Tributes have been paid to an imam Mohammad Iqbal who collapsed and passed away on Eid day.

Mohammad, a chaplain at Royal Blackburn Hospital, had been preparing to lead Jummah prayers at the hospital before suffering a stroke.

On Saturday, more than a thousand people attended the funeral of the imam who was buried at Pleasington Cemetery. 

Imam Mohammed served as an Hospital Chaplain, together with his wife Appa Rashida, within the Chaplaincy Team at ELHT (East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust) for over 25 years.

Head of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Services, Canon Andrew Horsfall, said: “His passing has left all of us shocked and deeply saddened. He served with such compassion, grace, gentleness and unwavering care for patients, families and staff right up to the day of his untimely death.

He was a man of great devotion and humility always giving fully of himself at such poignant and significant times in people’s lives. He will be deeply missed by us all and the many families he supported within the Muslim Community.

We offer our sincere condolences to Rashida and all his family at this difficult and distressing time.”

His colleague and co-imam, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Hassan, is presently completing the final days of the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

In a heartfelt tribute, he revealed he had been making his way to Makkah from Mina to perform Tawaf al-Ziyārah when he learned of the news.

He said: “Maulana Mohammad Iqbal served as a sessional Imam and Muslim chaplain within the ELHT chaplaincy team for over 25 years.  

“His passing has left me personally shaken and deeply saddened. Together with his wife, they offered unwavering voluntary service to the chaplaincy team. 

“Often, they responded to out-of-hours calls, with no expectation of additional payment, driven solely by a sincere desire to be present for Muslim patients at their most vulnerable moments.

He added: “Maulana never hesitated to help when called upon. He stepped forward with humility, gentleness, and compassion.  He will be dearly missed, not only by our team, but by the many families he quietly supported over the decades.

May Allah grant him the highest ranks in Jannat al-Firdaus (the highest level of paradise) and envelop his family with strength, peace, and patience.

Maulana Mohammad Iqbal carried himself with a calm, dignified, and friendly demeanour. He lived simply, with grace, and passed away with dignity.”

He went on to say: “On behalf of the chaplaincy team, and myself in particular, I express our heartfelt gratitude and indebtedness for Maulana’s selfless service.

His loss is immense. His presence, prayers, and quiet strength will never be forgotten.”