As a Community Collaborator
The deeply saddening news of the demise of our most beloved, affectionate, and sincere friend, Abu Wajahat Mohammad Shafquat, has left me profoundly grieved and distressed. In today’s world, it is extremely difficult to find such a compassionate, benevolent, and genuinely kind-hearted person.
He was blessed with numerous admirable qualities, both in religious as well as worldly matters. Despite being actively engaged in worldly affairs and responsibilities, he always remained mindful of his faith and gave due importance to religion. He fulfilled the requirements of Shari‘ah with great sincerity and dedication.
Since 1992, we both remained very close to one another. During this period, he was transferred to several companies, and later he also moved to London. However, in every circumstance, our mutual connection and communication remained as strong and consistent as ever because of which I visited him in London also.
In fact, I had spoken to him just two days before his passing. His voice did sound weak, yet I never imagined that he would leave this world so soon and return to his Creator. May Allah Ta‘ala forgive him, shower His mercy upon him, and grant him the highest مقام in Jannat-ul-Firdous. Ameen.
Whenever he came to Kolkata from London, we would spend hours together almost every day. Our gatherings were always meaningful and beneficial, where we discussed political, social, religious matters, as well as the current condition of humans. Whenever there was any need for support or assistance anywhere, he would always readily offer himself for both personal help and financial aid.
At Progressive Day Higher Secondary School, where I serve as the General Secretary, he would also visit the school. At my request, he paid the fees of many poor and underprivileged children. In the same way, after proper verification through me, he would also directly assist many orphans and widows.
Apart from this, he would often engage in discussions with me on the subject of Tasawwuf (Islamic spirituality/Sufism), and he had a very sound understanding of this topic as well.
His nature was such that he believed in speaking less and doing more. He also had a deep interest in printing and distributing books of wazā’if and du‘ās, and he would often seek my assistance in this noble work. Indeed, Alhamdulillah, he was a man blessed with countless noble qualities.
It is also a matter of comfort that the spirit of his thoughts, values, humanitarian concern, and community service continues to reflect in his children, Rehan and Sadiya, and in his wife as well. As far as I know, he textend his sincere and wholehearted support to various institutions.
May Allah Ta‘ala grant him a place in His Court of Mercy, and may He bless his children and wife with great patience and strength, and reward them abundantly for their sabr. Ameen.
- Maulana Gholam Jami Naimi Gadri, General Secretary, Progressive Day School (Kolkata, India)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Dear brothers and sisters, we offer our sincere condolences to one another on the loss of a dear friend who held a special place in our hearts.
I came to know brother Abu Shafquat through the Qur’an; he was truly devoted to it, loving it, serving it, and living by it. By the will of Allah, he was a reason for my coming to the UK, and for my acquaintance with the kind people of Woking and the community of the mosque there.
One of his greatest qualities was his dedication to charity and good deeds. He reached out to me to contribute to building a school in the village of Ma’arin in A‘zaz, and he played a significant role in making this blessed project a reality, helping students learn the Qur’an. He also made meaningful contributions in supporting our Syrian brothers and sisters who were displaced during the war that lasted thirteen years, always striving to relieve hardship and extend a helping hand to those in need.
He was an example of excellent character—always smiling, gentle, and approachable with both young and old. He never forgot his friends and acquaintances, regularly checking on them and maintaining strong ties. He left a beautiful and lasting impact on my heart and on the hearts of my family.
Among the memories I cherish is his visit to me in Syria in 2009, when he met the people of the village of Anadan and sat with them, leaving a kind and positive impression on everyone he encountered.
We pray that Allah grants him His mercy, makes the Qur’an a source of intercession for him, rewards him generously for all the good he has done, and reunites us with him in the gardens of Paradise.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون
- Abdullah Layla (Syria / UAE)
سن کر دل پر بہت بڑا دھچکا لگا ، بہت دیر تک رنج و الم میں بستر پر ہی بیٹھا رہا اور سوچتا رہا یہ کیسے ہوگیا ابھی تو ہماری ان سے بذریعہ ای میل رمضان کے پہلے عشرے میں بات ہوئی تھی
پھر ذہن میں یہ بات آتی ہے کہ ہم تو مسلمان ہیں ہمیں اللّٰہ کے ہر فیصلہ پر راضی ہونا ہے اور صبر سے کام لینا ہے یہ بھی تو ہمارے ایمان کا حصہ ہے
یہ مدرسے کے بہت ہی محسن و مخلص اور ہمدرد لوگوں میں سے تھے جن کا تعاون لگاتار کئی سالوں سے ہو رہا ہے ان کے ان
احسانات کو کبھی بھی ہم مدرسے والے فراموش نہیں کر سکتے، اس مصیبت کی گھڑی میں ہم مدرسے والے بھی ان کی فیملی کے درد و الم میں برابر کے شریک ہیں اور ان کے لیے ایصال ثواب بھی ضرور کرتے رہیں گے
- Mufti Ghufran Ahmed (Bihar, India)
He was a highly respected and distinguished personality—among those who quietly devoted themselves to acts of الخير, performed purely for the sake of Allah. I came to know about him through his relative, Mr. Hasan. Through this connection, I learned of the many charitable and humanitarian works he carried out, always with sincerity and humility. In particular, his financial support for a training program for scholars of Jamia Rahmani, in collaboration with Al-Azhar University, reflects his deep commitment to religious service and the promotion of knowledge.
