Sheezan Muntazir
The night before Jumu’ah was not an ordinary night for Kashmir. It was the night when a Catastrophe hit Kashmir silence fell over the valley. A night when hearts broke quietly, and the sky, perhaps, wept with us. It was the night when Agha Syed Mohammad Baqir Al-Najafi (RA), the beacon of knowledge, humility, and guidance, left this world — leaving behind a legacy that words may never fully capture.
It’s hard to write when the heart is full. Words stumble, hands tremble, and thoughts refuse to settle — how does one even begin to speak about someone whose absence now speaks louder than anything else?
It is not easy to write about a man like Agha Baqir Sahib in the past tense. For those who knew him — even from afar — he was more than a scholar. He was a fatherly figure, a spiritual guide, and a living example of the values he taught. He carried in his heart the love of Ahlul Bayt (AS), and on his tongue, wisdom that came not just from study, but from deep understanding.
A student of the holy city of Najaf, he absorbed knowledge from the roots — not only through formal education, but through spiritual experience. His level of scholarship was not ordinary. He did not merely gather knowledge; he refined it, preserved it, and gave it back to the community like a trust fulfilled. His understanding of Fiqh, Hadith, and philosophy made him stand out in a world where true scholars are becoming rare.
And yet, despite the heights of his knowledge, his humility remained unmatched. His soft voice, his careful words, his quiet presence — all spoke louder than loud speeches ever could. He would never raise his voice, never seek recognition. He walked among people with simplicity and gave time to the poor, the broken, the forgotten. He listened with his heart.
His contribution to Islamic literature is something that deserves to be known and honored. He authored several books, written with precision, depth, and sincerity — addressing important matters of faith, jurisprudence, and community ethics. These were not just academic works; they were lamps for seekers. His writings continue to guide, teach, and heal, just as he did in life.
“Ilm woh noor hai jo dil se dil tak safar karta hai…”
(Knowledge is the light that travels from one heart to another.)
This one line captures what Agha Baqir Sahib gave to the world. He passed on knowledge not just through books or speeches — but through example, through prayer, through silence. And now, as we face the grief of his departure, we are left with that light — in our hearts, in our homes, in our future.
He never sought the spotlight. Yet today, thousands mourn him. From scholars to students, from mothers to orphans, from his neighbors to those who never met him — they all feel this loss. Because he wasn’t just a scholar. He was a mercy. A presence. A prayer walking among us.
To say goodbye to such personality feels impossible. But As we have learnt from the greatest lessons of Karbala that patience (sabr) is the conduct of the best amongst us and our Lord tests us in this world. We pray for peace of the departed soul we know that people like him don’t die — they return to their Lord, and they live on through the values they leave behind.
Among the believers there are those who have remained true to the covenant they made with Allah. Among those some of them have fulfilled their vow and others await the appointed time. They have not changed in the least. We pray that Allah (SWT) raises his rank among the purified ones, that his grave becomes a garden of mercy, and that his soul is received by the ones he loved all his life — the family of the Prophet (SAW).
Kashmir mourns.
Kashmir remembers.
And Kashmir will carry his light forward.
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