Shabbir Ali mourns Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi’s death, hails legacy of Islamic and modern education reform
Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader and Telangana Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir has expressed profound grief over the passing of Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi, a revered Islamic scholar and educationist, who breathed his last on Sunday.
In a detailed condolence message, Shabbir Ali described Maulana Vastanvi as a trailblazer whose contributions to Islamic and modern education marked a turning point in the empowerment of the Muslim community. “He was a reformer with a vision — one who merged the traditional with the contemporary, creating institutions that will continue to inspire generations,” he said.
Shabbir Ali paid tribute to Maulana Vastanvi’s pioneering work as the founder and rector of Jamia Islamia Ishaatul Uloom in Akkalkuwa, Maharashtra. Under his leadership, the institution established India’s first MCI-recognised medical college managed by a Muslim minority trust — a milestone in bridging faith-based education and professional advancement.
“He showed the country that madarsas can be centres of both Islamic learning and modern academic excellence,” said Shabbir Ali, recalling the late scholar’s commitment to social upliftment through education.
Reflecting on his personal connection with Maulana Vastanvi, Shabbir Ali recalled that the scholar had inaugurated the Kashiful Uloom madrasa in Kamareddy, Telangana — a project close to his heart. “We often exchanged ideas about integrating modern academic training into madarsa curricula. We shared a belief that religious education must go hand in hand with contemporary knowledge,” he said.
He also recalled how Maulana Vastanvi had lobbied the Union Health Ministry under Ghulam Nabi Azad to secure recognition for the medical college, driven by his mission to bring quality education to underprivileged Muslim youth.
Calling him “an institution in himself,” Shabbir Ali described Maulana Vastanvi as a humble and wise leader whose contributions transcended religious boundaries. “His passing leaves a void not just in the Muslim community but in the nation’s educational and spiritual landscape,” he added.
Offering his condolences to the bereaved family, students, and all those influenced by the Maulana’s work, Shabbir Ali prayed for his maghfirah and elevation in the hereafter. “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. We have lost a true servant of faith, knowledge, and humanity,” he said.