By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: There are not many incidents when both father and son duo are rewarded for their exemplary services in the field of education. Such incidents are even very rare among Muslim community. The example becomes even rarest of rare when it is President’s award and that too for services to Arabic language.
Shaher Qazi of Meerut, Zainul Sajid-ud-din is one such example. Qazi saheb has been awarded by the President of India, Pratibha Patil for his exemplary services to Arabic language. He returned to Meerut late hours on Tuesday. Hundreds of his supporters, followers and even city residents accorded a grand welcome to him on his arrival at Meerut.
President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil along with the Hindi Sevi Samman Yojana Award Winners for the years 2008 & 2009, at a function, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on June 20, 2012. Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal and the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. (Smt.) D. Purandeswari are also seen.[Photo Courtesy: PIB]
Qazi saheb informed that perhaps it is the first incident when both father and son have been awarded for the upliftment of Arabic language in the country with President’s award. In 1981 his father Qazi Zainul Abedin too was awarded with President’s award for exemplary services
to Arabic language.
Elaborating his primary education, Qazi saheb stated that his primary education was completed at Meerut and later he went to Darul Uloom Deoband for studies in Quran, Hadith, Fiqah and Arabic language. Later, he did his MA in Arabic from Aligarh Muslim University and also did post-graduation in theology from AMU. He also completed his Ph.D. from AMU and then started his teaching career at Jamia Millia Islamia for a year followed by 29 years in AMU where he taught Arabic and Theology. He retired from AMU in 2004 after serving at different position as Professor, Dean, and Chairman, Theology Department. During the period he published more than ten research papers and his five books were also published. Among them Qitabul Fiqah is regarded as an important work.
President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil along with the Sanskrit, Pali/Prakrit, Arabic and Persian Languages and Maharshi Badarayan Vyas Samman scholars for the year 2010-2011, at a function, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on June 19, 2012. Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal and the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. (Smt.) D. Purandeswari are also seen.[Photo Courtesy: PIB]
Qazi saheb was awarded by President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday. Qazi saheb even informed that the President Patil sahiba wished his wife Shabia and even hugged her.
Besides being Shaher Qazi, his role in spreading Arabic education and imparting religious teachings to hundreds of his students during his three decade long career will be remembered in all times to come.