Grand mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad passes away

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 12

Grand mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad (82) passed away on Tuesday after he was hospitalised on Monday evening.

His ‘namaz-e-janaza’ was performed at Khanqah-e-Moula in old city on the banks of the Jhelum in the afternoon. He was later buried at the ancestral Wazpora graveyard in Rajouri Kadal.

The demise of Ahmad, who remained the grand mufti of the state for over 30 years, was widely condoled.

“Sad to learn about the passing away of Mufti Bashiruddin saheb. In him, Kashmir lost a respected religious scholar and thoughtful leader. Allah Maghfirat karey. I stand in solidarity with the family and followers of Mufti saheb,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said.

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah also expressed grief. “My condolences to the family at this time of great personal loss,” he tweeted.

J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president GA Mir described him as an “illustrious son of soil, who had contributed immensely to religious education”.

CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said Mufti Bashiruddin was a social and religious leader and in his death, Kashmir had lost a great human being.

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also expressed sorrow over the demise of the grand mufti, saying people would always remember his service in the field of Islamic jurisprudence and his contribution in social and political sphere of the Kashmir valley.

Ahmad’s son Nasirul Islam is likely to succeed his father as the grand mufti.