PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has condoled the loss of renowned Turkish scholar Sheikh Mahmud Effendi who passed away on Thursday at the age of 93.
Sheikh Mahmud Effendi was hospitalized for two weeks to get treated for an infection before he died in Istanbul on Thursday. Fatih Mosque in Istanbul will hold a funeral prayer after Friday’s Jumu’ah prayer today.
Taking to Twitter, Imran Khan expressed grief and honored the Turkish scholar’s role in reviving Islam and Sunnah. He also called the death a great loss for the Ummah.
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“Saddened to learn of the passing of Shaykh Mahmud Effendi of Turkey. He revived Islam and Sunnah at a challenging time, inspiring millions of people in Turkey and around the World. A great loss for the Ummah,” Imran Khan tweeted.
Innā li-Llāhi wa inna ilayhi rāji'ūn.
Saddened to learn of the passing of Shaykh Mahmud Effendi of Turkey. He revived Islam & Sunnah at a challenging time, inspiring millions of people in #Turkey & around the World.
A great loss for the Ummah.— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 23, 2022
Important to note that Imran Khan has strongly campaigned for an Islamic form of governance in Pakistan based on the teachings of the Holy Prophet.
Remembering Sheikh Mahmud’s services
In addition to Imran Khan, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also condoled the death of Sheikh Mahmud. He wrote that he was a symbol of the revival of Islamic studies in Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate.
He further wrote that Sheikh’s devotion, piety, and love for Islamic rites were ideal, adding that the departed soul will always be remembered for his services.
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“The death of Sheikh Mahmoud Affandi is an irreparable loss for Turkey in particular and for the Islamic world in general. The spirit of Naqshbandiyya was alive in Turkey,” the JUI-F chief tweeted.
“Sheikh’s devotion, piety, and love for Islamic rites were exemplary. His services to Jalila will always be remembered. I offer my condolences to the students and relatives,” he further added.
شیخ کا تدین،تقوی اور شعائر اسلام سے محبت مثالی تھا۔ان کی خدمات جلیلہ کو ہمیشہ یاد رکھا جائے گا۔دعا گو ہوں کہ اللہ کریم شیخ کی کامل مغفرت فرمائے اور ان کو اپنے شایان شان جزاء عطاء فرمائے ۔ترک عوام،شیخ کے تلامذہ اور متعلقین سے اظہار تعزیت کرتا ہوں۔
2/2#MahmudEfendiHazretleri— Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman (@MoulanaOfficial) June 23, 2022
Sheikh Mahmud Effendi spent all of his life in the service of Islam and in a 50-year time frame, Sheikh Mahmud Effendi revived Islam and the Sunnah in Turkey and taught thousands of Ulamah and Huffadh.
The Sheikh Effendi has millions of followers and established many charitable, social, and religious organizations, including the Marifet Association, the Federation of Marifet Associations, and the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah Confederation.
News of his demise was confirmed on social media, after which condolences and prayers are being extended on his Twitter timeline.