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

HIS THOUGHT ON PEACE AND KASHMIR Ahmad Shanas T he world has lost recently, not only one of the greatest Islamic scholars of the century but also one of the most passionate and fervent advocate of Peace, Religious Tolerance and Interfaith Harmony Padma Vibhushan: Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Maulana was an intellectual collasus, a spiritual philosopher, who rediscovered religious teachings particularly of Islam from the point where they otherwise end for many religious luminaries of the day. His exhaustive and deep dive study encompasses entire range of different subjects ranging from classical learning to modern disciplines, that gives him deep insight into things beyond their normal meaning and understanding. His entire focus of religion was on the spiritual side of religion. To him the role of religion is to connect man with God, to enable him to rise above the mundane level and to live on a higher plan of spirituality. For him the entire humanity is like one family of God. His love for humanity, his kinship towards humankind in general rather than just for a select group, made him a fatherly figure, a spiritual Guru, that’s why people have always turned towards him for love, peace and solace in a time