Bhopalites Remember Life and Works of Eminent Scholar Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini

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National seminar recalls the contribution of Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini to society. He was Bhopal Shahar Qazi for nearly three decades from 1961 to 1990 

Pervez Bari | Clarion India

BHOPAL – Speakers at a recent two-day national seminar here acknowledged the intellectual prowess of the towering personality of Allama Qazi Syed Abid Ali Wajdi-ul-Hussaini, and recounted his immense contribution to society.

Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini, known across the Islamic World as a great intellectual, authored several books and was also a freedom fighter as he had actively taken part in Quit India Movement.

The seminar, at the initiative of senior advocate Haji Mohammad Haroon 32 years after the death of Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini, was a resounding success as speakers recalled his role as a symbol of communal harmony. He always ensured that there was never any communal conflict. People of other faiths stood in awe with folded hands whenever they saw him passing by. He led a simple life and had close relations with religious personalities of other faiths.

Wajdi-ul-Hussaini was Bhopal Shahar Qazi for nearly three decades from 1961 to 1990 when he left for his heavenly abode. 

Haji Haroon, president of Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali Education Society, and his team organised the national seminar at Barkatullah Public School under the auspices of Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali Education Society.

A versatile personality

In his keynote address, Dr. Mohammad Nauman Khan, a retired Professor of NCERT, said Allama Wajdi-ul-Hussaini was considered to be one of the great and most talented personalities of his time. He was an institution in his own right due to his versatile and multi-faceted personality.

Dr. Nauman said he was not only a religious scholar, Mufti, Qazi, Muhaddith, commentator, thinker, researcher, historian, eloquent speaker, qualified translator, teacher and intellectual, but was also a Qadir-ul-Kalam poet and writer. He had equal proficiency in different languages, familiarity with different academic, literary and religious studies, national unity, and adherence to Islamic and Indian common culture. His wide observation and studies made him a source of knowledge and awareness.

Allama Wajdi-ul-Hussaini’s maternal grandfather, Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Hafeez Khan, wanted him to be a hakeem (a Unani medical practitioner) like him, but this noble soul preferred to become a religious scholar and he chose the profession of teaching. Along with all his virtues, he was a pioneer of national unity. He had good relations with followers of every religion, Dr. Nauman said.

The inaugural session of the seminar was presided over by Bhopal Shahar Qazi Maulana Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi. Dr. Sheikh Aqeel Ahmed, Director of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), New Delhi, was the chief guest.

In his welcome address, Haji Haroon said Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini resides in the heart of every Bhopalite. “The aim of this seminar is that the new generation can also get to know about this great personality,” he elaborated.

Haji Haroon announced that a program will be organized every year in memory of Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini and two annual awards will be instituted. We will also try to publish his unpublished works. In this regard, a committee will be formed to carry out this work, he added.

Bhopal Shahar Qazi Maulana Ali Nadvi said those associated with institutions try to take advantage of their positions. But, he said, Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini was such a character that institutions benefited from his presence and his association with them.

NCPUL to publish unpublished works

NCPUL Director Dr. Sheikh Aqueel Ahmed observed that Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini had a mastery over comparative studies. He said languages have played an important role in the development of the composite culture of India.

Responding to Haji Haroon’s announcement, Dr. Sheikh Aqueel declared that NCPUL would publish all the unpublished works of the great saint if its manuscripts are handed over to it.

Was known across the Islamic World

Bhopal Shahar Mufti Abdul Kalam Qasmi said that Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini was known across the Islamic World and the library of international repute Dar-ul-Uloom in Deoband is named after him. “This library s a source of pride for the people of Bhopal” he said.

Padamshri Hakeem Zillur Rahman from Aligarh said Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini was not just known for his simple life, humility and knowledge but he had excellent relations with people from all sections of society.

Maulana Mohammad Hassan Khan, Rector of Dar-Uloom, Taj-ul-Masajid, Bhopal, said that it was the responsibility of all to hold a program on Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini. Khan also congratulated Haji Haroon and his team for organising the event.

Bonhomie with leaders of other faiths

A photograph of late Qazi Syed Abid Wajdi-ul-Hussaini with the late Mahant of Bhopal’s Gufa Mandir Chandra Das at the venue of the seminar was a centre of attraction which depicted the former’s association with leaders of other faiths.

Representatives of different religions and ideologies expressed their views while paying rich tributes to Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini. Among them were Adv. Syed Sajid Ali, Mufti Muhammad Saeed Akhtar, Architect S. M. Hussain, Dr. Tariq Zafar, Dr. Razia Hamid, Dr. Bilqis Jahan, Giyani Dilip Singh, Shailender Shelley, Gurucharan Singh, G. Arora, Rajendra Kothari, Pandit Mahendra Sharma and Fr. Dilip etc.

Over a dozen papers were presented in the seminar on the life and works of Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini. Those who presented the papers included Maulana Umair Siddiq Nadvi from Azamgarh, Dr. Khalid Mahmood from Delhi, Ms. Razia Tanveer, daughter of Qazi Wajdi-ul-Hussaini, Arif Aziz, Iqbal Masood, Dr. Arif Juned Nadvi, Dr. Azam Mohammad Khan, Dr. Saifi Sironji, Dr. Marzia Arif, Badr Wasti etc. while Prof. Iqtadar Ahmad paid poetic tributes to the great soul.

Haji Haroon and his team were showered with accolades from one and all for organising such a graceful programme wherein family members of the great scholar were also present.

Meanwhile, books of eminent Urdu journalist Arif Aziz, Maulana Naimatullah Nadvi, Khalid Muhammad Khan, and Nafisa Sultana etc. were also released on the sidelines of the seminar.

Adv. Mohammad Kaleem Haroon, joint secretary of the society, compeered the opening ceremony. Dr. Syed Mehrul Hasan proposed a vote of thanks.

Haji Mohammad Imran Haroon, Haji Hanif Ayyubi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Salman, Maulana Yasir, Mohammad Ahmed, Mohammad Zubair did their bit to make the seminar successful. A large number of men and women, lovers of knowledge and literature from Bhopal and outside participated in the seminar.

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