Born
in Meerut, India in the holy month of Ramadan and became a hafiz-ul-quran
(memorized the entire Holy Quran) at the tender age of eight.
Eminent
son and Successor of His Eminence, The Late Maulana Shah Muhammad
Abdul Aleem Siddiqui al-Qadiri Mubaligh-e-Azam RA. who was
one of the greatest Islamic scholars of the 20th.
century, Islamic Missionary of international repute and Head of
Qadiriyya and Chistiyya Spiritual Orders.
Direct
descendent to First Khalif of Islam Hazrat Sayeddena Abu Bakr
Siddiqui (RA)
Graduated
from the National Arabic College, Meerut,lndia. Obtained the
FAZIL-E-ARABI degree from Allahabad University and DARSE-E-NIZAM (FAZIL)
from Darul-Uloom Arabia, Meerut.
Speaks
over 12 languages including Arabic, English and French.
Accompanied
His Late Father R.A on Islamic Missionary tours to various parts
of the world in his early youth.
Started
his full-fledged international missionary tours around the world
soon after the birth of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Previously
held the post of Honorary Secretary General of the WORLD MUSLIM
ULAMA ORGANIZATION for 12 years thus working for the cause of
Islamic Unity. (whilst Mufti-e-Azam of Palestine was the President
of this Organisation).
Founder
of WORLD ISLAMIC MISSION at Dar-ul-Arkam in Makka al-Mukarrama in
1972
President
of INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC MISSIONARIES GUILD
Elected
President of JAMIAT-E-ULEMA Pakistan (JUP) in 1972 in which he
toured with a Government Delegation of Ulama (Islamic scholars) to
visit Russia and China.
Elected
as a Member of Parliament from Karachi in 1970 and subsequently
elected Leader of the Parliamentary Party of the JAMIAT ULAMA -
PAKISTAN (JUP) unanimously.
Elected
as a Member of the Senate of Pakistan in 1973.
Presided
over the International Islamic Conference held at Bradford, U.K.,
in April 1974 and subsequently elected the First President of the
WORLD ISLAMIC MISSION.
Re-elected
Member of Parliament in March 1977.
As
a member of the Constitution Committee of the Parliament, His
Eminence made more than 200 amendments and suggestions with a view
to diverting the Constitution of 1972 towards democracy based on
the principles of Islam.
His
constant struggles resulted in the acceptance of Islam as the
State religion of Pakistan.
He
was the first scholar and member of parliament to demand that the
Constitution of Pakistan included the definition of a Muslim and
fought for the Finality of Prophethood to be included in this
definition
His
Eminence is an international figure of high repute having
successfully brought his mission to various countries in Europe,
Africa and South America including USA, Canada and the West
Indies.
Inspired
Muslim scholars and leaders to establish branches of World Islamic
Mission world-wide which has since built dozens of mosques and
schools.
President
of the Mili Yakjeti Council in Pakistan and worked to unite the
various religious parties of Pakistan into a single unified
alternative political force.
Lecturer
and visiting professor at the University of Baghdad, Iraq.
Secretary-General
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (third from left) meeting at United Nations
Headquarters with an international peace delegation concerning the
Iran-Iraq war: Dr. Hans Koechler, President of I.P.O. (right), Shah
Ahmad Noorani Siddiqui, President of the World Islamic Mission, Pakistan
(second from right), Field Marshal Abdul Rahman Sowar Al-Dahab, former
Head of State of Sudan (third from right), Dr. Murad Ghaleb,
Secretary-General of the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization
(second from left), and Mousa Al-Mousawi, Iran (left) (New York, 16 June
1988)
Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani Siddiqui is the Patron-in-Chief of
World Islamic Mission (Canada) For more information on the life of this
great living personality you may contact:
World Islamic Mission (Canada)
2478 Ninth Line
Oakville, Ont.
L6J 4Z2
Noorani’s corpse arrives in Karachi (Updated at 2200 PST) KARACHI: Chief of Mutehda Majlis-e-Amal and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, Maulana Saha Ahmed Noorani Siddique’s
corpse was brought to Karachi on Thursday through an Special flight no. C130
He will be laid to rest in a graveyard adjacent to the grave of the most blessed saint, Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi
Demise of Maulana Noorani a big national loss: Fazal (Updated at 1630 PST) ISLAMABAD: Secretary General Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman said Thursday that sudden death of MMA Chief and President Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), Senator Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani is a great loss for the whole nation.
Talking to Geo Television he said Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani was a great religious leader whose contributions towards democracy in Pakistan cannot be forgotten.
He said his demise is not only the loss of Pakistani nation, but that of whole Muslim Ummah. Every one is in great shock over his death. MMA is passing through a most critical and sensitive period and his demise is a great setback for us, he added.
Maulana Noorani was a moderate, polite and kind person and due to his personality, he was elected as Chief of MMA, he said.
President grieved over demise of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani (Updated at 1620 PST) ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Senator Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, President Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal and Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, who passed away here on Thursday.
In a condolence message, the President said he is deeply grieved to learn about the death of the Maulana and paid rich tributes to him for his great services for Pakistan and his tremendous contribution to national politics.
The President also recalled the Maulana's lifetime devotion to religious learning and teaching. He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity.
