Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Allama Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi, “May Allah Have Mercy on Him” (Part 19)
The Delegation of Rabet Al-Alam-e-Islami (World Muslim League)
I express my gratitude to the Rabet Al-Alam-e-Islami Institute for providing me with the opportunity to travel to Afghanistan. Their efforts and insistence overcame my numerous excuses and the obstacles that stood in the way of realizing this dream. Consequently, the institute organized a delegation to visit Afghanistan, Iran, and some Arab countries in West Asia. Dr. Abdullah Abbas Nadwi, who oversees Islamic organizations in this institution, was chosen as the secretary of the board, alongside my colleague and personal assistant. Unfortunately, two prominent members of the parliament from Rabbit Al-Alam Al-Islami, Sheikh Saadi Yasini from Beirut and Sheikh Hanifa Muhammad Hanifa from Ceylon, could not join us due to unforeseen reasons.
The general secretary of the institute then selected the distinguished writer Mr. Ahmed Mohammad Jamal, a member of the Saudi Arabian parliament and a professor of Islamic culture at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah—an excellent and worthy choice. On the morning of Sunday, June 3, 1973, we departed from Makkah to Kabul. Due to some delays, our trip was postponed until the afternoon of Monday, June 4.
The secretariat of the institute, led by Mr. Sheikh Mohammad Saleh Ghazaz, the secretary general, contacted the official authorities in Afghanistan and the Saudi embassy in Kabul to arrange our meetings and facilitate the delegation’s mission. The Afghan government warmly welcomed this delegation, which represented one of the largest Islamic institutions, boasting numerous esteemed scholars, thinkers, and writers. King Faisal, the Custodian of the Two Holy Shrines and a prominent advocate of Islamic solidarity, oversees this institute.
The Afghan government graciously insisted that the delegation attend a banquet hosted by them, with the Ministry of Education acting on behalf of the government to facilitate our mission and coordinate meetings. The Embassy of Saudi Arabia accepted this generous invitation with gratitude.
In Kabul
We traveled from Delhi to Afghanistan on an Afghan plane on the afternoon of June 4. When the announcer informed us that we were nearing Kabul, the name resonated in our ears and stirred excitement in our hearts. The plane landed at Kabul airport at 5 PM local time. The weather was pleasantly milder than the inclement weather we had experienced in Delhi.
Among those welcoming us were the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Sheikh Mohammad Ahmed Shabili, an old friend and honorable brother who had previously served as the Saudi ambassador in Delhi, fostering mutual love and friendship with the Muslims of India; Mr. Ali Fouzan, the first secretary of the embassy; Mr. Ahmad Mohammad Jamal, a member of our delegation; Mr. Gholam Mohammad Niazi, Head of the Faculty of Sharia at Kabul University; Mr. Sheikh Mohammad Islam Taslim, Head of Schools and Religious Education in the Ministry of Education of Afghanistan; Sayyed Mohammad Yaqub Hashemi, Director of Dar Al Hafaz in Kabul; Mr. Abdul Rasool Sayyaf, a professor of Sharia appointed by the Ministry of Education as our companion and translator; and several scholars, scientists, and dignitaries from Kabul.
We stayed at Kabul Hotel, and it was a stroke of luck for our delegation that Hazrat Mawlana Sayyed Suleiman Nadwi, Allama Muhammad Iqbal Lahori, and Sir Massoud had also stayed at this hotel forty years earlier, albeit with the hotel building having since been renovated and adorned with many decorations. The window of my room opened to the tomb of Amir Abdul Rahman Ghazi, a figure known for his commendable contributions during the wars against the British and for promoting Islam in distant regions. His brilliant history and esteemed legacy occupied our minds.
Continues…
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