Mufti Abu Zafar (rahimahullah) was one of those great and rare personalities whose demise leaves such vacuum in the Muslim community that cannot be easily filled. He was born in the village of Banshkhali, in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh, at 10 o’clock on Thursday morning, on 10 Muharram 1374 AH (9 September 1954 CE).
He received his primary education from his noble father, Hazrat Maulana Munirullah Siddiqy (who was a great Islamic scholar and a homeopathic physician) and the scholars of his local madrasah, Jamia Azizia Qasimul Uloom, Banshkhali. Having studied the primary subjects of Persian and Arabic languages there, he enrolled in the world-class Institute of Mekhal Hamius Sunnah Madrasah, Chittagong, where he had the opportunity to benefit from the auspicious company and vast knowledge of the great Mufti of Bangladesh, Hazrat Mufti Faizullah (rahimahullah). Then he enrolled in the greatest Islamic institute of Bangladesh, Darul Uloom Mu‘eenul Islam Hathazari, where he studied for a few more years. Thereafter, in 1395 AH, he went to Darul Uloom Deoband, India, and studied there for further more years. He graduated from Darul Uloom Deoband in 1399 AH. After that, he enrolled in the Takhassus-fil-Fiqh course (also known as Iftaa) and graduated from there in 1403 AH.
He had the honour of learning at the feet of some of the greatest scholars and Islamic personalities of the time. Amongst his teachers were: (1) Hakeemul Islam Maulana Qari Muhammad Tayyab (former principal of Darul Uloom Deoband); (2) Maulana Naseer Ahmad Khan (former Shaykhul Hadith, Darul Uloom Deoband); (3) Maulana Muhammad Salim (the son of Qari Tayyab and former principal of Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband); (4) Maulana Anzar Shah Kashmiri (the son of Hazrat Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri); (5) Maulana Muhammad Jameel Sakrodawi, and many other great scholars.
Whilst in India, he occupied himself in the service of Islam by teaching Islamic sciences at various Islamic institutes, such as Jamia Ashrafiyya Thana Bhawan and Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband . In June 1985, he was invited to the United Kingdom to serve as an Imam, Khateeb and a religious teacher at Kings Heath Masjid and Madrasah Islamia Talimuddin, Birmingham. He served there until he departed from this world. He chose to remain dedicated and loyal to his local community for approximately 36 years.
In addition to being an Imam and Khateeb, he was actively involved in disseminating Islamic knowledge through teaching, writing and issuing fatwas (religious edicts). He was a senior scholar of Hadith, Fiqh and other Islamic sciences at Jamia Islamia Birmingham, where he taught for over a decade; and hundreds of students of knowledge benefited from his vast knowledge. He was also the Shaykhul-Hadith (the most senior scholar) at Greenoak Girls’ (Islamic) School, where he taught Sahih of Imam Bukhari up until his demise. He founded ‘Daar Al-Iftaa’ at Kings Heath masjid, which became the preferred centre of fatwas for many scholars of the UK, as well as innumerable members of the Muslim community. For many Muslims, the fatwas issued by Mufti Abu Zafar (rahimahullah) were the most authoritative on any disputed issue. He also founded ‘Fiqh Council Birmingham’, which deals with various issues facing Muslim couples; where he and his students provided support and advice to couples going through various issues in their marital life.
He was a master dream interpreter. People who sought interpretation of their dreams from him have testified that his interpretation has always come true. He was also a great spiritual guide, as he was a disciple of one of the greatest scholars and spiritual guides of Bangladesh, namely, Shaykhul Islam Allamah Ahmad Shafi‘ (rahimahullah). Many people gave Bay‘ah (spiritual pledge) to him and would regularly seek guidance from him.
He wrote a few books for children, such as “Tarbiyatus-Sibyaan”, “Essential Du‘aas and Kalimahs”, etc. Fatwas issued by him have been compiled and will soon be published. InshaAllah.
Having spent a life full of hard work and dedication to Islam and Muslims, this great servant of Allah Almighty departed this fleeting world at around 10.30 am on Monday, 24th Rabi Al-Aakhir, 1443 ah (29 November 2021 ce). His Janaazah Salah was held on Wednesday in Kings Norton Cemetery, Birmingham, which was led by Shaykhul-Hadith Allamah Hafiz Mahmud Hussain and attended by hundreds of people; amongst them were some of the notable scholars of the United Kingdom, such as Shaykhul-Hadith Mawlana Saleem Dhorat and many others.
May Allah Almighty shower His mercy upon Mufti Abu Zafar, make his grave a garden of Paradise and grant him an abode in the highest place of Jannatul Firdaws. Aameen.
Written by: Abdullah Fahim