Muhammad Arshad. Islamic Sciences, Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No by the Center for Islamic Sciences 25

Transcription

1 Muammad Asad: Twenty-Six Unpublised Letters Muammad Arsad Muammad Asad ad a large circle of friends from Dr. Muammad Iqbal ( ) to Muammad Hussain Baburi (d. 1984), a type-writer mecanic e ired wen e set up is printing press. Among is eminent friends were Caudri Niyaz Ali Kan ( ), Mir Waʾiz Muammad Yusuf ( ), a Kasmiri religious and political leader and te founder of Anjuman-i Nusrat al- Islam, Mawlana Abdul Qadir Qasuri ( ) and is younger broter Maulavi Abdulla Qasuri ( ); Sayyid Sulayman Nadwi ( ), te director of Dar al-muṣannfīn (Azamgar, India), Sayyid Abuʾl-Aʿla Mawdudi ( ), Mawlana Sayyid Dawud Gaznvi ( ), Muammad Ismail Gazanvi ( ), Mawlana Amad Ali Laori (d. 1962), Dr. Zakir Hussain ( ), te vice-cancellor of te Jamia Millia Deli ( ), Dr. Omer Hayat Malik ( ), te Principal of Islamia College Pesawar and Laore and later te vice-cancellor of te University of Punjab ( ), Mumtaz Hassan ( ), te Finance Secretary of te Government of Pakistan ( ), and is younger broter Nasim Hasan ( ), Zaid Hussain ( ), te Governor of te State Bank of Pakistan and te founder cairman of te Planning Commission of Pakistan, Caudri Nazir Amad Kan (d. 1980), te attorney general of Pakistan ( ), Muammad Sadiq Quresi (a Laore based journalist), A. D. Azar a government servant in Britis India and later in Pakistan and several oters. I ave collected more tan 170 letters by Asad from various persons. I am indebted to te descendants of te Mawlana Gulam Mer, Caudri Nazir Amad Kan, Malik Muammad Asraf, and Muammd Sadiq Quresi for making tese letters available to me. Te autor is greatly indebted to late Maqbool Hussain Baburi (d. 2005), te son of Muammad Hussain Baburi, for te provision of a folder containing more tan 130 original letters of Asad. Most of tese letters are addressed to Muammad Hussain Muammad Arsad, Cief Editor and Professor, Department of Urdu Encyclopaedia of Islam, University of te Punjab, Allama Iqbal Campus, Laore, Pakistan; arsad571@yaoo.com. Islamic Sciences, Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 ISSN (Print); ISSN (Online) 2016 by te Center for Islamic Sciences 25

2 26 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 (by Asad and Pola Hamida), but tere were also dozens of copies of letters addressed to oters. Tese letters are significant source to understand te life, career, and intellectual and political interests of Asad. Tey also sed ligt on te intellectual, cultural, social and political istory of te period. Keywords: Muammad Asad; Islamic intellectual istory; Pakistan; Formative currents in Islamic tougt; politics and culture of te colonial era; Britis Raj; Islam, Muslims and te callenge of modernity. About tese letters and teir recipients No attempt as been made to alter te text of te letters. Asad sent bot typed and andwritten letters. Te language and prases used by Asad over te extended period of fifty years ( ) during wic tese letters were written, provide important clues to is intellectual and personal developments. Until is arrival in te Indian Subcontinent in 1932, Asad ad not written muc in Englis. His articles for te German and Swiss newspapers were in German. He ad learned conversational Arabic during is second trip to te Muslim lands ( ), and seemed to ave quickly learned to read scolarly texts wile e was in Arabia. He provides no details of is teacers, but vaguely says e studied Ṣaḥīḥ Bukārī in Madina. 1 Tese letters reveal tat once in India, Asad quickly picked up Englis usage spoken and written in te Indian Subcontinent at tat time. His sortand notations, te use of words peculiar to te Subcontinent (Begum saiba), even te format of letters (te way self-address is inserted in te andwritten letters and ow te addressees are addressed) are all indicative of a rapid acquisition of local culture. Some of te official letters included in tis selection are written and formatted in te style of te colonial administrative structure set up by te Britis. Letter 1. Addressed to Caudri Niaz Ali Kan ( ) to wom Asad remained greatly indebted trougout is life. 2 Niaz Ali Kan, an engineer by profession, was an affluent and wealty resident of Jamalpur (Patankot, 1. Ṣaḥīḥ Bukārī (Laore: Arafat Publications, 1938), Volume 1, Part I, p For details see: Arsad, Islami Riyasat ki taskil-i jadid: Muammad Asad kay afkar ka tanqidi mutali a (Laore: Al-Faisal, 2011), pp ; Idem, Dar al-islam (Patankot) ka ta limi Mansuba, Jiat al-islam, 5:2 (January-June 2012), pp ; Sayyid Asad Gilani, Iqbal, Dar al- Islam aur Mawdudi (Laore: Islami Ikadmi, 1978), caps. 6 and 7; Safir Aktar, Bayaad-i Sayyid Mawdudi (Losar Sarfo, Wa Cantt: Dar al-ma arif, 1998), pp ; Raiana Quresi, Dar al-islam: ayk teqiqi mutali a (Laore: Ala Publications, 2000).

