إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
It is with great sadness that we wish to inform you that Allama Khalid Mahmud sahib, founder of Islamic Academy of Manchester, and world renowned scholar has passed away today on 20th Ramadan.
.Please pray for Allama sahib and the family
At this difficult time, please be mindful of restrictions due to COVID-19 and need for social distancing and also respect the privacy of the family.
Obituary
Allama Khalid Mahmud was born in Syalkot, Pakistan. He began his education in Gujranwala/Gujarkhan before travelling to Dar ul Uloom Deoband and finally to Dhabel where he graduated as an Alim having studied under Ulema of the calibre of Allamah Sulayman Nadwi, Moulana Khayr Muhammad Jaalandhari, Mufti Muhammad Shafi and Allamah Idrees Khandelwi (may Allah have mercy on them all) during his travels. He then taught at Murray College, Syalkot as a Professor before joining Tanzeem Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’at and also wrote for its magazine, “Da’wat”. In 1966, Allama Khalid Mahmud came to the U.K. and was amongst the first Imams in Birmingham based at the mosque that was established at Speedwell Road in Edgbaston, and also had some involvement at Birmingham Central Mosque. He obtained a PhD in Comparative Religion from University of Birmingham. He later moved to Manchester, and established The Islamic Academy of Manchester (in 1974) where great personalities such as Moulana Yusuf Motala (rh) worked along side him (before establishing Dar ul Uloom Bury) and it is reported that Shaykh Asif Husain Farooqi Sahib (daamat barakaatuhum) would also sit in his talks.
He was formerly a senior member of the Sharia Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and was world-renowned as a munazir and debater. He had debated with the biggest personalities of many deviant sects and astonishingly it is reported that he participated in his first debate at the age of just 12 with a Qadiani senior old enough to be his great grandfather. He also debated with the official Mujtahids of the Shia in Lukhnow and also debated with the senior students Moulana Nazeer Husain, one of the greatest elders of the Ahle Hadith. This is in addition to his famous victory over senior Barelwi Scholars of the UK in 1979 in Sheffield.
Allama Khalid Mahmud was famed for his unique insight, razor sharp mind and piercing intellect. But not many know that Allah had also endowed him with a photographic memory and as such, he never took any notes during his entire time in Dar ul Uloom. Even in his later years, he once related that as soon as something enters his ears, he never forgets it. He authored over 100 books including an 8 volume masterpiece on Barelwism entitled Mutala-e-Barelwiat, Athar ut Tanzeel (on the topic of the sceince of Tafsir), Athar ul Hadith (on the topic of the sceince of Hadith), Athar ut Tashree (on the topic of the sceince of Fiqh), Athar ul Ihsan (on the topic of the sceince of Tasawwuf), Khulafa e Rashideen (on the topic of the continuation of Islam after the passing of Sayyiduna Rasulullah, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), Abqaat (similar to Bawaadir un Nawaadir of Hakeem ul Ummat, rahmatullahialayh) and many others. He also has Ijazah in the Qadri Silsilah and descends from a long line of Shaykhs.
Allama Khalid Mahmud was over 90 years of age and we pray Allah subhanahu wata allah grant him the highest ranks in jannat.
