BHATKAL: Hafiz Mohammad Ashfaq (Channa), a senior blind teacher in the Hifzul Qur’an department at the prestigious Jamia Islamia Bhatkal, passed away on Tuesday evening.

Despite being visually impaired in both eyes, his immense contribution spanned nearly 29 years in teaching Quranic memorization, religious instruction, and shaping the characters of thousands of young students. Known affectionately across social and educational circles as ‘Nabina (Blind) Ashfaq Sahab,’ he was widely admired by colleagues and students alike for his humility, gentle demeanor, and absolute dedication to education.

On Tuesday, he had attended his teaching duties at Jamia as usual. However, he fell ill in the afternoon and took a brief rest on campus. As his health did not show signs of recovery, he returned home before the Asr prayers. When his condition deteriorated further, he was rushed to the Welfare Hospital in Bhatkal. On the advice of the attending doctors, preparations were made to shift him to a multi-specialty hospital in Mangaluru for advanced care, but he unfortunately breathed his last inside the ambulance mid-transit.

Throughout his illustrious 29-year career at Jamia Islamia, he successfully trained hundreds of students to memorize the Holy Qur’an, playing a pivotal role in mentoring outstanding Hafizs who are currently serving in various religious and educational institutions worldwide. The management described his demise as an irreparable educational and spiritual loss to the community. As a mark of respect, Jamia Islamia and all its constituent Maktabs suspended educational activities on Wednesday. Regular classes will resume on Thursday, the administrative board announced.

GangolliNews