3 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 27 East Punjab, India). In 1935, e planned to establis an institution of Islamic learning wit te aim to impart Qurʾān instructions to te graduates of te modern institutions. He contacted eminent ʿUlamāʾ and intellectuals, including Sayyid Sulayman Nadwi, Abu al-kalam Azad, Mawlana Asraf Ali Tanvi, Mawlana Amad Ali Laori, te eminent disciple of Obaidulla Sindi, and Mawlana Muammad Zakariyya Kandalavi, offering tem various positions in te proposed institution. Niaz Ali Kan also corresponded wit Sayyid Abuʾl-Aʿla Mawdudi 3 and Muammad Asad. In response Mawdudi and Asad corresponded wit Niaz Ali Kan. Two of Asad s letters to Niaz Ali Kan ave survived. 4 In tese letters, Asad entusiastically welcomes te notion of a new Islamic Dār al-ʿulūm. His letters reveal tat e also tried to get Muammad Iqbal 5 interested in te sceme. 6 Caudri Niaz Ali and Muammad Asad travelled to Laore and met wit Muammad Iqbal to elucidate te sceme of te proposed Dār al-ulūm. To realize te sceme Dar al-islam trust was constituted in December 1937 and Muammad Asad was appointed as one of its six trustees. 7 Toug Asad visited Jamalpur several times, e could not settle tere. On te eve of te Second World War, Asad was interned in Amadnagar by te Indian Britis Government. During most of is internment years ( ), is wife Munira and son Talal stayed at Jamalpur as guests of Niaz Ali Kan See Aktar Hijazi (ed.), Dar al-islam (Laore: Idara-i Tarjuman al- Qur an, 1995; Rafiuddin Hasmi and Saleem Mansur Kalid (eds.), Kutoot-i Mawdudi, vol. 2 (Laore: Mansoorat, 1995). 4. For te text of anoter letter dated 18t November 1936 see. M. Ikram Cagatai, Muammad Asad: Europe s Gift to Islam 2 vols. (Laore: Te Trut Society 2006), vol. 2, pp. 690, 736, 762, 860, 884, Two of te Asad s letters ave been recorded in te proceedings of Anjuman-i Himayat-i Islam, and later produced in M. Serif, Searcing for Solace: A Biograpy of Abdulla Yusuf Ali (Islamabad: Islamic Researc Institute, 1994), pp , n. 34. Tese letters reflect Asad s vision of a Faculty of Islamic Studies. On te recommendation of Muammad Iqbal (ten te President of Anjuman-i Himayat-i Islam), te Executive Committee of te Islamia College Laore appointed Asad as Professor and Dean of te Faculty of Islamic Studies. Asad, in is letters to Iqbal, elucidated a sceme of Islamic learning. 6. Muammad Asad to Niaz Ali Kan, 18t November 1936, in Cagatai, Muammad Asad, vol. 2, p For Urdu translation of te letter see: K. M. Azam, Hayat-i Sadid: Baniye dar al-islam Caudri Niaz Ali Kan (Laore: Nasariyat, 2010), pp Arsad, Dar al-islam (Patankot) ka ta limi Mansuba, p See Asad to Gulam Rasul Mer. See also Azam, Hayat-I Sadid, pp.46-67; Idem, Te Unforgetable Pakistani, Te Daily News (Laore), July 1, 2000, p.6.

4 28 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 Letter 2: Addressed to Caudri Muammad Aslam Kan, te son of Caudry Niaz Ali Kan, to offer condolence on te demise of is fater in Asad also wrote a few lines as obituary, tis is placed te end of tis letter. Letters 3-9: Addressed to te well-known journalist and istorian Mawlana Gulam Rasul Mer ( ). Asad ad developed a close friendsip wit Mawlana Gulam Rasul Mer, wo was igly appreciative of Asad s work. Mer, troug is newspaper Inqilab (Laore), very generously introduced Asad s intellectual endeavors to Muslim intelligentsia. During te early monts of is internment, Asad wrote several letters to Mawlana Mer, asking for is support. Asad did continue to correspond wit Mer in te post-internment years as well. Seven letters of Asad ave survived in Mer s collection. Among tese, te first five were written from te Amadnagar internment Camp. Tese letters igligt te agony and suffering Asad underwent during te period. He looked for support of influential figures of te Muslims of India. Letter 7 was written from Dalousie, East Punjab, were Asad ad establised is Arafat Press after is release from te Britis internment in second alf of te He launced is journal, Arafat (1946) from Dalousie. Tis letter revels tat one of te vital influences tat ad a significant impact on Asad s intellectual development tat was of Ibn Ḥazm ( ). Letter 8 was written by Asad as Director of te Department of Islamic Reconstruction (Establised in 1947 by te Government of te West Punjab, Laore, by te Premier Nawab Iftikar Hussain Mamdote, ). Asad endeavored to devise a plan for te establisment of a model Islamic Dār al-ʿulūm for training jurists and teologians. He also evolved a sceme for te Islamization of te institutions of te newly created Muslim state of Pakistan. Asad wanted to form advisory committees to review te sceme. Mawlana Gulam Rasul Mer was often invited to te meetings of te committee. 10 Letters 10-11: Addressed to Malik Muammad Asraf ( ) (Gujrat, Pakistan). Asraf was a devoted friend of Dr. Iqbal; e autored two monograps as commentaries on some of is poems. One of is monograp is devoted to te poem Iblis ki Majlis-i Sura (wic e publised as Te Devil s Conference). During , Asad frequently visited Iqbal; tey often discussed intellectual and political concerns of te time. 11 Asraf, wile 9. See. Arsad, Islami riyasat ki taskil-i jadid, pp For details on te Department of Islamic Reconstruction see Arsad, Islami Riyasat ki taskil-i jaded, pp Tese visits were also related to Asad s editorsip of Islamic Culture (Hyderabad Deccan). He was appointed its Editor after Picktall s deat (May 19, 1936). He moved from Srinagar to Laore (September/October 1936), and until te first quarter of 1939, e edited and publised te journal from Laore. It was during tis period, tat e frequently visited

