اَلسَّلاَ مُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَا تُهُ
It is indeed a deeply sorrowful day for me and for all the students of the Qur’an.
Our beloved Ustadh, Brother Asif Meherali, has returned to his Creator.
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَأَسْكِنْهُ الْفِرْدَوْسَ الْأَعْلَى
Words fall short in capturing the immense impact Br. Asif had on our lives. He devoted his life wholeheartedly to the service of the Qur’an, teaching tirelessly and selflessly with profound sincerity, clarity, and kindness. He was a noble soul—gentle, humble, and generous—whose mastery in teaching Qur’anic Arabic made even the most complex grammar rules beautifully simple and accessible.
Through his soft-spoken manner and patient approach, he nurtured in us a deep love for the Qur’an. His legacy is not just in his knowledge, but in the hearts he inspired and the generations of students he uplifted with his quiet strength and unwavering commitment.
He was a founder of LQ Toronto (LQT), where he served with dedication, embodying the spirit of its mission to spread Qur’anic understanding. His presence was a blessing, his absence is a loss beyond words.
May Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, forgive his shortcomings, envelop him in mercy, honour his resting place expand his grave with His “noor”, and grant him the highest place in Jannat al-Firdaws.
May He bless his family and loved ones with strength, patience, and peace during this difficult time, and keep all of us firm upon the path of faith and righteousness. Amin.
Our Lord reminds us:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” Surah al-Baqarah (2:153):
Indeed, nothing befalls us except by the will of Allah. In His perfect wisdom, He reminds us to turn to Him in patience and prayer, and to place our hopes in the life to come.
بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا
وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
“But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more enduring.” Surah al-Aʿlā (87:16–17):
We are all on a journey toward the ultimate reality. One day, everything of this world will fade—except what we did sincerely for Allah and in service to others.
Wassalaam,
Nisar Shaikh
