Lahore, Apr 14: The world of Islam lost a luminary early on Wednesday as Dr Israr Ahmed breathed his last in Lahore, Pakistan. He died of a massive cardiac arrest.
A veteran Islamic scholar, Dr Israr was suffering from back pain and heart disorders for a long time. His funeral prayers were held after Asar prayers at Central Park, Model Town, Lahore.
“Dr Israr refused to go to the hospital and Dr Aamir Aziz checked him at his residence. The renowned scholar breathed his last at 3:30am,” family sources said. Dr Israr Ahmed left behind 4 sons and 5 daughters. He authored more than 100 books. Dr Israr Ahmed also remained Nazim-e-Ala of Jamat-e-Islami during his student life. After finishing his studies, he became a member of Jamat-e-Islami; however left the party due to differences with founder of Jamat-e-Islami Syed Abu Ala Modoodi. Later, he founded a separate organisation Tanzeem-e-Islami. The deceased also headed Quran Academy. Dr Israr had a huge following in Pakistan, India and Gulf countries, especially in Saudi Arabia.
A medical doctor by profession, Dr Israr was popular for his lectures and TV debates over current Islamic issues and his grasp over Islamic history made him a front-ranking scholar of Islam.
Dr Israr Ahmad was born on April 26, 1932 in Hisar (a district of East Punjab, now a part of Haryana) in India, the second son of a government servant.
Dr Israr Ahmad was bestowed with Pakistan’s highest civilian award Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1981 for his services in the field of religion.
Dr Israr had spent the last four decades in reviving Quran-centered Islamic philosophy and staunchly believed in the establishment of an Islamic political system in the country.
He was a strong proponent of Iqbal’s ideology. His dream was to see Pakistan as a prosperous, just and peaceful Islamic state.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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