Abaei, one of Iran’s most respected Quranic figures, passed away on April 9, 2025, at the age of 80, following a lifetime dedicated to the service and promotion of the Quran.
He served as a judge in national and international Quran competitions from 1985 until 2018, when he stepped back due to illness.
In separate messages Egyptian Quranic figures Sheikh Abdul Fattah al-Taruti, Sheikh Ahmed Farajullah Shazli, Sheikh Taha Mohamed Abdul Wahab, Sheikh Mohamed Ali Jabin, and Sheikh Abdullah Abdullah offered condolences to the people of Iran, the Iranian Quranic community and the family of the late Quran activist.
In his message, Sheikh Shazli wrote: “Dear Master Abdolrasoul Abaei was a compassionate man and a kind father. When you met him for the first time, it felt as though you had known him for a long time. I saw him as a kind, generous, open-hearted, radiant, wise, trustworthy, and beloved figure. His spirit was gentle and widely accepted. In addition to his knowledge of the art of Quranic recitation, pronunciation, and adherence to the rules of Tajweed, he was considered one of the esteemed masters whose like is rarely seen. His absence is an irreparable loss, and it is rare for time to bring forth someone like Master Abaei, a professor of literature and a man of great moral integrity.
I extend my condolences to the Islamic nation of Iran for this calamity and pray to God Almighty for the forgiveness and vast mercy for the soul of the deceased, and for all of us, patience and great reward.”
Sheikh Taruti in his message described late Abaei as “a distinguished teacher, and a dear friend”.
He wrote: “On behalf of the entire Quranic community in Egypt, I extend my heartfelt condolences to myself and to the Islamic Republic of Iran for the loss of our dear one, Master Abdolrasoul Abai (may God have mercy on him).
Abaei was our teacher and beloved in our hearts, and we had many wonderful experiences with him in judging Quranic competitions and Quranic gatherings.
The late Abaei was a great father, a distinguished teacher, and a dear friend. I pray to Almighty God to grant him mercy for his services to the Quran and its people, and I ask Him to accept him among the righteous. I also pray that He rewards his family with goodness, strengthens our hearts, and places him among the inhabitants of Paradise.”
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Sheikh Jabin highlighted Master Abaei’s dedicating his life to the Quran, writing, “The great scholar of the Quran and a man who dedicated his life to serving the Book of God in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic world, the great Qari Master Abdolrasoul Abaei passed away.”
He added, “We offer our condolences to the family of the Quran. The loss of a qari is a great loss, (especially given) the impact that Master Abbaei left on the generations of qari who came after him in the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Sheikh Abdul Wahab also extended his heartfelt condolences over the death of Master Abaei:
“The Islamic Ummah has lost one of its most important Quranic thinkers, the esteemed scholar Abdolrasoul Abaei (may Allah have mercy on him). I extend my heartfelt condolences to all the friends and international judges who became acquainted with the late scholar during the international competitions, and who found in him a father, brother, and teacher from whom we learned many methods of judging and literature. I also express my condolences to all the admirers of this great scholar. We ask the Almighty God to grant him a place among the prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs, and may the Holy Quran, to which he dedicated his life in service, be an intercessor for him and for all of us.“
And here is Sheikh Abdullah Abdullah’s message of condolences:
“In this painful moment, we extend our condolences to ourselves and the Quranic community on the passing of the scholar, literary figure, and devoted reciter, the late Iranian Quranic master, Abdolrasoul Abaei.
This message of condolence is not merely words; it reflects the emotions and respect for the illustrious history that has illuminated the path for the Quranic community in Iran and the Islamic world. Master Abaei embodied dedication and generosity in serving the Book of God and disseminating its noble concepts to all those seeking to draw closer to the light of the Quran.
His loss is a profound wound in the heart of the Islamic Ummah, as he was someone who consistently guided and extended a helping hand to the lovers of the Quran, sowing seeds of wisdom and righteousness everywhere, leaving an everlasting impact on souls, and providing a bright hope for all future generations.”
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Translated by Seyed Hossein Beheshti Shakib