IOn the occasion of the Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony for Dr. Shehzad Saleem.
n the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Khurram Murad, a venerable figure of Jamaat-e- Islami, would often remark that if one wishes to assess a religious or scholarly personality, then in his view the most important criterion of their success is how many successors they have nurtured. In this regard, my esteemed teacher, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, stands out prominently, for he has produced a remarkably long list of students.
This journey began in the mid-1970s with a cohort that he taught, followed by another in the early 1980s in which I was included, alongside Naeem Baloch and several others. Then, towards the late 1980s, there was yet another group, among whom were Dr. Shehzad Saleem and some other companions.
Since then, the process has continued in such a way that—praise be to Allah—it has flourished unceasingly, as we say in Punjabi: chal so chal (let it keep going and growing). May Allah make it ever more effective and blessed. Yet, there remains no doubt that in this entire journey, in this caravan, the most distinguished figure has been Dr. Shehzad Saleem.
I am relating to you a reality: when a person leaves behind all worldly opportunities and devotes himself entirely to a higher purpose, and he feels that others too are accompanying him in this journey, then the sense of competition is only natural—it cannot be avoided. This is a difficult stage, much like running a race in which some competitors are ahead, some behind, and some running alongside. The matter, however, becomes much easier when someone surges far ahead; at that point one says to oneself, “Now, nothing more can be done.” This is precisely what Dr. Shehzad Saleem did with people like us—he moved far beyond.
There are many reasons why Dr. Shehzad Saleem outpaced others. Among his qualities is one described repeatedly in the Quran with reference to Abraham (PBUH): a state of complete devotion and single-mindedness. This devotion gave rise to steadfast perseverance. As has already been noted, although he completed his engineering studies, he had no real interest in obtaining a degree for worldly purposes, nor did he ever take up employment. He had resolved firmly that this—service to the faith—was his life’s work. This clarity of purpose within him was truly exceptional.
To this was added his tireless labor. Of course, there may be other hardworking individuals among human beings—I am sure there must be; I have heard that even among the jinn such tireless ones exist—but his level of effort was extraordinary. Whenever I reflect upon it, the thought that comes to mind is that there is no comparison. It was, indeed, something quite exceptional.
He left no stone unturned in the pursuit of knowledge. I still recall that, from the very beginning, whenever there was an opportunity to benefit from the company of Javed Ahmed Ghamidi or to learn from him, he was always at the forefront. He would undertake translations with such remarkable speed that, at times, we jokingly remarked that perhaps Javed Ahmed Ghamidi would compose his writings later, while their translations by him would already have appeared. Such was his zeal, such was his dedication—it was truly amazing.
Equally striking was his cheerful disposition—indeed, it was exemplary. Naturally, in any institution there are many individuals, along with their differences and difficulties. Yet this servant of God was altogether unique: everyone would turn to him to express their disagreements or share their problems, and he would invariably become a source of help and support. To sustain bonds of affection and effective communication with so many people simultaneously is an extraordinary quality.
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to him on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. There is no doubt that he is truly deserving of this honor. May Allah Almighty grant him ever greater success in this world and in the Hereafter.