Janaza prayers of Maulana Noorani in Karachi on Friday (Updated at 1510 PST) KARACHI: Coffin of JUP chief and President of Muttahida Majlis Amal Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani will be brought to Karachi by air on Thursday night. His Namaz-e-Janaza will be observed at Memon Masjid, Boulton Market in Karachi after the Friday prayers.
However the venue of the prayers could be changed in consultation with the local administration due to large number of people expected to attend the prayers, a relative of Maulana Noorani and JUP leader Mohammed Ahmed Siddiqui said.
Late Maulana Noorani has left two sons and two daughters in the bereaved family. One of his son is settled in the US while a daughter in Sharjah.
Arrangements are being made for taking his coffin to Karachi, said a JUP leader Haji Hanif Tayyeb in Islamabad.
MMA President Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani passes away
(Updated at 1305 PST) ISLAMABAD: President Muttahida Majlis Amal and Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani Thursday passed away of heart attack in Islamabad, Geo news channel reported.
Born in Meerut, India in 1926 Shah Ahmed Noorani became a hafiz-ul-quran at the age of eight. He was son of Late Maulana Shah Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqui who was a great Islamic scholars of the 20th century. He graduated from the National Arabic College, Meerut, lndia and obtained the Fazil-e-Arabi degree from Allahabad University and Dars-e-Nizam (Fazil) from Darul-Uloom Arabia, Meerut. He had command over 12 languages including Arabic, English and French.
He was founder of the World Islamic Mission founded at Dar-ul-Arkam in Makka al-Mukarrama in 1972. First elected as a member of parliament from Karachi in 1970 and subsequently elected Leader of the parliamentary party of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) unanimously. He was currently member of the Senate, upper house of the Pakistan's parliament. He was also president of the Pakistan's religious parties alliance MMA till his death.
Dec 12 2003
12/11/03 1:33 PM
Dec 12 2003
Death of Noorani widely condoled in Pakistan (Updated at 2255 PST) HYDERABAD: The sad demise of head of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and chief of Jamiat-e-Ulema-i-Pakistan Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani was received with shock and grief by people of Hyderabad and its surrounding areas.
A number of areas of Hyderabad city including Sire-Ghat, Phuleli and Paretabad were closed when the news of the demise of Allama Noorani received by the people. People from different walks of life termed the death of Allama Noorani as a great national loss adding that the country has been deprived of a great religious scholar.
MNA Sahibzada Abul Khair Muhammed Zubair, MPA Abdul Rehman Rajput, Raees Mushtaq Advocate, industrialist Masood Pervez, Abdul Razzaq Memon and many other notables of Hyderabad paid rich tributes to the services of Allama Noorani for promotion of religious activities and restoration of democracy in the country.
The vacuum created after the demise of Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani could not be bridged, they said. They prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and courage the family members and followers to bear this irreparable loss.
n
12/12/03 9:25 AM
Friday December 12, 2003-- Shawwal 17, 1424 A.H.
Noorani’s death widely condoled
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The sudden death of MMA president Senator Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani was widely condoled by the leaders of the political and religious parties and people from different walks of life.
Expressing grief and sorrow over the death of the JUP leader, they termed the death great loss to the people and Ummah as the late Maulana Noorani was a symbol of unity among all the sects. He worked for the unity of the Ummah and promotion of the teachings of Islam and its values all over the world and would be remembered for a long time.
They said that Maulana Noorani was a signatory to the unanimously approved the 1973 Constitution. He also played important role for getting Qadianis declared non-Muslims.
Expressing grief and sorrow over the death of the JUP chief, Shah Ahmed Noorani, the Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad postponed the Ulema’s meeting which he convened as part of unity among the Muslims and peace.
The Chief Minister Ali Muhammad Maher also offered his condolences and termed the death a great loss to the country.
Muttahida chief, Altaf Hussain, expressed grief and offered his condolence to the bereaved family and JUP workers on the death of Maulana Noorani.
The Chairman of PTI Dr Tahirul Qadri, MNA, also expressed grief and paid tributes to his services for promoting Islam and unity among the Muslim Ummah. Others who condoled were: Asadullah Bhutto, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti, Abdul Sattar Afghani, Nasrullah Shajhee, Hameedullah Khan, Younus Barani, Dr Mairajul Huda, Sunni Tehreek leaders Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti, Akram Qadri, President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Maulana Irshadul Haq Thanvi, Capt Haleem Siddiqi, Ejaz Shafi, Minister for State for Food Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, Chief GAP Tanveer Hussaini, Maulvi Syed Iqbal Haider, ATI leaders Tariq Mehboob, Abdul Qayyom Khan, Muhammad Ali Shaikh, Ghulam Hussain Pirzada, ANP leaders Shahi Syed, Farooq Bangash, Amin Khatak, Pasban leader Altaf Shakoor, Usman Moazzam, and Mehfooz Yar Khan.
n
12/12/03 9:26 AM
Sindh Assembly Session adjourned
Sindh Assembly Session adjourned till 17th as mark of respect to Noorani
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly adjourned proceeding to mark the death of prominent religious scholar and President of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Senator Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani.
The Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah announced that the House was adjourned due to the death of religious scholar to December 17.
