Random thoughts: An informative read

Today’s column is a review of one of the most important books on       Seerutun Nabvi        that has been compiled and written by my good friend, Muhammad Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, a former minister of interior, excise and customs and culture, tourism and sports and industries.

It is entitled    Seerat-e-Khairul Bashar and has been published by Fima Amazing Process, Karachi. It is also available from S B 21,717, Riyadh 11,485, Saudi Arabia.

Rauf Siddiqui is an excellent writer of Urdu poetry and prose. It is because of his literary activities that we became good friends. He was a good, competent minister. Rauf Siddiqui is related to a well-known literary figure of Lucknow. His maternal grandfather was the famous poet Natiq Lucknawi (Hakim Syed Abul Ala Saeed Ahmed).

The spirit of Natiq’s love for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has come down to Rauf Siddiqui. Some time ago, Rauf Siddiqui wrote an excellent book on the history of the Kaabah, which I had reviewed in one of my columns. In order to give you some idea of the importance and value of the book under review, I am quoting some great religious Islamic scholars.

Dr Saleh Zainelabidin at-Shebi, who was the custodian of the keys of the Kaabah, says that: “I am highly impressed by the efforts of Rauf Siddiqui who has written an excellent book on Seeratun Nabvi. He has covered all aspects of the life of our Holy Prophet (pbuh) in such a manner that it covers all the important matters related to our Holy Prophet (pbuh) as declared by the Almighty in Surah Ahzah, Ayat 21 (We have indeed, in the Apostle of Allah, a beautiful pattern of conduct for anyone whose hope is in Allah and in the Final Day)”.

Sahibzada Muhammad Rehan Amjad Ali Naumani, the head of Darul Uloom Amjadia Karachi, states that: “The book by Rauf Siddiqui is an excellent work on Seeratun Nabvi. [It] is a source of peace of mind and heart of a momin. When you read it, you go into a trance, forgetting all other things”.

Mufti Muhammad Naeem, the head of Jamia Binoria Aalya, Karachi, says that: “The life of our Holy Prophet (pbuh) is a lesson of light for the whole of humanity. Rauf Siddiqui has collected, for the sake of a successful life for all, all the aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet [pbuh]. This book can guide us all and help us all to follow in the footsteps of our Holy Prophet. This work by Rauf Siddiqui is highly commendable”.

“Rauf Siddiqui has done a great favour to the whole nation. This book is going to be an excellent reference work for religious students and scholars. This book must be in every house, university library and religious school. The Almighty has blessed the author with great talent for writing (and reading) and his earlier book on the History of the Kaabah was a masterpiece”.

Allah Tahir Johari states that: “In the pre-Partition Subcontinent, there were many such famous scholars and families and the dedication of a book to them was a great honour. [Siddiqui’s elders] were famous literary and religious figures. Rauf Siddiqui has got it all in his genes and this has made him an excellent scholar. I believe that he would [sic] soon be writing a book on those who have been mentioned in Darood-e-Ibrahimia”.

Hafiz Muhammad Sulfi, the principal of the Jamia Sattaria Islamia in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, states that: “After Almighty Allah, our beloved Prophet (pbuh) is the only one about who so much has been written. The depth and care with which Rauf Siddiqui has compiled and written this book is highly commendable. The book is a masterpiece, highly informative and authentic...I hope all Islamic scholars will benefit from this excellent work”.

Finally, Abdul Malik, the managing director of the Darus Salam Publishers, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia says that: “I am extremely pleased that Rauf Siddiqui has compiled and written this invaluable book in such a simple, legible style. Every word written by him reflects his immense love for our Holy Prophet (pbuh). I personally was not aware of many of the facts which I learnt from this book. He is probably the first politician and minister who has earned this distinction.”

The esteem in which Almighty Allah held His Apostle (pbuh) is evident from the fact that he was the last messenger and that in the Quran it is stated that: “He who obeys the Apostle, obeys Allah”.

Email: dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com