Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Allama Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi, ‘May Allah Have Mercy on Him’ (Part 45)
A great man in the field of Da’wah (invitation) and reformation
The thought of the Ummah and the concern for it
One of the prominent and influential characteristics of the invitation of Hazrat Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi, evident in both his speeches and his writings and articles, is his deep feeling and soul full of pain and burning—such a pain that deprived him of peace and tranquility. The thought of the Islamic Ummah always tormented him, and he spoke and wrote extensively on this subject, made trips for invitation and reform, and spared no effort for the welfare of the Islamic Ummah and for guiding Muslims back to the path of faith. Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes about Hazrat Maulana Nadwi:
“Allah had given him a living heart and a chest overflowing with love for the Great Allah, the Glorious Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the strong religion. He had a generous spring in his chest that never subsided, a flame that never went out, and an ember that would never turn to ashes. It is necessary for a caller to Allah to possess such a heart and feelings full of love, compassion, warmth, and fervor, to bring others back from stillness to movement, from sleep to wakefulness, and from death to life. The words of those with an awakened heart will have a significant impact on the listeners and the readers of their works. Because if speech comes from the heart, it resonates with the heart; if it comes from the tongue, it remains on the surface and does not go beyond the ears. It was on this basis that the speeches of Hazrat Hasan Basri had a profound impact on all those present, unlike those of others.”
An awakened heart will always put a person in a state of empathy. A chest full of the nation’s pain opens the ways of reform and takes individuals out of the sphere of self-isolation. It has been said about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a man of constant sorrow, a man of constant thought, and he had no rest.”
Without a doubt, this beautiful description of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was manifested in the life of Hazrat Allama Nadwi, who learned benevolence and compassion for the Ummah from this blessed school. He always lived in the pain and suffering of the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), which is why his captivating and spirited speeches had a profound effect on listeners, helping them find their true purpose through the light of his influential lectures. For instance, in the early period of his scientific and intellectual flourishing, when he traveled to Egypt in 1951, he delivered a speech to a group of foreign students at Al-Azhar University. His heartfelt words struck the hearts of those present, leaving a lasting impression. Dr. Mustafa Saeed Al-Khan writes about this speech:
“That speech session was a manifestation of the scholar’s sincerity towards his religion and a reflection of his enthusiasm for imparting Allah’s blessings such as knowledge. His power to convince and attract the hearts of the listeners influenced them deeply with his words and advice. Before the end of his speech, each member of the audience resolved to call towards Allah Almighty with knowledge, insight, and sincerity.”
In fact, it is the heart that enchants and captures the attention of people with the lasso of burning passion and hope. Allama Nadwi not only devoted himself to inviting and reforming people and endured the hardships of this path but also guided others to this precious cause, reminding them of the general negligence of Muslims and outlining methods for reforming it. He was not content with mere words; rather, he traversed every path to realize his inner and faith-based ideals, and the scent of invitation and reform could be sensed in all his movements and postures. He walked this winding path with different titles and types at every moment and juncture of his life.
Continues…
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