|Politicians & Literature|
Syed Ali Shah Geelani | 83 | J&K
Chairman, Hurriyat Conference
Syed Aali Shah Geelani Photo: Faisal Khan
BOOKS ARE OXYGEN to me. As someone who has been under house arrest for three years, books have been my life support. I spend some five hours reading every day. These days, I’m reading the Tafsil-e-Quran, which gives you satisfaction and peace of mind, important for a person facing life’s ups and downs.
I was 20 when I read my first book, Haqeeqat-e-Zaqaat (The Essence of Charity) by Maulana Maududi. This book not only introduced me to his body of writing, but also to the political party, Jamaat-e-Islami, of which I became a member in 1953. It had such a tremendous impact on me that I immediately began to read his other books: Haqeeqat-e-Hajj (The Essence of Pilgrimage), Haqeeqat-e-Imam (The Essence of Leadership), Haqeeqat-e-Islam (The Essence of Islam), Haqeeqat-e-Jihad (The Essence of Holy War) and Haqeeqat-e-Salat (The Essence of Worship). Maududi urges everyone to select a mission that benefits people en masse.
I give these books the entire credit for whatever I am. These are the books that made me recognise that I must serve my people; that helped set me on the path I’ve taken; that instilled moral uprightness in me, prepared me to launch a legally justified resistance against New Delhi over the Kashmir dispute.
Other authors who have influenced me include Islamic scholars Ibn Taymiyyah and Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi, the Indian freedom struggle leader Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, whose newspapers Al Balagh and Al Hilal revolutionised the life of Muslims in the subcontinent, as well as Mohammad Ali Jouhar, the journalist and poet, and Urdu writer Muhammad Husain Azad.
I was a fan of Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, the Bangladeshi leader, whose Daur-e-Jadeed Ka Challenge (The Challenge of the Modern World) and Haqeeqat Ki Talaash (In Search of Truth) used a scientific approach to convey his message. Those interested in Islam or writing about the religion must first read the six volumes of Tahfeem-ul-Quran (Translation of the Holy Quran).
Mohammad Iqbal tops my list of poets. His poetry instills character; it has a message of peace, justice and sympathy. Faiz Ahmad Faiz and even Asadullah Khan Ghalib are worth reading too.
Great Leader of Kashmir, Allah Salamat rakhy, our umeri daraz atta farmayay. Aameen.
Today Pakistan’s state of affairs owes much to Maududi brand of Islam. Little surprise Islamist like Geelani find inspiration from the ideology that has killed thousands of innocents in South Asia. No prize for guess what sort of Kashmir Geelani and his ilk will build if they are given free hand.
On what basis you talk about bloodshed?? Maududi never encouraged bloodshed. If Maududi ever talk about killings of people the Jamaate Islami Hind would be the most terrorist organisation of India, but it is working harmoniously for peace and advocating democracy by implementing complete internal democratic set-up. My humble request you to read Maududi’s books first and make comment on him..
While reading Maududi it feels like you are eating chocolates…the sweet message of peace peace flows through his writtings. It not only makes you realise the reasons for current crises in the socio-politico-economic spheres in the modern world but also provides diagnosis and cure supported by convincing logical arguments. The devils that your eyes see will surely prove to mirages delibrately created by vested intrests… people will surely be indebted for his great service to humanity if he is read without bias…
You will never succeed geelani !
The man with firm belief…we owe great respect for this undisputed leader of bleeding kashmir…
he is among the real deep thinking people who are real humanist.His political and ideological foundations are strong and logical.we need real people like him..not the fake type…..
Geelani Sahab is a leader of principles and firm character.
Haqeeqat-e-Jihad doesn’t mean “The Essence of Holy War” but “The Essence of Striving and Struggling”.
Islamic theocracy will never succeed!