By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah and rector of Daurl Uloom, Farangi Mahal Maulana Abu Taiyyab Farangi Mahli passed away at 9:30 pm on Saturday after prolong illness. He is survived by four sons and two daughters. The last rites will take place at Maulvi Anwar Bagh, Raqabganj burial ground at 1 pm on Sunday. Chief Minister Mayawati and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav have expressed grief over the demise of the cleric.
Hearing the news large number of his followers, Muslim leaders and officials reached his residence known as Farangi Mahal. His son, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli is presently the Naib Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah. Another son Tariq Rasheed is running an Islamic Centre at USA.
Regarded as a moderate face among Muslims, Maulana Abu Taiyyab Farangi Mahli had a large following. He was instrumental in forging unity among different sects of Muslims. Lately he undertook the task of publishing the history of clerics associated with Farangi Mahal. The Farangi Mahal had welcomed Mahatma Gandhi during his visit in pre-independence era. The clerics took active participation in independence struggle and motivated the general masses.
The cleric also undertook several social causes and favoured women’s emancipation, pulse polio programme and had established Islamic Centre of India in Lucknow.