The Leader of Opposition Nisar Khuhro also condoled the death of the highly venerated personality. He requested the chair to adjourn the proceeding in respect of his death. The Law Minister Chaudhary Iftikhar and Arbab Rahim also supported the move of the leader of opposition and asked the chair to adjourn the House. The House also offered Fateha for the late religious scholar and prayed for the bereaved family members to bear this irreparable loss. They also offered condolences to the mourners.
Earlier, the Speaker in the first session announced that the House would be prorogued on Thursday after completing the agenda of the day. However, after the death of Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani, the speaker announced that the session would be held on December 17 for complete the remaining business of the assembly.
Meanwhile, the Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, deputy-speaker Rahila Tiwana, Sindh Ministers Imtiaz Shaikh and Maulana Umer Sadiq, Dawat-e-Islami chief Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Qadri, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, Naib-City Nazim Tariq Hasan, and adviser to the chief minister for Information Salahuddin Haider expressed grief over the death of the MMA chief and offered condolences on the sad demise of Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani. They paid tributes to his struggle for the restoration of democracy and enforcement of Nizama-e-Mustafa and said that the late politician always stood for principled politics.
They said that the death of JUP Chief had created a vacuum in politics and parliament and that it would be difficult to fill this gap.
The other ministers Shoaib Bukhari, Shabbir Qaimkhani, Aftab Shaikh, Ejaz Sherazi, Noman Saigal also offered condolence on the death.
Earlier, the session was again marred by uproar when opposition members raised slogans, "No Musharraf, No", "go Musharraf, go", "no LFO, no", as a result the business of the day could not be taken up even on the third consecutive day.
The opposition members stood in their seats and lodged a strong protest against the chair for issuing the order for switching off the microphone of the Leader of Opposition, Nisar Khuhro.
The Muttahida’s Muhammad Hussain was in the chair and said that nobody would talk without his prior permission and directed the assembly staff to switch off the mike of Khuhro who wanted to raise some point during the speech of Syed Shakir Ali, an MPA belonging to the Muttahida.
The remarks of the chair provoked the leader of opposition and the other opposition members who rose in their seats and lodged a protest. Terming the chair’s remarks as terrorism and harassment, Khuhro said that it was a chair of the speaker not the member of the penal of the chairmen.
The situation became so tense and the opposition members raised slogans ‘no Musharraf no’ ‘go Musharraf go’ and ‘no LFO no’. The chair adjourned the House for prayer while the protest was continued.
Earlier, the law and order situation was continued on fourth consecutive day and the member of the treasury benches Jam Madad Ali suggested that operation and investigation should be under the control of one authority and medical facilities be provided to police.
The PPPP’s Shamim Ara Panhwar said that police failed to maintain law and order and control crime. She said kidnapping, robberies and abductions were increasing while the government was victimising the Dadu and Khaipur Nazims.
The Muttahida’s Syed Shakir Ali said that the PPP government was dismissed due to extra-judicial killings but the previous rulers had no moral courage to appoint a judicial commission to probe these killings. He said the law and order situation would never improve if the feudal system was not abolished.
The lady MMA MPA, Kulsoom Nizamani, complained that the former minister Muhammad Hussain has pushed her in the lobby and was not repentant over this act of his. However, Muhammad Hussain regretted and said that he had no intention as he considered her his sister and he could never even think of doing such a thing. The Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah also said that he also regretted the incident.
n
12/12/03 9:28 AM
Politicians, Ulema mourn Maulana Noorani’s death
Politicians, Ulema mourn Maulana Noorani’s death
ISLAMABAD: Politicians from the government side as well as the opposition, besides the Ulema from all schools of thoughts, have expressed deep grief over the death of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani.
The provincial governors and the chief ministers, in their separate condolence messages, have also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Senator Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani.
Balochistan Governor Owais Ghani and Chief Minister Jam Mir Muhammad Yousuf have expressed deep grief and sorrow. NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah expressed deep shock and grief. The governor said he was really moved after hearing the news about the death of Maulana Noorani.
Paying rich tributes to his religious and political services, the governor said he was not only a prominent religious scholar but was also a best parliamentarian of the country.
He was amongst the veteran politicians of the country and with his death, the country has lost a great political leader.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has expressed deep sorrow and grief.
He paid rich tributes to late religious scholar and said the religious and political services of the Maulana would be remembered for long.
He termed his death a great national loss.
Leaders of component parties of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and other political and religious organisations have expressed deep sense of grief and sorrow over the sudden demise of MMA chief Maulana Noorani.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidry, Muhammad Riaz Durrani, Secretary General and Central Information Secretary, and Maulana Muhammad Abdullah, chief JUI, Punjab in their condolence messages said the demise of the MMA chief at this crucial stage is a great loss and a national tragedy.
They said the late Maulana had throughout his life been striving for the enforcement of an Islamic order in the country and supremacy of Constitution and parliament.
JI leaders Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Syed Munawwar Hassan said late Maulana Noorani was a symbol of unity of Ummah who provided a platform to all the religio-political parties belonging to various schools of thought in the name of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.
They expressed the confidence that the relation of fraternity and unity developed by Maulana Noorani among various sects would continue even after his death.
In his condolence message, Secretary-General Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman said Maulana Noorani’s death is a great loss for the whole of Pakistani nation.
