"Live Like Ali (A.S.) and Die Like Husain (A.S.)”  

This call has been echoing in the Islamic world since long. The call is very simple if you go by words, but deep rooted is its rhetoric. It looks simple to hear and respond to this call but its difficult to fulfill the criteria and responsibilities attached with this call. It’s difficult! But from the lives of some devoted and God loving people we learn that it’s not impossible. Right from cradle to grave we see such people responding not only to this call but also molding their life as to become life example for the humanity. They are guiding sprit to those, who have utmost desire not only to respond to this powerful call but also to lead their life in conformity. Blessed are those nations and communities who have such example setters among them. Blessed are those people who get a chance to spend some moments with such noble souls. God bestowed His blessing onto us in particular and Islamic world in general by giving us a chance to have one such guiding star and noble sprit among us in form of Allama Syed Zeeshan Haider Rizvi. Though based in Abudhabi he enlightened the humanity round the globe. He was the person who indeed “Lived Like Ali and Died Like Husain”. Allama Sayed Zeeshan Haider Rizvi was A prominent Islamic scholar of our time. He was popularly known as Allama Jawadi. He was an unbounded sea of knowledge. His vast study, coupled with his rich and consummate experience, had definitely made his personality prominent. He was gifted with a rich imagination but he was never soaring and ethereal. He was always realistic and down-to-earth in his attitude. He had his views about things that were developed from the teachings of Islam, Holy Prophet and his progeny. These views were not existing in vacuum; they were always supported by cogent and convincing arguments and by his actions. Indeed very few have his depth of vision and insight. It is very rare to find all the blessed talents in one person, but due to grace of Allah, Allama was an eloquent orator, great philosopher, impressive writer, natural poet (devoted to Allah and His masomeen) and above all a devoted social reformer. Allama Jawadi was born in Allahabad on 20th August 1938.He started his Islamic education in the year 1955 at Jamia Nazimia in Lucknow. After studying there for 10 years, Allama moved to Najaf- e- Ashraf ( Iraq ) for higher studies. Najaf  being the best Islamic learning center of that time. He studied in Najaf for 10 Years under the guidance of highly learned Shia scholars of his time. His knowledge was nurtured by some of the renowned personalities of the time like late Aqai Mohsin Hakeem and late Aqai  Quoi ,late Ayat ullah Baqar us Sadr and Ayot ullah Madani to name the few. Out of his sincere dedication and quest for knowledge he himself became a prominent scholar under the guidance of these towering personalities who were best in their field. Allama Jawadi translated  more than 100 orignal works from Arabic and Persian into Urdu. These included a translation/interpretation of the Holy Quran, The Nahjul Balagha, Mufati- ul-Jinan, Sahifa-e- Sajjadia. Apart from this Allama himself authored number book, booklets and articles. Naqoosh-e-Ismat and Zikr-o-Fikr need an especial mention among the lot.  Allama was also a God gifted poet dedicated to praise of Allah, prophet, and masomeen as to convey message of Islam. His work has been published in number of collections such as Salam-e Kaleem, Kalam-e Kaleem, and Soz-o-Salam. Being an intelligent person Allama utilized all the time of his life in serving the cause. Just to narrate one incident, once during his journey, the flight got late for few hours at Frankfurt Airport and Allama utilized this time to write a book named “Taqazae e Islam”  (duties of Moslems). Other than his literary traits, he was very well known for his presence of mind, witty answers and classic sense of humor. As part of his commitment toward social reformation, we joined hands with Mulana Syed Ghulam Askari sahib (may his souls rest in peace) as to establish network of 900 madresa’s all over India under the banner of “Tanzeem ul Makatib”. Syed Jawadi also started a religious school by name “Houzia Illmia Anwar ul Uloom” for young scholars at Allahabad. The objective of establishing this network was to produce Islamic scholars and preachers for the ever-growing need of the society. In addition to these by his orations, writings and interactions he has established innumerable madresas in the hearts and minds of people which shall be multiplying as to serve humanity due to Grace of Allah. On international level, he was serving the community in Abudhabi for last two decades. He had been Imam of Masjid “Rasool-e-Azam” during which he inculcated Islamic values and the basic essence of Islam in the minds of his followers. During his stay he not only adorned the Mehrab but was propagating values and message of Islam from pulpit. Senior residents of Abudhabi are witnesses to the dynamic role he played in transforming a polarized community into a community of devoted and practicing Muslims. He also responded to the growing needs of the community in Europe and America as well. He uses to travel far and wide as to propagate Islam and its teachings. What all has been summed up so far about his life is more than enough to substantiate that he indeed “Lived like Ali (A.S.)” and the way death overtook him due to command of Allah, force us to say that he “Died Like Husain”. As he has  been doing for last so many years, this year also he was fortunate to accomplished Haj rituals and assisted many to perform their Haj in its right spirit. He returned from Haj in nascent state of salvation and purity to address Moharram majalis in Abudhabi. The theme of his last ten speeches at Abudhabi was “Tauheed” that is “The oneness of God”. Even the last hour of his life he was busy reciting Majlis e Ashura in which he narrated the details of the tragedy of Karbala, and its message for the humanity. This great Islamic scholar of this millennium left for his heavenly abode at the very hour of Asr-e-Ashora i.e. 10th Muharram, 1421 Hijri (15th April 2000) in Abu Dhabi. His mortal remain were laid to rest on 18th April 2000 at Allahabad. Every one all over the world since then are praying to Allah to bestow sabr-e-jameel onto his family members to bare this irreparable loss and place the noble soul in the vicinity of Masoomeen. Towards the end I shall draw your attention to two ayat-e-Qurani as to console us and strengthen our belief in Allah and His directives. v    O you who believe! Seek assistance through patience and prayers; surely Allah is with the patient. And do not speak of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead; nay (they are) alive, but you do not perceive. (Sura-e-Baqara , Ayat-153&154) v    Say: Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the lord of the worlds.( Sura-e-Anam, Ayat-162)