Obituary notes on Marhoom ALM Ibrahim Moulavi.

– Dr SLM RIFAI: UK –

It is with great sadness that I’m writing this obituary note on Marhoom A.L.M Ibrahim Moulavi who passed away today 29/03/24.  Marhoom Moulavi Ibrahim is a well-known Islamic scholar in Sri Lanka. He hails from a religious family in the Kegalle district, Sri Lanka. He was educated in one of the pioneering seats of Islamic learning  (Ghafooriya Arabic College in Maharagama), Sri Lanka.  He did not limit his learning journey to Arabic college alone but continued his special degree in Arabic and MA in Islamic studies. He was awarded a first class in Arabic at the University of Peradeniya, and he was appointed as A lecturer in Arabic and Islamic studies. He served at the University of Peradeniya for more than two decades.

Unlike many other Muslim scholars in Sri Lanka, Marhoom Ibrahim has been living as a man of mission and vision. Since he completed his Islamic learning at Ghafooria Arabic College, he has been working in the Dawa field. He served as Ameer of Sri Lankan Jamathe Islami for a long time. He has worked as an Ameer of Jamathe-Islami for more than two decades. He dedicated his life, time, energy, and wealth to the Islamic mission in Sri Lanka. He was a resilient Islamic missionary worker. He is a good reader as well. He has a good habit of reading books, and he has indeed, translated many books from Arabic to Tamil. He has translated many books of the late Moulana Maududi into Tamil. He used to give Jumma sermons in many mosques in many parts of Sri Lanka. During his time at the University of Peradeniya, he used to deliver Friday sermons regularly.  His talks, lectures, and sermons are mission-oriented.  When he was the Ameer of Jamathe-Islami, he used to give talks in the Islamic training programs across the country. He used to travel from South to North and West to East on Dawa works. When he visited Jaffna once in the 1980s on a Dawa mission, some people pelted his meeting with stones, but he did not stop his talk.  In the formative years of Jamathe-Islami, he and Jamath pioneers encountered a lot of trouble from some traditional  Muslim groups in those old days and yet, he did not give up his Islamic mission.

He has accomplished many successful projects during his time. His contribution to the progress and development of Jamathe-Islami is greater than any other work. He dedicated his life to the progress of Jamath. In those old days in the 1960s, 1970s,1980s, and 1990s, the Sri Lankan Jamathe-Islami encountered many challenges.  With his leadership skills and devotion to Dawa work, he managed to maintain the integrity of the Jamathe Islami in Sri Lanka. Today, Jamathe-Islami is one of the pioneering Islamic movements in Sri Lanka. It has been doing many social, educational, and religious work across the country. A lion’s share of credit goes to  Marhoom Moulavi ALM  Ibrahim for the rapid development of Jamath. The legacy of Marhoom Ibrahim was not confined to his dawa work alone.

He was a man of vision and mission. He was so keen to reach out to all non-Muslim communities with the peaceful message of Islam. To accomplish this mission, he translated many Islamic books into Tamil and Sinhala. He pioneered the Sinhala translation project of the Holy Qur’an. The First Sinhala Qur’an translation was done under his guidance, and he organized a special program to give copies of the Sinhala Qur’an translation to some Sinhalese leaders. Hundreds of the Holy Qur’an translation copies were given to our Sinhalese brothers through his translation project. Moreover, he established the Tanweer Academy specially to train Muslim clerics in Sinhala medium. This is one of his greatest achievements. He also established a famous Ayesha Siddiqa college for girls in Mawanella. Likewise, the establishment of Islahiyah is the brainchild of Marhoom  Moulavi Ibrahim.  Arabic  These are some of the greatest accomplishments in his life.  He left many legacies in his life. He produced many books; he has been writing for Al-Hasanath Magazine for many years.  It is beyond the scope of this short obituary note to write about his legacies.  We pray for his success in his next life, and we pray to Almighty Allah to grant him Jannat- Al-Firdaus.

As a religious scholar, he has been a sincere and pious person. He has been a man of principles and discipline. He has been serving our community in many capacities. He has participated in many debates in the old days to protect the pure Islamic doctrines from some deviated groups.

He is the beloved husband of Marhooma Fathuma Haniya Haniffa, and father of Azard, Jowher, Mujahida, Irshad, Mujahira, Muhajira, and Irfad Ibrahim. Father-in-law of Hidya, Lathis, Dr Rayes Mustafa, Jasmine Fuard, Rushdy Farook. Imran Lafir and Azima Hussan.

Janaza will take place at 4 pm in Kuppiyawatha Burial Ground, Saturday 30/3/2024.