MALAPPURAM: Eminent Sunni scholar and general secretary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama Cherussery Zainudheen Musliyar, 78, passed away following a heart ailment at a private hospital, in Kozhikode on Thursday.He is survived by wife, two sons and two daughters.
Zainudheen Musliyar, who was ailing for some time, was admitted to a private hospital four days ago and was on a ventilator support. He breathed his last at 6.30 in the morning.
Born in Kondotty as the son of Cherussery Ahamed Musliyar in Qaziyarakam family, Zainudheen Musliyar started his religious studies under his own father and O K Zainudheen Musliyar, Malappuram. Popularly known as the ‘Shining Scholar’, he was branded as the successor to E K Aboobacker Musliyar, the former Sunni Scholar and general secretary of Samastha Jamiyyathul Ulama. Zainudheen Musliyar had worked as Mudarris (religious teacher) at Kodangad, Kondoty, Malappuram for 18 years.
He was a leading religious teacher at Chemmad Juma Masjid for several years before taking the charge of Darul Huda Islamic Academy, Chemmad, as Principal in 1994. He later became the pro-chancellor of the institute. A respected figure among the Sunni religious scholars and political leaders, he was appointed as the general secretary of the Samastha Jamiyyathul Ulama in 1996.
He used to work as the qhatheeb at Qaziyarakam Juma masjid, Kondoty, and was the Quazy of more than hundred mahalls across the state. Being an active figure in one of the prominent religious organisation in the state, he had also worked as the president of Samastha Kerala Sunni Education Board, the state president of Sunni Mahal Federation and Manager at Islahul Uloom Arabic College, Thanur.
Mariyumma Bangalathu is his wife. His children are Rafeeq, Muhammed Sadiq and Fathima. Ismayil Faizi and Zainul Abideen are sons-in-law.