The Demise of Mawlānā Khalīl Lājpūrī of Canada
The following message from Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Muftī Shabbir Ahmad (UK) was read out at a conference following the demise of Mawlānā Khalīl Lājpūrī Ṣāḥib of Toronto, Canada
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ، نحمده ونصلي علی رسوله الكريم ، أما بعد
It is with great sadness and sorrow we learnt of the demise of Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Khalīl Lājpūrī Ṣāḥib Raḥmatullāhi ʿAlayh. May Allah Almighty forgive his shortcomings and elevate his status in Paradise. May Allah Almighty grant Ṣabr to his family and the people of Canada.
Over thirty years ago, I visited Canada at a time when there were very few Masājid. I recall in the month of Ramaḍān being involved in raising funds for what is now Madīnah Masjid and laying the foundation of this project. At the time, the local community decided to make Mawlānā Khalīl Ṣāḥib Raḥmatullāhi ʿAlayh the Amīr of the project and the local community. This was the beginning of the Madīnah Masjid project. Despite numerous requests, I have not returned to Canada since. However, I continued to receive regular updates from Canada regarding the Masjid and the community.
Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Raḥmatullāhi ʿAlayh served Madīnah Masjid and the community of Toronto with distinction until he passed away. He united the community behind him and he was their figurehead. Serving in one Masjid for so many years is an achievement. Allah Almighty had blessed him with many qualities. He was sincere. He served with devotion and commitment. He had good insight into the Masāʾil of Dīn and he was an ambassador of our elders. There is a famous saying that the death of a scholar is the death of the world. This could not be more true in the case of Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Raḥmatullāhi ʿAlayh. The Prophet ﷺ has mentioned that Allah Almighty sends at the turn of each century individuals who revive the Dīn. Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Raḥmatullāhi ʿAlayh is an example of this. He worked hard to revive Dīn and championed unity and achieved this despite many challenges, trials and tribulations.
Although Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Raḥmatullāhi ʿAlayh is no longer with us, his legacy undoubtedly lives on. We should reflect on his life and try to follow in his footsteps. We should make every effort to acquire the qualities and characteristics that he possessed; simplicity, generosity, piety, good character and being a force for unity.
May Allah Almighty provide the community of Canada with a better replacement and grant us all a good ending and unite us in Paradise.
Shabbir Ahmad
1 Dhū al-Qaʿdah 1436
