Quotes by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

Atif GhayasMBA

Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

Quotes By

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

About Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, one of the architects of modern India was born on October 17, 1817in Delhi and started his career as a civil servant.

• He was one of those early pioneers who recognized the critical role of education in theempowerment of the poor and backward Muslim community. In more than one ways, SirSyed was one of the greatest social reformers and a great national builder of modernIndia.

• He began to prepare the road map for the formation of a Muslim University by startingvarious schools. He instituted Scientific Society in 1863 to instill a scientific temperamentinto the Muslims and to make the Western knowledge available to Indians in their ownlanguage.

• In 1875, Sir Syed founded the Madarsatul Uloom in Aligarh and patterned the MAOCollege after Oxford and Cambridge universities that he went on a trip to London. Hisobjective was to build a college in line with the British education system but withoutcompromising its Islamic values.

This PPT shows some of Sir Syed’s quotes, written on the backdrop of beautiful pictures ofAligarh Muslim University, embodiment of his dreams.

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We (Hindus and Muslims) eat the same crop, drink water from the same rivers and breathe the same air. As a matter

of fact Hindus and Muslims are the two eyes of the beautiful bride that is Hindustan. Weakness of any one of them will

spoil the beauty of the bride (dulhan)

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Idleness is a word the meaning of which is not rightly comprehended by the people. They think that abstaining from manual work, lack of

alertness is doing labor and laziness in routine duties is all that idleness implies. However, they do not realize that

The real idleness is the idleness of heart and mind

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A man should be upright, righteous and honest even while opposing his opponent“

When a nation becomes devoid of arts and learning, it invites poverty. And when poverty comes, it brings in

its wake thousands of crimes

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Remember that the words Hindu and Muslim are only meant for religious distinction: otherwise all persons who reside in this

country belong to one and the same nation.

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If we ignore that aspect of ours which we owe to God, both of us, on the basis of being common inhabitants of India, actually constitute one nation: and the progress of this country and that of both of us

is possible through mutual cooperation.

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Sons (of MAO college later AMU) shall go forth throughout the length and breadth of the land to

preach the message of free inquiry, of large hearted toleration and of pure morality.

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To permit liberty of the Press is the part of a wise government: To preserve it is the part of a free people.“

The basis of all (progress) is that you should bring all treasures of knowledge under your control.

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In our opinion just as the differences of religion which exist between the Musalmans and the Hindus ought not to prevent social dealings,

mutual affection and love and sympathy between them, so also differences on political questions ought not to prevent social dealings,

mutual affection and love and sympathy.

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“ We (Hindus and Muslims) should try to combine our hearts and souls and act in

unison. If united, we can sustain.

How good is the saying , whoever may be its author, that a human being in composed of two elements – his faith which he owes to God and his moral sympathy which he owes to his fellow beingsHence leave God’s share to God and concern yourself with the

share that is yours.

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Ignorance is the mother of poverty“

Yes the main purpose of this college (MAO) is to impart modern education to Muslims who are suffering because

of lack of it but this institution is for all, Hindus and Muslims alike. Both of them need education.

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Do not show the face of Islam to others; instead show your face as the follower of true Islam representing character,

knowledge, tolerance and piety.

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All the creatures of God have equal rights. No man is entitled to allow one particular race of men to obtain the good things of this world, and to bar the rest from participating in them, and it is the duty of

the government to observe this divine law in all its integrity.

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Get rid of old and useless rituals.These rituals hinder human progress.“

The first requisite for the progress of a nation is the brotherhood and unity amongst

sections of the society.“

Acquisition of knowledge of science and technology is the only solution for the problems

of Muslims.

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My advice to all of you is: Do only that which you believe (to be right) and do not do anything in (the rightness of) which you do not believe. This is real truthfulness and this is the only thing on

which depends success in both the worlds.

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We believe that the righteous and pious people, to whatever religion or community they might belong, deserve our respect in the same way as the righteous

people of our own religion.

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Look forward, learn modern knowledge, and do not waste time in studies of old subjects of

no value.

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I wish that youth of India should follow the example of young men and women of England who are religiously engaged in

the hard work of industrial development of their country (During the stay of Sir Syed in England).

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Call me by whatever names you like. I will not ask you for my salvation. But please take pity of your children. Do something for them (send them to the school), lest you should have to repent (by

not sending them)

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“ National progress is the sum total of the individual’s labor, honor, honesty and sympathy. Similarly, national downfall is the cumulative result of the individual’s laziness, dishonor, dishonesty, selfishness and other weaknesses of character.

Ijtihad (innovation, re-interpretation with the changing times) is the need of the hour. Give up taqlid (copying

and following old values).

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Man himself is his own greatest teacher.“

I have said it many times and I say it again that India is like a beautiful bride blessed by two

attractive eyes – the Hindus and the Muslims.“

I hope you will try to set an example in both scholarly pursuits and the practice of Islam. Only

then will our community be honored and respected.

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It is the first and foremost duty of all the well-wisher of the country to strive for the welfare of all people

irrespective of any consideration of caste or religion.

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All human beings are our brother and sisters. Working for their welfare is obligatory for

Muslims.

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We should not (by remaining ignorant and illiterate) tarnish the image of our able elders“

It is the categorical verdict of all the nations and great seers of the world that national progress depends on

education and training (of the people).“

Photo Credits:

Aatif Photography

www.facebook.com/AatifPhotography

Sarim Photography

www.facebook.com/pages/Sarim-Photography/361883960579451?fref=ts

Through the Lens- Shahab Khan

www.facebook.com/clicks.shahabkhan

Life in still frames

www.facebook.com/LifeInStillFrames?fref=ts

AMU through the lens

www.facebook.com/pages/AMU-through-the-Lens/671602646207412?fref=ts

Thank You!