Santhigiri Ashram remembers Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

The Director Board meeting of the Santhigiri Ashram paid homage to the memory of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, who was a long-time associate of Santhigiri Ashram. The Maulana died in Delhi from COVID-19 complications on 21 April 2021 at the age of 96. He was listed in the 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world. Being a spiritually evolved Muslim saint, his intuitive commentary on the Quran earned him a reputation. The nation honored him by awarding Padma Vibhushan in January 2000. He had always recognized and respected the Indian spiritual legacy and in 1993 he asked the Muslims to relinquish claims over the Babri Masjid site.

Of the noted celebrities who graced the occasion that marked the dedication of Sahakarana Mandiram in March 1999, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan deserves special mention. It was after much persuasion, he came to the Ashram. On his arrival, he was taken to the Guru’s room. Though he was a little skeptical, on entering the Guru’s room tears rolled down his cheeks. As a baby, he sat on the feet of the Guru. He did not ask a single question to the Guru, though he had several questions to ask the Guru. Later he said that when he entered the room he was seeing the Guru in ineffable light. He was getting answers to his questions without them being asked.

Two years later since the physical departure of the Guru, we invited him to an important function at Putharikandam maidan at East Fort, Trivandrum. When we contacted him, he politely said that he had already agreed to participate in an important international event in Paris. He was in receipt of the flight ticket also. We did not insist on him. On the same day night, he had a dream in which he was asked to go to the Santhigiri Ashram instead of Paris. When he narrated this experience in the function, everybody felt their eyes wet. From that time onwards he had maintained an intimate relationship with the Santhigiri Ashram and its activities. By his departure, Santhigiri has lost a close associate and the nation, a secular spiritual leader.
The Director Board deeply mourned the demise of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan and prayed for the eternal deliverance of his soul.