Salam Masdoosi
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Saalam Bin Musdoos Al Masdoosi Al Muhannad aka Salam Masdoosi was an Islamic scholar, social activist, leader, guide and philanthropist from Mahbubnagar, India. He studied at Jamia Millia Islamia; he had a very vast study of Islam and History. He visited all the famous institutes and libraries of the subcontinent in search of knowledge.
He dedicated his life in serving the people around him, and to guide them and to form an ideal society, at least on a small scale in his own hometown. He set up different academies, organizations. His great achievement is the creation of true Islamic temper in his colleagues, by his efforts. There was no religious historic occasion, event in India not attended by him with his colleagues
He did not get big name, because he never wanted name neither he ever opted for any position. He always truly believed in and practiced Do your Duty, for the Almighty, But not for name or fame.
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[edit] Vision
He had very clear goal, and he struggled throughout his life consistently for the same.
- To make his society, an educated, self conscious and religious one.
- To setup the true Juma concept of Islam in the society.
- To setup an organization which will be final and total representative of Muslims in religio-socio matters.
- To utilize the resources to setup schools, college and technical institutes, a student hostel etc. And to fund them, a commercial complex.
[edit] Family
Born in 1909 in Mahbubnagar, India in an Arab family BaMasdoos which was migrated to Deccan from Hazrmout (Hadhrmout) Yemen. His father Musdoos Bin Abdullah was a highly respected emir of the Bamusdoos tribe as well as the qazi (cleric/magistrate), Imam and leader. He was a poet, honest and humble man, loved by one all. After the migration, he selected Mahboobnagar for his people, bought some land near the district jail, and constructed a mosque and then houses for all of his near and dear. He had two daughters and three sons Ali Masdoosi, Ahmed Abdullah Masdoosi, and Salam Musdoosi. Ali Al musdoosi migrated back to Yemen in his early days, to fight for the Arab land during early 1900s.
Ahmed Abdullah Al Musdoosi studied and practiced law in the then Hyderabad. He was an activist who later gave up the lawyer profession. He was a close colleague to Bahadur Yar Jung, and one of the executive members of the then Majlis-e-ittehad ul muslimeen. In 1949 he migrated to Pakistan. He had written few but competent books and served as Professor of Law at Karachi University.
[edit] Early days
Mr Saalam Musdoosi studied at Mahboobnagar High School, where Mr Ismail Shareef Azal was among his teachers. He started poetry since school days and had “aasi” (sinner) as pen-name. To promote literary interest in the colleagues, started “Tarjuman-e-Bazm” monthly, during school days. Then he joined Dar-ul-uloom Hyderabad, and then continued his education at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Delhi where he got the privilege to study with great scholars such as Dr Zakir Hussain, Professor Mohammed Mujeeb and Professor Aslam Jairajpuri.
He had interests in literature, reading, social service and Islamic studies since beginning, which was more polished by the best environment of JMI.
After returning from JMI, he joined “Khaaksar Tahreek”, and was deputy head of the Idara-e-Alia. Khaksar tehrik, was organized and headed by Allama Inayatullah Mashriqi. He was one of the 11 members, who decided to migrate Pathankot in 1937, with Moulana Moududi, when Moulana Abul Ala Moududi, was planning to setup Dar-s-salam there. Moulana Moudoodi set up Jamat-e-Islami later. He dropped the idea, because of ideological differences on the organization, as well as those of Mr Moududi.
[edit] Active life
He focused his goal as the betterment of society, starting from his locality, direct at the working level. And he joined Anjuman Islah-e-Maashra. He organized surveys and data collection of all the houses/families, inspired them to study, and planned and provided resources for their self reliance. He setup a study centre for the poor under-educated and low class people.
It was not just at that level, for the intellectuals and educated he had another stage. He setup an academy and discussion centre, where the intellectuals could attend, discuss the religious-social and political matters everyday, and make the action plan. His house became the centre of activities, for all religions and served as the unofficial parliament of Mahbubnagar, in all important occasions. The brotherhood of Hindu-Muslim even in the days of 1948, can be credited to such people.
