– Md. Sami Ahmad
Patna: A three-day exhibition of books on Hadith and the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ organised at Khanqah Munemia, Mitan Ghat, concluded on Sunday.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Syed Shah Saifuddin Firdousi, Sajjada Nashin of Khanqah Muazzam Makhdoom Jahan, Bihar Sharif; Mr. Irshadullah, Chairman of the Bihar State Sunni Waqf Board, and the former chief secretary of Bihar Mr. Amir Subhani. Maulana Syed Shah Misbahul Haque Ammadi, the Sajjada Nashin of Ammadiyah, and Chairman Mr. Irshadullah addressed the visitors of the exhibition, appreciating the initiative and encouraging students to benefit from it as much as possible.
Arabic and Sufi scholar Professor Shamim Ahmad Munemi, who heads Khanqah Munemia, said that the most significant contribution to making Islam popular globally among people of all classes and regions is the Seerah (lifestyle and teachings) of the Prophet. He said the biography of the Prophet has been written in every era. Prof. Munemi revealed that in the subcontinent, the first book of Seerah was written in the 15th century by the great Sufi saint Makhdoom Hussain Nausha Tauheed Balkhi, a native of Bihar, in the Persian language. Its first publication, along with Urdu translation, was done by Khanqah Munemia. This book also became the centre of attention for people on this occasion during the exhibition.
The library of Khanqah Munemia houses a valuable collection of 30,000 books, in addition to manuscripts. Approximately 2000 books on Hadith and the life of the Prophet ﷺ from this collection were displayed to attract the attention and interest of the general public. These include invaluable books on the life and traditions of the Prophet in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and English, inviting people to engage in their study. After the Friday prayer, people of all ages showed immense enthusiasm, zeal, and eagerness for this exhibition.
Prof. Munemi, said, “There is strong hope that, on the occasion of the completion of 1500 years since the blessed birth of the Prophet, this positive step will pave the way for people to connect with the pure and faithful world of books on his life and traditions.” On this occasion, a large gathering of people from various walks of life attended the inauguration, particularly Prof. Javed Hayat, Mr. S.S. Qadri, a Chartered Accountant, Imams of mosques, and teachers from madrasas and universities.
Prof. Munemi made a thought-provoking statement on this occasion. He said, “The essence of all that exists in the eighteen thousand worlds is encapsulated in a single human being, and their humanity is indispensable for the sustenance of this universe and is the primary purpose and intent of its creation.”
He said that to achieve and preserve this very purpose, 1,24000 Prophets were sent, among whom the life, biography, thoughts, ideas, guidance, sayings, and observations of the final Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ are the most preserved, widely accepted, and accessible. The noble personage of the Prophet is also unparalleled in this regard, as for the past 1500 years, research, compilation, and arrangement of his life and teachings have continued to evolve.”
Prof. Munemi opined that the research on Prophet Muhammad’s life predominantly focuses on the aspect of devotion, and the methods, manners, and ways he practically taught are universally acknowledged and recognised as the most exemplary. He concluded that those who adopted the Prophet’s way of life, have been counted among the saints, the righteous, the truthful, the pious, chosen ones, martyrs, and perfected ones.
Prof. Munemi said the Urdu language held the distinction of possessing, after Arabic and Persian, the largest repository of literature on the life and traditions of the Prophet ﷺ.
