‘Thousands’ turn up to pay respect to Aagrah founder

It was announced yesterday that Haji Muhammed Sabir MBE had sadly passed away with droves of people taking to social media to pay tribute to a “true pioneer”, including Labour MP for Bradford West Naz Shah.

Mr Sabir leaves behind a legacy of creating one of the most well-known names in the food industry, particularly Indian cuisine.

Haji Muhammed Sabir MBE (Image: Janaza Announcements) Aagrah had humble beginnings, with Mr Sabir starting the business as a mobile takeaway in 1976, operating from his cherished Commer Van, known as the Spice Pot.

A year later he transformed a former plumber’s shop and bakery in Westgate, Shipley into a 40-seater restaurant – the first Aagrah, with the company now boasting seven locations and a range of cooking sauces.

Haji Mohammed Sabir MBE in 1982 outside the first Aagrah restaurant (Image: Other) A funeral prayer took place at Jamiyat Tabligh-ul-Islam Bradford Central Mosque, in Westgate at 5.15pm on Saturday.

Adil Hussain, founder of Muslim bereavement service Janaza Announcements, was there and said all the halls were full, as well as the gallery and lobby, with “thousands” from across Bradford and its surrounding areas attending.

Thousands turned up to Bradford Central Mosque to pay their respects to Aagrah founder, Haji Muhammed Sabir MBE (Image: Janaza Announcements) The funeral prayer for Muhammed Sabir MBE at Bradford Central Mosque (Image: Janaza Announcements) He said: “Thousands of mourners came to pay their respects at the funeral prayer for Muhammed Sabir, the founder of Aagrah Restaurant.

“Muhammed Sabir was a loving and caring man and dedicated nearly 40 years to serving the community.

“Yesterday, thousands of friends, family, and community members gathered at Bradford Central Mosque to attend the Janazah prayer.

“Sabir was a man who contributed to the community not just through his business, but also through his generosity.

Mr Hussain added: “Prior to the funeral, the imam spoke about how Sabir was a frequent attendee at both Bradford Central Mosque and Victor Street Mosque.

“He was known to be a kind and generous individual.”

A burial then took place at Scholemoor Cemetery with hundreds of people in attendance, according to Mr Hussain.

All the halls were full at Bradford Central Mosque, as well as the gallery and lobby (Image: Janaza Announcements) Bradford West MP Naz Shah shared a touching tribute on her Facebook page to Mr Sabir, who she knew for more than three decades.

It said: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Haji Muhammed Sabir MBE - Chairman of the Aagrah Group.

"I have known Haji Sahib for over 3 decades.

"Haji Sahib is someone I consider close family, I was always extremely blessed with his guidance, support and advice.

"He will always be remembered for his kindness, compassion and loving nature.

"Haji Sahib was not only an extremely successful businessman but also a great humanitarian.

"He wholeheartedly supported charitable projects both locally here in Bradford as well as helping the poor and needy across the world.

"My heartfelt prayers and condolences to the family.

"May Allah Almighty grant Haji Sahib Jannah tul Firdous."

Humble beginnings for the Aagrah Restaurant Shipley in 1985 (Image: Other) Many recalled pleasant experiences with Mr Sabir and at the Aagrah restaurants, passing on their condolences to his family.

Ilyas Najib said: “A true pioneer, may Allah grant Haji Saab the highest of ranks in Jannah.”

Peter Beck said: “RIP people travelled near and far for his quality food, one of the people who put Asian food on the map.”

Lynne Shaw said: “Such a nice man, we called for a takeaway after my daughter was born 39 years ago and he put a coin in her hand for good luck, Rip.”

Siraj Hussain, who said he “had the privilege” of working for Mr Sabir in a variety of his restaurants, described him as “such a humble and down to earth man”.

He added: “Always had a smile on his face and always went the extra mile to help people out.”

Aagrah, in Saltaire Road, Shipley (Image: Google Street View) Phil Wright said: “A well respected and good man who did a great deal for charity as well as running excellent restaurants.”

Karl South remembers Mr Sabir’s curry van frequently parked outside Oakwood Hall nightclub, in Bingley.

He said: “Many times he gave me a lift back to Shipley centre.

“He told me about he was opening a restaurant in Shipley, Mr Sabir and the Aagrah. The rest is history.

“He was a lovely man, R.I.P.”

Mr Sabir was acting as group chairman for Aagrah at the time of his death.

While running the Spice Pot 48 years ago, he continued his day job as a bus driver, working 18-hour days to get the business up and running.

It was while doing his day job that his luck changed as he struck up a friendship with a Barclays Bank manager who regularly travelled on his bus.

After months of informal conversations, he was offered the chance to borrow £20,000 to develop his business, allowing him to develop a small unit in Westgate, Shipley, which he had previously bought.

Opening of the Aagrah Midpoint Suite and Conference Centre, in Thornbury (Image: Other) He sold the Spice Pot for a profit of £300 in 1977 and used the loan to create the Aagrah restaurant in Shipley.

Since then, Mr Sabir and his brother Mohammed Aslam, the group's managing director, have built the business into the UK's largest Kashmiri restaurant chain.

Mr Sabir received an MBE in 2005 for services to charity.

At that point, he had helped to raise more than £500,000 since he organised his first fundraising dinner at Shipley's Aagrah restaurant in 1982.

Aagrah launched its Tarka Cooking Sauce range in 2011, which featured the brand's most popular recipes and allowed people to cook Kashmiri "home-style" dishes in their own homes.