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

The author of more than 200 books, Khan has been honoured with several awards. This year, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour. Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan was buried at noon today in Panjpeeran Qabristan near Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin. Buried in same qabristan are his mother Zaibunnisa and his wife Sabia Khatoon. Seen are his grandsons lifting his body to place in grave. Pl pray for his maghfirat. pic.twitter.com/LuPuEyIMRQ — Zafarul-Islam Khan (@khan_zafarul) April 22, 2021 Born in Azamgarh, India, in 1925, Khan has been internationally recognised for his contributions to world peace. In 2009, Georgetown University in Washington, DC’s list of 500 Most Influential Muslims of 2009 named him “Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world”. In 2001, he established the Centre for Peace and Spirituality to promote and reinforce a culture of peace. Khan went on a 15-day Shanti Yatra (peace march) through the western Maharashtra state in the wake of the demolition of the 16thcentury Babri Mosque by Hindu hardliners in the state of Uttar Pradesh in 1992. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “saddened” by the news of Khan’s loss. “He will be remembered for his insightful knowledge on matters of theology and spirituality. He was also passionate about community service and social empowerment.