5 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 29 interpreting Iqbal ad asked Asad to comment on Iqbal s life and tougt. Asraf received several letters from Asad in tis connection; wile commenting on Iqbal s poetry, Asad also took into account Iqbal s writings on Islam. Asraf was muc impressed by Asad s contributions to te emerging debates on Islamic polity, e took special interest in Asad s Islam at te Crossroads and te Englis translation and commentary of Saḥīḥ al-bukārī. In is commentary on te poem, Asraf quotes Asad wile elucidating Iqbal s pilosopy and tougt. 12 Letters 12-21: During is New York years ( ), especially after is resignation from te position of Pakistan s representative to te United Nations (October 1952) and is marriage to Pola Hamida (Ist November 1952), tere were rumors in a circle of Pakistani press about is apostasy and reversion to Judaism. 13 He was also labeled as an agent of te Western powers. Asad was greatly disturbed by te miscief and wrote numerous letters to is friends in Pakistan, including Altaf Hussain ( ), te editor of te Daily Dawn ( ), Mumtaz Hasan ( ), Secretary Finance, Government of Pakistan, ), Sir Muammad Zafarulla Kan, te Foreign Minister of Pakistan ( ), Zaid Hussain ( ), te first Governor of te State Bank of Pakistan ( ), Hamid Nizami ( ), te editor of te Daily Nawa-i Waqt, S. Muammad Asraf, te famous publiser of Laore (wo was te main publiser of books on Islam at tat time), and te editor of Te Islamic Literature (Laore). He also wrote to editors of some of te leading newspapers and periodicals. In tese letters, Asad clarifies is position and forcefully reiterated is unsakable commitment to Islam and te Muslim Umma. 14 Wit regard to is family life, te situation seems more complex tan ow Asad describes it in tese letters. Te news of is marriage to Pola Hamida was like a Iqbal and ad discussion wit im on Islamic issues. See Muammad Asad, Saḥīḥ al-bukari (1935), vol. 1, Preface ; Idem, Sir Muammad Iqbal is Dead, Islamic Culture, xii:2 (1938), p. 1; Idem, Iqbal s Role in Muslim Tougt, Te Voice of Islam (Marc 1957), pp ; Idem, Home-Coming of te Heart, , edited by Cagatai, (Laore: Te Trut Society, 2012), pp , 86, and passim; Sayyid Nazir Niyazi, Iqbal kay Hazur (Karaci: Iqbal Academy, 1971), pp Asraf acknowledged is indebtedness to Asad in te preface of is work, see Muammad Asraf, Te Devil s Conference (Iblis Ki Majlis-i Sura) (Gujrat, Pakistan: Urdu House Booksellers, 1371 A. H.), Preface, p Te Englis Weekly Star (Laore) launced a campaign against Asad on April 4, Asad recognized Amad Sa Bukari ( ), known as Patras Bukari, wo was Asad s immediate boss at United Nations, as te mastermind of te campaign (See my Islami Riyasat, pp ). 14. For details, see my Islami Riyasat, pp

6 30 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 bombsell for is wife Munira and son Talal, bot of wom were in London at tat time. Asad recounts tis in Home-coming of te Heart (pp ). He ad met Pola Hamida in New York at a reception given by Pakistan s press attacé and was immediately drawn to er. In te reception, e introduced imself to er and we talked and talked, and I found tat se ad a lively, perceptive mind, and I knew tat I ad fallen in love wit er I asked er to ave dinner wit me, and se agreed It was May 7, Pola, alf is age, was ten married and so was Asad. But tey courted eac oter for two monts and in June, wen Asad proposed, se said, But, darling, you are already married and so am I. Yes, I replied, I am married, but I am no longer living wit my wife and ave no intention of living wit er in te future. We ave become estranged from one anoter, and tere is noting in common between us except our son. Moreover, I am a Muslim and my religion allows me to ave more tan one wife. Altoug I would not like to divorce er because of our son we are already separated to all intents and purposes, and if you agree to marry me, er remaining outwardly my wife would not really play any role in your and my life.. (pp ). Pola agreed. Asad arranged for er to fly to Mexico to obtain a quick divorce ; e also wrote to Munira and Talal. Munira s reaction was swift and violent. Se not only refused point-blank to accept my proposal, but se went straigt to te Pakistan Hig Commissioner in London and told im tat I intended to abandon er. Se raised suc a scandal tat te Hig Commissioner not only saw fit to address to me a igly offensive letter of admonition, but also quite unwarrantably wrote to te Governor-General of Pakistan, Kwaja Nazimuddin, asking im to intervene directly in te matter. Te situation was, owever, more complex tan a Pakistani official asking permission to marry a foreigner. Pola was ten working at te Voice of America as editorial s assistant to a well-known radio commentator, Raymond Gram Swing before er present job, se ad been employed at te State Department in Wasington as secretary to te ead of te European desk, and was for some time in carge of te secretarial pool at te U.S. Delegation to te United Nations, and it was in tat capacity tat se ad become acquainted wit some Middle Eastern and Pakistani representatives since se was responsible for introducing American VIPs wo visited sessions at Lake Success to te eads and members of te various delegations. Even toug Asad wrote to Zafarulla Kan, e later insinuatingly and bitterly wrote about te fine Italian and of Zafarulla Kan, wo ad known Pola for well over a year before I made my appearance on te scene and ad often lunced wit er during is many visits to New York. Bot Munira and Talal were devastated by te letter received in London.

