The Passing of Mufti Muhammad Fārūq Meeruti

By Faraz Abdul Moid

October 10th, 2015

إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون

The passing away of prominent scholar from Meerut, India – Mufti Muhammad Fārūq Meeruti – has been confirmed. He had been missing since the tragic stampede at Mina which occurred during the Hajj 1436/2015.

Before burying those who passed away in the stampede, authorities had kept the identification records of the victims. Amongst the records provided by the authorities was that of Mufti Fārūq.

Born in 1369 AH/1950 CE, Mufti Muhammad Fārūq Meeruti رحمه الله studied at Miftāh al-Ulūm, Jalālabad (India) under the guidance of Mawlānā Masīhullah Khān Sherwāni رحمه الله, wherein he studied Hadith under Allāmah Rafīq Ahmad رحمه الله. Thereafter he travelled to Darul Ulūm, Deoband to specialize in Fiqh under the auspices of Faqīh al-Ummah Mufti Mahmūd Hasan Gangohi رحمه الله. He was also initiated in the Chishti Tarīqah by Mufti Mahmūd Hasan and received from him ijāzat in the science of Tasawwuf. He was regarded to be amongst the senior khulafā (successors) of his Shaykh.

In the town of Meerut, India in 1986, Mufti Fārūq founded Jāmi’ah Mahmūdiyyah which consists of an educational institute – for which he served as the principal – and a social welfare organization. At the Jāmi’ah, hundreds of students have studied and continue to study. Its academics comprise of primary education, high secondary schooling (paralleled with religious education), tahfīz al-Qur’ān, a 9-year curriculum of higher Islamic & Arabic studies, a 2-year specialization in Qirā’āt, training for educators, and technical training.

Mufti Fārūq authored over 50 books, the most monumental work being Fatāwa Mahmūdiyyah, a 31-volume compilation of his Shaykh’s religious edicts. In addition to that he has written works on various disciplines, including a commentary of al-Mishkāt al-Masābīh entitled al-Rafīq al-Fasīh.

During Hajj 1436/2015’s tragic stampede at Mina, Mufti Fārūq was being accompanied by Mufti Salmān Murādabādi and Mawlānā Muīzuddīn, amongst others. Mawlānā Muīzuddīn shared an account of what happened with he and Mufti Fārūq during the stampede, after they were separated from Mufti Salmān amidst the chaos of the smothering crowd:

As the crowd in the area of the stampede grew and the throng became intensely packed and suffocating, they felt a strong push from behind. This resulted in Mufti Fārūq falling to the ground. When Mawlānā Muīzuddīn tried helping Mufti Fārūq he himself fell upon Mufti Fārūq, lying upon him back to back. Thereafter, at least three more individuals fell on top of them. Mawlānā Muīzuddīn narrated that as he (Mawlānā Muīzuddīn) was yelling in panic, Mufti Fārūq was calmly reciting the kalimah and the talbiyah. He continued to calmly recite the kalimah and talbiyah till his voice faded away. رحمه الله تعالى.

Mufti Muhammad Fārūq Meerati رحمه الله passed away in the state of ihrām, and was buried in Makkah Mukarramah on the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1436 AH. A scholar from the United States, who was at the Hajj, made Du’a for Mufti Fārūq in Makkah Mukarramah after hearing of the stampede and him being unaccounted for. Shortly thereafter, he was blessed with a vivid dream which contained glad tidings in regards to Mufti Fārūq رحمه الله. May Allah (SWT) accept Mufti Fārūq into His infinite mercy as well as all of those who passed away in the tragic events of the crane accident and the stampede.

It was narrated from Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه that a man was performing Hajj with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and his she-camel threw him and he died. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Wash him and shroud him in two garments, and do not cover his head nor his face, for he will be raised on the Day of Resurrection reciting the Talbiyah.” (Sunan al-Nasā’ī #2857)

 

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Sources:

“About Jamia Mahmoodia.” جامعة محمودية. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://www.jamiamahmoodia.madaris.org/aboutus.htm>.

Wahab, Siraj. “Prominent Scholar Remains Missing.” Arab News 29 Sept. 2015, Hajj 2015 sec. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

“Announcements.” The Seekers Path – For Those Taking the Chisti Tariqah from Shaykh Mohammad Zakariya Patel (db). 17 June 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.