Jalaluddin Umri, former Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, and former Vice President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, died Friday in New Delhi. He was 87.
“The Indian Muslim Community has today lost one of its prominent and outstanding leaders with the demise of Moulana Jalaluddin Umri, renowned Islamic Scholar and former Ameer, Jama’at-e-Islami Hind,” wrote T Arifali, national general secretary of JIH.
Umri was born in 1935 in a village called Puttagram, District of North Arcot, Tamil Nadu, British India. He was a graduate of Jamia Darussalam, Oomerabad, Tamil Nadu. He recieved a master’s degree in Islamic Studies from Jamia Darussalam. He also received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Aligarh Muslim University.
Jalaluddin Umri began his association with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind during his student years. After completing his studies, he dedicated himself to its research department. He officially became its member in 1956. He served as the city Ameer of Jama’at of Aligarh for a decade, and the editor of its monthly Zindagi-e-Nau for five years. Later, the Jama’at elected him to its All-India deputy Ameer, which he served for four consecutive terms (sixteen years). In 2007, the Jama’at’s Central Council of Representatives elected him its Ameer (Chief). He was again re-elected as Jama’at’s Ameer in 2011. Jalaluddin Umri has been elected as Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind for the fourth term (April 2015 – March 2019).
Author of more than two dozen books, Maulana Umari was born in 1935 in a village called Puttagram in the North Arcot district, Tamil Nadu, India. He has been the president (Ameer) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind for the three consecutive terms from 2007-2019.
He completed Alimiat and fazilat (Masters in Islamic studies) from Jamia Darussalam, Omerabad, Tamil Nadu. He obtained his baccalaureate (Munshi Fazil) in Persian from the Madras University. He also received a B.A (English) from Aligarh Muslim University.
Maulana Umari was rendering his valuable services as the chairman of the JIH Shariah Council since 2019. He was also Vice President All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a premier umbrella body of Indian Muslims. He was also the founder Editor of the quarterly Islamic research journal – Tehqeeqat-e-Islami since 1982.
Being a noted Islamic scholar, educationist, researcher, orator, and author Maulana Umari has penned over 40 books in the Urdu language and contributed hundreds of research articles in various journals and magazines, on various topics including Islamic doctrines, Islamic jurisprudence, Dawah, Islamic social system, human rights, contemporary challenges and political issues. Later, a large number of books were translated into various languages from the original Urdu ones which include:
01) Ma’roof-o-Munkar
02) Inviting to Islam
03) Woman and Islam
04) Muslim Woman: Role and Responsibilities
05) Rights of Muslim Women – A Critique of the Objections
06) Submission to God Glory to man.
07) Islam and Unity of Mankind
08) Of the Weak, Oppressed, and Islamic Shield
09) Islam: The Religion of Dawah
10) State of Our Community and Nation and Our Responsibilities.
11) Muslim Women and Economic Enterprise
12) Social Service in Islam
13) Islamic Solution to Human Issues.