Moulana Yunus Patel passes away

Moulana Yunus Patel of Durban, South Africa passed away in the Haram of Makkah Mukarramah on the night of 10 Sha’baan 1432 AH/12 July 2011.

Sayyidunaa Anas bin Malik (radiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever passes away in either of the two Holy Masjids (Makkah al-Mukarramah & Madeenah al-Munawwarah), he will be resurrected amongst those who are saved from all fear and punishment on the day of Qiyaamah. And whoever visits me in Madeenah al-Munawwarah, he will be next to me on the day of Qiyaamah” (Bayhaqi, Hadith #: 3861)

Moulana Yunus’s (rahimahullah) life was spent in the service of Islam and his fellow man, particularly in educating and helping people in self-reformation and linking them to Allah Ta’ala.
He was born in 1945 in the KwaZulu-Natal town of Stanger. His role model was Haaji Bhai Padia (rahimahullah). He encouraged Moulana Yunus to become an ‘aalim.

Moulana Yunus (rahimahullah) narrated his story… “One day in 1962, when Haaji Bhai just began his efforts of Tabligh, an announcement was written on the notice board in Grey Street Masjid (Durban, South Africa) that Haaji Goolam Muhammad Padia will be delivering a lecture. After completion of the lecture, Haaji Bhai called for help but nobody stood up. So I, a 17 year old boy at the time, together with Haaji Bhai’s father-in-law and another elderly man volunteered. On another occasion, I decided to accompany Haaji Bhai to sleep in the Umzinto Masjid (Durban) as he was going to be sleeping alone in the masjid. For hours that night, Haaji Bhai kept busy in Tahajjud crying before Allah.

We travelled from Durban to Escourt, then to Ladysmith and further on to Johannesburg. At every town, Haaji Bhai implored the people regarding the importance of Deen, however nobody was interested to assist. Throughout the journey, it was Haaji Bhai’s crying of two hours every night that never stopped.”
In the early 1960s Moulana Yunus was one from among the early group of youth who travelled to Darul Uloom Deoband, India, to pursue the studies of Deen.

Upon his return, he served the community of Mooiriver as an Imaam and teacher. Moulana Yunus (rahimahullah) felt a need for this as at the time there was not a single ‘aalim serving the Muslim communities between Pietermaritzburg and Newcastle (Northern Natal, South Africa). Even though people in the Transvaal offered him a much higher salary together with house, lights and water, the need of Deen took him to the cold town of Mooiriver.

After approximately four years, he moved back to Durban and was instrumental in establishing the first offices of the Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) upon the insistence of Maulana Ansari (rahimahullah). For decades thereafter, Maulana Yunus (rahimahullah) served the Ummah under the auspices of the organisation and subsequently was the secretary general and later the president of the Jamiatul Ulama (KZN).  In 1982 Moulana Yunus Patel established a girls’ Madrasah in Asherville, Durban. His concern was always the Deen of the people.

Moulana Yunus Patel (rahimahullah) was buried after Fajr, 11 Sha’baan 1432 AH/13 July 2011 in Jannatul Mualla amongst the great Sahaabah and Sahaabiyyaat (raadhiyallahu anhum) like Khadeejah (radhiyallahu anha),etc. Salaatul Janaazah was performed by Shaykh Sa’oud Shuraim in the Haram Shareef of Makkah al-Mukarramah.

May Allah enlighten his qabr and grant him high stages of al Firdous!