So old, yet beat me in humility through word and deed

Mohammed Zahirudheen, Vice President of Iqbal Academy Hyderabad, has left for Hyderabad. Meetings with him were memorable and inspirational. Being so old, he would still beat me in humility, in word and deed. Although details of his discussions are too precious to be shared publicly, he would embarrass me at times by expressing his admiration for my activism.

He showed me many more innovative ways in the appreciation of Allama Iqbal’s thoughts and works. He also fired a new wave of creativity by revealing new domains within my own works where I could improve and expand the ideas. He was always liberal to discuss various issues and clear doubts. He would tirelessly talk on implications of Iqbal’s thoughts with relevance to modern context, including the real estate craze which has taken the Arabian Peninsula by craze.

Today afternoon, I was surprised when I received a call in middle of sleep from an Urdu scholar and activist from Kerala. He told me that I was referred to by Mr Zahirudhin from Hyderabad. I then realized how seriously the scholar had taken my casual request and the speed he acted upon it. Within a day of reaching Hyderabad from Sharjah, he bothered to get it done (although he had landed there at a critical situation - the death of the President of Iqbal Academy, Prof Syed Sirajudheen.)

It is my fortune that Mr. Zahirudheen, who could be relatively considered a selfless ascetic scholar in this materialistic era, generously gave a Foreword for my upcoming second edition of The Cool Breeze From Hind.

May Allah grant him more years of health and wisdom.

اللهم اشرح لي صدري ويسر لي امري. اّمين