7 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 31 Munira ad stood wit Asad, in tick and tin, troug te twenty-two years of teir life, first in Arabia, ten in te Subcontinent, were Asad was interned during te War years and se took care of teir young son. Wen Asad went to New York, Munira went to London to be wit Talal, but tere were plans for er to go New York. After receiving te letter, Talal wrote a brief letter to Asad, declaring, My fater is dead. Altoug I realized tat tis was an emotional response, it did, of course, urt me deeply. A few weeks later e turned up, unannounced, in New York, aving borrowed te airplane fare from y stepbroter Martin in London. His purpose: to persuade me not to marry Pola. Bot Pola and I tried, of course, to make Talal understand tat tis was not, nor ever could be, a break wit im nor te end of te world, but e returned to London almost immediately, obviously unconvinced (Home-coming, p. 189). Munira died in 1978, bitterness between Pola and Talal was to remain until te end, as personal conversations wit Pola and Talal indicate. Letter 22: Tis letter to Zafar Isaq Ansari (27 December April 2016), 15 is in response to seeking Asad s permission to undertake an Urdu translation of Te Road to Mecca. Letter 23: Addressed to Colonel Anwar Amad, giving some details on Asad s publications. Letter 24: Addressed to Caudri Nazir Amad Kan, a renowned pan- Islamist, te former attorney general of Pakistan, and te editor of Al-Aḥibbāʾ. Caudri Nazir Amad Kan was an admirer of Asad. 16 Letter 25: Addressed to Mrs. Nazir Amad Kan, offering condolence on te demise of Nazir Amad Kan. Letter 26: To Abdul Qadir Najafi, te grandson of Dr. Abdul Gani ( ) of Jalapur Jattan (Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan). Dr. Abdul Gani was te founder director of Public Instruction of Afganistan as well as te founder principal of Maktab-e-Habibia Kabul ( ; ). Dr. Abdul Gani later served as Principal of Islamia College Laore. He was te autor of History of Afganistan. He translated one of te famous treatise of Sayyid Mawdudi, Risala-e-Diniyat, into Englis. 17 He also undertook a Englis translation of te 15. See is obituary in tis issue of Islamic Sciences. 16. Asad autored a preface to Nazir Amad Kan s Commonwealt of te Muslim States: A Plea for Pan-Islamism (Laore: Ferozsons Ltd., 1972), pp. i-ii. Nazir Amad quoted Asad intensively in is writings. See Caudri Nazir Amad Kan, Afkar-i Milli (Laore: Al-Aibba, 1978), pp. 74, 271 and passim. 17. Originally written in 1932 in Urdu. Te Englis translation entitled Towards Understanding Islam was publised in 1940 by Tarjuman al- Qur an. Later te translation was torougly revised and its several editions were publised by Idara-I Tarjuman al-qur an, Laore.

8 32 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 Qurʾān, wic remains unpublised. 18 To Caudri Niyaz Ali Kan Dear Kan Saib, As-salamu alaikum, (1) THE ARAFAT PUBLICATIONS SRINAGAR, KASHMIR. 22 November I must apologise for not aving earlier answered your very kind letter of te 14 t inst. Te proposal it contained is so full of consequences tat I ad to spend some time considering it. As it appens, I ad since years te idea of starting a religious scool of te kind mentioned by you. Te disappearance of belief among te young educated generation of Muslims is so obvious tat someting must be done as soon as possible to counteract, te evil influences of te modern, irreligious education. Te ulama of te old type are not very elpful in tis respect. Tey merely stick to te formalities of Islam witout giving any tougt to its moral and spiritual demands. My idea is, to establis a scool were young Muslims could not only acquire te knowledge of te Holy Qur an and te Traditions of our Propet (upon wom be peace), but also learn to tink in te spirit of Islam, and to find out ways and metods for regenerating te Muslim World. In sort, it sould be a scool for training te future spiritual leaders of Islam. I very muc appreciate your desire to make tis scool like one of te madrasas of te old type, because te atmospere of suc a madrasa will ave a great traditional value and will in itself act as an antidote against te poison of te so-called modern educational system. Suc a project necessitates, of course, considerable expenses, and tis was te reason wy I never could approac its realization. Sometime ago Dr. Sir Mod. [Muammad] Iqbal requested me to take over te post of Dean of religious instruction at te Islamia College, Laore, and I was, in fact, subsequently appointed by te college Committee; but apart from te fact tat tis kind of teacing, in te surroundings of an oterwise not very encouraging 18. Te manuscript is in te possession of is descendants. For te life, career, and works of Dr. Abdul Gani see: Abdul Qadir Najafi, Dr. Abdul Gani Jalalpuri, (Laore: Maktaba-e Maʿaarif-e Najaf, n. d.). For Asad s encounter wit Abdul Gani, see: Asad, Home-Coming of te Heart, pp. 28 and 38-39, fn. 4.

9 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 33 scool-system, would not ave te effect on yout wic I desire, my present pre-occupation wit te Englis Translation of, and a new Commentary on, Bukari Sarif would not allow me efficiently to work at te College, and terefore I declined tis post at te last moment. Your project, owever, is entirely different. Te spirit of a scool as suggested by you would be entirely in keeping wit te work I ave on and and would, terefore, not collide wit it. On te contrary, I tink tat bot tese works would furter eac oter. It seems, terefore, tat your project is someting like God-sent; it migt be tat old dream of mine is going to be realized. But tere are, so far as I personally am concerned, at present some difficulties in te way, but tey are by no means suc as could not be surmounted. I ave cosen Kasmir as my eadquarters, because te eat of te plains does not allow me to work efficiently during te ot monts. On te oter and, te printing of Sai al-bukari is of suc a kind as to make my personal supervision absolutely necessary. As tere was no suitable press arrangement ere at Srinagar, I was obliged to establis a press of my own. I purcased types and oter requisites from Europe, and took a printing macine on ire from one of te presses ere. I ave my own press staff ere (compositors, macinemen and proof-readers). Now you say tat te place you live is not as ot as te rest of te Punjab, and wat I know of te Kangra-valley, wic is in your vicinity, tis may well be te case. So it migt be possible for me to live and to work permanently tere. It is my desire, if I find a suitable place, to make India my ome and to work ere in te service of Islam. But at present my financial position is extremely straigtened, and I could not bear te expenses of sifting my press and my ouseold. Ten tere is te question of accommodation in Jamalpur; for tis sake I would require two ouses -one for myself and my family, and one for te press and offices. As I ave said, tese difficulties could peraps be overcome, and I ave no doubt tat on a large estate suc as you fortunately own tere will be enoug room for my requirements. But in order to settle all tese questions it would be necessary for us to meet and discuss all matters personally. At present I am still busy wit te printing of te first part of Bukari Sarif wic, insa-alla, will be ready by te middle of December. After tat I could come down to te plains and visit you at your place. I don t need to tell you, dear Kan Saib, tat I very igly appreciate your generosity wit regard to tis most important sceme. If suc a scool is once started and if it proves to be a useful institution (and about tis I ave no doubts), it will be easy to interest te broad Muslim public in it and to enlarge it by and by, until it becomes someting of an Islamic Academy and a pride of Muslim India.

