Book Review
Nuristan
By Dr A. Khan
Chicago, IL
Billions of people have come and gone in the world, but very few have touched hearts and minds of masses by their great work in the areas of medicine, philanthropy, social work, and education; Hakim Mohammed Said Sahib (9 January 1920 – 17 October 1998), like his elder brother Hakim Abdul Hameed Sahib (1908 - 1999) founder of Hamdard, belonged to this rare and unique group who spent their entire lives serving the humanity.
Hakim Said Sahib’s contributions transformed the young nation of Pakistan into a dynamic country. His intellectual work took many forms: literary gatherings known as Sham-e-Hamdard held at various national and international venues; Radio talks (Qur’an e Hakim Aur Hamari Zindagi); writings as essays, articles, stories, and books, spread over hundreds of thousands of pages. He wrote for all groups of people: children, boys, girls, adults, and elderly. Hakim Sahib authored, co-authored, compiled and edited over 200 books and journals, in English and Urdu, covering a wide spectrum of topics: Islam, Education, Pakistan, Science, Medicine and Health, Travels, Children Literature, and Tibb-e-Unani (Greco-Arab medicine). Hakim Sahib also served as the editor of journals like Hamdard Islamicus, Hamdard Medicus, Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society Historicus, Hamdard Sehat and Hamdard Naunehal (Children’s magazine).
Hakim Said Sahib was one of a kind - full of compassion, vison, and intellect. He was an institution builder (Hamdard Waqf, Karachi and Dhaka, Hamdard Laboratories, Karachi and Dhaka, Hamdard University campus Madianat-al-Hikmah) for the service and growth of society. People like him are becoming extinct in this world.
Nuristan is a collection of articles based on Hakim Sahib’s talks on Radio Pakistan. The book has thirteen sections covering an array of topics: Basic concepts of Islam, The light of the Qur’an, Mercy for Mankind, The Servant and the Lord, The Blessings of Ramadan, Knowledge and Wisdom, Self-Purification and Righteous Action, The Cultural Values of Islam, Man and Society, The Voice of Morality, Social Evils, The Character of True Believers, and, Health and Human Life.
The first edition of Nuristan was published in 1987, by the Hamdard Foundation, Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan.
In Nuristan, Hakim Sahib has illustrated how the challenges of the modern age could be addressed viz a viz the framework of Islam. The introduction of the book states: “As the world progresses towards modernization and enters the space age, life becomes more complicated, a part of the old order vanishes, rapid changes create imbalances and finally the harmony of life is damaged. People all over the world are subject to the over-increasing process of change, break-up and reconstruction, yet the impact of these pressures is more pronounced in Pakistan and the rest of the Third World. How can the harmony of life be held together? Hakim Mohmmed Said firmly believes that values of life based on the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah are conducive to harmonious life. Moreover, they are time-honored and progressive, hence valid for all people and all times. In the light of his convictions, he has based his radio-talks — a much loved program of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation — on Islamic values. His talks are within the context of realities. They are to the point, practical and encouraging. They are studded with suitable quotations from Holy Texts. The unity is maintained by an unobtrusive note running throughout the book, that energy derived from the Holy Message, regenerates harmony of life and gives man strength to combat challenging problems.”
In the preface of the book, Hakim Sahib expounds on the matters of modernity, societal issues, religion, and morality: “I believe, with full faith and conviction, that a viable solution of all our problems is available in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). If the Qur’an and the Sunnah could so completely eliminate the pagan rites, the idol-worship, the superstition, arrogance and social vices like gambling, drunkenness, promiscuity, exploitation and tyranny, tribal strife, and animosity of the Jahiliyya, and establish in their stead civilized behavior, decency, erudition and high morality; if the Qur’an and the Sunnah could abolish the racist attitudes, false tribal pride, social discrimination on the basis of worldly wealth or lack of it, class struggle, mutual contempt and hatred and the gloom of ignorance and usher in an era of universal human freedom and equality, self-awareness, fear of God, peace, contentment and real inner pleasure fifteen centuries ago, they can do it even today. They are absolutely capable of resolving all problems that scourge the contemporary human society. All the speeches that I have delivered and all the articles that I have written during the last forty years and more, reflect this viewpoint. I have endeavored throughout to discuss and analyze the problems that have continued to arise in our society and our contemporary environment in the perspective of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)… I firmly believe that religion and morality are synonymous and have the same connotation.”
In Nuristan, Hakim Said Sahib has eloquently presented the foundations of Islamic principles and their viable applications for dealing with contemporary issues in the present era of exponential growth in science and technology. The book is a valuable resource; it offers Nur (light) for all seekers of truth and wisdom, who yearn to reflect on things and gain peace.
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