Talking to Geo Television, he said Maulana Noorani was a great religious leader whose contribution to democracy in Pakistan cannot be forgotten.
He said his demise is not only the loss of the Pakistani nation, but also that of the whole Muslim Ummah.
"Everyone is in great shock over his death." "MMA is passing through a most critical and sensitive period and his demise is a great setback for us," he added. Maulana Noorani was a moderate, polite and kind person and due to his personality, he was selected as chief of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, he said.
Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain and Deputy Speaker Sardar Muhammad Yaqub have expressed deep sorrow.
In their separate messages to the members of the bereaved family, they eulogised the political and religious services rendered by the late senator for the country.
They termed his death a great national loss.
Federal Minister for Privatisation and Investment Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has condoled the death.
Dr Hafeez said the services rendered by late Maulana Noorani during the independence movement, formulation of constitution, democracy and especially for Islamic preaching around the world would long be remembered.
He was regarded as one of the most respected politicians and religious scholars by all segments of the society due to his balanced approach towards the national issues and his footprints would be a beacon of light for the generations to come, he added.
Dr Hafeez had met late Maulana Noorani on Wednesday night, which proved the last meeting.
MNA Pir Abdul Qadir Al-Geelani, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chief of BNP-Mengal, Habib Jalib, MNA Rauf Mengal, Meharulla Mengal, former minister and leader of PPP Ghulam Akbar Lasi and others have also condoled the death of Maulana Noorani.
Chief of Jamhoori Watan Party Nawab Muhammad Akbar Bugti has also condoled the passing away of Maulana Noorani.
In his condolence message, Bugti lauded the services of late Maulana Noorani and said that vacuum created by his death would not be filled for long. He also praised his role in democratic struggle.
People belonging to various walks of life have also expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of Maulana Noorani.
n
12/12/03 9:29 AM
Departure of a real political stalwart
Departure of a real political stalwart
Mufti Jamiluddin Ahmad
ISLAMABAD: The death of Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani removes from our midst not only a great religious leader (who was also the son of a great religious scholar and preacher Maulana Shah Mohammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqi) but also a great, indefatigable political stalwart in the chequered political history of this country. The departed leader had also the distinction of being one of the signatories to the (original) Constitution of 1973 of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
As if to end his glorious career on a remarkable political note in the history of democratic struggle in the history of Pakistan, he had the crowning achievement of heading a 6-party political alliance of religious parties, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, MMA. The alliance not only became a united platform for various schools of religious thoughts, (Deobandis, Bareilvis, Shias, Ahle-Hadis, and others) at least on the political front (and surprisingly in the days when one sees a lot of sectarianism around), it has been giving a vociferous voice to its stand in the parliament on the issue of the Legal Framework Order.
Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani was part of many democratic movements in the country, including the one launched by the Pakistan National Alliance against the PPP government of late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. General Ziaul Haq kept Maulnan Noorani under house arrest (as also some other PNA leaders including the late Nawbzada Narullah Khan and Asghar Khan) for a long time. (Many members of his party which was largest party on the opposition benches in the Assembly broke from him and became hand-picked members of the Majlis-e-Shoora ).
Born in Meerut in the UP in 1926, Maulana Noorani graduated from the National Arabic College in Meerut. He had a Dars-e-Nizami (Fazil) from Darul Uloom, Arabia from the same city.(He became a Hafiz-e-Quran at the age of eight).
The Maulana came to Pakistan in 1950. Initially, he was with the Muslim League, but soon formed his own Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan. He was president of World Islamic Missions, which he founded in Darul Arkam in Mekkah and Honorary Secretary General of World Muslim Ulema Organization. He was first elected to National Assembly in 1970.
Maulana Noorani was a great linguist, knowing a number of languages, including perfect Arabic, French and Persian. During the Pakistan Movement the Maulana had established a National Guards Force.
The late Maulana was a soft-spoken and amiable personality who had a remarkable quality of delivering loaded and pithy sentences, especially in politics. (This writer remembers a reception at the American Embassy in Islamabad in 1974. The late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had then recently returned from his visit to Bangladesh, had brought "paans" from Bangladesh as a gift from there for various leaders. Spotting the Maulana at the reception, he asked him whether he had received his gift.
"Hum to smajahtay thay kay sirf hum hee wahan say paan latay hain. Bhutto sahab kiya aap nay bhi yahee karobar shooroo kar diya". (It is we who were supposed to be bringing pans from there.
Now Bhutto Sahab have you also started doing the same thing, was Maulana’s pithy reply answering the criticism against him that he went to the then East Pakistan after the 1970 Elections, to only chew paans). May Allah rest his soul in peace.
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12/12/03 9:30 AM
President, PM condole
President, PM condole
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The death of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, President Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), veteran politician and religious scholar, has been widely condoled by people from all walks of life.
Condolences poured in at newspaper offices on Thursday from almost every nook and corner of the country. Those who condoled the Maulana’s death included President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, leaders of both the ruling party and its allies, opposition parties, religious and social circles.
An atmosphere of grief gripped the federal capital where Maulana Noorani breathed his last and all the political activities came to a standstill. Musharraf in his condolence message expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Maulana Noorani.
The president said he was deeply grieved to learn about the death of the Maulana and paid rich tributes to him for his great services for Pakistan and his tremendous contribution to national politics.
