Renowned spiritual leader Maulana Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi Mujaddidi passed away on Sunday, December 14. He was 72.
The news of his death was confirmed by Maulana Syed Muhammad Talha Qasmi Naqshbandi Mujaddidi, who said he received the information from Sheikh Bilal, a close khalifa of Maulana Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi. “I was informed about his passing by Sheikh Bilal, who was very close to Hazrat Maulana,” he said.
Born on April 1, 1953, in Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan, Maulana Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi emerged as one of the most influential contemporary scholars of the Naqshbandi Mujaddidi order. He was widely respected for his deep understanding of Islamic scholarship and his strong emphasis on spiritual reform rooted in the Quran and Sunnah.
He was the founder and patron of Jamia Mahad ul Faqir al Islami in Jhang, an institution dedicated to Islamic education, spiritual training and moral development. For several decades, he devoted his life to teaching tasawwuf, focusing on self-purification, moral discipline and strengthening one’s relationship with Allah.
In recent years, his lectures and sermons were widely shared on digital platforms and reached millions of people across the world. His messages on avoiding sin, controlling the ego, practising gratitude and self-reflection continued to circulate widely, showing his lasting influence among followers even in his later years.
His teachings on Sufism, inner reform and spiritual growth became an important source of guidance for students and devotees across South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Many religious scholars, students and followers expressed grief and paid tributes after his death.
According to people close to him, he had been suffering from a kidney-related illness for some time and was undergoing treatment. He was also known to have followers among prominent personalities, including Jamiat Ulema e Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
An official announcement regarding his funeral prayers and burial arrangements is expected from his family or representatives of the Naqshbandi Mujaddidi order.
