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South African leaders, Members of Parliament, and Islamic institutions pay rich tributes to the founding patron of international seminaries following his funeral in Sultanpur Sharif.
By SAYED RIDHWAAN MOHAMED
A solemn wave of grief has swept across the global Muslim world and throughout South Africa following the sad news from Pakistan of the passing of Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Hadith Allamah Pir Sayed Hasin ud Deen Shah Sahib (RA). The revered Islamic scholar, Patron-in-Chief of Tanzeem-ul-Madaris Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan, and founder of the global Jamia Rizvia Zia-ul-Uloom network passed away, leaving behind a monumental 75-year legacy of classical scholarship, spiritual mentorship, and humanitarian service.
South African leadership and parliamentarians pay tribute
From the halls of Parliament to local Islamic seminaries, South African leadership has united in paying tribute to a figure widely regarded as a spiritual architect of classical Islamic learning in the country.
In official condolence messages, South African Members of Parliament expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
Imraan Subrathie MP, representing the African National Congress (ANC), described Hazrat Shah Sahib as “a great luminary of knowledge, wisdom, and spirituality” who dedicated nearly three-quarters of a century to serving Islam, noting that thousands of South Africans continue to benefit from institutions nurtured under his guidance.
Echoing these sentiments, Imraan Moosa MP, from Al Jama-ah, highlighted Shah Sahib’s lasting imprint on South African Muslim society through his students, khulafa, and institutions that instil the core values of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah.
From the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Leader of the Opposition Muhammad Khalid Sayed ANC MPP, issued a formal message of condolence to the bereaved family in Pakistan, including Hazrat Allama Sayed Inam-ul-Haq Shah Sahib, Hazrat Allama Sayed Habib-ul-Haq Shah Sahib, and senior scholar Mufti Muhammad Hanif Qureshi Sahib.
Reflecting on his academic research into Shah Sahib’s legacy, Sayed stated: “Through direct dialogue with leadership at Darul Uloom Pretoria and CTIEC Cape Town, I have witnessed firsthand how Qibla Shah Sahib’s visionary work provided a permanent anchor for classical scholarship, civic dignity, and religious guidance for our South African Muslims.”
Tributes from religious institutions
Leading religious authorities across South Africa have expressed profound grief over Shah Sahib’s demise.
In Gauteng, senior scholars Hazrat Mufti Mohammad Akbar Hazarvi and Hazrat Moulana Ismail Hazarvi of Darul Uloom Pretoria described his passing as an irreparable loss to the global Islamic academic fraternity.
In the Western Cape, Khalifa Moulana Sayed Imraan Shah Ziyaee of CTIEC Zia-ul-Uloom Cape Town, together with Mufti Sayed Haroon Al Azhari, President of the Cape Town Ulama Board, honoured Shah Sahib’s lifelong defence of sacred sciences, his steadfast defence of the finality of Prophethood (Khatm-e-Nabuwwat), and his efforts in creating learning centres that educate the future Ulama.
Many highlighted Shah Sahib’s global reach, referencing his oversight of over 150 affiliated organisations and educational institutions stretching across South Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Further condolences and tributes have poured in from major socio-religious bodies and spiritual centres across the country, including the Saaberie Chishty Society, Soofie Saheb Darbaar, Khanqah Saabri Jilani Sufi Mission SA, Bazme Chirag Faqir Chishti International, and Madressa Zia ul Uloom Phoenix, joining hundreds of Islamic organisations worldwide in honouring his life and legacy.
Early life and noble lineage
Born on 26 Ramadan 1352 AH (January 11, 1934) in Sultanpur Sharif, Pakistan, Pir Sayed Hasin ud Deen Shah Sahib belonged to the noble Husseini Kazmi Saadat family, direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ ).
He completed his initial studies under his father, Faqeeh-ul-Asr Allama Peer Sayed Zia-ud-Din Shah, and memorised the Quran by age ten.
In 1954, he completed his Dars-e-Nizami and earned top authorisation (ijazah) in Hadith sciences under Muhaddis-e-Azam Pakistan, Allama Sardar Ahmed.
A life of principled leadership and defending the faith
At just 19 years old, Shah Sahib led a delegation during the 1953 Khatme Nabuwat movement, enduring three months of imprisonment in Shah Pur District Jail. Decades later, he represented orthodox scholars in a pivotal debate against Dr. Fazlur Rahman Malik, Director General of the Islamic Research Institute, which led directly to Rahman’s resignation.
A respected national leader, Shah Sahib repeatedly served as Senior Vice-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat and Chief Patron of Tanzeem-ul-Madaris Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan.
The historic South African connection
Shah Sahib’s deep ties to South Africa began in 1968 when pioneer local students travelled aboard the SS Karanja to study at his seminary in Rawalpindi.
Following his first nationwide tour of South Africa in 1978, his graduates returned home to establish key institutions across the country, including Darul Uloom Pretoria, Saabiri Chisty Zia-ul-Uloom in Lenasia, Madressa Zia-ul-Uloom in Durban, and CTIEC Zia-ul-Uloom in Cape Town.
Educational empire and humanitarian relief
Founded in 1964, Jamia Rizvia Zia-ul-Uloom expanded under Shah Sahib from a modest room into a multi-campus university network, alongside Jamia Amina Zia-ul-Banaat for female Islamic scholars.
Parallel to his academic work, Shah Sahib directed extensive welfare efforts—constructing 37 mosques and assisting thousands after the 2005 earthquake, supporting flood and conflict victims, and establishing the Al-Madina Charitable Hospital in Islamabad to offer free healthcare to the underprivileged.
Final rites and global memorials
The formal Namaz-e-Janazah (funeral prayer) for Hazrat Pir Sayed Hasin ud Deen Shah Sahib took place on Saturday, August 8, 2026, in Sultanpur Sharif, Pakistan. A massive congregation comprising senior Ulama, spiritual leaders, dignitaries, and international delegations gathered to pay their final respects.
In South Africa, some of the Shafi’i followers and lovers are organising absentee funeral prayers (Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janazah) while memorial gatherings (Eisal-e-Sawab) are being conducted across major cities, including Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
South African Muslims join the global Ummah in praying that Almighty Allah grants Shah Sahib the highest station in Jannat-ul-Firdaus and grants patience (Sabr-e-Jameel) to his family, students, and millions of followers worldwide.