10 34 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 I ope to ear from you soon, and remain, yours very sincerely, Villa Asadiyya La Montagne Tangier, Morocco. Marc 19, 1976 (2) To Caudri Muammad Aslam My dear Aslam, It was wit infinite sadness tat I received your news of te deat of your fater and my beloved friend. Altoug tis news was expected for some time, it did not make it less painful. May God grant im all tat e so ricly deserved troug is efforts and is exemplary life, and may He console you and your family for your own irreparable loss. As a matter of fact, I did not write to you for a long time because I was precisely afraid to receive suc news as tis. Tis enclosed few lines do not really express and cannot express wat I feel for im in te course of te forty years of our friendsip. I ave no doubt, owever, tat is efforts will be long remembered and appreciated by all Muslims wo came in to contact wit im or eard of im. Hamida joins me, of course, in my feelings. Altoug se did not know im as well as I did, se was always deeply impressed by is sining goodness and sincerity. Te world is really a poorer place witout im. May God bless you all. Please keep in contact wit us. Yours as always, Asad Obituary of Caudri Niaz Ali Kan by Asad included in te above letter:

11 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 35 Te deat of Caudri Niaz Ali Kan as brougt to a close an important capter of Islamic endeavours in te Indo-Pakistan sub-continent. His burning love for te idea of Pakistan, is long-standing friendsip wit te protagonist of tat idea, te unforgettable Dr. Muammad Iqbal, and te establisment of te Darul-Islam Institute on is estate at Jamalpur (in wat is now East Punjab) became a focal point of encouragement for many Muslims wo were longing for a revival of Islamic tougt. But even more tan tese concrete results of an exceptionally long and fruitful life entirely devoted to te service of Islam, is outstanding personality is glowing goodness, deep fait and ever-present readiness to give elp wereever elp was needed will forever remain alive in te earts of tose wo knew im. During te forty years of our friendsip I ave never encountered any person of equel selflessness and readiness to sacrifice all is own concerns to te idea of Islam and its propagation in a world tat is so badly in need of spiritual guidance: and it is tis personal example tat constitutes is most enduring contribution to te opes of all wo, like im, love Islam and work for its realization at tis crucial point in te istory of man. Muammad Asad (Leopold Weiss) FORMER TRUSTEE DARUL ISLAM TRUST (3-9) Asad to Gulam Rasul Mer 22t September, From Muammad Asad Weiss, No. 622, Central Aliens International Camp, Amadnagar (Bombay Presidency). To Mawlana Gulam Rasul Mer, Editor, Inqilab, Laore.

12 36 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 My dear Mer Saib, We ave reaced Amadnagar two day ago. I am quite all rigt. I ope you ave ad opportunity by now to speak to Sir Sikandar Hayat Kan about me. I feel confident tat e will do is best for me, but is intervention will be successful only if e stands personally surety for me. Please do tell im in my name tat I build on im te future not only of myself but also of my work, wic is always uppermost in my mind. Te many German Jews wo are interned wit me ave teir Jewis Relief Association wic intervenes on teir bealf wit te Central Government. But I, being a Muslim, ave no claim to tat Association. I believe and ope, owever, tat my Muslim friends will not forget me in my present situation. In te Last years I ave lived only for my work, as you know and now tis work is treatened wit destruction. I ave given up my journalist career wic, as you are well aware, ad future in it for te sake of my ideal. I cannot imagine tat my friends will so soon forget it. But I believe tat it is necessary to make Sir Sikandar Hayat Kan to realize ow urgent and ow grave te matter is; oterwise e is apt to forget it under te pressure of is official business. It is no good to wait until government moves down from te Hills. Kindly see Sir Sikandar yourself in tese days again - peraps, you will ave to go to Simla for tis purpose, but ten you know tat I sall always remember tis genuine act of friendsip. Tis time it is not a question of business worries, but of te very sweetness and sense of life. Do write me as often as you can. Every letter brings a little appiness. You must sign your letters wit full name and address, oterwise it is not certain weter and wen te letters will be delivered. My address you will find at te top of tis letter. You must always write my number on te envelope, and te back-flap of te envelope must again bear your full address. Te letters must be written in Englis. Please write soon and in detail. Give my best salams to Hafiz Saib. He sould also write me (in Englis). Yours sincerely, Muammad Asad-Weiss

13 28 t September, From: Muammad Asad-Weiss, Internee No. 622, Central Aliens Internment Camp, Amadnagar (Bombay Presidency To: Mawlana Gulam Rasul Mer, Editor, Inqilab, Laore. Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 37 My dear Mawlana Mer, I ave not yet eard from you. I ope you ave received my letter, written about a week ago. A few days ago I wrote to Sir Sikandar Hayat and requested im to take decisive steps in te matter wic you brougt before im. I am sure tat e will do someting but e is normally so busy tat e must be constantly reminded and pused on. Every day wic passes makes te resumption of my work more problematical. You know ow difficult it was to overcome te financial obstacles. A ope exists only in a regular and speedy publication. Now everyting is becoming more and more precarious, owing to my internment. Unless Sir Sikandar does someting quickly, it is difficult to propesy wen I will come out. `Tomorrow a Government Commission will reac ere wic will investigate te cases of all internees and will decide weter tis or tat individual is to be released. I is rumoured tat te Commission will sit for tree monts, but God knows ow long or sort te sitting will be. My wife wrote me from Abbotabad tat se was allowed to sift to Laore. I don t know weter se as already arrived tere or not. Se is entirely witout money, I believe, and so I would request you to see Saik Muammad Asraf and to tell im tat e sould kindly advance some money to er. I will certainly not allow tat e sould suffer on my account. Te employees of my press wrote to me tat tey are penniless, but tat Mr. Muammad Asraf is prepared to advance money to tem if e gets a letter of autority from me. I cannot write im in tese days, for we are allowed only a limited number of letters per week, but I am sure tat e will act if you sow im tis letter. Please give im my best Salams. Hafizji will be able to tell Asraf saib te amounts wic are to be paid to every man. He sould imself pay to everyone (including Hafizji imself) one mont salary. I am praying every day tat God may end tis unjustified internment. Tell my wife tat se sould write at least every second day, and tell me in detail ow (4)