He had been follower of one nation, instead of two-nation-theory, and his role models were Hussain Ahmed Madani and Moulana Abul kalam Azad. Hence when most of the Muslims and educated people, including his elder brother Mr Ahmed Abdullah Masdoosi migrated to Pakistan, there was no question of him doing so. He decided to live and serve his own country.
He was highly talented in chart making, and had mad innumerous chart posters and graphics, to explain and represent the very tough religious, political and social information to the common illiterate person very easily. His life was a true example of Sufi and philanthropist and donator. He donated everything to poor and needy without discrimination, leaving literally nothing but the God for him in his life.
[edit] Social worker
- He took the toughest work of social reforms at his ancestry place Mahbubnagar. He was highly respected by one and all, Hindus and Muslims. He joined Anjuman Islah-e-Maashra (an organization for upliftment and betterment of the society). He setup Sunni academy for the elite ones, and Anjuman Khuddam millat for the planning and executing the sharia for the society. He even set up Majlis-e-Qiadat, whose main aim was to have a central leadership for Muslims, which should guide them, help them and represent them in every need and deed.
His house was open for all anytime and any day. He was on the field whenever anyone needed something. He never accepted the position or leadership, as he believed money and position corrupts the man, and then he cannot truly help others.
[edit] Scholar/Author
- His dream project was to provide the basic and advanced teaching of Islam, social and political matters through easy and simple charts, graphs and posters. He took this approach instead of books, because:
- A common man in India, was not very well educated. In fact, most of them were illiterate.
- It was simple to grasp and remember, as "A picture speaks a thousand words".
- Not many people now a days, want to read more, and get time to do so.
- It is easy to publish them and paste them around.
[edit] Freedom Fighter
- Salam Masdoosi was a nationalist from the beginning, and a true believer of 'Non-Violence'. He was actively involved in the Indian Freedom struggle, especially through speeches, posters, public discussions and meetings. He was once captured and put in the jail for one day. All the political figures and local authorities had much respect and they knew he was a true believer of Gandhi. He had started with Khaksar Tahreek.
- He was never opportunist, and thus never got a big title or position in the government after the Indian Independence. He never accepted the Government of India’s pension neither the facilities given to the freedom fighters, as he always believed he did his duty if he fought for freedom, although throughout his life he barely managed to meet both the ends. Once his close friend, P Hanumantha Rao (Member of Parliament) tried to force him to get the pension at least, to get some financial help which could ensure his basic necessities. He strongly opposed and forced him not to get any such thing done.
[edit] Philanthropist
Salam Masdoosi had dedicated the life for the people. Throughout his life he spent all his wealth and time for their betterment.
- Teaching them the fundamental of religion and social life.
- Taking the people to the big conventions, meetings and seminars to groom their knowledge.
- To setup istitution to guide them, called "Majlis-e-Qiyadat".
- To setup the hostel, technical institute, Primary and Secondary school in the English medium, Madarsa for Islamic Studies, Masjid, and to fund all these activities a commercial complex.
[edit] King Maker
- He planned for a big complex which contained a hostel, commercial complex, school, industrial training centre, mosque, library at the 11 acre land that was donated by his brother and a famous lawyer of Mahbubnagar. He was the brain behind this setup, whose foundation stone was finally laid by Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the then president of India. This down-to-earth person was standing among the crowd, anonymously when the ceremony was going on.
[edit] Leader
- Sunni Academy
- Anjuman Khuddam-e-Millat
- Majlis-e-Qiyadat
[edit] Personal life
[edit] Colleagues
[edit] Poetry
Salam Masdoos started poetry in Urdu very early in his school days, and he used to have "Aasi" as pen-name. Later he gave up poetry, when he dedicated his life for the social service, and destroyed his creations, poems etc. Some of the poems and ghazals are found in the magazines which were published by then.
