Obituary: Professor Muhammad Mohar Ali

Professor Muhammad Mohar Ali was born in Khulna in Bengal, he was a scholar of Seerah and Hadith who had subsequently served at both the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh and the Islamic University in Madinah for for two decades, before moving to England.

Unassuming and always able to make time for others, he was known for being a practical person. A proficient carpenter, he was always in the service of his family and the local community. Professor Ali made several important contributions in the fields of Islamic history and the spread of Islam outside the Arab world in 2000 in appreciation of his four-volume work: 'A History of the Muslims of Bengal.'

His work provided an incisive new dimension to the way Muslims view contemporary issues and their historical contexts. In particular, he distinguished himself with his clear exposition of Orientalism and missionary activity, making Quranic Arabic more accessible to English speakers, and his four-volume classic titled A History of the Muslims of Bengal (1985), regarded as one of the most reliable sources on the effects of Islam on the political and cultural life of the region. Other important works he has authored include: The Quran and the Orientalists (2004); Pre-Islamic Arabia and its Socio-Religious Condition (2002); A Word for Word Meaning of the Quran (2003); Sirat Al-Nabi and the Orientalists (1997); The Bengali Reaction to Christian Missionary Activities, 1833-1857 (1965).

Important works he authored include: The Quran and the Orientalists (2004); Pre-Islamic Arabia and its Socio-Religious Condition (2002); A Word for Word Meaning of the Quran (2003); Sirat Al-Nabi and the Orientalists (1997); The Bengali Reaction to Christian Missionary Activities, 1833-1857 (1965).

He died after a long struggle with cancer and is survived by his wife, three sons and over a dozen grandchildren. The funeral prayers were held after last Friday's Jumuah prayers at the East London Mosque, London and the Professor was subsequently laid to rest at the Gardens of Peace Cemetery, Hainault, Essex. Abu Muntasir, his son, has requested anyone who may have known Dr. M. Mohar Ali to kindly forgive him any offence he may have caused with his words or deeds. He also begs all who may read or hear of his departing to ask Allah Almighty to show him mercy and grant him complete forgiveness, even if this is done with a single line of du’a, in any language.