14 38 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 and were se lives. If you see Talal, give im my love. Do write yourself also. I am waiting and waiting for letters from you about Sir Sikandar s action. Loss of freedom, combined wit a destruction of one s work, is a bitter ting. Yours sincerely, Muammad Asad-Weiss (5) [7 t of October, 1939]. From: Muammad Asad-Weiss, Internee No. 622, Central Aliens Internment Camp, Amadnagar (Bombay Presidency To: Mawlana Gulam Rasul Mer, Editor, Inqilab, Laore. My dear Mawlana, I received yesterday your letter dated te 26t September, and was very appy to learn tat I am not forgotten. Te waiting ere goes on. Several of te internees wose cases ave already been eard will be released in tese days, and I ope tat I will be called soon. I presume tat you ave seen our friends in Simla. Tey are now in Laore, I believe, and you will be able to speak to tem more often. Please give me te address of Hafiz. We are not permitted to write to anybody C/O te address of anoter person. I sould like to know ow and were e lives. My wife wrote me from Jamalpur, and am glad tat se is tere. I don t know still wat as appened to my press. Did you receive my previous two letters? I ope to ear from you soon. Wit best regards. Yours sincerely, Muammad Asad-Weiss. P. S. Please, write always my full name (Muammad Asad-Weiss ) and my number on te envelope, as well as your own address.

15 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 39 (6) [12t October, 1939]. From: Muammad Asad-Weiss, No. 622, Central Aliens Internment Camp, Amadnagar (Bombay Presidency To: Mawlana Gulam Rasul Mer, Muslim Town, Laore. My dear Mawlana, Did you receive te tree or four letters wic I sent you during te last 3 weeks? I got your letter of te 26 t September, wic as greatly ceered me up. But I am afraid tat after te initial spurt te matter will be left sleeping. My opes are wit you. I ave read in te newspapers tat Sir Abdul Qadir as been nominated as Sir Muammad Zafrulla s substitute in H. E. Viceroy s Council, wen Sir Muammad Zafrulla goes as India s delegate to te Dominions Conference in London. Please, give Sir Abdul Qadir my best salams. I sall be very glad if you would inform me about te address of Hafiz Saib. Is e in Laore or Jamalpur? I don t know so far wat as appened to my press. Hoping to ear from you soon. Yours as ever. Muammad Asad-Weiss, No. 622, Central Internment Camp, Amadnagar

16 40 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 (7) Amadnagar 18 t November, From: Muammad Asad-Weiss, Internee No. 622, Central Aliens Internment Camp, Amadnagar ( Bombay Presidency). To: Mawlana Gulam Rasul Mer, Editor, Inqilab, Laore. My dear Mawlana Mer, A few days ago I received a lot of letters wic ad been someow delayed in te transit and among tose letters was one from you. I was appy to learn tat you ad been able to see my wife in Laore and to comfort er. Se must be very upset indeed. Since we were married I was never away from er for so long a time, and never under suc circumstances. I really don t know wen te present situation will be over. I sould tink tat my case, in spite of appearances, could find an easy solution but unfortunately te decision does not rest wit me. I am waiting and waiting and oping. Pysically I am quite fit, and my expectation tat trut will ultimately prevail keeps utter depression away from me. As I can write only tree letters a week, I am not able to write you very often. I must utilize every opportunity to ceer up my wife and cild in teir present tribulation. But I tink very often of you, and ope for te day wen I will be able to meet you again. Please, give my salams to Hafiz Saib. I ave eard from S. Muammad Asraf tat e is living in Model Town. Asraf wrote me tat te last instalment of Sai al-bukari printed before my internment as not yet been sent to Hyderabad. Tell Hafiz Saib tat e sould see to tis matter. I wonder wat te subscribers are tinking of te sudden interruption of te publication. Te work was just beautifully progressing, and we all ad te ope tat it would become financially self-supporting in tis autumn. I don t know ow te matter will be wen I am ultimately released. We will ave to work very ard to restore te confidence of te public. Well, I am sure you will elp me terein. My best regards for Salik Saib. Yours sincerely, Muammad Asad-Weiss No. 622.

17 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 41 P. S. I ad some time ago a letter from te Private Secretary to te Premier telling me tat e ad received my letter of te 25t September and ad forwarded it to te autorities. (8) Fairview, Dalousie, May 28, My dear Mawlana Mer Saib, Te bearer of tis letter, Maulvi Safiq-ur-Raqman, is now working for me. I ad to send im to Laore in connection wit some business. You will peraps remember tat some time ago we discussed Ibn Hazm s Mualla, and you very kindly promised to lend it to me. As I am now working on some aspects of te conventional fiq, I could profit a lot from Ibn Hazm wo (as you know) is my Imam A zam. Please, terefore, give te book to Maulvi Safiq Saib, and I can promise you tat it will be excellently kept and returned to you in good order. Tanks in anticipation. Kindly give my best regards to Salik Saib. Yours as ever, Muammad Asad (9) MORALE BUILDING SUB-COMMITTEE, (Provincial Civil Defense Committee, West Punjab) Office of te Director of Islamic Reconstruction. PIPALS Near Civil Secretariat, Laore, 20 t September, Dear broter, In view of te present emergency it is most desirable tat contact sould be establised between tis Sub-Committee and te press in tis Province, so tat all our energies sould be concentrated on te object of building up te

