“Dr. Muhammad Abdul Haq Ansari was a great scholar who studied in modern universities but his academic works in the various fields of Islam are all based on Arabic sources. Philosophy and Tasawwuf (Sufism) were particular fields of his study and research. His works have been acclaimed in the East and the West both.” These thoughts were expressed by Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari at a condolence meeting organised at JIH headquarters in the Capital on October 6 to pay tributes to eminent scholar and former Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Dr. Muhammad Abdul Haq Ansari, who had passed away on October 3.
He said Dr. Ansari wanted students to do comparative study of religions, particularly Indian religions. To achieve this objective, he established Centre for Religious Studies and Guidance and later on Islami Academy. Although he did not get much success in achieving this objective as this work could not progress in a considerable way, there is dire necessity to do works on this line in the present age.
People were seen vying to say at least a few words about the deceased and wanted to share their personal camaraderie with him with the audience. They were quite moved by the simple yet imposing lifestyle of Dr. Ansari.
One point which every speaker emphasised was the perfect mix of modern education and religious education found in Dr. Ansari. Though having modern and secular education as his background, he reached the pinnacle in Islamic studies through his hard work and dedication. He had an uncanny knack for learning things and was very particular about learning things from the source itself, instead of encyclopaedias and other references which give readers a gist of topics.
Dr. Syed Abdul Bari Shabnam Subhani, president Idara-e-Adab-e-Islami Hind, recalled the days of Thanvi Darsgah, which was established by the Jamaat for modern educated Muslim youth to study Arabic and Islamic Studies and where Dr. Ansari had also studied.
Referring to his meeting with Dr. Ansari during various international conferences, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Editor Milli Gazette and President All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, said Dr. Ansari’s fluency in English was known but he was also well-versed in speaking the Arabic language. “It is hard to find replacement for Dr. Abdul Haq Ansari,” were the words in which Dr. Khan expressed his deep gratitude for Dr. Ansari.
Maulana Abdus Salam Islahi of Department of Tarbiyah at Jamaat headquarters said during his stay in Saudi Arabia Dr. Ansari organised the Jamaat activities considerably. Dr. Muhammad Raziul Islam Nadwi, Secretary Tasneefi Academy of the Jamaat, introduced the academic works of Dr. Ansari and threw light on their worth. Some youth who had benefited from Islami Academy presented examples of his way of teaching and tarbiyah. Er. Muhammad Salim, Secretary for Public Relations Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, conducted the programme.