Zafaryab Jilani: Wikipedia, Biography, Wife, Children, Family, Education, Death & More

Zafaryab Jilani was a senior advocate and the secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), who passed away on May 17, 2023, at the age of 73. He was known for his role as the convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC), which represented the Muslim side in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

He was also the Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh and a respected figure in the legal fraternity. In this article, we will explore his life, career, achievements, and legacy.

Early Life and Education

Zafaryab Jilani was born in 1950 in Malihabad, a town near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, famous for its mango orchards. He belonged to a family of lawyers and scholars. His father was a lawyer and his grandfather was a renowned poet and scholar of Urdu and Persian languages.

Zafaryab Jilani completed his schooling in Lucknow and then pursued his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). He enrolled as an advocate in 1975 and started practicing in Lucknow.

Family, Parents & Siblings

Zafaryab Jilani hailed from a family with a legal and scholarly background. His father was mentioned as a lawyer in one of the search results. Additionally, his grandfather was described as a renowned poet and scholar of Urdu and Persian languages. These details suggest a lineage of lawyers and scholars within Zafaryab Jilani’s family.

Zafaryab Jilani BIO/WIKI

Career and Achievements

Zafaryab Jilani had a distinguished career as a lawyer and an activist. He joined the AIMPLB in 1978 and became its secretary in 1989. He was instrumental in drafting the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, which upheld Muslim women’s rights after divorce. He also fought for the preservation of Muslim personal law and opposed the Uniform Civil Code.

However, he was most famous for his involvement in the Babri Masjid case, which he handled for more than three decades. He became the convenor of the BMAC in 1986 and led the legal battle for the Muslim side in various courts.

He argued that the Babri Masjid was a historical mosque built by Mir Baqi in 1528 on the orders of Mughal emperor Babur and that there was no evidence of a temple existing at the site before that. He also challenged the legality of the acquisition of land by the central government in 1993 and the demolition of the mosque by Hindu kar sevaks in 1992.

Cases

He appeared before various commissions of inquiry, such as the Liberhan Commission and the Srikrishna Commission, and submitted evidence and affidavits to support his case. He also participated in several rounds of negotiations and mediation with various stakeholders, such as religious leaders, political parties, civil society groups, and eminent personalities. He always maintained that he was open to dialogue and peaceful resolution of the dispute.

He also represented the Muslim side in the Supreme Court, which delivered its landmark verdict on November 9, 2019. The apex court ruled that the disputed land belonged to Ram Lalla, the infant form of Lord Ram, and ordered that a temple be built there. It also directed that a five-acre plot be allotted to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque elsewhere in Ayodhya. Zafaryab Jilani expressed his dissatisfaction with the judgment and said that it was based on faith rather than facts. He also said that he respected the verdict but would file a review petition.

Apart from the Babri Masjid case, Zafaryab Jilani also handled many other important cases related to civil rights, human rights, constitutional law, criminal law, and public interest litigation. He was appointed as the Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh in 2012 by the Samajwadi Party government. He also served as a member of various committees and commissions related to law reform, legal education, minority welfare, and social justice.

Wife & Kids

Zafaryab Jilani was married and survived by his wife, Azra Jilani. Unfortunately, specific details about his wife and her identity are not readily available. Zafaryab Jilani had three children: a daughter named Maria Rehan and two sons named Najafzafar Jilani and Anaszafar Jilani. These surviving family members must have experienced immense grief following Zafaryab Jilani’s passing.

Zafaryab Jilani was fond of reading, writing, poetry, music, and gardening. He authored several books and articles on law, history, culture, religion, and politics. He was fluent in Urdu, Hindi, English, Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit languages.

Net Worth

According to the search results, Zafaryab Jilani, the senior advocate, had an estimated net worth of INR 30 crores at the time of his passing. He earned income from his professional law career.

Death Cause

Zafaryab Jilani suffered from various health issues in his later years. He had a brain hemorrhage in May 2021 after slipping and falling at his home. He was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Lucknow and underwent treatment. He also tested positive for COVID-19 during his hospitalization. He recovered from both but remained weak.

Jilani breathed his last on May 17, 2023, at Nishad Hospital in Lucknow after suffering from a long illness. His son Najam Zafaryab announced his death to the media around 11:50 am. His last rites were performed at Aishbagh cemetery in Lucknow on Wednesday evening.

Legacy and Tributes

Zafaryab Jilani left a legacy of courage, conviction, dedication, and service to his community and country. He was hailed as a champion of justice, a defender of faith, a leader of law, and a voice of reason by his admirers and colleagues. He was respected for his professionalism, integrity, eloquence, knowledge, wisdom, humility, and generosity by his friends and foes alike.

Many prominent personalities from various fields expressed their condolences and paid tributes to him after his demise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was saddened by Zafaryab Jilani’s passing away and praised him for his “significant contribution to India’s legal system”.

Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said that he was “deeply saddened” by Zafaryab Jilani’s death and called him “a stalwart of Indian jurisprudence”. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Zafaryab Jilani was “a great lawyer who fought for justice till his last breath”. AIMPLB president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi said that Zafaryab Jilani was “a pillar of strength for the board” and “a great asset for the Muslim community”.

BMAC co-convenor Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali said that Zafaryab Jilani was “a soft-spoken but never soft in court” lawyer who “contested the Babri Masjid case with utmost sincerity”. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan said that Zafaryab Jilani was “a friend” who “fought bravely” for his cause.

Facts About Zafaryab Jilani

• Zafaryab Jilani was a prominent figure in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue.
• He was the secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).
• He served as the convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee.
• Zafaryab Jilani was a senior advocate and a renowned lawyer.
• He was born on February 7, 1950, in Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
• Zafaryab Jilani began his legal career in 1972 at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.
• He actively participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi case and argued before the Supreme Court.
• Zafaryab Jilani passed away on May 17, 2023, at the age of 73, after a prolonged illness.

• He underwent surgery for blood clots in his brain following a head injury.
• Zafaryab Jilani’s son, Najam Zafaryab, confirmed his father’s passing.
• He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
• Jilani had been unwell for the last two years.
• He was known for his dedicated service to the Muslim community.
• Prior to his passing, he held the position of Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh.
• Jilani’s death was mourned by the legal and clerical community, acknowledging his contributions and commitment.