MAWLANA MUHAMMAD TAHA KARAAN

MUSLIM UMMAH HAS LOST AN OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR

This morning carried an extremely appalling news that indeed immobilized me for a couple of minutes. The news printed in the letterhead of the Muslim Judicial Council of Cape Town, South Africa and signed by its Secretary General sent a dreadful shock wave, saying that Mawlana Muhammad Taha Karaan is no more.

In fact I have no words to express my feelings, grief and dismay at the moment. I am content with Allah’s destiny and say ‘Innaa lillahi wa-innaa ilaihi raajioon’.

Mawlana Muhammad Taha Karaan’s passing away is not a simple loss that can be recovered so easily. It has certainly created a prodigious void in the religious, social and academic arenas. He was an extraordinarily multitalented personality and an exceedingly multifaceted Shari’ah scholar. He excelled in all his studies surprisingly and displayed his skills in his profession.

Mawlana Taha Karaan was a very well read person. He was formidably well informed on the disciplines he studied and the subjects he dealt with. The plethora of knowledge he gained through in-depth reading and meticulous researches and the vast experience he possessed through practice enabled him to apparently stand up to any giants.

The whole of South Africa recognized the scholarly background of Mawlana Taha Karaan. He was the Chief Mufti of the Muslim Judicial Council, Cape Town and an executive member of the Muslim Personal Law Board of South Africa. He served in the Islamic Advisory Council of ABSA, South Africa.

Mawlana Taha Karaan leaves behind a great deal of students who studied under him and his guidance in the Dar Al-Uloom Al-Arabiyyah Al-Islamiyyah which he founded in Strand, Cape Town.

My memories go back to 2009. Mawlana Taha Karaan came to Sri Lanka on an invitation from here in this year. During his stay in Sri Lanka he paid a visit to my hometown Puttalam on Thursday 06.08.2009 on my invitation. I, together with some ulama brothers in Puttalam, made an arrangement for ulama in and around Puttalam to have an interaction with Mawlana Taha Karaan. During this pleasant gathering he delivered a very useful lecture on ‘Shari’ah Studies and General Studies’. The Lecture was ample testimony to his versatility. I vividly recollect every minute I spent with him during his stay in Puttalam. We together enjoyed a few minutes in the Puttalam beach. He was eagerly gathering information from me about myself, my schooling, my higher studies and the works authored by me and the Centre for Spiritual Solidarity of which I am the director and founding father. The moments we had with Mawlana in our Centre elated him as we had a revolutionary plan in our vision, mission and activities and he was happy to note the achievements of our Centre. Some of the photos are uploaded here to recall his Puttalam visit.

Mawlana Taha Karaan was a sharp thinker and had a revolutionary plan in madrasah studies. I know this because he and I exchanged our views and experiences in this respect in the course of our meeting in Puttalam. He had a great vision and a clear mission. I am sure the vision and mission he had in his heart and mind will not be buried with him. But his students and disciples will take them forward.

I am penning these lines with a heavy heart. I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the bereaved family of Mawlana Taha Karaan, especially his loving wife and kids. My heart goes out to Mawlana’s kith and kin, students and disciples and the Dar Al-Uloom Al-Arabiyyah Al-Islamiyyah and the Muslim Judicial Council.

May Allah, the Exalted, forgive Mawlana, accept the good deeds done by him and the religious, educational and social services rendered by him and reward him in full! May Allah Azza Wajalla make his final journey pleasant and happy, accept the intercession of his good acts and grant him the highest status in Jannat Al-Firdaws! May Allah Ta’ala grant Mawlana’s dear and near ones patience and fortitude! May Almighty Allah grant everyone in Mawlana’s family speedy recovery and protect them from diseases and pandemics!

Haniffa Abdul Nazar
Director, Centre for Spiritual Solidarity
Director, Abdul Majeed Academy

29.10.1442
11.06.2021