Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute, Khitab - Javed Ahmed Ghamidi

Keynote Address at Ghulam Ishaq Khan
University, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi.

[Javed Ahmed Ghamidi] Gratitude is
only for God, Lord of the World.

And Peace and blessings upon his
trustworthy Prophet, Muhammad

I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed
Satan.

In the name of Allah, most Gracious,
ever Merciful.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am a student, was born a student,

spent my whole life
in academic pursuits.

It will be the greatest honor for me

for people to say even
after I am gone from this world

that he spent his life in the spirit
of a true student of knowledge.

and departed in that very state, as well.

It is a fine gesture of the
students, teachers,

and the administration
of your University that

they have given such
honor to this student.

I am thankful to you from
the core of my heart, otherwise

'Man Aanam Ke Man Daanam',
(Otherwise I know very well where I stand)

Ladies and Gentlemen
the greatest of the honors

and satisfaction for human beings lies
in his seeking the truth in this world.

The quest for truth and truthfulness
is the goal of a human being.

He has been sent to Earth
primarily for this reason.

What we call the 'knowledge of the
Divine Being'

that actually is the pinnacle
of the Truth.

If we study the Sciences that
have developed in the world,

then even though they may be only
from the branches of knowledge,

however, they are an outcome
of the search for truth.

The 'Fitrah' (Human Nature)
of human beings has been ingrained

with an affinity for truth and has
been sent to this world.

However, when we begin
the quest for truth in the world,

then prior to it a tradition
has already taken root.

This tradition is being forming
in the modern sciences,

it used to be formed
in the ancient sciences,

it has formed in the Social Sciences,
and it has developed in pure Sciences too,

and it happens in the
theological sciences as well.

When such a tradition is formed then
a lot of biases get associated with it.

If this tradition has started
to form in Greece,

although at the beginning of history,
Socrates had made a huge sacrifice for it.

However, a tradition is,
after all, a tradition,

and it compulsorily associates people
with itself, along with all its prejudices

even though it might be
a tradition of Philosophy.

If we study the traditions of Science,
then there too we see this history that

the things that
have been discovered,

in their light, the concept that
has been formed for the universe,

or of the human beings, that was turned
into Deen or religion by the people.

That which I am calling
as Deen or the religion,

if we perceive in its pure form,
then there too it is the same story.

When the Prophets initiate it,

then we are aware that in the
modern history of religion,

the huge sacrifice that had
been given by Syedna Isa A.S.

However, in spite of it, when
people understood his guidance,

and presented their Dawah
in accordance with it,

made it the real goal of their life, then
this tradition took hold there as well,

and now we see
billions of people

who are associated
with this tradition.

Muhammadur Rasoolalllah (pbuh)
was the last Messenger of God,

he presented the Dawah of Deen,

and a tradition of its understanding
was established as well.

And it is that tradition

which has taken the form
of our great elders

and our scholarly forebears have
become our past and our legacy.

This tradition connects
itself

with the Fitrah of a human being,
to the extent that

he begins to speak even in opposition
to the Messengers of Allah

as to "What are you saying"?
"Ma Anfaina Alaiha Abaa'ana",

The practices which we have found
our fathers to be following,

how can we leave those practices,
just because you say so?

We find this expression
in Sciences, in the same tone,

and is spoken with full emphasis
in the Social Sciences as well.

And in the Religious Sciences
it reaches such a peak that

a deviation from it,

is considered equivalent
to a deviation from the religion.

This backdrop creates for
the seekers of truth

a lot of difficulties.

i.e. if they get connected
with that tradition,

they have at hand respect,
esteem, and status.

People will admire them greatly.
They would be garlanded and praised.

They would be elevated to
the position of leaders,

however, if they make seeking the truth
as their objective,

and be courageous enough
to criticize this tradition

then it is not easy for them to
tolerate this kind of work.

This is the reason that
whenever a person

has had the courage
to go against the tradition,

whether he is Socrates,
or the Father of Modern Sciences, Galileo,

whether he is the Messenger
of God, Isa A.S.

he will have to pay
a heavy price for it.

The tradition seeks this price.

And every other person has
to pay this price for the truth,

who dares to challenge the traditions
in the capacity of a true seeker of truth.

