VoL Desk, Jan. 31: Prominent religious figure and chief of Lajnat-al-Khairiyah wing of Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust (IKMT), Sheikh Mohd Ali Halmi, Lamsu passed away last night at Jammu. Sheikh Ali was 84 years old.  

His last rituals were performed at Jammu where people took a procession from Karbala complex to perform his last ritual towards his last abode.

Sheikh Mohd Ali Halmi was the chief of IKMT’s social welfare branch Lajnat-al-Khairiyah and judiciary wing “hal-wa-fassal”.

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Earlier, he served as a teacher at the theology college, Jamia Imam Khomeini and Mutahhary Public School.

The IKMT also convened a condolence meeting at its Headquarter Office in Kargil and expressed grief and sorrow on the sudden demise of the cleric.

The office bearers of the IKMT visited his house and condoled his bereaved family.

In separate condolence messages, the different wings of IKMT expressed grief and sorrow to his family and the public in Kargil.

The IKMT has further decided to conduct congregation for three consistent days at Jama Masjid Kargil.

Updated: February 04, 2023

Speaking during the Fatiha congregation held at Jama Masjid Kargil, Chairman of Guardian Council, IKMT, Sheikh Mohammad Mohaqiq said that Sheikh Ali Halmi took his basic education from his own village and went to Najaf Ashraf for higher education where he stayed for around 17 to 18 years.

After returning from Najaf in 1975, he became an active cleric member of the Jamiat Ulema Isna Ashriya Kargil. Since then, he served on various fronts in Kargil for spiritual guidance and social welfare to the people.

Among his initial contribution was the formation of an organisation called “Anjuman Safina”. In the Kargil district, there was no trend of calling Azan for prayers and recitation of supplications. It was Safina who initiated the trend after which others followed.

Second, there was no trend of observing Sham-e-Ghariban, on the evening of the Day of Ashura to observe the grief of Imam Hussain’s family. Anjuman Safina was the first to start this initiative. The Islamia School opposed calling it a new innovation while the people led by Anjuman Safina convincingly took the Sham-e-Ghariban procession to Islamia School premises and the trend continued.

After the formation of the IKMT, the trend continued for several years after which the Islamia School also observed the Sham-e-Ghariban as part of the organisation’s activity. The contributions of the Anjuman Safina are prevailing in the society, while members affiliated with it are no more among us, said Sheikh Mohaqiq. Among these members of Safina was Sheikh Mohd Ali Halmi.

He serves as a teacher at Mutahhary Public School, Kargil as a teacher for many years from where he took voluntary retirement due to his old age.

Even before the establishment of the IKMT Sheikh Ali was instrumental in the formation of an organisation named Anjuman Imam Khomeini at Shargole and Chiktan block. The organisation played a key role in spiritual guidance in the two blocks.

At the IKMT, Sheikh Ali served as the Chief of the Lajunath-ul- Khairiyah, a social welfare wing that provides financial and material assistance to the poor, needy, widows and orphans.

On the establishment of the seminary Jamia Fatima al-Zahra, Sheikh Ali was among the first teachers.

Before the establishment of IKMT, he was an active member of the Islamia School from where he quit due to some disagreements. He has also authored some booklets.