18 42 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 civic morale of te Millat. In order to discuss te ways and means of suc a cooperation, it will be greatly appreciated if you will kindly attend an informal conference at tis office at It is oped tat you will kindly excuse tis sort notice. Yours truly, (Muammad Asad) Cairman Mawlana Gulam Rasul Sb. Mer, Editor, INQILAB, Laore. (10-11) To Malik Muammad Asraf THE ARAFAT PUBLICATIONS SRINAGAR, KASHMIR 26 TH August, Dear Muammad Asraf Kan Sb., I am extremely sorry you were disappointed at my silence, but I was absent from Kasmir for nearly two monts, and did not receive your letters (all tree of tem) until after my return about 4 days ago. I ope you will accept tis apology. Your somewat violent accusations wic I ave not te sligtest doubt, were only dictated by sympaty, are terefore out of place. I fully appreciate your desire to come into touc wit me, and I can assure you tat tis feeling is mutual. I am very appy tat my small effort, embodied in Islam on te Crossroads evoke suc an eco in te earts of sincere Muslims. At present I am busy wit te translation of Sai al-bukari, te first part of wic will be publised in October next. I sall not fail to send you one copy. A prospectus wit several specimen copies is being just now printed and I sall send it to you as soon as it is out of press. I ope tat tis new translation along wit its extensive Commentary, will elp many modern Muslims to understand and appreciate te true spirit of Islam - and I pray to God tat He may allow me to accomplis tis work. Hoping to ear from you soon. Yours sincerely, Muammad Asad

19 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 43 (11) ARAFAT A Montly Critique of Muslim Tougt Dalousie, 12 t December, My dear Asraf Sb., I tank you for your letter of te 8 t instant. I tink you are exaggerating te closeness of my association wit te late Dr. Muammad Iqbal, as I know im well only during te last two years of is life. Anyow, if you send me te M. S. I sall see wat I can do by way of an appreciation. As regards publication, I may tell you tat at present I am not in a position to undertake and finance te publication of any books, and so I tink you sould contact in tis matter S. Muammad Asraf of Laore. As desired by you, Arafat as been issued in your name, and te first 2 numbers ave been sent today per V. P. P. Te 3 rd and 4 t numbers will follow. As a rule, we do not accept subscriptions for less tan a year, but, in your case I ave made an exception. Te V. P. P. is for Rs. 4/- (i. e. Rs. 3/12 for six monts subscription plus An. 4 reg. carges). I sall tank you if te balance of Rs. 3/12 is sent before te expiry of te six monts (i.e. before te end of February). Or you may peraps autorize us to recover it per V. P. P., but in tis case it would be again Rs. 4/-. Wit best regards. Yours sincerely, Muammad Asad / M. Asad 3 East 80 t Street, New York, N.Y. June 16, (12) Altaf Hussain (Editor Dawn, Karaci) My dear Altaf Hussain, A few days ago I was informed by friends tat certain rumours about me are being deliberately circulated in Pakistan. Bot by word of mout and in te press, wit te obvious intent to damage my reputation. I do not know in detail wat is being said about me, but te main line of te attacks seems to be tat (1) ave canged my attitude in matters Islamic from wat it as been during te last quarter of a century; (2) I am supposed to be sympatetic to political movements to wic te wole Muslim world, and especially te middle East,

20 44 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 is fundamentally opposed; and (3) I am supposed to ave decided to become permanently domiciled in America and abandon te omeland of my coice, Pakistan. Tese allegations are so atrocious and so far from trut tat I would not ave botered to contradict tem were it not for te fact tat wat I ave eard about tem from several sources seems to point to a deliberate campaign against me. To let suc attacks pass witout contradiction is more tan can be expected of me. I sall be, terefore, most grateful if you will see your way to publising tis letter in its entirety in te columns of te Dawn and tus afford me an opportunity to defend myself against stander and libel. Te attacks against me seem to be connected wit my resignation from te Pakistan Foreign Service in autumn 1952, and so it as become necessary from me to make public te reason for tat resignation. In te early summer of 1952, I applied to te Government of Pakistan for permission to be allowed to marry a foreigner (under te rules of te Pakistan Foreign Service no PFS officer is allowed to marry te national of anoter country witout te express consent of te Government). Te lady wom I intended to marry was an American citizen of Polis descent, Roman Catolic my birt and Muslim by conversion. I sould like to point out tat er conversion to Islam took place before I met er; it was indeed tis community of experience and belief, wic brougt us togeter in te first instance. Tis fact was known to te Government; neverteless, te permission to marry was refused and te resignation wic, according to te rules, I ad to submit togeter wit my application to marry was accepted. I married te lady in question on November 1, At about te same time an American publising firm approaced me wit te suggestion tat I write my autobiograpy: for to many Americans and Europeans te life-story of a European wo embraced Islam in is yout and as ever since identified imself wit te outlook and te interests of te Muslim world appeared to be very unusual. I accepted te suggestion not only as a literary proposition but also because it seemed to me tat, by describing me own story te understanding of Western readers and tus contribute to a better appreciation, in te West, of our glorious religion wic ever since my conversion in 1926 as been te central factor of my life and my work. Te writing of tis book as made it necessary for me to remain in America until te manuscript is completed and publised. Not for a single moment ave I intended to take up my domicile ere permanently. Pakistan as always been and will always remain te country to wic all my loyalties are due; ot only because I ave been a firm and out spoken believer in te idea of Pakistan since 1934 (as many of my friends will be able to testify), but also because I ave always been convinced tat te establisment of a state based on te ideology of Islam is of paramount importance to te revival of a truly Islamic spirit all

