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GRAND MUFTI of Pakistan & RECTOR of Jamiah Darul Uloom Karachi

BIRTH

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani Sahib (Rahimahullah) was born in his ancestral village of Deoband, UP, India. He was the eldest son of the great scholar of Islam, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi (Rahimahullah), the first Grand Mufti of Pakistan. Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani (Rahimahullah) was given his name by Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahimahullah).

EDUCATION

Hazrat Mufti Rafi Usmani (Rahimahullah) undertook his initial studies at Darul Uloom Deoband and subsequent to the partition of India, migrated with his family to Pakistan and settled in Karachi. Mufti Rafi Usmani was an alumnus of Darul Uloom Deoband, Darul Uloom Karachi and the University of the Punjab.

JAMIAH DARUL ULOOM KARACHI

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani (Rahimahullah) was the Rector of the world famous institute, Darul Uloom Karachi until his passing. Darul Uloom Karachi was established by his illustrious father Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi (Rahimahullah). Together with his universal academic achievements, Mufti Rafi Usmani presided over the development of the Darul Uloom in a way that advanced the institute into a premier seat of learning in the world. He ably presided over every detail of the institute’s planning, growth and development.

Jamiah Darul Uloom Karachi is one of the largest institute of its kind in the Indian sub-continent. It has approximately 10,000 students. The campus area covers over 73 acres of land.

Hazrat Mufti Rafi (Rahimahullah) possessed great amount of compassion for the students of knowledge which was evident in the beautiful facilities he developed so they could be in comfort and focus on their primary goal of seeking knowledge. A great deal of thought and attention was given to every facility at the Darul Uloom.

GRAND MUFTI

At the time of his demise, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani (Rahimahullah) was the Grand Mufti of Pakistan, a position he held for several decades. He was appointed to the post of the Grand Mufti of Pakistan in 1992 by a committee of four hundred senior scholars from all the major Islamic groupings and affiliates of all the Darul Ulooms in Pakistan. He succeeded the former Grand Mufti Hazrat Mufti Wali Hasan Tonki (Rahimahullah) and held this post with diligence and integrity for three decades until his passing.

SERVICES

At Darul Uloom Karachi, he taught all the books related to dars-e-nizami from 1380 AH to 1390 AH (the 1960s). From 1391 AH (1971) onwards, he taught the sciences of Hadith and Ifta and gave lectures on Sahih Muslim and trained the students of Islamic jurisprudence (Ifta).

Hazrat authored about 27 books in Arabic and Urdu. His Urdu translation and commentary of Inayat Ahmad's Ilm al-Sigha is taught in the traditional dars-e-nizami curriculum in many institutes of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa and United States of America.

Hazrat was a senior patron of the unique umbrella organisation that supervises, moderates and regulates institutes of Higher learning in Pakistan, namely Wifaq Al-Madaris Al-Arabia.

Hazrat was also a key member of the Shura (consultative body) of the reputable organisation, Majlis Siyanat Al-Muslimeen in Pakistan.

Hazrat had an ardent love and attachment to their homeland, Pakistan. The stability, security and prosperity of the country was always a priority concern for him.

There are many other academic, intellectual, spiritual and welfare projects and initiatives that he undertook throughout his illustrious life. He travelled to many countries of the world for programmes, conferences and seminars.

OUTSTANDING QUALITIES

Profound Knowledge: Hazrat Mufti Rafi Usmani (Rahimahullah) was a true ambassador and perfect example of our senior scholars of the past. He possessed deep knowledge and understanding of Fiqh which is evident in many of his writings and speeches.

Firmness on the way of the path of elders of Deoband: Hazrat was firm on upholding the path of the Maslak of Ulama e Deoband. His character, piety, mannerisms and life was a shining example of the pious elders of Deoband. He ardently believed that this was the safest and most effective way to preserve the Deen of our future generations.

Moderation & Balance: Two outstanding traits which he displayed in all aspects of his life. Hazrat gained proficiency and training of these qualities under the watchful eye of his father and thereafter conducted his spiritual reformation under the great spiritual master Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Rahimahullah) who were figures of knowledge, spirituality and moderation.

Discipline: Hazrat was a personification of discipline. Everything he did was done with order and precision. He adopted a professional approach to his work and his highly organised leadership is evident in the great success achieved by the teachers and students at Darul Uloom Karachi.

DEMISE

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani (Rahimahullah) died as he lived i.e. in the study and teaching of Islamic knowledge, by serving and propagating the Deen of Islam and surrounded by students of knowledge. Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani (Rahimahullah) passed away on 24 Rabi Al-Thani 1444 – 18 November 2022 and is survived by his learned son Mufti Muhammad Zubair Ashraf (Hafizahullah), brother Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Hafizahullah), siblings, and other family members. His spiritual legacy continues through his thousands of students and disciples.