FROM MAULANA’S DESK

FROM MAULANA’S DESK 1. The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims 2012, Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, Jordan. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life has been the establishment of worldwide peace. He has received the Padma Bhushan, the Demiurgus Peace International Award and Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Peace award for promoting peace in Muslim societies. He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world’ and is recognized as one of its most influential Muslims1. His books have been translated into sixteen languages and are part of university curricula in six countries. He is the founder of the Centre for Peace and Spirituality based in New Delhi. ENTERING THE NEW YEAR W HEN you get out of bed after a good night’s sleep and see the first rays of the morning sun, you are bound to exclaim, “What a beautiful morning!” And the morning of every new year’s day is not just beautiful, but extra special. In terms of the calendar, New Year’s day is but the start of another year, whereas in terms of human life, it is the day for fresh planning—having new experiences, availing of new opportunities, and fulfilling new ambitions. For every person memories of the previous year are all about successes and failures. For our magazine, Spirit of Islam, the previous year was its fifth year of circulation and now, it is entering the New Year. During this period we have gone a long way, thanks to our readers having given us feedback on a regular basis. Their contribution has been of the greatest value to us. In consequence, the New Year for Spirit of Islam will be a very special one. Now, in the coming year, we shall be in a position, in the light of all the suggestions readers have made, to further improve the quality of our magazine.