Abim confirmed Razali’s death in a post on its Facebook page.

It said the funeral prayers will be held at Masjid Al-Umm in Section 1, Bandar Baru Bangi, after Zohor prayers.

When contacted, Abim president Faisal Abdul Aziz said Razali died after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Razali founded Abim in 1972 and helmed the post of president until 1974. He was succeeded by Anwar Ibrahim, who is now prime minister.

Born in Kampung Hutan Pasir, Kelantan, Razali obtained his first degree from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, in 1966.

In 1971, he completed a Master’s degree in comparative religion at the University of Birmingham in the UK and later obtained a PhD from the International Islamic University Malaysia (UIA) in 1992.

He was a professor at UIA’s law faculty from 1983 to 2008, and had served as UIA dean between 1983 and 1990.