Mawlana Faizani from the view point of prominent Afghan Scholars

Article adopted from the Balagh newspaper (1997) in reference to 24th imprisonment anniversary of the great Afghan Muslim scholar Mawlana Faizani

The Balagh -- a Publication of Maktab-e Towheed-e Afghanistan

TURNING THE PRISON INTO AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER

Praises and Admiration be to God, the Highest Almighty, dear friends and carriers of knowledge I would like to share one among the many memories which I have about the great scholar from Afghanistan, Mawlana Faizani Sahib. Certainly, Mawlana Faizani Sahib was carrying the "flag of Islamic Movement" starting in 1959, and his activities were rapidly witnessed among many different communities (i.e. spiritual, academic, and military). At that time, I was a university graduate, and was working as a teacher for Qazi High School. I was always saddened by the fact that this great scholar with his thoughtful ideas for saving and improving the lives of the hard working people of Afghanistan was spending his precious time in the prison cell of a cruel regime. May God's mercy and help be with him.

Anyway, I recall the time when Mawlana Faizani Sahib and I, together with other brothers established and founded an Educational and Cultural centers at Karata Char a region of Kabul for the first time. These centers were like libraries, overtime they did an excellent job of educating the people. As a result of these peoples enlightenment, the first demonstration against the corrupt government of Afghanistan were held in Karata Char. At that time no other Islamic Movement existed in Afghanistan. Mawlana Faizani Sahib proceeded towards light from darkness, and from freedom to solitary confinement, and wrote many precious books during his stay in prison. He left behind a great spiritual and educational asset for the oppressed people of Afghanistan. His followers found an elite name and role in history.

Dear brothers, we are all Muslims, all Afghans, when it comes to suffering, we feel it all equally.

Poem: "It's a shame to speak about Shia and Sunni. Take out all these discriminating ideas from your head, Pashtoon, Hazara, Uzbek, and Tajek or Turkman. In the eyes of the enemy, we are all one tribe."

We have suffered in many ways, witnessing the martyrdom of millions of people, and seeing widows and orphans everywhere. However, we still don't realize that all these calamities and sufferings are due to our own faults, shortcomings, and misbehavior. It is a lesson to us from God and it is time to repent sincerely and return to God's commands. Often we believe that we are the ones who defeated the Russians, but in reality the victory and success was granted to us by the will of God Almighty. The success we had over a super power such as Russia is merely from the efforts exerted by our true believers, spiritual leaders and scholars and by the Mercy of God.

At one occasion I recall Mawlana Faizani Sahib counseling people by saying; if we are imprisoned, we will open schools to teach people God's message, and that of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h), and if we are free (not in prison), we will persistently preach and show to people the straight path. If we die in the cause of God, we will become martyrs, but if we remain alive we will labor for the service of Islam.

One of the amazing facts we witnessed about Mawlana Faizani Sahib during his stay in prison, was that he really turned the prison into an educational center, he provided lessons on Tafseer (interpretation of the verses of the Quran), belief, Hadith etc. Truly, he was a great teacher, careful of thought, full of compassion, integrity, modesty and justice - fearing none other than God, the Highest Almighty. We should read and benefit from Mawlana Faizani books and implement those concepts in our own lives, at the same time we should convey the message to others for the happiness of God. The University of Insight Into God which was founded by Mawlana Faizani is now administered by Ustad Mazhabi, the eldest son of Mawlana Faizani Sahib. Ustad Mazhabi is providing valuable lessons to the students of this university in different aspects of Islamic thought: such as educational, political, economical, cultural etc.. I witness that Ustad Mazhabi Sahib, is following exactly the guide-lines which were introduced by Mawlana Faizani Sahib. Although, there are great deals of obstacles and difficulties in his way, he is pursuing it with bravery, strength, and determination.

I give glad tidings to Ustad Mazhabi, and his followers that if they continue with their activities which is in fact following the way of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) one day the Afghan Nation will appreciate their relentless efforts and hug them with love and acceptance.

www.faizani.com