Mangaluru, Nov 23: Veteran Islamic scholar and former Khateeb of Mangaluru’s Kutchi Memon Masjid, Maulana Syed Yusuf, passed away on Thursday morning. He was 87 and is survived by his wife, four daughters, two sons and a large number of relatives, disciples and fans.
Family sources said that Syed Yusuf breathed his last at around 5 a.m. at his residence, Asiyana, in Bikarnakatte, where the mayyit was kept for public viewing. After evening prayers, the mayyit was taken to his ancestral home in Moodbidri. The burial took place near Assahaba mosque at Kotebagilu in Moodbidri after Isha prayers.
Syed Yusuf was a scholar par excellence who shunned the publicity. Apart from being a scholar in Islamic theology and jurisprudence, he had mastered Arabic, Persian and Urdu languages. He was an orator too.
He served as the Khatheeb of Kutchi Memon Masjid for several decades. Due to the illness, he had stopped delivering Friday sermons in the mosque a few months ago.
He was an advocate of peace and co-existence. Through his Friday sermons, he not only enlightened and educated the Muslims for decades but also encouraged them to be the harbingers of peace and amity.
Maulana was one of the pioneers of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in Mangaluru and had established a harmonious relationship with leaders of different faiths including office bearers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Born in 1930 at Moodbidri as the son of Abdul Wahhab and Khadijahbi couple, Syed Ysufu studied up to Class 4 in Kotebagilu Urdu School and joined Jain High school (now known as Jain College). However, he had to discontinue studies after suffering leg fracture while playing.
Later Syed Ysufu joined a madrasa in Karkala, where he became disciple of senior Islamic scholar Maulana Mohammad Yusuf. When Mohammad Yusuf migrated to Mangaluru and joined Katchi Memon mosque and madrasa, the young Syed Yusuf too followed him and continued his religious education under his guidance. He obtained Maulwi Fazil and Munshi Fazil degrees from the same madrasa.
When he was a madrasa student, Syed Yusuf was briefly deputed as the Imam of Udupi’s Jamiya Masjid located near the house of late philanthropist Haji Abdullah.
Syed Yusuf was given the responsibility of delivering Friday sermons at Katchi mosque when then Khateeb Muhammad Yusuf embarked on Hajj pilgrimage through sea route. After returning from pilgrimage senior Yusuf requested the junior Yusuf to continue to be Khateeb of the Katchi mosque as the former wanted to build a mosque and madrasa in Bikarnakatte.
When the government briefly imposed ban on Jamaat-e-Islami along with other organizations during emergency in 1975, the cops had detained Maulana under Defence of India Act (DIR). He spent three days in jail wherein he met several RSS leaders and continued to be in touch with them even after release.
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Comments
May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdous. He was an ideal for many, Respected by both Muslims and Non-Muslims. Loss for Mangalore community, a peace bearer has passed away. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un.
Great personality. I knew Moulana Syed Yusuf Saheb since my college days in 1969 and I have attended many of his Friday Jumaa sermons (Qutbahs) at Kachi Meman Masjid in Bunder, Mangalore. He used keep a good relationships with youngsters and inspire and encourage them to carry out the noble deeds for the betterment of communities and the society.
May Allah forgive him and accept all his good deeds. May Allah bless him with the bounties of Jannatul Firdous. May Allah give sabr to the grieved family to bear the loss of their dear one.
Innaa Lillahi Wa Innaa Ilaihi Rajivoon. Heartfelt Condolences.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilihi rajiwoon . Alhamdulillah, I am fortunate enough to have met & benefited from both of you. May Almighty bless today's imams/moulana's with wisdom similar to that of Moulana Yusuf saheb.
Allah SWT please accept his service to islam, to mankind, may grant him magfirah and cause him to enter highest level of Jannah. Aameen.
May Allah reward my grandfather with Jannatul Firdaus!!
Alhumdulillah, he has done so much good in his life.
He was one of the most generous and pious people I've ever known.
May Allah give us the guidance like my grand father to follow the righteous path to practice n preach! Indeed he was is n insha Allah vl b a grt personality ! Very soft spoken very humble down to earth personality !! May Allah accept his good deeds his work n forgive his mistakes n save him from fitnah of barzaq n grant him peace in his abode n grant him the glad tidings of jannah !! Ameen !! We will miss our nana dearly
*Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioun*, may almighty allah bless late moulana syed yusuf saheb,
With jannathul firdouse, aameen. He was one of the rare islamic scholars, with rich bundle & store of knoweldge of deen and duniya, keeping a very low profile and non-controversial & a broad minded humanitarian. Indeed, in his death the muslims of mangalore / d.k.dist / udupi dist, in particular and others in general, are deprived of a high thinking and simple living scholar in this modern era. As holy quran says *kullu nafsin zaayikathul mouth*(every living soul has to taste death)., each & every one of us has to face & taste death, when our living term ends in this world. But in this joureny between life and death, we have to live with our noble living and leave this temporary world to the ever lasting eternal world, with the memory to be cherished with, by the living masses. May almighty allah give strength, patience and forebearance to the family members of late moulana syed yusuf saheb, to bear the bear the brunt of bereavement, aameen. May almighty allah guide & protect all of us, aameen.
Very true brother
Aameen.. absolutely true
Exactly.. absolutely true
Very well said.. absolutely true...
Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihi raajioon. He certainly was a testament of not just an amazing Muslim but also an amazing human being. he was a man of complete integrity.. he was someone who did not have even an ounce of pride and was an extremely down to earth person.... I consider myself extremely fortunate to have known him so very well and to have learnt all the immense knowledge from him.. he has departed from this dunya but he will remain in our hearts perennially. May Allah grant him jannathul Firdous. Aameen
End of era. No Muslim youth who attended his sermons can go astray. We need scholars like him to educate and enlighten Muslim youth and prevent them from going astray. May allah accept all his deeds and reward him immensely.
يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ارْجِعِي إِلَى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَرْضِيَّةً فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي
Moulana was great personality. Embodiment of simple living high thinking. Lived upto what he preached. Remained non controversial all his life. Very knowledgeable but extremely humble. His moderate and unique style of delivering khutbah impressed many,including me . He was taking keen interest in current affairs and concerned about global status of ummah. He always motivated me with his superlative appreciation and generous words. Always encourged me to deliver khutbas in his place , whenever I was in Mangalore. May Allah give him highest abode in Jannah
Innalillahi Wa Inna Ilahi Rajivoon. May Allah grant him magfirath and mashrat. I remember Moulavi Saab as a soft spoken, kind hearted,highly knowledable person but with down to earth approach. Moulavi Saab always make it a point to attend " Bearys Welfare Forum "- Abu Dhabi, arranged mass marriages at Mangalore ,and encouraged us to do more to the poor and needy in the society.
My usthad. The one who guided me and helped me to change my life. Inna lillahi va inna ilaihi rajivoon. May allah grant him one of the highest positions in jannah.
Very said. This is a loss not only for Muslim community, but also for all communities in Mangaluru. He was a true religious leader. May his soul rest in peace.
Innalillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiwoon.
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