Muhammad Shafee Okarvi, also known by his honorific as Maulana Muhammad Shafee Okarvi, was a Pakistani religious scholar and orator. He was one of the founders of the Jamaa'at-e-Ahle-Sunnat Pakistan and the Gulzaar-e-Habeeb Trust. He has received various honors from the Pakistani government and private institutes including the Sitara-e-Imtiaz. Over a span of thirty-eight years, Okarvi delivered over 18,000 speeches on many religious topics.
Early life and education
Okarvi was born in Khem Karan, East Punjab, India, to Haaji Shaiekh Karam Ilaahi, a local businessman. He was the eldest son of seven siblings. He began his education by learning to read and memorize the Quran and he completed middle school.
Personal life
Okarvi married at a young age and fathered eleven children, these being five sons and six daughters. In 1952, however, his two eldest sons, three-year-old Muneer Ahmad and 14-month-old Tanveer Ahmad, died within a week of each other. His eldest son, Kaukab Noorani Okarvi, continues his father's religious work.
Religious and academic work
In 1947, after migrating from India, he and his father built Masjid Ghausiyah in Okara. In 1950, he began leading Friday prayers and teaching the congregation at Jaame Masjid Muhaajireen in Sahiwal and became the head of the Department of Religion at Birla High School in Okara. From 1952 to 1953 he contributed to the Tahreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatm-e-Nubuwwat, which is an organization created to persecute Ahmadi Muslims. In 1954 he also established the Jaami'ah Hanafiyah Ashraf-ul-Madaaris on Grand Trunk Road in Okara and remained one of its mentors and sponsors. In 1955 he visited Karachi for the first time when he lectured at the Jaame Masjid Aaram Bagh on the first Laylat al-Qadr. The following year he became the lecturer and Imam of Memon Masjid and he founded Jamaat Ahle Sunnat and became its first chairman.
International endeavors
Okarvi preached in the Far East, Middle East, India, Palestine, South Africa, United Arab Emirites, Mauritius and many other countries. He sold 100,000 cassettes of his speeches in South Africa before 1980. Video cassettes of his speeches are also widely distributed internationally.
In 1962, Okarvi travelled to Baghdad, Syria, Karbalaa, Beirut, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. He visited the shrines of many spiritual and religious scholars as well as many notable mosques and historical holy places. In 1976, Okarvi established in South Africa, Anjuman Ahl-e-Sunnat Wa Jamaa'at. In 1974, Okarvi formed the Jamaa'at e Ahle Sunnat in Durban, South Africa, which attracted up to 10,000 members. Okarvi made the journey to Mecca for Hajj, Ziyaarat and Umrah sixteen times.
Political and social contribution
He was made the Chief of Tahreek-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat in Sahiwal district in 1952-1953.
Imprisonment
Okarvi was arrested for his persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. He remained in Montgomery prison for 10 months. During this period of imprisonment his first two sons, Muneer Ahmad and Tanveer Ahmad, died within a week.
Assassination attempt
On 16 October 1962 in Khadda Market, Karachi, an assassination attempt was made on Okarvi during one of his speeches. He received wounds on his neck, shoulders, head and upper back. Okarvi stayed under treatment in the hospital for two and a half months. While giving his statement to the police officer Okarvi said: He did not appoint a lawyer for this case or follow any hearings. On recovery he occupied himself in preaching Islam and delivered his very first lecture at the same place where the attempted assassination happened.
Death and legacy
In 1974, Okarvi had a heart attack. In 1975, he had another heart attack and came to Karachi, where he received cardiac treatment for six weeks. On 20 April 1984, he delivered his last speech at the congregation of Jum'ah Salaat at Jaame Masjid Gulzar-e-Habeeb. That evening, Okarvi had a third heart attack and was admitted to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease. After three days, on 24 April 1984 he died at the age of 55. On 23 March 1985, President Zia-ul-Haqq awarded the Sitaara-e-Imtiaaz to Okarvi due to his contributions to religious services.