He recalled the lifetime devotion of Maulana Noorani to religious learning and teaching. Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali also expressed deep shock and grief over the sad demise of the MMA chief.
He paid rich tributes to Maulana’s political, religious and academic contributions and said that his services and far-sightedness would be long remembered. The prime minister said Maulana Noorani always worked with honesty and sincerity and devoted his life to nation building. "In his death, the country has lost a renowned scholar and a sagacious parliamentarian," he said. Jamali remembered his invaluable services in the dissemination of religious education within the country and abroad and in creating harmony in domestic politics.
Eulogising his services, the prime minister said that with his death, the vacuum that has been created in the religious, political and educational circles would be difficult to fill.
Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the death of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani was a great loss to the nation. He appreciated the Maulana’s services both as a religious as well as political leader
n
12/12/03 9:31 AM
Maulana Noorani passes away
Maulana Noorani passes away
Burial today, Namaz-e-Janaza at Nishtar Park
By Naveed Ahmad
ISLAMABAD: Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, founder of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan and president Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal died here on Thursday afternoon of cardiac arrest. He was 78.
The Maulana — a chronic cardiac patient who had had two open-heart surgeries — breathed his last at the Federal Government Services Hospital (Polyclinic) at 12:35 hours, some 10 minutes of reaching the hospital.
The Maulana, leader of opposition in the Senate, had taken medicines on Wednesday night after addressing a press conference following the opposition’s Senate walkout. Maulana Noorani was not feeling well since Thursday morning. He desired to take tea that was not offered to him for precautionary reasons.
He was rushed to the FGS hospital after suffering serious cardiac pain but was pronounced dead by a team of doctors there. Federal Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan was among other politicians who rushed to the hospital soon after being informed of Maulana’s critical condition.
The Maulana has left behind a widow, Salma Noorani, two sons (Anas and Owais who are based in Canada) and two daughters (Iman and Inas). The government offered a C-130 plane to shift the body of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani to Karachi. Leader of the House in the Senate Wasim Sajjad flew along the body of his veteran colleague to Karachi on Thursday evening.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman is already in Karachi while Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Maulana Sami-ul-Haq left for the port city on a routine PIA evening flight.
Born in Meerut, India, in the holy month of Ramazan, Shah Ahmad Noorani became a Hafiz-e-Qur’aan at the tender age of eight. His father, late Maulana Shah Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqui al-Qadri Muballigh-e-Azam, was
one of the leading Islamic scholars of the 20th century and a preacher of international repute. Maulana Noorani’s father was prominent figure of Qadriya and Chishtiya spiritual orders. He was the direct descendant of the first caliph of Islam, Hazrat Sayedna Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA).
Noorani graduated from the National Arabic College, Meerut, besides obtaining the Fazil-e-Arabi degree from Allahabad University and Dars-e-Nizami (Fazil) from Darul Uloom Arabia, Meerut. He could read, write and speak over half a dozen international languages including Arabic, English and French.
Maulana Noorani’s family migrated to Pakistan in 1950 and chose Karachi for permanent residence. In 1970, Maulana Noorani formed Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) at a convention in Toba Tek Singh and was elected its president. After being elected member of parliament, he actively participated in the legislation process and left a dissenting note with regard to certain clauses of the 1973 Constitution.
He was among the first few Pakistani religious scholars who visited Russia and China.
Maulana Noorani had tabled a resolution on the Khatm-e-Nabuwat issue. He was a vocal advocate for adoption of Nizam-e-Mustafa in the country. Later, Maulana Noorani was elected member of the Senate in 1973.
As a member of the Constitution Committee of Parliament, late Noorani made over 200 amendments and suggestions with a view to diverting the Constitution towards democracy based on the principles of Islam.
He was the first scholar and member of parliament to demand that the Constitution of Pakistan include the definition of a Muslim and fought for the Finality of the Prophethood to be included in this definition.
Prior to the formation of MMA, he was chosen to lead the Milli Yakjehti Council. Maulana Noorani also served as a lecturer and visiting professor at the University of Baghdad.
He was also the founder of the World Islamic Mission at Darul Arkam in Makka al-Mukarrama in 1972.
Agencies add: Cardiologists at the hospital Dr Inam and Dr Shehbaz, who tried to resuscitate Maulana Noorani told PPI that the Maulana had expired on the way to the hospital. The doctors tried to resuscitate but failed.
MMA legislator Maulana Noor ul Haq Qadri said Maulana Noorani was not feeling well for the last few days. He said he visited the Maulana on Wednesday night. The Maulana was taking emergency medicine (aspirin) but he refused to take rest when requested, Qadri added.
According to his party workers, Maulana Noorani was scheduled to chair an important meeting of the alliance of six religious parties at noon. Just 30 minutes before the schedule of leaving his Islamabad residence for the meeting, he went to the washroom. "When the Maulana did not come out of the washroom for quite sometime, we entered it and found him lying there, complaining of chest pain. We immediately shifted him to the hospital where he breathed his last," the associates of Maulana told NNI.
Professor Shah Faridul Haq will act as chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani) till the appointment of a new head of the party, General Secretary JUP (N) K M Azhar said on Thursday.