To challenge the tradition
is in reality a stepping stone

for the development of knowledge.

No Science can develop further

if the door for criticism
and review has been shut for it.

Ideally, the tradition should
never have had the opportunity

to be established with
such a strong foothold,

rather it should always
be open to review and criticism.

However, the matter with
human beings is that

since they have to make
their systems

based on the outcome of knowledge,
whether it is the social,

political, or economic system,

they wish to give shape
to this tradition

so that they get strengthened
to their utmost

and be a part of their existence.

Among us the term 'Taqleed'
has been used for it,

and its objective was this
as well that the traditions

should be kept strengthened
to such a degree

where it can play its role in the
consolidation of the society.

Keeping this as the objective
when we note that

the tradition has taken
its root so firmly,

has something else too
become associated with it?

So we see that
organizations are formed,

their vested interests
get associated as well.

Respect, power, and fame
become a part of it,

hence the moment
when a person

in the capacity of
a sincere seeker of truth

dares to challenge that
tradition in any degree

be it in part or in principle,

dares to challenge that tradition
then there is a severe reaction to it.

According to me, if we study the
history of knowledge of this world,

then in Philosophy,
Science and Religion,

everywhere when it has been
challenged exceptionally,

then the reaction has
been of a similar nature.

The tradition of religion
among the Bani Israel that

had formed in more
or less 2000 years,

when it was challenged
by Syedna Isa A.S.

then the reaction had been in the
form of a great tragedy in History.

I have given the reference of
Science just now,

Socrates was made to drink from the
poisoned bowl,

the history of knowledge
can never forget this.

Review and criticism is the
stepping stone to move ahead.

This only gives birth to knowledge
and this only nurtures it,

and this only leads it to the
journey towards perfection.

However, for review and criticism
it is indispensable that

some aspect or the other of
the tradition is made the target by us.

And when it is made the target then
the reaction would come forth,

and as I said, that this
reaction can emanate

from sentiments,
from vested interests,

it may be sourced in the
prejudices as well.

And when the power and
authority gets associated with it,

be it at the social or political level,
it comes from there too.

Therefore it is necessary, that those
who are the true seekers of the reality,

they should well understand
this from day one that

if they have to embark
upon this journey,

then review and criticism
are indispensable for it.

And whenever there would
be criticism,

then the reaction would
be indispensable as well.

And this reaction can be
of any level and at any place.

Therefore, this truth, if it really
becomes a thing which we aim for,

the focus of all our love, and all among
us become a seeker of it,

it becomes our target
and our goal,

then we should be aware
at the very first step that

we have to pay the price for it.
In case of the religious issues,

this price becomes heftier.

At times in it, not merely
life and property

even one's public reputation
becomes difficult to be maintained.

The tradition of knowledge
among us, if we reflect on it,

then with the mingling of philosophy,
Mysticism and Metaphysics,

the great personalities that have
been born in the subcontinent,

among them, the position of Alama Iqbal
is par excellence.

You see, his poetry was admired.
People drew inspiration from it.

He was declared the iconic voice
of the Muslim nation.

The greatest of the
Ulema had praise for him.

They do it even now
and read his couplets.

You may guess from the fact that the
last light of the house of knowledge,

in the words of Iqbal itself, i.e.
Syed Sulaiman Nadwi,

how he had lauded him?

His illustrious pupil

Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi wrote a book
such as Rawa-e Iqbal on him.

However, that book of his
and those sermons of his,

where this tradition has been
challenged, which we know as

"Reconstruction of Religious Thought
in Islam",

that had never been found
worthy of any praise

from these elders and champions.
Rather if we study it rigorously,

then they are of the opinion
that every person commits some sins

so it is a sin among his sins.

If we look at 'Reconstruction'
in the backdrop of the history of Muslims,

then irrespective of what
he has stated in it,

I too have objections from a
thousand aspects of his statements,

however, the point that
the religious knowledge of Muslims,

i.e. I hereby repeat, not the religion,
but the knowledge tradition of religion

which needs reconstruction
and reformation,

this was in fact that truth
for which he raised the beacon.

And this title was self-explanatory as
to what he had wished to state?

