Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Shafee Okarvi r.a

Mujad-did-e-Maslak-e-Ahle Sunnat, ‘Aashiq-e-Rasool, Khateeb-e-A’zam Pakistan Reviver of the True Sunni path, Passionate Lover of the Beloved Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam), The Greatest Orator of Pakistan.

HAZRAT MAULANA MUHAMMAD SHAFEE OKARVI Rahmatul Laahi ‘Alaieh (May Allaah have mercy on him) Brief outline of his Biography

(Maulana Haafiz) Muhammad Shafee Okarvi Father’s Name Haaji Shaiekh Karam Ilaahi son of Shaiekh Allaah Dittaa son of Shaiekh Imaam-ud-deen (May Allaah have mercy on them) who belonged to a respectable business family of Punjab.Date of Birth (2 Ramadaan ul Mubaarak 1348 A.H) February 2, 1930 Place of Birth Khem Karan, East Punjab (India).Education Middle school, and in religious education completed Dars-e-Nizaami and courses of Hadees-o-Tafseer.

Discipleship and Allegiance Shaiekh-ul-Mashaaikh Hazrat Peer Miyaan Ghulaam-ul-laah Saahib Sharq Puri (May Allaah have mercy on him) known as Saani Saahib Qiblah, younger brother Shayr-e-Rabbaani A’laa Hazrat Miyaan Shayr Muhammad Saahib Sharq Puri (May Allaah have mercy on him) (Silsilah Aaliyah Naqsh Bandiyah Mujadi-di-yah). (Hazrat Miyaan Shayr Muhammad Saahib Sharq Puri (May Allaah have mercy on him) had given the good news to Haaji Miyaan Karam Ilaahi about the Maulana’s excellences and perfection before his birth. His parents had also viewed and mentioned auspicious dreams.

In 1947 after migrating from India he came to Okara and with his father built Masjid Ghausiyah in the town Okara.
The honorable Maulana received religious education and on completion was awarded certificates for the courses of Dars-e-Nizaami and Hadees-o-tafseer from Shaiekh-ul- Hadees Wat-Tafseer, Hazrat Shaiekh-ul-Qur’aan Allamah Maulana Ghulaam Ali Saahib Ashrafi Okarvi and Shaiekh ul Hadees Wat-Tafseer Ghazaali-e-Dauraan Hazrat Allamah Maulana Saiyyid Ahmad Sa’eed Saahib Kaazimi, of Madrissah Arabiyah Islaamiyah Anwaar-ul-uloom, Multan.
Started addressing Friday prayer at Jaame Masjid Muhaajireen, Montgomery, (Sahiwal) and remained as the head of the Islaamiyaat Section at Birla High School, Okara.
1952-53 the honorable Maulana took active part in the tahreek-e-Khatm-e-Nubuwwat (Finality of Prophethood Movement) only for the respect and sovereignty of Saiyyid-ul-‘Aalameen (the Master of the Universes), Khatmi-e-Martabat (the Last Prophet) Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam.

He was an influential person of District Montgomery (Sahiwal) and Punjab. The Government arrested him. He remained in Montgomery prison for 10 months. During this period of imprisonment his first two sons Muneer Ahmad, 3 years old and Tanveer Ahmad 11/4 year, both died within a week. They were his first two sons. Due to their death his family conditions were very distressed. Some influential people met the Deputy Commissioner of Montgomery and made recommendations for him. The Deputy Commissioner visited the prison. Met the imprisoned people and especially called the honorable Maulana in privacy and told him; “Due to the sudden death of your children the conditions of your family are not good. I have received many recommendations for you. You sign the letter of apology. Your apology letter will be kept hidden from the public. And only today you will be released.”

The honorable Maulana replied; “I have worked for the respect and honor of the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam) and it is my belief that the Holy Prophet Saiyyidinaa Muhammad (Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam) is the Last Prophet of Allaah Ta’aalaa, therefore; the question of asking for apology does not even arise. The children have passed away; even if my life is also taken away I will still remain steadfast on my belief and will not ask for any apology.” On this reply the Government became very furious, and more hardships were given to him. Therefore; under Section 3 he was kept in lockup and there were more restrictions and strictness even on visitations etc. Till the end he tolerated all the troubles with patience and steadfastness.

During his stay in Okara, the honorable Maulana always prominently participated in holy, religious, national, and social welfare activities.In 1955 due to immense persistence of the religious circle of Karachi he came to Karachi.And in 1956 he became the Khateeb and Imaam of the biggest central masjid of Karachi, Memon Masjid (Bolton Market) Karachi.And till the end all day and night with heart and soul he remained busy in the preaching of Deen and the Sunni Path.

After the Imaamat and Khitaabat of Memon Masjid, he performed honorary obligations of Khitaabat and kept leading the Friday prayers for nearly three years at Jaame Masjid Eidgah Maidaan, for two years and four months at Jaame Masjid Aaram Bagh and for twelve years at Noor Masjid near Jubilee Cinema.

