Bashir-ud-din Farooqi

Mufti Bashir-ud-din Farooqi (also known as Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad) (1934 – 12 February 2019) was an Indian Muslim scholar and jurist who served as Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir from 1960 to 2012.

Mufti-e-Azam Bashir-ud-din Farooqi
Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir.
In office 1960 – 8 July 2012
Preceded by	Sheikh ul Islam Mufti Azam Qawam-ud-Din
Succeeded by	Nasir ul Islam
Personal details
Born	1934
Died	12 February 2019(2019-02-12) (aged 84–85)
Alma mater	Aligarh Muslim University

Biography

Farooqi was born in 1934 and acquired his primary education in Srinagar.^[1] He received an LLB and masters degree in Arabic from Aligarh Muslim University.^[2] In 1960, he succeeded his father, Sheikh-ul-Islam Mufti Mohammad Qawam-ud-Din as the grand mufti of Jammu and Kashmir.^[1]

Mufti Bashir-ud-Din served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Islamic Shariat (Central Dar ul Fatwa), which operated as a parallel judicial system for over three decades.^[3]

In 2007, the Mufti criticized British government, when it addressed Salman Rushdie with the title of "Sir." The mufti said that Rushdie was an apostate and this title was part of a broader conspiracy against Islam.^[4] In 2013, he faced a severe backlash after he issued a fatwa against all-girl rock bands in Kashmir. The Mufti had asked girls to stay away from music, and regarded it as impermissible.^[5][6]

Farooqi had nominated his son Nasir ul Islam for the position on 8 July 2012 who succeeded him as the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir.^[7][1]

He died on 12 February 2019. His death was condoled by Satya Pal Malik, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.^[1]