The news of his passing has brought deep sorrow, as we have lost a noble, sincere, and generous soul. May Allah accept all his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings, and grant him the highest reward befitting His mercy and grace. Ameen.
- Dr. Mufti Fazlur Rahman Nadwi Azhari, Director, Ishraq Academy for Azhari Education
As a Mentor, Leader and Friend
For over three decades, Abu was a constant in my life, but in truth, he was far more than a colleague or a senior figure. He was a force. In Telstra VCom, where I first met him, he was known as the “Royal Bengal Tiger” a name that captured both his commanding presence and the sharpness of his mind. He had an extraordinary ability to think at what felt like the speed of light, cutting through complexity with clarity and conviction. Yet what truly set him apart was not just his professional brilliance, but the rare depth of his human connection.
Abu had a way of engaging with people that made each interaction meaningful. He was deeply respected, widely connected, and genuinely admired not because of his position, but because of who he was. His warmth, his authenticity, and his ability to understand people made him unforgettable to everyone who crossed his path.
What always stood out to me was his remarkable versatility. Abu was never confined to a single domain. His curiosity and sense of purpose took him into diverse areas, including his involvement in developing a ski project in Kashmir. He spoke about it not as a business venture, but as a way to create employment and bring opportunity to the people of a place he deeply loved. That was Abu he saw possibility where others saw limitations, and he acted on it with intent and care.
I last met him in London around one year ago where we were working together on an AI project. Even then, he was as sharp and forward-thinking as ever, effortlessly grasping the nuances of emerging technologies and translating them into clear strategic direction. He was, in every sense, a master of business strategy, always ahead of the curve, always thinking bigger.
The last time we spoke in February this year, he mentioned, almost casually, that he was not doing much and was simply trying to age gracefully. But Abu did not need to try. Grace was intrinsic to him. In the way he carried himself, in the way he spoke, and in the way he treated people, he embodied grace as naturally as anyone I have ever known.
On a personal level, Abu was my mentor, my guide, and someone I turned to without hesitation. He was always there with clarity, wisdom, and unwavering support. Our connection went beyond work it was built on trust, respect, and a shared understanding that is difficult to put into words.
His loss is deeply personal and profoundly felt. The void he leaves behind cannot be filled, but his legacy, in the lives he shaped and the people he uplifted, will endure. I will carry his lessons, his voice, and his spirit with me always.
I am struggling to find words adequate to express the depth of my grief and the enormity of this loss.
Abu was my first and only mentor; a relationship that began at Telstra in 1996 and never truly ended. Abu was not just my mentor—he was my guiding light for 28 years, from my first days at Telstra in 1996 until now. Even when I moved to the UK with my family, Abu was always there. In every difficult moment, every challenging time, his voice would steady me. He taught me patience, reminded me that time brings resolutions, and gave me the strength to persevere. His wisdom, his kindness, his unwavering support—these shaped who I am today.
For nearly thirty years, he was a constant presence in my life, always there in difficult times with reassurance, patience, and quiet wisdom. He taught me that time heals and opens paths, and I carried that with me through every challenge.
I owe so much of who I am to Abu. I miss him deeply. I am grateful beyond words to have known him, to have worked alongside him, and to have been with him at the end. That is a privilege I will hold close for the rest of my life. Abu’s guidance shaped who I am. His voice will stay with me, always. His voice will remain with me always, guiding me as it has for all these years.
Abu was a source of inspiration and strength not just to me, but to everyone blessed to know him.
I am shattered that I could not be there with him in the hospital, that I could not see him one last time. The pain of this is almost unbearable.
I share in your pain and grief. With deepest love and respect to Saira ji, Raihan, and Sadia; may you find strength in knowing how many lives he touched, and how profoundly he will be missed. May you find strength and peace in the days ahead, and may Abu’s beautiful soul rest in eternal peace.
- Arvind Sharma (England, UK)
In Love and Dedication To Abu Shafquat 