Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed sadness at the demise of noted Islamic spiritual scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. A Padma Vibhushan awardee, Khan had recently tested positive for Covid-19. He passed away in a Delhi hospital on Wednesday at the age of 96.

Expressing his sadness over the renowned scholar's death, PM Modi said Khan will always be remembered for his insightful knowledge on matters of theology and spirituality.

"Saddened by the passing away of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. He will be remembered for his insightful knowledge on matters of theology and spirituality. He was also passionate about community service and social empowerment. Condolences to his family and countless well-wishers. RIP," PM Modi tweeted.

Last month, as the Prime Minister led the first National Committee meeting to commemorate 75 years of independence, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Khan was amongst the several members, including Governors, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, political leaders, scientists, officials, media personalities, spiritual Leaders, artists and film personalities, sports personalities, and eminent persons from other walks of life, who gave their inputs and suggestions to further expand the scope of the Mahotsav.

A man who adopted peace as the mission of his life

Known for his Gandhian views, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan considered non-violence as the only method to achieve success. Internationally recognized for his contributions to world peace, he had received, among others, the Padma Vibhushan in January 2021, the Padma Bhushan, the Demiurgus Peace International Award, the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award and the National Citizen's Award.

A recent book, 'The 500 Most Influential Muslims of 2009' by Georgetown University, Washington DC, named him "Islam's Spiritual Ambassador to the world." His approach, the book points out, is "popular among Indians, both Muslim and non-Muslim."

Early life and challenges

Born in Azamgarh in 1925, the Maulana was educated in a traditional seminary. From his early years, he showed a voracious appetite for modern knowledge, spending entire days in the library. As a result he became well versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. His extensive research led him to conclude that the need of the hour was to present Islamic teachings in the style and language of the post-scientific era.

Deeply grieved by the demise of renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. A recipient of Padma Vibhushan, Maulana Wahiduddin made significant contribution to peace, harmony and reforms in the society. My deepest condolences to his family and well-wishers.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 22, 2021

Having lost his father, Fariduddin Khan, at an early age in 1929, he was brought up by his mother, Zaibunnisa Khatoon and his uncle, Sufi Abdul Hamid Khan, arranged for his education. He commented that becoming an orphan very early in life taught him that, to succeed in life, you have to take such situations as challenges and not as problems.

Being an advocate of result-oriented and positive action, Khan explained that treating such situations as problems can only be negative in result. All you can do in this state is either try to fight to remove them or lodge complaints or protests against them. On the other hand, if you take such situations as challenges, you can positively and constructively work to overcome them yourself, as and when suitable opportunities present themselves. His success in life was largely due to the implementation of this and other such principles, which he had derived from Islamic scriptures.

Presenting the 'real face' of Islam

After graduating from a traditional Islamic seminary, the Madrasatul Islahi, in Sarai Mir, near Azamgarh, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan became well versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern science. He then realized the need to present Islamic teachings in the style and language of modern times. Khan’s primary concern has been to present Islam as a perfectly suitable ideology for the modern age. Having a deep understanding of the original Arabic scriptures and with his extensive research in the fields of modern thought and science, Maulana presented to the world – in the modern idiom – the real face of Islam, based as it is on peace, tolerance and co-existence. He dispelled the notion that Islam is a religion of violence, a notion that has gained currency in the present times, because of Islam being misrepresented and therefore misunderstood. He dealt at great length in his writings with issues relating to pluralism, inter-faith dialogue and peace.

Maulana's mission

Upon completion of his research, in 1955, he published his first book, Naye Ahd Ke Darwaze Par, or ‘On the Threshold of a New Era’. This book, the result of his exhaustive studies, was further elaborated upon in his next work, Ilme Jadid Ka Challenge, or ‘Islam and Modern Challenges’, which was later published as ‘God Arises’. The culmination of his research was his book, Al Islam, in which he presented the ideology developed by him, which was completely based on the original Islamic Scriptures. Continuing to write since then, he authored over 200 books.

From 1967 onwards, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan had been addressing public and private gatherings in order to advocate a policy, which should be constructive, nationalist and inter-nationalist in nature. He became actively involved in serving the cause of national and international unity based on peace and inter-faith harmony, and extended his mission to interfaith efforts.

Launch of Islamic Centre and Al-Risala

To give full expression to these positive ideas, he established the Islamic Centre at New Delhi in 1970. Subsequently, the organ of the Centre, Al-Risala – the monthly magazine – was launched in Urdu in 1976. This journal, consisting entirely of his own articles, quickly acquired a wide circulation throughout the Urdu-speaking world, and has done much to make people understand the peaceful face of Islam, to awaken in Muslims a new awareness of their social responsibilities and to promote positive thinking and action.

An ambassador of peace

In 1992, when the atmosphere was so highly charged throughout India due to the Babri Mosque incident, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan felt the necessity to convince people of the need to restore peace and amity between the two communities, so that the country might once again tread the path of progress. To fulfill this end, he went on a 15-day Shanti Yatra (peace march) through Maharashtra along with Acharya Muni Sushil Kumar and Swami Chidanand, addressing large groups of people at 35 different places on the way from Mumbai to Nagpur. This Shanti Yatra contributed greatly to the return of peace in the country.

Saddened by the death of Muslim scholar and advocate of religious tolerance and interfaith harmony, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. May his ideas continue to spread and resonate. pic.twitter.com/hsToeciK6q

— Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) April 21, 2021

It is because of his advocacy of peace on the subcontinent and throughout the world and his espousal of the cause of communal harmony that Maulana Wahiduddin Khan was respected by all communities and in every circle of society. Directly addressing individuals, he had been re-engineering minds in order to develop positive and spiritually inclined citizens of the world – who can live together peacefully – so that the culture of peace and spirituality may spread at a universal level. Over decades, he also prepared a team of individuals – the ambassadors of peace.

(Additional information courtesy: Centre for Peace and Spirituality International, established by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan in 2001)