GRATITUDE TO PROF FARIDA KHANAM
THE Prophet Muhammad said, “One who does not thank the people, does not thank God. (Sunan Abi-Dawood) Offering thanks to God and being grateful to Him for His munificence and blessings are forms of prayer in Islam. However, Islam teaches that such expressions of gratefulness will go in vain if we fail to realize the great help and guidance offered to us by the people. We take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the supportive and guiding role played by Prof Farida Khanam in bringing out the Spirit of Islam. The Urdu monthly Al-Risala has completed four decades, while its English edition Spirit of Islam has completed a decade. However, one thing has been common in this journey. This is Dr Farida Khanam’s involvement, interest, and utmost care for the magazine as the editor.
She has kept on writing, editing, proofreading, translating, and guiding the Spirit of Islam editorial team with utmost care and dedication. Hailing from a hamlet with little formal education, she went on to master the English language, receive a Ph.D., and then become a lecturer in one of the most prestigious universities in India.
It is her loving presence that makes our task easy. Maulana had said that she should be considered his alter ego in his absence. After Maulana’s demise, these words have indeed become true.
While discharging her responsibilities as the chairperson of Centre for Peace and Spiriuality International, she devotes her precious time to this magazine. We wish to mark the magazine’s entry into the second decade by offering our sincerest thanks to Prof Farida Khanam. We are grateful to Almighty God for making her our guide and mentor in this journey. We pray that God showers His choicest blessings on her and bestows her with the well-being of all kinds.
-Spirit of Islam Editorial Team
Patience elevates a person from the rank of ordinary man to an extraordinary rank.