Tahir Hasan Khan add from Karachi: Maulana Noorani would be laid to rest in the premises of the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Clifton. His Namaz-e-Janaza would be offered at Nishtar Park on Friday after Juma prayers.
The body was taken to his Karachi residence on Thursday night. Moving scenes were witnessed at his residence where a large number of people had gathered after hearing the news of his demise.
Maulana Noorani’s body was flown here from Islamabad at the Faisal Base by a special C-130 aircraft. Vice-President MMA Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Senator Professor Ghafoor Ahmed, senator Nisar Memon and Salim Saifullah of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and Muhammad Ali Durrani of the National Alliance also arrived in Karachi in the same flight.
The coffin was taken to Shah Ahmed Noorani’s house-Bait-ul-Rizwan-in Clifton area in the form of a procession. Secretary-General MMA Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s senator Babar Ghouri, Maulana Samiul Haq, Muhammad Hussain Mahnti and others were present at Maulana Noorani’s residence. Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies had taken strict security measures for the procession. The C-130 was provided by the government on the directives of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali.
In 1946, Maulana Noorani formed the National Guards. He was arrested during the Tehrik-e-Khatm-e-Nubuwat in 1953 and movement for the formulation of the constitution in 1956. He took part in almost all the political and religious movements of the country. The JUP chief got married in 1962 in Madina.
On June 30, 1974 he submitted a resolution in the lower house demanding to declare Qadianis as non-Muslims. He was at the forefront of a countrywide movement against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 1977.
Maulana Noorani played a leading role in the formation of the nine-party Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) in 1977 against the Z A Bhutto government. He also fought against the dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq from 1977 to 1988.
He was elected senator from Karachi with the support of PPP Parliamentarians. He preached Islam throughout the world and thousands of non-Muslims embraced Islam due to his preaching. Despite his all political engagements, he had gone abroad for Tableegh this year. He always supported all Islamic movements and condemned the imperial forces and their policies.
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12/12/03 9:33 AM
Musharraf Grieved Over Demise Of Maulana Noorani
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Dec 12 (PNS) - President General Pervez Musharraf has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Senator Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, President Mutahidda Majlis-Amal and Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, who passed away here on Thursday.
In a condolence message, the President said he is deeply grieved to learn about the death of the Maulana and paid rich tributes to him for his great services for Pakistan and his tremendous contribution to national politics.
The President also recalled the Maulana's lifetime devotion to religious learning and teaching.
He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity.
The End.
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12/12/03 9:34 AM
Maulana Noorani's death mourned
Maulana Noorani's death mourned
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 11: The death of Allama Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani sent a wave of shock and grief among people in Karachi, and leaders of public opinion, including Ulema, scholars, and politicians paid rich tributes to the services of the Maulana.
They said that Maulana Noorani worked for the greater glory of Islam and Pakistan and he promoted unity among different sects. They lauded his role in the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and said he remained steadfast in his principles.
Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad, cheif minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar expressed deep sense of grief and sorrow on the sad demise of the Maulana. They paid tributes to the late Maulana for his religious, literary and political services and termed his death a great loss to the nation.
Ulema and religious leaders of different schools of thought expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Maulana Noorani. A meeting of Ulema at Governor House was deferred after hearing report of the death of Maulana Noorani. The governor and other participants of the meeting prayed to the Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace, add agencies.
Advisor on home affairs Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, Principal secretary Brig. Akhtar Zamin, secretary religious affairs Fasihuddin, Additional chief secretary Home Anwar Hussain, City Police Chief Asad Ashraf Malik, DCO Mir Hussain Ali and other officials were present.
City Nazim Naimatullah Khan and Acting City Tariq Hasan expressed their deep grief over the demise of Maulana Noorani. City Nazim, in a condolence message from France, said that the demise of Maulana Noorani has not only deprived us of a scholar but of a politician too.
Acting City Nazim Tariq Hasan said that the nation would remember the political and religious services of Maulana Noorani for long. Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain in his condolence message prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace. He said that he was shocked to learn the death of the Maulana, and has condoled with the relatives of the Maulana and other Jamiat Ulema Pakistan leaders.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, leader of PPP and ARD Chairman, condoled the sad demise of MMA President Senator Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani. In a condolence message from Dubai, he paid tributes to the services rendered by Maulana Noorani for the cause of democracy, supremacy of parliament and rule of law in the country.
Information secretary of NPP Syed Zia Abbas said the MMA President had given immense sacrifices for a democratic rule in the country since 1970 when he was elected an MNA. He said Maulana Noorani was a great Islamic scholar.
Senator Nisar A. Memon expressed his profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Maulana Noorani, and said that Maulana Noorani was a great scholar who always stood for the rights of the people. He said he contributed a lot for the people of Karachi.
"We in the Senate will miss his presence for a long time to come", Mr Memon said in a condolence message. Fatehyab Ali Khan, president, Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party, expressed deep grief over the sad demise of MMA president Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani.
In his condolence message, the MKP chief said the late Allama Noorani was a peace-loving leader who always opposed violence. "Allama Noorani believed in tolerance and he worked for creating harmony among all schools of thought," he said and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.
Sindh chief minister's advisor on information and archives Salahuddin Haider said in Maulana Noorani's death the country has lost a politician whose services for Pakistan would be remembered for long.
Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-i-Azam, Sindh, deeply regretted the sad demise of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani. and members of PML-Q, Sindh, Dr. Hafiz Sheikh, and Sahibzada Munir expressed deep sorrow over the death of the Maulana.
Memon Khidmat Forum expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani. In a joint message, Haji Masood Paresh, Mohammad Yahya Polani, Abdul Aziz Shewani, Abdul Rahim Janoon, Shaikh Nisar and others said the death of Maulana Noorani has created a vacuums in national polities.
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12/12/03 9:35 AM
Noorani's death condoled
Noorani's death condoled
QUETTA, Dec 11: President of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani.
In a press statement issued from Dera Bugti, he said that with the death of Maulana Noorani Pakistan was deprived of a big religious and political leader who courageously fought for the cause of democracy.
Balochistan Governor Awais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf, Speaker Jamal Shah, Deputy Speaker Aslam Bhootani in their separate condolence messages paid rich tribute to the services of Maulana Noorani.
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12/12/03 9:35 AM
Noorani's death termed national loss
Noorani's death termed national loss
ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: Politicians, legislators from the opposition and the treasury and ministers expressed shock over the demise of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal president Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani and termed his death a national loss.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri in his condolence message on Thursday said the services of the Maulana for the cause of democracy, the country and Islam would be remembered forever.
He said the Maulana's expertise in Arabic, English and Urdu languages coupled with his vast study broadened his horizon and elevated him to a prominent place among the international scholars.
Speaker: The Speaker, National Assembly, Chaudhry Amir Hussain and Deputy Speaker, Sardar Muhammad Yaqub, have also expressed deep sorrow over the sad demise of Maulana Noorani.
In their separate messages to the members of the bereaved family, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker eulogized the political and religious services rendered by the late senator for the country.
SOOMRO, WASIM: Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro, deputy chairman Khalilur Rehman and leader of the House in the Senate Wasim Sajjad expressed their deep sense of shock and grief over the sad demise of Senator Noorani.
SHUJAAT: The president, PML-Q, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain termed the demise of the Maulana a great national loss. Chaudhry Shujaat said the Maulana was a veteran politician and a renowned religious leader.
RASHID: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid in a condolence message from Geneva said the death of Maulana Noorani was a great loss to the nation. He appreciated the Maulana's services both as a religious as well as political leader.
GILANI: The vice president of PPP and former Speaker of National Assembly, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the JUP president.
RAO SIKANDAR: Minister for Defence, Rao Sikandar Iqbal, said, "we lost a man of principle". Senator Noorani's services to the Muslim world and Pakistan will always be remembered. -APP
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12/12/03 9:37 AM
Noorani's death widely condoled
Noorani's death widely condoled
By Our Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Dec 11: Politicians belonging to various parties have condoled the death of MMA chairman Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani.
PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Husain said the late Maulana Noorani had been taking part in movements for restoration of religious values and democracy throughout his life.
His death has caused an irreparable loss to the nation as well as democracy, he added. The ruling party also hoisted its flag at half mast at the Muslim League House here immediately after receiving the news of the Maulana's demise.
Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said the MMA chief was a distinguished religious scholar, seasoned parliamentarian and a patriotic politician.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri termed it his personal loss. He said the late Maulana Noorani had worked with his father, Mian Mahmood Ali Kasuri, during the framing of the 1973 Constitution.
Admitting that the Maulana had played an important role in the restoration of democracy, he expressed the hope that his efforts for solving the LFO issue would meet with success. MMA vice-president Senator Sajid Mir termed it a great national tragedy and said his death had caused the MMA an irreparable damage.
He said despite being a staunch Barelavi, the late Maulana Noorani had always been acceptable to the followers of other sects. PML-N patron and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and party president Shahbaz Sharif said the Maulana was a religious leader with international popularity who rendered services for Islam within Pakistan as well as abroad.
Former PML-Q chief Mian Azhar said he had played a prominent role in purging society of sectarian trends and had always worked for Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen. AQP chief and former COAS Gen Mirza Aslam Beg and Muhammad Mahid, Jamaat-i-Islami naib amirs Liaquat Baloch, Prof Khurshid, secretary-general Munawwar Hasan, former amir Mian Tufail Muhammad, deputy secretary-general Malik Ashraf, Farid Piracha, Maulana Abdul Malik, MMA provincial president Hafiz Idrees, PML-N's Zulfiqar Khosa, Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Tehrik-i-Istiqlal president Rehmat Khan Vardag, Pakistan Awami Tehrik chief Tahirul Qadri, JUP's K. M. Azhar, Pir Ijaz Hashmi, Syed Mahfooz Mashhadi, Qari Zawwar Bahadur, PDP's Nazrur Rahman Rana, Khwaja Izhar Amritsari and others also condoled with the family of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani.
PUNJAB GOVERNOR: Khalid Maqbool expressed profound grief on the death of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, says APP.
"Pakistan has lost an enlightened religious scholar who always worked to promote religious tolerance and national cohesion throughout his political career," the governor told newsmen in Multan.
Governor Maqbool was all praise for the Maulana for his services in preaching Islam throughout the world. He prayed that may Allah rest his soul in peace and give courage to his family to bear this loss.
