Death of the scholar, Death of the world ''
Prominent Researcher, Critic and intellectual Dr. Muhammad Alem Khan has passed away.
(Dr. Izhar Ahmad Gulzar, Faisalabad/ Pakistan)
Dr.Mohammad Alem Khan was laid to rest in the mother-son graveyard of Sharifpura, Faisalabad in the presence of hundreds of mourners.
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Pakistan lost a renowned writer and thinker with the passing of a master of perfection.
World-renowned writer, intellectual and prominent short story writer Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan, after seeing 78 springs of life, said goodbye to the call to death on January 27, 2026. This sun of Urdu language and literature was laid to rest in the city of silence, known as the Mother and Son of Muhalah Sharifpura, Faisalabad, by hundreds of mourners, wearing a shroud of flowers and offering their feelings of sorrow with tears, sighs and sobs. The ashes of this "mother and son" city of Khamushan purified and enlightened the minds for seven consecutive decades and the brutal darkness was absolved. The dust of this "mother and son" city of Khamushan embraced this amber-colored flower in its lap, whose fragrance had permeated the entire academic and literary world. Color, fragrance and all the metaphors of beauty and goodness were from its breath. His existence was the harbinger of the dawn of spring and his teachings, literary services and creative achievements were like the dawn star in the dark night. The news of the death of such a great thinker has cast a pall over the entire academic world.
If possible, I would ask the dust, "Oh my God,
what did you do with that precious treasure?"
Professor Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan is a respected name in the world of speech. Be it criticism and research, fiction writing or poetry and ghazal, he has demonstrated his art in every genre of speech.
No information has been received from anywhere before about Professor Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan's mental illness or terminal illness. A silent life! A silent death... Sometime on the night of January 26, his soul had flown from the elemental cage.
In the morning, when his employee Mukhtar Ahmed went to his door and knocked, he found him dead on the bed. He lived alone in his quarters and one of his employees, Mukhtar Ahmed, was assigned to serve him... He had two sons, both of whom were employed in foreign countries. One son attended the funeral prayers. Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan's personal life was plagued by many problems. But he never revealed his sorrows to anyone.
Hundreds of his friends and admirers did not receive the news of this tragic passing in time. Alas! Such a great master of perfection has left us and his fame has not reached us. How ignorant we are! It is not the nature of living nations to be oblivious to their people of perfection. Such negligence is criminal. Perhaps it is the punishment for our negligence that Professor Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan was taken away from us one by one.
The death of a scholar is the death of a scholar.
There is a famous saying, "The death of a scholar is the death of the world." The
death of a scholar can be considered the death of the world. The death of a scholar creates a void that is not easily filled. That is, when a scholar passes away, a gap is created in Islam that is not easily filled, as the poet has said:
For thousands of years, the narcissus cries over its lack of light.
It is with great difficulty that a seer is born in the grass.
In short, "The death of a scholar is the death of the world."
Translation: Hazrat Abu Darda (RA) narrates: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The death of a scholar is a calamity that cannot be removed, and there is a gap in Islam that cannot be closed, and there is a star that has been extinguished, and the death of a tribe is easier than the death of a scholar.
We cannot yet imagine how great a loss we have suffered from the departure of Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan. Now his absence will always remind us of him, and with time the pain of his separation will only increase. Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan was very quiet and solitary and was considered one of those who worked silently. That is, so quiet that even most of his contemporaries were not aware of his scholarly and literary achievements.
On the occasion of his burial in the city of silence graveyard, named after "mother & son" in the Mohalah Sharifpura Faisalabad, Pakistan, his outspoken daughter and our classmate Dr. Zakia Khurshid saw me standing dejectedly to one side and addressed me, "Brother Izhar! Just as Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan was a loner and liked to be alone, in the same way, even at the end of time, he also liked a corner of this graveyard (city of silence) in this mother and son cemetery. Two ancient berry trees at the head and foot of his grave cast a shadow over him. With wet eyes and a broken heart, I could not answer any of Dr. Zakia Khurshid's questions...
Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan was a true well-wisher and sincere friend of his students... Not only a true friend, but like a caring father, he always cast a shadow over his students...
Another of our class fellows,Dr. Muhammad Irfan Rashid Qadri, continued to recite the blessed Quranic Surah at his grave on the occasion of his burial. Dr. Zakia Khurshid herself also continued to recite Durood and Salam...
The symbol of the richness of Urdu language and literature, the renowned researcher, historian, translator, linguist, critic and intellectual and great teacher, Professor Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan, has left thousands of his fans in mourning...
There are a few people who become a metaphor for commitment, continuous effort and determination and courage. One such tireless person is Dr. Muhammad Alam Khan, who used to be a "master" over his students and friends. It is not possible for a poet or writer from outside the city or country to come to Lahore and not be able to control him. This one-man army used to be at the forefront in introducing him to friends, giving him respect and praising his work. Then no one can resist his sincere orders. He was a true well-wisher of his students, a sympathizer and a devoted companion to his friends. His existence was nothing less than an unexpected blessing.
May Allah Almighty forgive him and grant him high ranks. Amen.
Written by: Dr. Izhar Ahmed Gulzar |
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