For every closed door, there is always another which is open-but only to those who have the eyes to see it, and the courage to march through it.
July 9, 2008
For every closed door, there is always another which is open-but only to those who have the eyes to see it, and the courage to march through it.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is an Islamic spiritual scholar, who has adopted peace as the mission of his life. Born in northern India in 1925, in Azamgarh, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, he is well versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern science. From his very childhood, he showed a voracious appetite for knowledge, spending entire days in libraries. Well versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern science, his 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.
Maulana has been devoted to the development of a complete Ideology of Peace, Spirituality and Monotheism so that the real face of Islam based on peace, tolerance and co-existence could be presented before mankind. Since 1967, he has been actively involved in serving the cause of national and international unity based on communal harmony and peace. A special invitee to inter-religious conferences, within and outside the country in the past five decades, Maulana has been a regular contributor to several national and international dailies and magazines.
Realizing the need for the correct translation and commentary of the Quran, Maulana translated the Quran in Urdu along with the commentary in the form of Tazkirul Quran. Its Hindi version has recently been published and its English version is under preparation, which will give to the world a correct English translation of the Quran, which gives the interpretation of the Quran in the modern idiom. He is presently working on a Hadith compilation, his autobiography and is getting the Encyclopedia of Divine Wisdom compiled under his direction.
He established the Islamic Centre in Delhi in 1970 and launched its Al-Risala in Urdu in 1976. This monthly magazine has done much to awaken in Muslims a new awareness of their social responsibilities. Giving the correct interpretation of the Islamic Scriptures, he has authored over 200 books on Islam, prophetic wisdom and peaceful co-existence in a multi-ethnic society. 1955 saw the publication of his first book "On The Threshold Of A New Era". His next work "Islam and modern challenges" or "God Arises" was the result of an exhaustive research, which was translated into various languages such as English, Arabic, Malay, Turkish, Hindi, Malayalam and Sindhi. Its Arabic version has been published under the title of Al-Islam Yatahadda and became popular throughout the Arab world. Now accepted as the standard on Islamic position on modern thought, it has been incorporated in the curricula of universities at over six Arab countries. Some of his other published works are: In Search of God, Islam Rediscovered, Man Know Thyself, Islam: The Voice of Human Nature, Quran: An Abiding Wonder, Religion & Science, Islam Creator of the Modern Age and many more.
Maulana has developed a full-fledged Ideology of Peace - derived directly from the Scriptures to counter the mentality of violence that banishes the notion that there can be anything acceptable about terrorism. He says, "Peace is the only way to achieve anything of positive nature either as an individual or as a society. And the same holds true at national and International levels as well." Giving the practical model to obtain peace, Maulana advocates the following formula for peace:
"Ignore the problems, and avail the opportunities."
He has presented this ideology of peace in his books: Islam and Peace and The True Jihad. His latest book, The Ideology of Peace, has re-engineered the minds of countless people the world over.
Maulana's greatest contribution has been his tireless campaign to avert the danger of a nuclear conflict between various countries, to which end he put forward a proposal for a worldwide movement for nuclear disarmament at a peace forum in Switzerland.
Maulana has also developed a complete Ideology of Spirituality, which is based on contemplative thinking rather than on meditation. According to Maulana, Contemplative Spirituality gives man the answers to his eternal questions pertaining to the Ideology of Life: Who am I?, What is My Purpose?, Does God Exist?, How should I live in this world, How can I be successful?, etc. He says, Spirituality is, indeed, a representation of truth - Truth is Spirituality and Spirituality is truth. Everyone is in need of Spirituality, whether rich or poor, powerful or powerless. Spirituality provides human beings with a starting point for their lives. Spirituality tells man the secret of his creation plan. It provides man with the right philosophy of life. It is a guidebook of life, bringing man out of the darkness of ignorance and leading him into the light of reality.
To spread the Ideology of Peace and the Ideology of Spirituality globally and to help people find rational answers to the Ideology of Life, in January 2001 Maulana established CPS International - Centre for Peace and Spirituality. As is apparent from its name, the organization aims to promote and reinforce the culture of peace through mind-based spirituality. CPS International, under his patronage and inspired by his spiritual wisdom, the centre undertakes spirituality efforts that focus on unleashing the spiritual potential of an individual. As a result, the seeker embarks on a journey that elevates his consciousness by allowing the intellect to discover and acknowledge the Creation Plan of his Creator - thus resulting in the construction of positive individuals.
Under the leadership of Maulana, the centre further undertakes peace efforts and interfaith efforts to show Islam as a religion of peace and reveal its true face based on peace and spirituality. Maulana is Islam's spiritual ambassador to the world. Through CPS International and its global partners, Maulana has created a team of individuals with re-engineered minds and trained in the principles of peace and spirituality. He envisions that this team of individuals will play the role of Ambassadors of Peace and Spirituality to the world and usher in an era of global peace and unity.
