– Written by his son, Muath Mubarak –
October 27, 2020, marked the passing of Ash-Sheikh Mohammed Maghdoom Ahamed Mubarak Al-Madani (Rahimahullah), one of Sri Lanka’s foremost Islamic Scholars. To the nation, he was a respected Teacher, Principal, Scholar, and Community Leader. To me, he was my beloved father, whose every act carried a lesson in humility, service, and faith.
From Malwana to Madina
Born in Malwana in 1949 to a devout family, Sheikh Mubarak grew up surrounded by Islamic learning and community service. His journey took him from reciting the Qur’an at a young age, to studying under great Sri Lankan Ulama, to graduating from the Islamic University of Madinah in 1978 under the guidance of leading scholars such as Sheikh Abdulaziz ibn Abdullah Al Baz (Rahimahullah). At the advice of his university lecturers, he returned to Sri Lanka to dedicate his life to Da’wah, education, and community development.
Over five decades, he wore many hats: Principal of Ghaffooriya Arabic College for 32 years, President and later General Secretary of the All Ceylon Jammiyathul Ulama (ACJU) till his last moment, Shariah advisor to Islamic Banks and Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs), lecturer at Jamiyyah Naleemiyyah, Chief Trustee of Mosques, “Sharia Varaiyarai” Radio Program Presenter for over a decade, and an International Delegate. He authored books on Janaza, Hajj, Iddah, and contemporary challenges, and left behind hundreds of hand written Jumma Sermons scripts and scholarly writings. His fingerprints are on educational reforms of Arabic Colleges, Islam and Islamic Civilization Syllabus, Financial Institutions, and Community Projects that continue to shape Sri Lankan Muslim society today.
Yet behind this distinguished public figure was the man I knew as my beloved father. Allow me to share five cherished memories from my early years, up to Grade V that capture the true essence of who he was.
1. The Bicycle Rides
Everyone at the College knew that he would be present for the morning assembly, unwavering in his commitment despite traveling more than 50 to 60 kilometers each day. As a young boy, I would accompany my father to the bus stand, cycling nearly two kilometers, while he sat quietly behind me. That early morning and late-night rides, as he returned home from Maharagama, became cherished moments of reflection and conversation.
At that time, he served as the Principal of Ghaffooriya, the President of the ACJU, and a Sharia advisor to several financial institutions. Yet, to me, he was simply a humble father, content to ride behind his young son. That enduring image has remained etched in my heart, a timeless reminder that true greatness is defined by humility.
2. Strength in Trial
During my Grade V scholarship examination period, I underwent surgery on my leg. Throughout those difficult days, my father remained a constant presence, offering comfort, managing visitors, and yet effortlessly fulfilling his duties as the President of the ACJU. I can still picture the scene vividly: He sat beside my hospital bed, drafting his Friday sermon with quiet focus, a mobile phone pressed to his ear as he worked to resolve a community issue. Even within the hospital walls, he embodied balance between duty and devotion, leadership and love.
It was he who also introduced me to the world of public speaking, taking me to the SLBC to deliver my maiden speech on radio and patiently teaching me the ABCs of oration. Since then, I have been privileged to deliver thousands of lecture hours – each one a reflection of the voice he nurtured within me. Through his example, I learned that leadership is not merely inherited through titles or positions, but through the quiet transmission of values, faith, discipline, and compassion from one generation to the next. True community leadership, I came to understand, does not begin in the boardroom or the podium, but in the simple, steadfast love shown at home.
3. Education as Sadaqah Jariyah
When I passed my Grade V scholarship examination, my father chose to celebrate in his own unique way. He printed copies of report cards for the entire school, each bearing a Hadith that reminded us that knowledge is a form of Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity). To him, success was never an individual accomplishment; it was a blessing to be shared, a means to uplift and inspire the community.
He consistently encouraged others to pursue learning, regardless of their stage in life or academic standing. Even those who had earned doctorates in specialized fields were urged by him to continue their intellectual journey through post-doctoral research or lifelong study. For him, the pursuit of knowledge was a sacred, unending endeavor.
4. Lessons on Eid
Eid mornings began with visits to every relative after the Eid prayers in the grounds. My father would point to each family member, asking if we knew them, then patiently explain their relationship to us while reminding us of the Qur’anic duty to uphold kinship. Through these journeys, he instilled in us the importance of family bonds and compassion. We would visit every home, spend meaningful time with each relative, and often return home only late at night, carrying with us the lessons of connection, care, and devotion he so effortlessly embodied.
It was on one midnight, that I witnessed history being made when, for the first time in Sri Lanka, the decision regarding the sighting of the moon for Eid was finalized. I witnessed as my father navigated the intense discussions and complex considerations, ensuring unity and clarity for the community. That moment revealed to me the true essence of leadership decisive yet compassionate, grounded in principle yet driven by purpose.
5. Dignity in Grief
When my father lost both his parents, I witnessed his quiet dignity, his tears, his patience, and his complete reliance on Allah SWT. From him, I learned that true Sabr (patience) is not the absence of sorrow, but steadfast faith in the midst of it. He honored their memory through Sadaqah Jariyah in their names, teaching me for the first time about the full cycle of life – the inevitability of passing, and the profound way in which one can pay tribute to loved ones with enduring acts of charity and devotion.
These memories and lessons are my true inheritance. As he often said, “I have not earned possessions for this world, but a million of people and they are my greatest assets.” Wherever I travel, I encounter individuals who have met, spoken with, or studied under my beloved father. They are living testaments to the values he embodied: humility, balance, generosity, kinship, and patience. These same qualities guided him in public life whether negotiating sensitive community matters, shaping Islamic educational and financial institutions in Sri Lanka, or mentoring generations of scholars. Through them, his legacy continues to inspire and endure.
Sheikh Mubarak’s impact was not limited to his own lifetime. His leadership helped ACJU evolve into a nationally recognized institution. His advice shaped the foundation of Islamic banking in Sri Lanka. His lectures inspired thousands across Sri Lanka and beyond, from the mosques of Bandarawela to conferences in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and European countries. His voice through the “Sharia Varayarai” radio program reached homes across the island for more than a decade. And even in his final days, he compiled the biographies of 100 Sri Lankan Muslim Scholars – a work was updated and published by ACJU as “Serendib Kandra Sarndrorgal” (2022).
On October 27, 2020, he returned to Allah SWT at 4:35 pm and Janaza was performed at the Kuppiyawatte Muslim Burial Ground, Colombo. He left behind not just books, institutions, and students, but also a family striving to carry forward his values. As his son, I pray Allah SWT to grant him Jannatul Firdaws, accepts his lifelong service as Sadaqah Jariya, and enables us to walk in his footsteps.
To the wider community, I share my father’s memory not just as a record of history, but as an invitation: to live with humility, to balance faith and duty, to cherish family ties, and to anchor our lives in service. That was his legacy. And that is the path I hope to continue.
“Rabbirḥamhumā kamā rabbayānī ṣaghīrā.”