Abdul Rana

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (“Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return.”)

Abdul Ghaffar Zoq Rana

Brewer, Maine Abdul Ghaffar Zoq Rana, 71, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at his home. He was born October 4, 1950 in Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan, the son of Choudhry Abdul Ghafoor Rana and Zohra Begum Rana. A boundless Poet, hardworking Pharmacist, a successful Hotelier, a brother, an uncle, a grandfather and most importantly a beloved Father and Husband. A man of many successes but all due to the wealth of love created by his family. Abdul Ghaffar chose his pen name, Zoq, the Urdu word for “tasteful” as it reflected his pleasure and delight with poetry and music. Zoq embodied his name couplet by couplet, twisting words into an exquisite concoction, entrancing readers into a daze.

Zoq attended Pharmacology school in Karachi, Pakistan while working full time. He immigrated to the United States in the early 1970s and worked hard to attain his graduate degree in New York in order to set his family up for success.

A pharmacist by trade, he worked at the Massachusetts General Hospital throughout the 1980s, retiring thereafter in Maine to become a Hotelier, where he and his wife, Bushra just celebrated 30 years of marriage in September of 2021. He spent time contributing to the Islamic Center of Orono and building a mosque in Lewiston, Maine. He loved renovation projects, construction, and using his hands to build beautiful things, this was his labor of love for family and friends. In 2005, Zoq suffered from a debilitating stroke that forever altered him and his family. He was shelter for his wife and siblings, an advisor for his nieces and nephews, a teacher for his children, and an inspiration for his grandchildren. Although he was often in pain, for the past 17 years, he has continued to be a shining example of love and dedication.

Survived by his Wife, Bushra (Zafar-Iqbal) Rana and his four children; daughter Aroosha Zoq Rana and her husband Saad Bokhari, daughter Adeeba Afshan Rana, son Azim Muhammad Rana and daughter Ambureen Rana, with grandchildren Suleiman Malcom Rana Bokhari and Zaynab Malala Rana Bokhari. In addition, he is survived by his beloved brother Ejaz Ghafoor Rana, his wife Aliya “Pinky” Rana, their children Adeel Ejaz Rana, Rameel Ejaz Rana, and Fazeel Ejaz Rana, His eldest brother Sikander Hayat Rana and his wife Riaz Begum, brother Abdul Razzaq Rana, brother Khizar Hayat Rana and his wife Aisha Rana, sister Zahida Chaudhary, Sister Gul-e-Rukh Hashmi and her husband Salah Hashmi, and his sister Rukhsana Tabussum Rana. Along with many nieces and nephews, including Adnan Rana, Saher Rana, Farhan Rana, Ghazanfar Ali, Mubashir Ali, Rukhsila Saqib, Fraz Ali Chaudhary, Ibrahim Rana, Arooj Sonia Hashmi, Mustansar Fareed. He is remembered by many more cherished family and friends across the globe.

Blessed by the immense amount of family members and friends, we ask that in lieu of flowers donations made in his memory to the Islamic Center of Maine 149 Park St, Orono, ME 04473 and for prayer for Zoq and his close relatives.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com