Maulana Muhammad Abdullah Tari, a prominent religious scholar and former president of Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith Jammu and Kashmir, died on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 86.
The Chenab Times has learned that Maulana Tari breathed his last at his residence in the village of Kachdoor (also referred to as Alyalpora) in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. Family sources confirmed he had been battling senile dementia and other age-related ailments for some time. His demise has evoked widespread grief in religious, academic, and social circles across the region, with many describing it as an irreparable loss to the scholarly community.
Born in 1939 in Shopian to Molvi Abdul Hamid, Maulana Tari began his career as a teacher and later served as a trainer at the District Institute of Education (DIE). After retirement, he dedicated himself fully to religious and socio-religious activities. He emerged as a key figure in Islamic scholarship, focusing on education, preaching, and community reform in line with Ahl-e-Hadith principles.
Maulana Tari held the presidency of Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith Jammu and Kashmir from 1986 to 1989, during which he guided the organisation through significant periods. He was also associated with separatist leader Shabir Shah as an aide and maintained links with broader socio-political movements, including membership in the All Parties Hurriyat Conference according to some records.
Beyond organisational roles, Maulana Tari was respected for his writings, lectures, and teachings that influenced generations of students and followers. His balanced approach to faith, rooted in the Quran and Sunnah, earned him admiration among scholars and the public alike.
Condolences poured in from various quarters following the news of his passing. Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Umar Farooq expressed profound sorrow, noting the loss of a distinguished voice of wisdom at a time when society needs such guidance. People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti described his life as devoted to knowledge, faith, and humble guidance, terming his absence the end of an era. Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith Jammu and Kashmir called his death a major blow to the religious and academic community.
Maulana Tari is survived by his son, Dr Attaullah, a veterinary doctor, and a daughter. The family resides in Aliyalpora, Shopian.
The Chenab Times News Desk