“Have you heaved the news about Marghoob?” asked Hamid

“What news?” I asked in bewilderment I felt an electric shock. A wave of horror run through my spinal-chord; my heart began to sink; my eyes flanked open in grievious astonishment. I know he was ill very ill. fighting a battle of survival. What could be the news? Is it a bid news? Ah! it turned out to be the bad the much dreaded one Marghoob has Passed away. Inna Lillah-wa-inna-ilaihe-rajioon (verily we belong to God; and to him shall we return).

Marghoob was one of my closest coleagues and desert brothers. He was young, in the prime of his youth. The sad news of his death shook every fibre of my being. J was totally upset just at my wits end- My heart yelled in agony. Is it true? O” God! is it true? Really, we understand Death for the first time when she puts her hand upon one whom we love.

Marghoob joined us in Jamiat in 1952 as a student of N.E.D college. Before coming into Jamiat he remained an enigma for us for a pretty long time, belonged to famous ‘Jatoi Group’ a group the very

mention of whose name was sufficient to send terror among the students. But he wore a well-trimmed beared and a very gentle look. Being the workers of Jamiat we were always looking after those students who cherish in their hearts a love of Islam. And if a youngman, seeking education in the modern academic institutions, keeps a beard, it is ample proof of his respect for the values of Islam. Then we knew that although this young bearded man moves in that group, he himself has never done anything untoward. He is sympathetic. He is cultured. Yet he is among the Jatoi group ‘ This was the paradox we were faced with and we were unable to unravel it. Then came an occasion for contact and co-operation. Jamiat decided to participate in the Union elections and aftej surveying different factors we found that Marghoob was the man whom we could safely support. Khurram, Zubari and Anwer talked to him and we decided to part him up as our candidate for Reading Room—Secretary-ship. And he was elected. I his was our first contact and a very fruit- bearing contact it turned out to be. We found that Marghoob had a soft heart and a good character. In fact he was not at home in his former company. His conscience used to revolt against that. One day he told me “Khurshid Bhai! Whenever we used to. go to a Movie or on some frivolous adventure I felt a strange sense of contempt for myself—an inner dissatisfaction a revolt, of the conscience. Thanks God, now I have come in a company I really longed for.”

In the beginning of 1952 he joined the study circle which we were then holding. In his circle we understood each other and became close friends. And as he lived very near to my own residence, we often said prayers in the same mosque, and hence we had an opportunity to meet daily .

The thing which I loved most in Mar­ghoob was the softness of his heart. I have met very few people who have such pure, soft and kind heart. He used to think with his heart and it was his ambition and endea­vour to live for the good of others. Only very few people know how many students of the Engineering College- have crossed the threshold of examinations in flying colours only with the help and personel assistance of Marghoob who even sacrified his own division.

In Jamiat Marghoob progressed very swiftly. In no time he became one of our fore-front workers. In fact his case was that of خیال کم فی الجاھلیہ خیار کم فی الاسلام, U. I A-head of all, in iahiliat and (after coming into Islam’s fold) ahead of all in Islam).

In 1955 he left for the U.S.A for higher studies. This step of his was a. marvel of fortitude -and courage, For he had very little money, but as he was determined to hear higher education. He somehow arranged the money for the passage and sought admission in the Minnesota University. He and Anwer left in September 1955 and within a year not only established them­selves well but wrote to us that they were creating a fund to finance the higher education in America of the workers of Jamiat. In the morning, Marghoob used to study in the College, in the evenings he worked at a restaurant and whatever the time was left with him, he devoted that to the propa­gation of the message of Allah. As in Karachi, so in U.S.A. he wom the confi­dence of all and Sundry, and in 1956 became the President of Islamic Cultural Society of the U.S.A. He attended the U.S. Mus­lim Students annual moot and for the first time in the history of the States, the voice in favour of the Islamic Constitution was raised. The conference passed a resolution asking the Pakistan Government to frame Islamic Constitution. This year he attended the Chicago World Book Exhibition and displayed the Pakistan Literature on Islam. In the United States he lived the life of a Missonary, a soldier—the real ambassador of the Islam— loving youth of Pakistan.

When Marghoob left for the U.S.A. ew went to the Airport to see him off. After bossom-breaking embress and loveful kisses we departed from each other. From the galiary we waited to wave-off to him. It was ail dark and the faces of the passengers were invisible. We were very perturbed. But the wit of Marghoob came to our rescue. A hand Board high into the air and Torch was lit. hi the orbit of light we saw Marghoob—sincerely saying good-bye. But Ah ! did I know it would be our last look at his face? That we won’t be able to see his smile again? It turned out to be so. On 30th October 1957 Marghoob, my friend, my brother, passed away. Inna I Allah-Lillah-Wa-Inna-ilaihe- Rajoon God may forgive his failures and omissions and shower upon his choicest blessings. His is the death of a pious youth and the vacuum it has created is irreparable, not only for me personally, but also from the view point of the Islamic Movement. May God bless Him—Bless Him.

problems of the students in the sphere of education. To get those difficulties removed they decided to put their grievances before the authorities. A 20-men Action committee was formed in which four members were taken from each of the three parties and 8 from the I.C.B. This Action committee drafted a 20 demands memorandum, one of which was to appoint a high-powered Commis­sion to change the present system of, educa­tion in the light of Islamic principles. All of the four parties in the Action Committee agreed to this demand. But due to the then ensuing Union elections, the Action commi­ttee could work no longer.