Religious scholar Maryam Jamil passes away

Lahore: Eminent religious scholar and writer, Begum Maryam Jameela, who embraced Islam after being impressed by the writings of Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi, died of heart failure here on Wednesday.

Maryam Jameela was born in a Jewish family ofNew York. After embracing Islam, she came toLahorein 1961 and was married to a JI member, Yousuf khan.

Maryam Jameela devoted all her life to the propagation of Islam. She was a prolific writer and wrote 34 books on Islam, of which “Islam in Theory and Practice”, and “Islam and Orientalism”, are widely known. All of her writings are in English.

She was laid to rest at the Sunnat Nagar graveyard in the afternoon. Her Namaz e Janaza was led by Hafiz Muhammad Idrees. JI leaders who joined the prayer included JI deputy chief, Ch. Muhammad Aslam Saleemi, Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha, Mian Maqsod Ahmed, besides hundreds of JI workers.

Ameer, JI,Pakistan, Syed Munawar Hasan, JI deputy chiefs, Prof. Ghafoor Ahmed, Ch. Muhammad Aslam Saleemi, Prof. Khurshid Ahmed, Sirajul Haq, JI Secretary General, Liqat Baloch, and other central leaders of the party have expressed deep grief over the sad demise of the deceased writer. Paying rich homage to the deceased lady, they said that she was a great lady who found out the truth after great struggle and after entering into Islam’s fold, spent all her life in the service of the Deen. The deceased lady presented Islam as a practical religion and was anxious to propagate Islam’s message to the entire humanity and to convince them of its truthfulness.

They prayed that Almighty Allah may accept the services of the deceased for Islam and rest the departed soul in eternal peace.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the sad demise of religious scholar and writer Maryam Jamil.

In a condolence message, the Chief Minister prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the members of the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.