THE IMMORTAL

ALLAMA JAWADI

Article By Hasnain A. Hussain

Schopenhauer has classified scholars and authors into
three divisions i.e. falling stars, planets and fixed stars.
The first have a momentary effect; the second a much
longer duration; and the third are unchangeable,
possessing their own light, and shine for all time. In my
considered opinion, the famous Islamic Scholar Late
Allama Syed Zeeshan Haider Rizvi, popularly known as
Allama Jawadi, by virtue of his knowledge, dedication
and thirst to excel in learning and propagating the
principles of Islam, deserves to be placed in the third
category of the Scholars as defined by Schopenhauer.
Unique and unrivalled as his life was, he got the
universal applause and recognition wherever he went.

This great Islamic scholar of this millennium left for his
heavenly abode on 15th April 2000 on the day of 10th
Muharram, 1421 as per the Islamic Calendar in Abu
Dhabi. A point to be noted is that his last day is the
same as the day of martyrdom of grandson of our Holy
Prophet popularly known as Youm-e-Aashoora.

He spent a life dedicated to the cause of learning
Islamic knowledge and by dint of hard work and labor,
he translated more than 100 original works from Arabic
and Persian into Urdu for the general understanding of
the masses. This was also supplemented by his original
works of paramount importance which were translating
Holy Quran, Nahjul Balaga, Mafatihul Jinnah and
Sahifa-e-Sajjadia, thereby creating a wide readership in
his native language and a distinguish reference library
for all those who follows.

He was gifted with a natural oratory power spell
bounding a crowd of thousands when he spoke. He was
a frequent traveler spending most of his time visiting
various places and people from all continents mourn his
death. He shone as a star from his birthplace which was
Allahbad, India and left a shining trail of light and
wisdom which will remain in the minds of all those who
benefited from him.

He spent a long time of 23 years as Imam of
Masjid-e-Rasool-e-Azam mosque in Abu Dhabi,
inculcating true Islamic values and the basic essence of
Islam in the mind of his followers, teaching them right
from wrong. People with less inclination towards the
religion became regular followers, those who had no
education started describing the meanings of the rules
of Islam, all because of his sincere and dedicated effort.


He remained a leader of all Muslim unity and in his
sermons always called the Muslim masses to unite and
work for the benefit of the mankind. His last ten
speeches were on Tauheed that is the oneness of the
God Almighty and he portrayed a true picture of the
important principle of Islam.

His other work of exceptional merit is his natural gift of
composing Islamic poetic collection of religious poetry,
which were published in the names of Salam-e-Kaleem,
Kalam-e-Kaleem, Soz-o-Salam etc. It was Voltaire who
defined poetry as the "music of soul; and above all, of
great and feeling souls". Beyond doubt, the poetry of
Allama Jawadi is not only the poetry of soul but of
feeling souls too. One, who is unfortunately, not gifted
with a feeling soul, cannot understand his poetry, let
alone its appreciation.

He was an unbounded sea of knowledge for us who
were mere drops in front of him, but due his valuable
guidance, paved a way for drops to merge into the
ocean. His vast study, coupled with his rich and
consummate experience, had definitely made his
personality prominent. He was gifted with a rich
imagination but he was never soaring and ethereal. He
was always realistic and down-to-earth in his attitude.
He had his views about things that were developed from
the teachings of Islam, Holy Prophet and his progeny.
These views were not existing in vacuum; they were
always supported by cogent and convincing arguments
and also by his actions. Indeed very few have his depth
of vision and insight.

He was heading an organization of more than 900
madressas in the name of Tanzeem-ul-Makatib,
teaching Holy Quran and basic religion to children of the
community. He recently started a religious school
Hoza-e-Ilmia Anwarul Uloom in Allahabad, India for
young scholars near his last resting place.

Allama Jawadi was not a name of an individual but of an
organization. Many ingredients blended his personality.
He was a preacher by profession, a poet by choice, an
imam of masjid by necessity and a lover of learning by
hobby. To me, the name will always smell as sweet as a
rose. He was indeed a happy blend of many attributes.

The word "impossible" did not existed in his dictionary.
Bold and intrepid, magnanimous and generous,
thoughtful and rationalistic, dreamy and visionary,
Allama Jawadi reached the crescendo in his plans and
then suddenly makes a disappearance this week to
leave us all thinking.

It is an irreparable loss for all of us here and we pray to
God Almighty for him.