If you permit me then I would say,

that the biggest need of the
Muslims in the modern times,

which had been pointed in those
times by the greatest of our men,

however, I had said that

the reaction for the tradition
here too was the same,

which we have been
seeing and reading in history.

You are the students, among you
are the teachers,

those people are among you

who dedicate their lives
for knowledge and Truth,

I request them all that they should
always keep this basic reality in focus.

If this is to be decided that

'Tu Bazamana Be Saaz'

then there is no risk.
Then in the midst of the tradition

whatever we will pronounce
in favor of the tradition,

for that, there will only be accolades.
However, be it the tradition of Science,

or that of Philosophy,
or of the religious knowledge,

whenever we will challenge it,

and stand up to clear the
path of review and criticism,

not only will it have a reaction, but the
reaction will also be severest possible.

I have in my life tread
across all these paths,

and I am quite aware
of its each and every stage.

I will tell you about my beginning.

That beginning had been in
the mystical interpretation of Deen.

My father had been the
upholders of this very interpretation.

When I studied this interpretation
from a critical point of view,

then it became clear to me that
I have to go further and not stop here.

Then when I reached the
age of maturity, then

the most which any school attracted me
was the political interpretation of Deen.

I have spent a good
part of my life in it.

However, when its shortcomings
started to dawn upon me,

then I realized that there isn't
any scope for me to stop even here.

Presently, the way I perceive Deen, and
the way I analyze the facts,

whatever thought of
mine has come forth,

here I had to shed away the influence of
first stopover as well as the second one.

And I tell you that the summary
of my whole life had been

"Who comes along as
a friend in the path of Love"

"That which remained as a friend
was merely a yearning".

If you will adopt this path as well,

then only your yearning will
remain (unfulfilled) with you.

However, there is nothing
greater than this ardent wish

which provides a celestial existence
to the human personality.

This ardent wish is the one, that
imparts purity to his conscience.

This is the wish that infuses in him
the encouragement and stimulation.

And if this wish is nurtured
and given shape then

it will provide an
access to the Heavens.

The peaks of the Himalayas
would be conquered.

The greatest of the
battles can be won.

That world can be
brought into existence

which may lead the human beings into a
newer world in both thought and action.

Do remember that the so
called 'New Thoughts'

those are nurtured in the way that
some servants of God decide that

they would seek the Truth
and in their quest for the Truth

whatever price they have to pay

they would pay it without
any reservation or hesitation.

This price has been paid
by me too,

and I am telling you that
in the whole of human history

whoever has chosen this path,
had to compulsorily pay for it.

Each one from among you
should be a true seeker of truth,

should decide to tread
on this path.

Whether it is about a part or the
whole,

or is be about the principles,

be it in Science, or with
regard to Social or Religious Science,

this is in fact the way to proceed.

When this path is chosen then
humanity marches ahead.

A human being reaches for a
lofty goal for Humankind,

And a human being steps out
from inside that Human-being

for which the great Philosophers

and Sages have dreamed
for their appearance.

And for this has evolved the
great Philosophies and Literature.

I am telling you that

whenever you adopt such a course

then do it with
courage and motivation.

There will come various situations
and at times such stages will appear,

which just by imagining them,
make our hair stand on ends.

However, if the determination is
maintained then peace shall shower down

The Support of the Lord of this
Universe will be felt,

His grace would be attained,

and when we will move ahead with
inspiration and courage,

then we will see that the paths
will smoothen out themselves,

and those conditions when
we had begun,

and if not even a single person
had come along with you.

then not much time would pass
when the caravans would form

and a whole world would be
ready to tread along with you.

This is in reality the field of that
struggle, that endeavor,

where when people
get into it,

at times it does happen that the
thorns on the path

are to be watered with one's
with blood, however,

the law of gardening
is written only like this

"Ghashtaim Har Sare Khare Ba Khoone Dil
Qanune Baghbaani-e Sahra Navishtam".

These were some thoughts

which I had wished to present
in your service on this occasion.

I thank you once again for
honoring this student,

though he does not
deserve any of these.

A student, who was born a student,
spent his lifetime in scholarly quests,

and the same point which
I had said at the start,

would wish to depart this
world in the same status.

"Aqulu Qauli Haza Wastaghfirullaha
Li Wa Lakum Wa Li Sairil Muslimeen".