Allama Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi “may Allah have mercy on him” (Part 24)
Mojaddedi dynasty in Kabul
Scholars and elders have been continuously engaged in science, teaching, guidance, and calling to Allah in the capital city and its regions. In one of the districts of Kabul, known as “Javad Qalah,” there are tombs belonging to the elders of the Mojaddedi dynasty. Some of the sheikhs of this clan are very famous, and their fame has spread beyond the borders of Afghanistan. Sheikh Mawlana Fazl Omar Mojaddedi, known as “Shir Agha” and nicknamed “Noor Al-Mashaikh,” has countless believers and disciples, including hundreds in India and Pakistan.
His brother, Sheikh Mohammad Sadegh Mojaddedi, the former ambassador of Afghanistan to the Arab East and a founding member of “Rabbet Al-Alam-e-Islami,” is also famous in the Arab world and is well-regarded due to his scientific and reformist positions and his special attention to the issues of the Islamic world. He played a significant role in the revolution that led to the overthrow of Amanullah Khan and the inauguration of Nader Khan.
We visited Javad Qalah; part of it was reserved for students of religious sciences. Its mosque was full of worshipers, and its madrasah was particularly prosperous with the presence of students. The honorable brother of Sheikh Mohammad Ibrahim Mujadidi, the deputy and successor of Noor al-Mashaikh, graciously visited our hotel several times to meet us.
We also had the privilege of meeting other members of this noble family. Among them were Sheikh Abdulsalam Mojaddedi and other friends; but what I will never forget is meeting my dear friend Sibghatullah Mojaddedi. I met him in my youth, in 1951, in Cairo. We spent a few days together in Al-Aqsa Mosque, the place of I’tikaf of his great-grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Sadiq, and now we had the opportunity to meet again in Kabul.
We would sit for hours and talk about different topics, reminiscing about the days when Muslims lived with honor and our deeds were clean and clear. Sibghatullah Mojaddedi is a member of the founding board of Jamiat Ulama of Afghanistan and has played an effective role in the field of Islamic faith and Da’wah in some ministries. Now he, along with my dear brother Mohammad Hashem Mojaddedi, whom I met during this trip and relied upon for information, is working in the Ministry of Education.
Religious and scientific characters
During this trip, we met many notable figures, among them Shaykh Abdul Aziz, the son of the great mujahid Shaykh Saif al-Rahman Toki Mohajer, the nephew of the esteemed Mujahid Aziz al-Rahman, and Shaykh Gholam Rabbani Khatibi, the imam of the Pul-e Khishti Mosque in Kabul, who was very cheerful and friendly. I also had the pleasure of meeting the venerable Shaykh Mohammad Gul, the Shaykh Al-Hadith of Darul Uloom. Here, I apologize if I have overlooked naming some friends, as our schedule was very tight and interconnected, and I didn’t have the chance to take notes.
Kabul Grand Mosque
We went to Pul-e Khishti Jami Mosque to perform Friday prayers, and the Saudi ambassador had also arrived. The mosque was full of worshipers. In these areas, it is customary to give speeches before the khutbah and Friday prayers; therefore, Professor Ahmed Mohammad Jamal and I both gave lectures.
The focus of my speech was the explanation of the hadith in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: «بدأ الاسلام غریباً و سیعود غریبا کما بدأ فطوبی للغربا» Translation: “Islam began as something lonesome and will return to being lonesome as it began, so blessed are the lonesome.” While elaborating on this hadith, I pointed out the hardships and problems faced by Islamic countries, where religion and science are rooted in the fields of faith and life, and I objected to statements about jihad and fighting against the trend of imitating foreigners and turning away from Islam. Suddenly, one of the worshipers, in a state of ecstasy, shouted loudly. This act demonstrated the regret of the zealots regarding the events occurring in the Islamic world.
Professor Ahmad Jamal also presented material regarding the hadith: “Do you know who is bankrupt?” and the hadith: “The world is a market that rises and then ends.”
Gardens and religious places
One of the places we visited was the tomb of the king of Muslims, Sultan Zahiruddin Muhammad Baber, the founder of the Mughal rule in India. His tomb is located in one of the districts of Kabul and is set in a large garden. Baber was particularly fond of the city of Kabul, and thus Allah made this land his burial place.
We also visited Paghman resort, which deserves to be considered one of the international entertainment destinations. Shalamar Garden in Kashmir and another garden in Lahore, according to the observations of Allama Sayyed Sulaiman Nadwi, were built similarly to this mansion and building. These places consist of different levels; the new Paghman resort is expansive, featuring clear water, thick trees, and paved roads.
