– Muhammad Ashfaq Alam Nadwi
Lucknow: Maulana Jafar Masood Hasani Nadwi, a distinguished graduate of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, a renowned Islamic scholar, and a prominent thinker in Islamic thought and teachings, passed away in a tragic road accident on Wednesday. The accident occurred in Rae Bareli while he was on a motorcycle for some personal errands. On his return journey via the Lucknow-Allahabad Highway near Swayesh Hotel, he stopped to adjust his muffler. While he was tying it, a speeding car (WagonR) lost control and hit him, leading to the fatal accident.
During this unfortunate incident, Maulana Jafar Masood was accompanied by Abdul Qadir, a staff member at the guesthouse near Ali Mian Chowk, who also sustained severe injuries. Eyewitnesses promptly rushed both of them to the district hospital, where Maulana Jafar Masood’s death was confirmed.
This news has left the academic and religious circles in profound grief. Maulana Jafar Nadwi was a paragon of scholarly excellence and moral integrity. His contributions to academia and his noble character earned him widespread recognition. He served as a teacher at Madrasah Aaliyah Irfaniyah, a branch of Nadwatul Ulama, and had recently retired from his teaching responsibilities. His areas of expertise included Tafsir (Quranic exegesis), Hadith studies, and Islamic thought.
Maulana Jafar Nadwi completed his early education in Rae Bareli before enrolling at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in 1975. He graduated in 1981 with an Aalimiyat degree and completed his Fazilat in 1983. He went on to earn an M.A. in Arabic from Lucknow University and completed a Teachers’ Training Course at King Saud University in Riyadh. After 2019, he was appointed Editor of Al-Raid, an Arabic journal. He had also recently started conducting classes on Islamic thought at Nadwa. After Maulana Syed Bilal Abdul Hai Hasani Nadwi was appointed Rector of Nadwa, Maulana Jafar Masood was entrusted with the responsibility of Nazir-e-Aam (General Supervisor).
In addition to teaching Islamic sciences, Maulana Jafar Nadwi wrote numerous intellectual articles, translated several books from Urdu into Arabic, and extensively worked on social and da’wah topics. His speeches on social media were highly popular, providing clarity on Islamic teachings and highlighting aspects of reform.
May Allah grant him forgiveness and a lofty place in Jannat al-Firdaws.
[The writer is Former Student of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow, and presently Research Scholar, Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi]