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12/12/03 9:48 AM
Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani laid to rest
PAKISTAN
Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani laid to rest
(Updated at 1910 PST) KARACHI: Prominent religious scholar and president Mutahida Majles-e-Amal (MMA), Maulana Shah ahmad Noorani was laid to rest in a graveyard adjacent to the Mazar of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Clifton Karachi on Friday evening.
According to the Geo TV, Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani was buried besides the grave of his mother, late Ummat-ul-Raoof, in the presence of his son Annas Noorani and other relatives and dignitaries.
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12/12/03 7:37 PM
Maulana Noorani laid to rest
Maulana Noorani laid to rest
By Tahir Hasan Khan
KARACHI: Senator Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani Siddiqui, the religious and political icon, was laid to rest in the vicinity of Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine at Clifton on Friday after his funeral prayer at the Nishtar Park, conspicuously marked by an honorific participation of clerics, scholars, academics, religious and political leaders, traders, businessmen, industrialists, government officials and sobbing admirers.
Tens of thousands of people, mainly his emotional followers from Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Islamabad and Multan attended the funeral prayer, led by his eldest son Qari Shah Anas Noorani, whose ‘Dastarbandi’ will be held at a simple ceremony after Shah Ahmed Noorani’s ‘Soyem’ at Amir Khusro Park near his house in Clifton on Sunday, his party leaders said.
The participation in the funeral swelled enormously as people from all walks of life irrespective of caste, creed, religion, belief and political affiliations and shopkeepers, after pulling down their shutters, converged on the park to sprinkle rose petals on his coffin and pray for Noorani, the Islamic scholar and a famous figure of the Muslim world.
The devotees, spurred by deep-rooted religious fervour, thronged the park and spilled over to the nearby lanes and sidelanes around the park. Tears rolled down the cheeks of some of the deeply-shocked followers, and the milling crowd in a choked voice repeatedly recited Kalima and shouted Allah-o-Akbar as an Edhi ambulance, carrying the casket holding the mortal remains of the most revered religious scholar entered the park, hardly 100 metres from the outer boundary wall of the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, witnesses said.
Earlier, countless mourners and followers had gathered at the residence of late religious leader for participation in the funeral. A big funeral procession from his residence proceeded towards the Nishtar park for Namaz-e-Janaza.
The city administration had enforced special security precautions and made traffic arrangements for the funeral procession and deployed police and rangers to keep a vigilant eye on the people. The general traffic was diverted to other city roads for a smooth and uninterrupted flow of the procession.
The emotional followers and mourners were reciting Qur’aanic verses during the funeral procession and burial. The party workers and followers of the late senator had made special arrangements for the funeral procession and burial too.
The prominent personalities who attended the funeral included leaders of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Munawwar Hasan, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Prof Shah Faridul Haq, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Amir of JUI (S) Maulana Samiul Haq, the PML-QA parliamentary party leader in the Senate Waseem Sajjad, former president and Millat Party chief Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, Illahi Bux Soomro, Chief Minister of Sindh Ali Muhammad Maher, Chief Minister of NWFP Akram Durrani, Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders Dr Farooq Sattar, Aftab Shaikh, Kanwar Khalid Younus, provincial ministers, civil and police officials, Dawat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Ilyas Attar Qadri, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, Dr Mairajul Huda, Hafiz Taqi, Millat Party leader Javed Jabbar, Jamat-e-Ahle Sunnat leaders Qari Razaul Mustafa, Prof Syed Mazhar Saeed Kazmi, Shah Turabul Haq, Haji Hanif Tayyab, Allama Sa’adat Qadri, former Sindh governor Mamnoon Hussain, PAT leaders Qazi Zahid Hussain, Khawaja Muhammad Ashraf, JUI leaders Qari Usman, PPP’s Nisar Khuhro, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Aftab Shaaban Mirani, Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, ND Khan, Rashid Rabbani, Afaq Shahid, Ameer Haider Kazmi, Khalil Qureshi, Waqar Mehdi, Masroor Ahsan, Munawwar Suharwardi, Mohajir Qaumi Movement leader Shamsher Ahmed advocate, Fatehyab Ali Khan, Zia Abbas, Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai and others.
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12/12/03 7:40 PM
Senate offers Fateha for Noorani
Senate offers Fateha for Noorani
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday adopted a resolution lauding the role played by late Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani in country’s politics for well over three decades.
The upper House was adjourned till Monday without conducting any business to show respect to the late MMA chief. The combined opposition in a separate resolution paid rich tributes to Mr Noorani for his untiring struggle against military dictatorship and his efforts for the restoration of real democracy in the country.
As soon as Senate session started, the House passed the joint resolution to condole the death of Shah Ahmed Noorani. Senator Prof Khursheed Ahmed conducted the Fateha for the departed soul.
PML-QA Senator Anwar Bhinder read out combined resolution expressing deep shock over the sudden death of the fellow Senator. The resolution said Mr Noorani was a distinguished politician, parliamentarian and religious leader. He played effective role in politics of the country. He was an Islamic missionary. His valuable services would be remembered for long.
Senator Ishaq Dar told the Senate chairman that many Senators wanted to pay tributes to their fellow Senator and they all should be given time to speak on floor of the House. The chairman assured the House that in the next session he would give proper time to each party leader to express his or her views on the services of Shah Ahmed Noorani.
