Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi

Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi
ذو الفقار احمد نقشبندی
Emir of Mahad-ul-Faqeer Al-Islami, Jhang
In office
1988–2025
Personal life
Born(1953-04-01)1 April 1953
Died14 December 2025(2025-12-14) (aged 72)
NationalityPakistani
Main interest(s)Sufism
Alma materUniversity of Engineering and Technology, Lahore
OccupationSufi, Islamic scholar
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanafi
TariqaNaqshbandi
MovementDeobandi
Muslim leader

Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi (Urdu: ذو الفقار احمد نقشبندی; 1 April 1953 – 14 December 2025) was a Pakistani Islamic scholar and a Sufi shaykh of the Naqshbandi mystic order.[2] Naqshbandi was listed among The 500 Most Influential Muslims for 2013–2014.[2]

Naqshbandi was the founder of Mahadul-Faqir Al-Islami, Jhang[3] and was known for his association with the Deobandi school of thought. Naqshbandi delivered religious addresses in Pakistan and abroad, including India, where he spoke at institutions such as Darul Uloom Deoband and Darul Uloom Waqf, Deoband.

He was widely regarded as a credible elder of the Naqshbandi order and maintained theological positions aligned with mainstream Deobandi scholars and was noted for his extensive literary output at a time when Sufi scholarly production was considered to be in decline. He authored over one hundred books on Islamic jurisprudence, spirituality, ethics, and social issues.

Naqshbandi died on 14 December 2025 at the age of 72.[4]

Biography

In 2011, Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi travelled to India and addressed in few organized programs at Eidgah Bilali Mansab tank and Chanchalguda Junior College in Hyderabad.[5] He also spoke at programs in the Masjid Rasheed of Darul Uloom Deoband and at Darul Uloom Waqf, Deoband.[6]

In December 2018, Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi said that conspiracies against the belief of Finality of Prophethood are a matter of concern for Muslims. Ahmadis / Qadyanis must be made to follow the law of the country, and they should be removed from the key posts.[7][8]

A question asked at the Darul Ifta of Darul Uloom Deoband about Naqshbandi's reliability was answered as "Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi is a credible elderly figure of the Naqshbandi order and follows the same track as of the scholars of Deoband".[9]

Naqshbandi was among the world's The 500 Most Influential Muslims during 2013–2014.[10]

Even though Sufi intellectual output has fallen in modern times, Naqshbandi remained an exception and has published widely.[11]

Death

Zulfiqar Naqshbandi died on the morning of 14 December 2025, at the age of 72.[12][4]

Literary works

According to Worldcat.org Naqshbandi was the author of 118 books, including:[13]

  • Fiqh ke buniyādī uṣūl
  • Zād-i ḥaram
  • Nurturing the budding rose : a complete guide to the upbringing of children
  • K̲h̲avātīn-i Islām ke kārnāme
  • Ḥayāʼ aur pākdāminī
  • Ahle Dil Kay Tarpa Dainay Walay Waqiat
  • Ilm e-Nafe
  • Gunahoon Say Toba Kijiyay
  • Quran-e-Majeed kay Adbi Israr o-Ramooz
  • Tasawwuf wa Sulook
  • Hayaat-E-Habib (A biography of Peer Ghulam Habib Nashbandi R.A)
  • Ishq-E-Ilahi (Urdu)/ Love for Allah (English)

References

  1. ^ White Paper: 2000 Days of Fundamentalist and Communal Violence in Bangladesh (in Bengali). Mohakhali, Dhaka: Public Commission to Investigate Fundamentalist and Communal Terrorism. 2022. p. 112.
  2. ^ "WELCOME TO EMAHAD". emahad.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Islamic scholar Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi passes away". Etemaad Daily. 14 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Maulana Pir Zulfiqar Ahmed Naqshbandi arrives in the city". The Siasat Daily. archive.siasat.com. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Pir Zulfiqar Naqshbandi Visits Darul Uloom Deoband". deoband.net. 9 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  6. ^ "عقیدہ ختم نبوت کیخلاف سازشیں امت کیلئے لمحہ فکریہ ہیں،مولانا ذوالفقار نقشبندی" [Conspiracies against Finality a matter of concern for Muslims: Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi]. Daily Jang (in Urdu). 23 December 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Fatwa by Darul Uloom Karachi against Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi" (PDF). darululoomkarachi.edu.pk. Darul Uloom Karachi. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Reliability of Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi". darulifta-deoband.com. Darul Uloom Deoband. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  9. ^ The Muslim 500: The world’s 500 Most Influential Muslims (Issue 2013/14)
  10. ^ S. Abdallah Schleifer (2013). The Muslim 500. The American University in Cairo. p. 133.
  11. ^ Fatima, Sakina (14 December 2025). "Renowned Islamic scholar Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi passes away". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  12. ^ "au:(Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi) - Search Results". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 14 December 2025.