ME AND MAULANA: A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION OF WAHIDUDDIN KHAN - John M. Butt

medication in her life. In fact she did not even know what a headache was. She passed away after an illness of nine months in which we tried every treatment which money could buy. I remember that some of her medicines were even imported from other countries. This made me realize that money had no power and that is when I started asking questions. After meeting a lot of people who could not address my mind we came in contact with Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. My first impression was that Maulana thinks like me. And this is how my journey with Maulana started. I still remember that the first time we met Maulana he asked both Naghma and I to tell him something about ourselves. After giving us a patient hearing he said, “Apko toh 1% badalna hai aur apko 99%”. Naghma who was not looking at Maulana directly thought that she is the one who has to change 1% but then he said, “Mauhtarma mein aap se keh rahan hoon. Apko 99% badalna hai kyonki apka Islam ek culture se mila hai. Apko sab kuch unlearn karke phirse sahi Islam kya hai use samjhna parega. Apka sirf concept of God sahi hai.” Aur mere bare mein unhone kaha, “Inko 1% apna concept of God badalna hai, baqi yeh apni nature par hain.” My association with Maulana lasted for a period of 17 years in which he really changed me, not only as a person but also taught me the purpose of my life. My faith in God and the teachings of Maulana about Islam were getting stronger by the day. Both Naghma and I became a case of 1 man 2 mission, the one being our livelihood and the other the CPS Mission. I have seen this mission grow under the guidance of Maulana.