CPS NEWSLETTER

39 Spirit Of Islam Issue 123 March-April 2025 Quran Stall at MSI Royal Function Hall, Raichur On the occasion of Amjad Bhai’s niece’s marriage ceremony at MSI Royal Function Hall, Raichur, on 31st December 2024, the Raichur CPS team set up a Quran stall to distribute Islamic literature. Many guests showed a keen interest in the Quran distribution work, and numerous visitors took copies of the Quran and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s English books. ~ Zaheeruddin Khaja, CPS Raichur Shivakumar, a retired English professor (b. 1952), is proficient in English and Tamil and has translated several renowned literary works. His latest translation, Salman Rushdie’s Knife (April 2024), was launched at the Chennai Book Fair on 8 January 2025, drawing significant attention. The book reflects Rushdie’s thoughts after the 12 October 2022 assassination attempt on him. At the launch, Hafiz Iqbal Ahmed Umri represented CPS Chennai, presenting Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s book on blasphemy to Shivakumar, the publisher, and other dignitaries. A week later, Shivakumar called Mr Kullu Nadeem, remarking, “This book is truly worth reading, full of intellectual discussions.” He invited the team to his home. On 17 January 2025, at 11 a.m., our team visited his residence, where he warmly welcomed us. We gifted him more of Maulana’s books, and during the discussion, he said: “I once thought all Muslims shared a rigid mindset, lacking tolerance and freedom of expression. But after reading this book, I realised that some Muslim leaders have guided their communities wisely over time.” Khateeb Israrul Hasan Umri elaborated on Maulana’s unique