Diplomats, friends pay tribute to late Pakistan-origin imam of Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah

ISLAMABAD: Diplomats, friends and members of Pakistani community residing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday paid a heartfelt tribute to Imam Sheikh Muhammad bin Khalil Al-Qari, who belonged to the South Asian country and recently passed away in the kingdom where he led the Taraweeh prayers at the Grand Mosque in Madinah for years.

Al-Qari’s father, Sheikh Muhammad Khalil, moved to Saudi Arabia from Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, in 1963. The late imam was widely recognized as a top scholar of Islam and many of his students have also gained tremendous respects as Muslim intellectuals around the world.

Al-Qari was born in Makkah in 1972, memorized the Holy Qur’an in the same city, and received recitation training from his father. Later, he pursued education at the University of Madinah to strengthen his knowledge of Islam further.

During his spiritual journey, Al-Qari served as an imam of Al-Hussein Mosque in Madinah before assuming the same responsibility at the Quba Mosque. He started leading the Taraweeh prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan since 2016.

“Al-Qari has left behind a profound legacy in the Islamic world,” Hamzah Gilani, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s consulate in Jeddah, told Arab News.

He expressed his condolences and maintained that the late imam’s passing was an immense loss for the whole Muslim world.

“He was well-respected and revered for his profound knowledge of the Qur’an and its eloquent recitation,” Gilani continued.

He said Al-Qari’s impactful presence in the region earned him a lot of respect and admiration, adding that his absence would be sorely felt.

“It is worth mentioning that Sheikh Muhammad bin Khalil Al-Qari was of Pakistani origin and presented the best image of the country in the kingdom,” he said.

Khalid Al-Asadi, a close friend of the late imam, fondly remembered him not only as a great scholar and reciter but also as an exceptional human being.

“To achieve recognition in an Arab society for a non-Arab in the field of recitation is a great achievement which he earned through his hard work and dedication,” he told Arab News.

Having spent considerable personal time together, Al-Asadi recounted the honor of saying his prayers behind the imam.

“When Saudi citizens listened to his recitation, they got deeply impressed,” he said. “They admired him immensely, and often stood in awe to give him respect.”

Wajid Khan, who belongs to Muzaffarabad and has a close association with Al-Qari’s family, said the late imam was a dignified, patient and hospitable person.

“He used to give a lot of respect to all those who visited him from Muzaffarabad and he was a wonderful host,” Khan told Arab News. “His whole family has a lot of following and respect in Azad Jammu and Kashmir where his demise has been mourned.”

Another close friend, Dr. Talha Rasikh Al-Kashmiri, from Madinah spoke about Al-Qari’s roots, saying that all the sons of Sheikh Khalil gained popularity due to their closeness with the Holy Qur’an.

“Sheikh Khalil’s family was like an ambassador of Pakistan, and due to its reputation, the country earned a good name,” he told Arab News. “Many Arabs and foreigners were eager to hear his recitation. They also made special arrangements to hold Taraweeh and other prayer congregations for the purpose.”