those against whom he wrote, and his martyrdom pays tribute to the fact that the only way he could have been silenced was by murder. The actions of his opponents typify their cruel mindset, and combined with religious fanaticism and fired by mad zeal, they can only counter attacks by the bullet, and not by counter argument. May Allâh rest Maulana's soul in peace, and grant his family sabr jamil -Amîn.

Life

Maulana Yusuf hailed from the village of Isapur, an island-like town situated at the north-western corner of Ludhianwa district, west Punjab. He arrived in Karachi in 1978 to take up a teaching post at Darul 'Ulum Newtown. His mother died whilst he was in infancy, and his father's name was Al-Haj Chowdri Allâh Baksh. His primary Islamic education was gained from Jamiah Khairul Madaris, Multan, and he started off his teaching career from Jamiah Rashidiyyah, Sahiwal. He was a bosom friend of 'Allamah Yusuf Binnori, and was a khalifah of Maulana Khair Muhammad.

His students and admirers run into the thousands, and they hail from all over the world. None of them will forget his indefatigable efforts of always keeping hoisted the flag of Islam, and his matches piety. Maulana Yusuf is survived by his widow, four sons, and eight daughters.

Academic accomplishments

Maulana Yusuf was a distinguished teacher of Hadith at Darul 'Ulum Newtown, and till his last, he was till involved in teaching. He entered the institute as an assistant editor of the Al-Bayyinat, and he later became full editor. Maulana was also simultaneously given teaching duties in the higher classes. He later became known for his quality teaching, his meticulous research work, and for his balanced approach in polemics.

Maulana was also invited to hold a column advising on various issues of a religious nature in the Jang, a daily of Karachi. All these verdicts have been compiled in about eight volumes called Apke Masa'il aur unke Hall. He was also appointed as Deputy Amir of the International Khatm-e-Nubuwwat Movement, which had moved it's headquarters from Multan to Karachi, and he regularly graced the annual jalsah of the Movement in London. He later also became the editor of the Khatm-e-Nubuwwat magazine which had a worldwide circulation, with the avowed aim of keeping the seal of Prophethood sealed, and to expose the mischief of those who wished to create discord within Islam. In addition, he was the editor of the monthly "Laulak," and a patron of numerous religious institutes all over Pakistan.

Amongst his more famous publications are: Ikhtilaf-e-Ummat aur Sirat-e-Mustaqin, Sunni-Shi'i Ikhtilafat aur Sirat-e-Mustaqin, Sir Zafrullah Khan ko Da'wat-e-Islam, and a plethora of books on Qadianism like Tuhfah Qadiyani, Al-Mahdi al-Masih, Qadiani aur Dousre ghair Muslaman me Farq, Mirza Qadiani apni Thariro ki Nazar me, and many others. His knowledge on Islamic Jurisprudence and of the various deviant sects of Islam won him worldwide acclaim. The Muslim Ummah will sorely miss this great and erudite scholar of Islâm.

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