السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Thursday 4th July 2024/27 Ẓūl Ḥijjah 1445H
Marhūm Mawlānā Ārif, رَحْمَةُ الله عليه – A Great Personality
When we started our collections for Albania over 25 years ago, one of the smallest Masjids that we attended was the Eldon Street Masjid in Preston. It was here that I first met Mawlānā Ārif.
Mawlānā had lived in Dewsbury, graduated from the Dewsbury Markaz Madrasah and was now the Imām at this Masjid. From that very first meeting some 25 years ago until last Ramaḍān, it was always an honour and privilege to visit this Masjid.
Mawlānā Ārif’s personality was next level. Always welcoming, a smile on his face and very courteous at all times. During Tarāwīḥ, he would have the odd banter with his Musallees, all of whom were very beloved to him.
Mawlānā would stand with us at the time of collections from start till finish and would usually be the last one to leave the Masjid and lock up.
We enjoyed many moments together and suffice to say that the news of his passing away has left all of us in great shock. The large turnout at Mawlānā’s Janāzah, especially the ‘Ulamā and students is witness to the fact that we have truly lost a gem from amongst us.
From all of Mawlānā’s qualities, the most outstanding was his character. Without a shadow of doubt, this quality will become the means of his entry into Jannat ul-Firdaus, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ.
May The Almighty grant his family Sabr Jameel and give us all the ability to follow in his footsteps, Āmeen.
Visiting Eldon Street Masjid in Ramaḍān will never be the same again.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala