In October 1968 Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi, after an illness,
wrote a letter to his daughter Mrs Akhtar Aziz recalling the teachings
of Islam on facing death and expressing his deep desire to serve
Islam till the end. He wrote:
“The grief and anxiety suffered by my children on account
of my illness is evidence of their love and dutifulness. But it
is a fact that one day or another, in turn, everyone must depart
from this world. This is, on the surface, something which is unpalatable
and sorrowful except for the one who is certain in his heart that
death does not mean annihilation, and that there is a realm after
death which is better than this world. This body is a home; the
person dwelling in it moves house. More than anything else in
the world, it is Allah that a Muslim loves. Love requires the
acceptance by the lover of whatever the beloved does.
Some children lose their parents soon after birth, but their
God does not die. Some means come into existence of bringing them
up. Parents bring up their children with love and affection, but
it is God Who puts in their hearts love for their children. Without
His grace and mercy a man can die in one instant, and no doctor
or parents can do anything. Similarly, the love received from
parents is bestowed by Allah. But to be reconciled with every
act of Allah saves man from grief and disappointment.
I feel satisfied that I learnt many languages in order to serve
the religion, and replied extensively by speech and writing to
those who raise objections against Islam. I wish to continue
to be engaged in this work till the last breath. Once
Abdus Salaam [his son] wrote to me in England saying: Your age
is not such that you can undertake travel. I replied: My son,
it is my wish and my desire that I should continue to make speeches
on the truth of Islam and to reply to the objections of the opponents
of Islam until, in that condition, I fall unconscious and thus
depart from the world.”