In 1972 the honorable Maulana laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Masjid in Doli Khata, Gulistan-e-Okarvi (Soldier Bazaar), Karachi on a piece of land which was reserved for masjid for the last 100 years and started honorary Khitaabat. Established its trust, by the name of Gulzar-e-Habeeb(Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam) Trust.The honorable Maulana was its founder and the president. Under the management of this trust, Jaame Masjid-e-Gulzar-e-Habeeb and Jaami’ah Islaamiyah Gulzar-e-Habeeb are under construction.Every night regularly for forty years, the honorable Maulana addressed religious gatherings. His academic qualification, beauty of describing, melodiousness and the quality of oration were very unique and therefore; loved by every heart. In every congregation there would be a gathering of thousands and millions of people.In the month of Muharram-ul-Haraam the largest religious gathering in the country on the eve of Shab-e-‘Aashuur (10th night of Muharram) would be the congregation of oration by the honorable Maulana. There is hardly any area in Pakistan where the honorable Maulana had not satisfied hearts and souls with his oration.For the preaching of religion and the true Sunni path, the honorable Maulana traveled to Far East, Middle East, India, Palestine, South Africa, Mauritius and many other countries around the World.Till 1980 only in South Africa, 100,000 cassettes of Maulana’s speeches were sold. The quantity of sold cassettes in other countries is also not small. And now the video cassettes of his speeches are also widely distributed.The honorable Maulana Okarvi is the author of many books which are based on his oceanic knowledge, academic research work and religious intelligence on the love of the holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam) these are seen in religious circles with great respect. Each book is still printed in millions and is still very popular. These are their names:On 16th October 1962, in the area of Khadda Market in Karachi, under a conspiracy due to conflicting beliefs some people merely being the victims of prejudice did brutal assassination attack on the honorable Maulana Okarvi with knives and daggers during his speech, due to which he received very serious wounds on his neck, shoulders, head and back.

After two days in Civil Hospital Karachi, while giving his statement to the police officer the honorable Maulana said, “I have no personal grudge with anyone. Nor I am a criminal. If I did any crime it is only this that I preach the religion of Islam and do praise and glorification of Saiyyid-ul-‘Aalameen (Master of all the Universes’), Muhsin-e-Insaaniyat (the benefactor of humanity), Huzoor Rahmat-ul-lil Aalameen (Mercy of the Universes) (Sallal Laahu‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam). I do not want to take any revenge from anyone and nor do I want to do any thing against the attackers. My blood has been shed unnecessarily. My Allaah, Rabb-e-Kareem accepts this and makes this mediation for my salvation. I forgive the attackers. Whereas, for establishing peace you people do what is appropriate so that this kind of incident does not take place again.”

He did not appoint any lawyer for this case, nor did he follow any hearings. Only as a witness he gave his statement. It was only a miracle that his life was saved during this attack. The next morning on October 17, in Karachi, the first edition of English newspaper the “Daily news” started publishing. Its big headline was about the news of the assassination attempt on him. The honorable Maulana stayed under treatment in the hospital for two and a half month and after coming out of the hospital again got busy in preaching religion. There was severe protest in the country against this assassination attempt.

In 1970 the honorable Maulana contested as a candidate for the member of National Assembly’s Seat from Karachi’s biggest constituency. He took part in the election against the sudden incursion of Socialism and was elected the member of the National Assembly.

The Honorable Maulana was the Leader of the Movement of Nizaam-e-Mustafa (Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam) (Prophetic Religion i.e. Islaam). Whatever status and prestige this Movement has attained today in it his services and good efforts remain as the important foundation and position.

The honorable Maulana was blessed sixteen times with the auspiciousness of the journey of Hajj, Ziyaarat and ‘Umrah.

In 1974 for the first time the honorable Maulana had the complain of heart attack but he did not reduce his proceedings of preaching and organizing services instead with even more passion and zeal kept raising the slogans of truth all around the world.In the city of Karachi on behalf of ‘Ahle Sunnat Wa Jamaa’at the honorable Maulana started the 10 days Majaalis-e-Muharram and the series of organizing congregations and processions of Jashan-e-Eid Meelaad-un-Nabee (Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam).

More than 3000 people converted to Islaam on the hands of the honorable Maulana. And the beliefs and actions of millions of people have been corrected.The honorable Maulana (May Allaah have mercy on him) in all the Salaasil-e-Tareeqat (all chains of the spiritual doctrine) had the ijaazat (permission) and got khilaafat (Caliphate) from many Great holy personalities. His Mureeds (disciples) are found in quantity of thousands around the World.The honorable Maulana established in South Africa, Anjuman Ahl-e-Sunnat Wa Jamaa’at.The honorable Maulana established in Pakistan Sunni Tableeghi Mission, Anjuman-e-Muhibbaan-e-Sahaabah Wa Ahle-Baiet, Tanzeem A’immah Wa Khutaba Masaajid-e-Ahle Sunnat and many other organizations. In 38 years the honorable Maulana Khateeb-e- A’zam Pakistan (Greatest Orator of Pakistan) did more than 18,000 speeches on hundreds of topics, till now which is a world record. (this counting is only of the huge gatherings)• In March1984 the honorable Maulana went to Sharq Pur Shareef, visited the shrine of his Peer-o-Murshid. This also proved to be his last visit.On April 20th , 1984 he made his last speech at the congregation of Jum’ah prayer at Jaame Masjid Gulzar-e-Habeeb, (Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi wa Sallam). On the same evening the honorable Maulana had a severe heart attack third time and was admitted in the National Institute of Cardio Vascular Disease

On Tuesday 21st Rajab-ul- Muraj-jab, 1404 A.H i.e. April 24th , 1984 at the age of 55, went to meet the True Creator. In-naa Lil-Laahi-Wa-In-naa-llaiehi-Raaji’oon (To Allaah we belong and to Him we return)

To extend and expand the marvelous memories and memorable noble services of the honorable Maulana for religion, Muslim Ummah, the country and for humanity, on Friday the 27th of April 1984 the Maulana Okarvi Academy (Al –A’lami) was established, which by the grace of AlMighty Allaah Kareem is working prominently around the world.