Renowned Faqih Ahle-Bait, an expert scholar of Quran, writer, a man of morals, ambassador of peace, author of more than 100 books, poet and practicing Islamic scholar belongs to Dera Ghazi Khan, Hazrat Ayatullah Allama Haj Sheikh Hasan Raza Ghaderi passed away in London.
May Allah bless him. He had perfect skills in Islamic teaching. He used to address in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Saraiki, Punjabi and English. He had devoted his life for promotion of Aza and Ahle-Bait and Wilayat Ali used to his subject. Although, Urdu was not his first language but he was fully familiar with Urdu.
He spoke fluent Arabic, Persian and Urdu. He was symbol of Ahle Bait’s ethics and morals. When we went to Qum, he was so famous among the scholars and students of Pakistani origin and Ayatullah was considered as one of the remarkable teachers. He was very compassionate and kind to young students and a great example of hospitality who patronized us completely.
He established religious centers in Najaf, Qum, UK and Damascus. He was the founder of Ahl Bait TV. He built a hospital in the memory of his mother in his city. Allah gave him a big heart. Istazul Ulama Ayatullah Mohammad Yar Shah was one of his most worthy students. He was a devotee of his family.
My teacher Allama Mohammad Raza Ghafari was a classmate of Allama Sheikh Hasan. Agha is survived by a widow, four sons, two daughters and grandchildren.
Whenever I went to Manchester, I would first attend the Agha’s service and then go to preach in compliance with his orders. He introduced me to Kazmi Sadaat in Manchester and everyone in London.
When I and Raja Mohammad Mazhar Ali Khan started general teaching in Qum, then Agha showed us great compassion along with Ayatullah Syed Niaz Hussain Naqvi. Both of us and hundreds of Qum students will never forget his kindness. He had left hundreds of students. Those students who were financial problems, Agha used to help them secretly. He also recited Ishrat Muharram at the Al-Mahdi Center in Brooklyn and the Muhammadiyah Center in Virginia.
His father Allama Mufti Muzammil Hussain Maysami Ghadiri was a very high-ranking scholar and his son Allama Hashim Ghadiri Najafi is also a well-known scholar and high-ranking orator. His other children Aghayan Ghadiri brothers Abu Talib, Mohsin and Mohammad Raza are also renowned Azadars.
Agha’s son-in-law Allama Agha Mirza Mohammad Jawad is also a well-known scholar and orator while his daughters are also orators. Agha’s 60 years religious, academic, literature and social services will be written in golden words.
His works are in Urdu, Persian and Arabic. He used the time properly and did not waste a moment. The day, Agha passed away, I met Shirazi brothers Jawad and Fawad at lunch in Virginia they told me that Agha did great services for Idara Mohammadia in Virginia. Agha lived a successful life. “Aash Saeedah wa Mat Saeedah”.
I had the honor of visiting him for the last time on the thirteenth of Muharram this year when he came with Sheikh Mohammad Raza from Manchester to visit his place. Last year, I met him along with Syed Ali Zulfiqar Kazmi and Taqvi in the hospital.
Now that routine stop of London has ended while going to Manchester. Today, I wrote these words with sad heart while going to London in the plane and ended the column with these words “Zamana bary shouq se sun raha tha, tumhi so gaye dastaan kehte kehte.”
When we reached Agha’s house, that smile was not found today. That compassion was not found today. Today the answer of greeting was not heard, there were only grief. Today our Agha’s eyes were closed. Just saw his picture.
There was a huge funeral next day which was attended by large number of scholars, leaders and mourners. His son led the funeral prayer as per his will as Agha’s Sahib used to say that he made his son scholar so that he offer his funeral prayer at his death.
The people of UK and Europe have paid their condolences and sympathies with the Ghadiri family. Allah bless them all. You have been buried, but I am sure that the family of Abu Tarab will take care of their true lover, servant and mourner.
I was awake for two days, but after the burial, I did not sleep until Tahajjud. Millions of devotees in the world always remember him. He will be remembered in prayers. Throughout his life, he continued to work for the construction of Baqi and he also found his grave in the graveyard called Jannat Al-Baqi in London.
With trembling hands, with a trembling heart, I end this article. 46 years of brotherhood, friendship, compassion, mentorship will be missed moment by moment. You may have gone too soon, but you ended well. You were buried in Jannat-ul-Baqi graveyard in London, with recitation of the Qur’an and remembrance of Ahle-Bait, along with sighs and sobs.
Allama Hashim Raza Ghadiri and his brothers performed the duties of bathing, dressing, funeral and burial themselves. The funeral prayer was performed at Imam Bargah Stainmore where a large number of scholars and leaders were present and it was one of a big funeral in London history. Allama Dr. Mohammad Hussain Akbar addressed the mourning assembly after the funeral.
At the time of burial, Ayatullah Mohammad Sadiq Karbasi recited the Quran, I read the first Talqeen and Allama Mirza Mohammad Javad read the second Talqeen. At the time of burial, Allama Dr. Mohammad Hussain Akbar, Maulana Sheikh Mustafa Jafari, Syed Ali Iftikhar Kazmi, Syed Imtiaz Kazmi, Syed Yawar Shah, Sajjad Kazmi, Syed Yasir and other mourners from London were also present. Allama Hashim Raza Ghadiri, Aghayan Abu Talib Ghadiri, Mohsin Ghadiri, Mohammad Raza Ghadiri and Ghadiri family have expressed their sincere thanks to all the participants.
The morning of August 28 was very sad when the jurist of Ahl Bait Mujtahid al-Asr, the genius of work, the great teacher and thinker, the writer and poet, scholor of Hadith was buried. Fatiha and Noha were recited. The series of references for the late Ayatullah has been started after his burial. People like Agha are not born every day. I pray for him and all other deceased.
