Malack Mohammed Sharfuddin Sahib

 

OUR PRESIDENT – A REMEMBRANCE

Tell the good deeds of the deceased (Hadith)

It was the second week of July 2025, when the people of Melvisharam were just recovering from grief and sorrow due to the demise of Malack Mohammed Hashim Sahib on 4th July, 2025, yet another wave of sorrow struck the community. On Friday, 11th July 2025, it was announced that Malack Mohamed Sharfuddin Sahib, President of the Melvisharam Muslim Educational Society (MMES), had passed away. Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we will return. It was a great loss to the society. He dedicated himself for the educational upliftment in our town.

Family Background

Born on 5th June, 1947 in Melvisharam to Malack Mohammed Salahuddin Sahib, he belonged to a reputed Malack family of Melvisharam. His grandfather, Malack Mohammed Ibrahim Sahib, was one of the founders of MMES and also served as its Secretary and President. Similarly, Sharfuddin Sahib’s father, Malack Mohammed Salahuddin Sahib, also served MMES in various positions as Correspondent of Islamiah High School and C. Abdul Hakeem College, General Secretary, and President of MMES. From mother’s lineage, Sharfuddin Sahib was also the great grandson of Khan bahadur Haji Mohammed Haneef Sahib of Vellore, a noted philanthropist and one of the founding members of AISHTMA. In short, he inherited the noble qualities of his ancestors.

Early Life

Sharfuddin Sahib studied the Holy Quran and other basics of Islam at Anjuman E Tableeghul Islam familiar as Tableegh Madarsa. He had his primary and secondary education at Islamiah School, Melvisharam and completed his SSLC in 1963-64. The following year he joined P.U.C. at Islamiah College, Vaniyambadi. To pursue higher studies, he joined B.A. History at C. Abdul Hakeem College of Arts and Science and graduated in 1968.

As far as his occupation is concerned, he worked at T. Abdul Wahid & Company from 1972-1993. Later, accompanied his younger brother in leather business until 1997. In the same year, along with two other partners he started the Super Departmental Store in Melvisharam, next to S. Haji Meera Sahib Street (Niswan Street). It was the first supermarket of its kind in Melvisharam and a favourite shopping spot for the next fifteen years. A notable feature of this store was its dedicated shopping hours for women, exclusively from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, during which men were strictly prohibited to enter. This practice reflects the store owners’ strong adherence to Islamic values.

His Personality

Malack Mohamed Sharfuddin Sahib was a kind-hearted, humble, and simple personality. As the eldest member of the family, he was loving and caring towards his family members, and so was he to his kith and kin. His life resonates with the words of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW): “The best among you is the one who is good to his family.” He treated his staff like family. His politeness was admired by friends and colleagues, who enjoyed his company. A practicing Muslim and had a close connection with the Holy Quran. He performed Haj in the year 1991–92.

His Services in MMES and Other Organisations

Like his ancestors, he also served MMES in various positions for more than three decades. Initially, he was elected as an Executive Member. In 2002, he was appointed as the Correspondent of Hakeem Nursery and Primary School, where he took a keen interest in its development. That same year, the school was upgraded to a Matriculation School. When he took charge as Correspondent, the school had 250 students; today, that number has increased to 750.

In 2014, he was elected as the Vice-President of MMES.  In 2017, he was also elected as the Secretary of the C. Abdul Hakeem Trust, Triplicane, Chennai, under whose administration the Muslim Higher Secondary School and Hakeem Matriculation School are functioning. He was also an Executive Committee Member of MEASI. He witnessed the centenary celebrations of MMES as its Vice-President.

He was one of the members of the MMES delegation to Malaysia, which signed an MoU with the Islamic University of Malaysia in 2012, and another delegation to Ethiopia in 2015 singed an MoU with University of Gondar. He eagerly participated in events held at various MMES institutions whether it was the Meelad-un-Nabi celebrations at his alma mater i.e. Islamiah Boys Higher Secondary School, or other academic and cultural functions of other institutions.

Following the death of Janab Sowcar Nisar Ahmed Sahib in 2021, Janab Malack Mohamed Sharfuddin Sahib was elected as the President of MMES. From that time until his demise, he played a crucial role in the development of the society.

One of the significant initiatives during his tenure was the upgrading of Hakeem Matriculation School to a Higher Secondary School. Under the leadership of Janab Sharfuddin Sahib (President and Correspondent) and Janab Sakvai Ziauddin Ahmed Sahib (General Secretary), all necessary efforts were undertaken to accomplish this goal. Janab Sharfuddin Sahib, in particular, was deeply committed to see this transformation, and it was successfully completed within a short period.

On 11th June 2025, a special dua was held in the presence of committee members to mark the occasion, and applications for admission into Grade 11 (Higher Secondary) were issued. The school now offers Bio-Science and Computer Science courses.

This year, Hakeem School celebrates 53 years of dedicated service in the field of education. Of these, Janab Sharfuddin Sahib served as the Correspondent for an admirable 23 years, leaving behind a legacy of commitment and progress.

Our President, Malack Mohamed Sharfuddin Sahib, passed away on Friday, 11th July 2025, a few hours before the Juma prayer. As a mark of respect, the institutions of MMES remained closed. His Janaza prayer was performed at 8:00 am on Saturday, 12th July 2025, at the Big Mosque in Melvisharam, with a large number of people in attendance.

The presence of Malack Mohamed Sharfuddin Sahib had been a constant source of support and strength to our General Secretary, Janab S. Ziauddin Ahmed Sahib. His absence is deeply felt by him and by all the members of MMES.

On 21st July 2025, MMES organized a seminar at 11:45 am in the Seminar Hall of C. Abdul Hakeem College of Arts and Science on the topic “Malack Mohamed Sharfuddin Sahib – A Noble Personality and His Societal Contribution.” The seminar was presided over by Janab Sakvai Ziauddin Ahmed Sahib, General Secretary of MMES.

Prominent members from various institutions of MMES Janab S. Z. Ifthikhar Ahmed Sahib, Janab Katiyan Anees Ahmed Sahib, Janab Cafiyar Zafrullah Sahib, and Janab V. M. Rizwanullah Sahib, spoke at the event. They offered their condolences to the family members present at the event, highlighted his contributions, and shared fond memories of their time with him. The seminar concluded with a dua by Hazrath Hafiz Mujeeb Ahmed Sahib, Principal of Madarsa-e-Umar.

On 24th July 2025, another condolence meet was held at Muslim Higher Secondary School, Triplicane, Chennai. Conducted by C. Abdul Hakeem Trust in the presence of Janab Sakvai Ziauddin Ahmed Sahib (President), Janab S.Z.  Abrar Ahmed Sahib (Secretary), Janab Katiyan Anees Ahmed Sahib (Correspondent) and other council members.

May Allah with His infinite Mercy accept his good deeds, reward him for his services and grant him the highest abode in Heaven. May Allah give patience to the bereaved family. May Allah, grant us tawfeeq to prepare for the Hereafter, and make us among those who remember Him often and strive for His pleasure. Aameen.

                                                                              S. Mohammed Sadathullah

                                                                                24. 07. 25

Note: This article was published in the AL AMEER urdu monthly magazine in September issue. I express my gratitude for publishing it. Thanks to the family members of the deceased for sharing the information. Especially, Janab Malak Mohammed Saifuddin Sahib and my colleague Mr. M. Althafullah Sahib. I extend my thanks to Janab Sakvai Ziauddin Ahmed Sahib, General Secretary, MMES and  Janab K. Irshad Ahmed Sahib, Headmaster, IBHS School, Melvisharam for their encouragement and support.

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