Death Of A Great Bangladeshi Muslim Scholar
Repots have come through news papers and web -mails of the death of respected
scholar and thinker Professor Mohar Ali in his sleep in London on Wednesday
morning aged 80 . Born in Khulna in Bangladesh,he was a scholar of history ,
Seerah( historical account of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (sm ) and Hadith
. He was a Professor of History at the Islamic Universities of Madinah and
Riyadh for two decades before moving to England. .
Shaykh Mohar Ali made several important contributions to the fields of Islamic
history and the spread of Islam outside the Arab world. His work provided an
incisive new dimension to the way Muslims view contemporary issues and their
historical contexts. He distinguished himself with his clear exposition of
Orientalism .his four-volume classic titled A History of the Muslims of Bengal
(1985), is regarded as one of the most reliable sources on the effects of
Islam on the political and cultural life of the region. His other works 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 was buried at Gardens of Peace
Cemetery, Essex, UK.
We mourn the death of this great son of Islam.He was one of the major scholars
on history and Islam produced in the sub-continent. He was neglected in the
country of his birth. With death, we hope his scholarly contribution will come
to the fore and he will be given due honour. His historical works should be
translated by the Bangla Academy .and his Islamic contributions should be
translated and published by the Islamic Foundation. (editorial of Asia Post,
Dhaka,16.4.07)
