Prominent Physician Dr Yousuf Raza Siddiqui Departs in Makkah
By Dr A. Khan
Chicago, IL
Dr Yousuf Raza Siddiqui, a prominent Pakistani-Saudi physician passed away in Makkah on May 21, 2021. His funeral prayers were offered after the fajr prayers at Al-Masjid al-Haram and later he was buried in Jannat al-Mu'alla, located north of Al-Masjid Al-Haram, the cemetery where Prophet Muhammed’s (SAW) wife Hazrat Khadija (RA), grandfather, and other ancestors are buried.
Yousuf Reza Siddiqui was born in 1938 in the State of Bhopal. He received early education in Bhopal and Aligarh and later moved with family to Thana Bhawan (UP, British India), one of the seats of 1857 revolts against the British. After partition Dr Siddiqui’s family migrated to Pakistan. In the early 1950s, he passed his Intermediate exam from C&S Government College, Shikarpur, Sindh, and got admission in the Liaquat Medical College (later became a University), Hyderabad, Sindh. After completing his MBBS, he practiced in Hyderabad.
In 1958, after the deterioration of Saudi-Egyptian relations, the government of Saudi Arabia expelled all Egyptian doctors from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government hired a large number of doctors from Pakistan’s West and East wings. Dr Siddiqui was part of this large group. In the early 1960s he arrived in Riyadh. When Saudi Airline’s Boeing 707 landed at the Riyadh airport, Dr Siddiqui found out that there were no buildings at the airport, all custom formalities and passenger handling were done under a tent and in a tin shack.
Dr Siddiqui was initially posted by Saudi Health Ministry at the Government dispensary in Hauta Sudair (located about 140 km north of Riyadh) and then at a hospital in Al-Kharj (a town located southwest of Riyadh).
Dr Yusuf Siddiqui’s younger brother Shahid Siddiqui narrates an interesting event that took place in Hauta Sudair: “After arriving in Saudi Arabia, the Pakistani doctors won the hearts of Saudi people through their professional and compassionate service and care. Unlike Egyptian doctors, Pakistani doctors refused to accept any monetary bakshish or gifts from patients on top of their government salary. The Pakistani ambassador decided to visit Al Majma'ah a town near Riyadh, to meet Pakistani doctors serving in the region. When the Pakistani ambassador's DC-4 plane landed on the Al-Majma’ah’s dirt runway, there were no airport buildings, he was greeted by Pakistani doctors and Saudi Amir. After his meeting with the Pakistani doctors, the ambassador decided to return the next day to Riyadh by car. Dr Yousuf Siddiqui requested the ambassador to visit Hauta Sudair as it would be on his way to Riyadh. The ambassador agreed. It was late night, Dr. Siddiqui informed Amir of Hauta Sudair of the visit. The Amir sent his men to Al-Majma’ah to buy fruits and snacks for the next day’s party in the Ambassador’s honor. All shops were closed but when the Amir's staffers told the shopkeepers about the importance of the occasion they opened their shops. The next day was a big occasion for Hauta Sudair as for the very first time a VIP was visiting the town. Amir’s people placed carpets on sand dunes and arranged for the Majlis. All school children gathered in lanes and sang the Saudi national anthem to greet the Ambassador. The party was attended by dignitaries of the town; it was a big event in Hauta Sudair.”
In the mid-1960s Dr Siddiqui was posted in Makkah. He and his colleagues won the hearts of Saudi people through their dedicated service. Many of Saudi royal family members were his patients. Because of his dedicated service, the Saudi government offered him Saudi nationality. For more than five decades, Dr Siddiqui treated three generations of thousands of patients in Makkah with dedication and compassion, first as a Saudi health ministry employee and later through his private clinic located near Safa and Marwa on the road to Mina.
Ahmad Masood Rahmatullah , the administrator (Mohtamim) of Madrasah as-Sawlatiyah, Makkah, in a condolatory note posted on Facebook, has observed: “My Cousin Dr Yousuf Raza Siddiqui passed away, in Makkah. He was practicing there for over 50 years and was very close to my father from mid-1970's to late-1980's, when he worked with Rajab & Silsilah Co. His Clinic was in front of Madrasah as-Sawlatiyah. At that time, the Mayor of Makkah (Bhai Saadi) and Madrasah as-Sawlatiyah’s Mohtamim were also our relatives. He [Dr Siddiqui] has two daughters; both are doctors and both sons-in-law and granddaughter are also doctors. His elder son-in-law Dr Adel Bakhsh’s father was a Minister in Saudi Government. May Allah grant him Jannat-ul-Firdous and forgive his sins. May Allah, Rahmanir Rahim expands his grave and lights it with his blessings. Ameen.”
Dr Siddiqui was a compassionate philanthropist and an avid reader. He quietly helped the needy in Pakistan and India. He used to give books as gifts to his friends. He encouraged people to get education. He helped his driver Suleman’s son to become an engineer. He was a true Momin. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
May Allah SWT bless his soul and assign him the highest station in Jannat-ul-Firdous. Ameen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Pakistanlink Homepage