21 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 45 over te Muslim world. Ever since I embraced Islam in 1926, I ave devoted all my energies to te propagation of its ideology. Te views expressed in my book Islam at te Crossroads, wic was publised in 1934 and reprinted several times in Pakistan (and also publised in Arabic, at Beirut, in several editions since 1945), as well as te views [ ] 19 Te Official Secrets Act unfortunately does not allow me to describe in detail my activities and endeavors in te cause of Islam and Muslim unity during te time tat I was Head of Middle East Division in te Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I may only mention tat if te Government were ever to see fit to disclose te pertinent records, te many memoranda wic I wrote on major problems of Pakistan s policy in te Middle East, te reports on my official tour of te Middle East in 1951 and anoter tour in 1952 (undertaken in te company of Pakistan s Foreign Minister), as well as te recommendations I submitted in te context of tese tours to our Government, would bear out my contention tat watever influence I may ave possessed was always directed at te strengtening of te bonds of unity between te various components of te Muslim world and at te combating of all trends tat migt be inimical to te interests of te entire Muslim world and especially of te Muslim middle East. I understand tat some malicious persons ave spread te false rumours tat because of my origin I am in favour of a rapprocement between te Arabs and te so-called State of Israel and ave surreptitiously visited te State of Israel. Noting is farter from trut and in tis respect, also, te Government of Pakistan could, if necessary, bear out my contention. Not only ave I never visited or intended to visit Jewis-eld territory in Palestine but ave, also always regarded te Arab struggle against Jewis encroacment as a cause wit wic Pakistan must unreservedly identify erself if se is to fulfill er istorical role as a campion not only of Islam but also of rigt and justice. As a matter of fact, my opposition to Zionism and te idea of a Jewis state in Palestine was made clear even before I became a Muslim: for in my first German book, Unromantisces Morgenland, publised in 1924 of wic copies are still extant I strongly advocated te Arab cause and combated Zionist aims on moral grounds. Indeed, it was tis realization of te injustice tat was being done to te Arabs, wic drew me to tem in tose early years and tus became, indirectly, te initial cause of my interest in Islam and my final conversion in Tose wo ave known me trougout all tese many years before and after te establisment of Pakistan are fully aware tat my conversion to Islam did not bring, nor was it expected to bring, any material benefits to me. Tat I, on te basis of my public record in te Muslim world extending over more 19. Te original letter is torn and difficult to make out at tis point.

22 46 n Islamic Sciences n Vol. 14 (Summer 2016) No. 1 tan twenty-five years, sould now be forced to defend myself publicly against unjustified and groundless accusations in a poor testimony of te value wic some Muslims attac to a lifetime spent in te service of Islam. It goes witout saying, owever, tat suc a malicious attitude on te part of individuals will not in te least affect my loyalty to te cause of Islam wic I ave adopted of my own free will simply because I regarded and do regard it as a cause of trut. My life is an open book and everyone wo as ad personal contact wit me over te past twenty-five years will be able to bear witness to wat I ave aimed at. And God is te best of all witnesses. Altaf Hussain, Esq. Editor, Dawn Karaci, Pakistan. Yours sincerely, Muammad Asad. No To Mumtaz Hassan Secretary Finance, Government of Pakistan 3 East 80 t Street, New York, N.Y. June 17, My dear Mumtaz Hasan, It is again a long time since I last eard from you and I really do not know weter it was my or your fault. Anyow, I ear about you from time to time from people coming from Pakistan and am glad to know tat tings are all rigt wit you. My own work ere is progressing very well. Te manuscript of te book will be ready, insa-alla, in September or so. Te publisers are entusiastic about wat tey ave seen so far of it and expect te book to become a real it. Sortly after te American publication, a Separate London edition will appear and also a German translation. Negotiations between my publisers and a Frenc publiser about a Frenc translation are also going on. Between te completion of te manuscript and its publication in America about six monts will elapse. My publisers are desirous tat I sould utilize tis time in preparing a new book on te current situation in te Middle East,

23 Muammad Asad/Muammad Arsad n 47 wic will probably entail a journey to tat part of te world to collect material. A lecture tour in America is sceduled a sort time after te publication of te first book. After tat we intend to go to Pakistan. I am told tat a lot of silly rumours are circulating in Pakistan about my alleged intention to settle in America for good. All tis is, of course, complete nonsense for I ave never - not even for a single moment tougt of disconnecting myself from Pakistan. I also ear tat some miscievous persons are saying tat I ave canged my view about Islam. Noting could be more idiotic tan tis. Neverteless, it urts tat after so many years of work in some of tese malicious rum ours (wic, I strongly suspect, are largely due to te efforts of Mr. A.S. Bokari, wo seems to pursue me wit an incompreensible atred) ave appeared in te press as well (I ave not seen tem myself but ave been told by reliable persons tat tis is te case), I ave written a letter to Altaf Hussain, a copy of wic is enclosed for your perusal. As you will see from it, I ave requested im to publis it in full in te Dawn : tis is te only means to defend myself as long as I am forced to stay abroad. I do ope tat Altaf Hussain will publis te letter, but, on te oter and, it may well be tat e will consider my concern exaggerated in view of wat e imself knows about me. Terefore, I sall be most grateful if you will talk to im about it and see to it tat my letter is actually publised. To tose of my friends wo ave never ad any doubts about me, te scurrilous attacks to wic I am now exposed may seem of little consequence; but tey always seem of muc consequence to te person wo is exposed to suc attacks. Please, terefore, do your utmost to ensure te publication of te letter and also speak about tis matter wenever an opportunity arises. Some of te people wom I tougt to be my staunc friends as, for instance, Zaid Hussain S. ave unfortunately cut me; at any rate, a long letter, wic I wrote to im many monts ago, remained unanswered. I do not wis my reputation to be furter damaged by remaining silent. Remembering te many talks we ad on te subject of my writing, I am sure you will be glad to know tat it is many years since I ave been in so productive a mood. Indeed, I doubt weter I ave ever felt so strong an urge to express myself in writing as I do now. My marriage as a lot to do wit it. Apart from te autobiograpy I am now writing (and wic will c;2over only te part of my life until te time I came to India), I am a planning a sequel volume dealing wit my life in India and Pakistan. In bot tese books Islam, of course, is te central teme. Apart from tese, one or two oter books are already in my mind, so tat, God willing, I will publis during te coming years at least one book per year. I ave written so muc about myself tat it is now your turn to tell me someting about your life and tougts. Please do write as soon as you can. I