The Day Bareilly Stood Still: Remembering the Historic Funeral of Tajush Shariah

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 21 July 2025 On 22 July 2018, over 12.5 million mourners gathered in Bareilly for the funeral of Tajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari, marking an emotional farewell to a beloved scholar and spiritual guide. Main Points: 1. Over 12.5 million people gathered in Bareilly for Tajush Shariah’s funeral, making it India’s largest Islamic Janaza. 2. Mourners travelled from across India and abroad, creating a sea of humanity. 3. His spiritual legacy ties to Aala Hazrat and Al-Azhar University. 4. Media widely covered the extraordinary event. 5. His death marked the emotional farewell of a deeply revered scholar. ----- Millions gathered to offer the funeral prayer (Namaz-e-Janaza) of Tajush Shariah Allama Mufti Shah Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari ----- Introduction On July 22nd, 2018, the city of Bareilly, situated in northern India, was blessed to see a record event in its religious and socio-religious history. Millions gathered not for a political rally or a cultural festival, but to offer the funeral prayer (Namaz-e-Janaza) of one of the greatest Islamic scholars of the modern age—Tajush Shariah Allama Mufti Shah Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari, affectionately known as Tajush Shari’ah. With a crowd estimated at 1.25 crore (12.5 million) individuals, this event is perhaps the biggest Namaz-e-Janaza in the Indian subcontinent and one of the biggest in the Muslim world. A Spiritual Ocean in Bareilly As the news of his passing spread on the evening of 20th July 2018, waves of mourners began pouring into Bareilly from across India and abroad. The city, already a sacred centre for the followers of Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (Barelvi) due to the legacy of Ala Hazrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, swelled to many times its size. Roads were flooded with devotees—on foot, by buses, by trains, and even walking barefoot from far-off villages. The Namaz-e-Janaza was conducted in the field of Islamia School near the Dargah of Aala Hazrat. Conducted by his son and successor Hazrat Allama Asjad Raza Khan Qadri, the funeral prayer was offered among a sea of humanity. Drone images revealed streets, rooftops, parks, and even highways nearby overcrowded as far as the eye could see. Global Presence and Media Coverage What made Tajush Shariah's funeral so remarkable was not only its magnitude but also its global appeal. Delegates and ordinary mourners from the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, South Africa, Mauritius, USA, UAE, and other regions of Europe and Asia attended. Hindi news channels, major media outlets, and newspapers such as Zee News, News18, BBC Urdu, Aaj Tak, and Times of India carried out reports about the size of the crowd. Many put the number in attendance as higher than even two million, while ground level reports and drone data by local organizations and volunteers corroborated reports that the total crowd may have crossed 12.5 million (1.25 crore) individuals over the funeral day. This congregation outnumbered even the largest funerals and has been counted as one of the largest religious gatherings in recent Indian history. Who Was Tajush Shariah? Born on 1 February 1943, Allama Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari was the descendant of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, the reviver and founder of the Barelvi movement. He was a graduate of Cairo's Al-Azhar University and an scholar of international renown in Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), Tafsir, Hadith, and Tasawwuf. He was the spiritual title holder of Tajush Shariah, a caretaker of traditional Sunni Islam in India. His fatwas, writings, and public speeches molded the religious perception of millions of subcontinent and Indian Sunni Muslims and beyond. Tajush Shariah published thousands of scholarly verdicts, made classical Arabic works available in Urdu, and pronounced judgment on Islamic orthodoxy against modernist and extremist thought. Admired by scholars and commoners alike, he was recognized for his humility, wisdom, and firm commitment to Shariah. Beyond Numbers: The Emotional Impact The vast numbers present were not simply a measure of his popularity—rather, they indicated a profound emotional connection between the scholar and the masses. For most, he was not merely a jurist or a mufti; he was a spiritual patriarch, a source of guidance, and an emblem of resistance to watering down Islamic values. Citizens said they walked miles just to see his bier. Others could be heard crying helplessly, reciting “Tajush Shariah Zindabad!” “Maslak-e-Aala Hazrat Zindabad!” and “Basti–Basti Qariya Qariya!” The city reverberated with Zikr, Salawat, and tears. Legacy That Lives On Tajush Shariah's work is being continued by his son and successor, Hazrat Allama Asjad Raza Khan Qadri, who continues to guide the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat from India. His books, fatwas, and compiled speeches are now being preserved and digitised by scholars and institutions all over the world. His death was not the end but rather a continuation of a spiritual movement—a reaffirmation of the traditional Sunni values grounded in love for the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam, respect for the Auliya, and service to the Ummah. Final Thoughts The funeral of Tajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari was not only a record-breaking ceremony; it was a deep spiritual experience in the life of millions. It told the world that in a time of din, religious leadership continues to possess a power that defies borders, politics, and time itself. As one mourner commented quite aptly: "This was not the funeral of a man, it was the farewell of an era." I remember one of the Sher written by Tajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari, “Chal Diye Tum Aankh Mein Ashkoñ Ka Dariya Chhod Kar Kaun Si Duniya Basayi Tumne Duniya Chhod Kar” May Allah raise his ranks higher and give his followers the courage to maintain his legacy. ----- Syed Amjad Hussain is an author and Independent research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is the author of 'Bihar Aur Sufivad', a research book based on the history of Sufism in Bihar. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/bareilly-historic-funeral-tajush-shariah/d/136235 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism