MY MOTHER—AN EXEMPLARY WOMAN

My younger brother, who opted for scientific studies, received his degree in engineering from the Banaras Hindu University. He later entered the Department of Technical Education run by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, from which he retired as Deputy Director. By virtue of his hard work, faultless character and principled life, he commanded the respect of his whole department. As for myself, I was interested in religious education, having been initially educated in an Arabic school. I later worked hard to learn the English language and made a thorough study of whatever academic literature available to me in English. Now, by the grace of God, I am able to work in a positive and constructive manner, as I am sure the readers of my works will confirm. One special aspect of my work—the call to Muslims to rise above negative thinking and become more positive in their approach—has found an effective vehicle for my mission in the Al-Risala monthly, an Urdu magazine which I started in 1976, and Spirit of Islam monthly started in 1984 (under a different name). This mission has, by the grace of God, assumed the form of a powerful movement all over the world. I frequently receive oral or written comments from academic circles which acknowledge that these magazines mark the first Islamic movement in modern times which has attempted to steer Muslims resolutely away from negative activities and set their feet on the path of positivism. I acknowledge all those who have been good enough to encourage me; but the real credit for my achievements must go by rights to that devoted woman called Zaibun Nisa. In this material world of ours, if there is anyone who may be fittingly called the initial founder of this modern, constructive movement, it is certainly my mother. She had never heard of “Women’s Lib,” being very far removed in space, time and culture from such activities, but it is worthy of note that she needed none of the philosophizing of the women’s liberationists to be able to perform what she regarded as her bounden duty in the eyes of God. Whereas my brothers and I set about our tasks in life in a reasoned, conscious manner, for her it was all a matter of instinct, prayer and faith. I know more than one of my own relatives who, having lost their mother at an early age, became destructive in outlook. We must never We must never underestimate the role of woman as mother. It is perhaps her greatest role in human affairs.