The passing away of Maulana Asad Madani sahib

V. M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN

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Assalamu Alaikum ..

Some of you in the WhatsApp groups may remember that I was bringing out AL-AMEEN monthly newsletter. In its March 2008 issue I wrote:

1 .The passing away on 6^th February 2006 of Hazrat Maulana Asad Madani sahib (born on 27.4.1928), President, Jamiat-ul-ulama-e-Hind, former Rajya Sabha M.P. consecutively for three terms starting from 1968 as a Congress nominee and freedom fighter, is a great loss to the community and country. He was active in the Jamiat, political and social activities till his end. He had visited Tamil Nadu many times and impressed the people by his valuable discourses in chaste Urdu. The Arabic College in Deoband (U.P.) which he was running is famous the world over for its higher Islamic studies.

The Maulana was the son of Hazrat Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madani sahib who was a great and staunch nationalist opposing Mohammed Ali Jinna's two nation theory and devoted his whole life for the liberation of the country and was jailed for this in Malta.

Maulana Asad Madani sahib worked for the welfare and progress of the Muslim community and tried his best to protect its rights. He is survived by four sons and two daughters. His successor-apparent is Maulana Mahmood Madani sahib. He was also associated with many other organisations – Aligarh Muslim University court, Central Haj Committee, All India Muslim Personal Law Board etc. He was laid to rest on 7^th February 2006 after  Fajr prayers at Deoband's Qasimi graveyard. His funeral prayer was led by Maulana Mohammed Talha sahib and attended by more than 1,50,000 people from India and abroad.

"Mouth uski hai karay jiska zamana afsous,

Youn thou duniya mayn sabhi aathay hain marnay kay liyay."

May his soul rest in peace.

2. Why does a Muslim say he is a Muslim?

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman in Indian Express dated 4^th December 2004.

This has reference to the article "We are in denial" by Sri Sri Ravishankar published in The New Indian Express. It is wrong to say that Hindus have given up their identities and Hinduism. Even so called atheists go to temples and carry their Hindu identities intact in dress, customs and in all other day today affairs. It is applicable to communists also. Of course there are some Hindu and Muslim communists who don't have religious beliefs. But their actions are religious.

A Muslim says that he is a Muslim (as any Hindu, Christian or Sikh for that matter) because he feels he is rational and belongs to a faith which says that all are the creations of the same one God, There is no question of my God or your God. There is also no question of any person, however great he may be being made a God and worshipped. Hence he feels that by proclaiming himself a Muslim he is simply telling that there is no difference between man and man. He is a torchbearer of human equality, brotherhood and dignity. That is why a Muslim is usually called "bhai" (brother).

Apart from this, Islam has no caste system and anybody can enter any mosque anywhere in the world and pray. A true religionist never divides the human community. In other words "oneray kulam oruvanay Devan" . As God human community is also one is the concept Muslims have accepted without and ray of doubt and practised. The Islamic principles are meant for the benefit of the whole humanity. They are rational, unquestionable and acceptable to all. The path is straight forward and not zigzag. Good Hindus and good Muslims seem to be on the same thinking on this point.

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