Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 134
Khilafat Centenary Maulana Attaullah Kaleem: A Warrior of Islam who Served the Faith 1n Five Continents ---------------------------Sadiq Bajwa Maulana Attaullah Kaleem was a renowned and excellent scholar, missionar y, and lov er of Islam. He dedicated his life for the service of Islam in 1942, and passed away onjanuar y 07 , 2 001 , at the age of 78 years, while still fulfilling his duties with extreme dedication. He was born to Siraj-ud-Din's household on September 28, 1922, in the Indian town of Amritsar. He was educated at Taleem - ul-Islam Primary School, Madrassah Ahmadi yya, Jami'a Ahmadiyya,Jami 'a Waqfeen, Qadian , Jami'a Ahmadiyya , Ahmad Nagar , andjami'st-ul - Mubashireen. These six named establishments are institutes of religious education in India , serving those who choose to become life de votees of Islam. He acquired his diploma of Maulvi Fazil (certification to teach in religious education) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Punjab University. According to Maulana Kaleem , during his educational period, he was an average student, but Allah always showered His blessings on him. He was not only an excellent writer and orator of Urdu , but was also a high-class author and speaker of English and Arabic. The subject matter of his speeches and writings was easily comprehensible, effective and well-liked by readers and audience alike. The era of preaching in Ghana , which was then called the Gold Coast, started in 1951. Maulana Kaleem spent nineteen years in Ghana serving Islam, six years in Rabwah, at the center of the Ahmadiyya Movement, si JS years in America, eight months in the Soutll American countries of Surinam, Trinidad and Guyana, eight years in Germany, and one year in Palestine. Thus he spent his life in the service of Islam in five continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America. In addition to serving as Amir (national president) and Missionary Incharge of various countries, he also had the honor of serving as the first secretary of the Missionary pool, Hadeeqat-ul-Mubashireen, and the Vice-Principal and the Honorar y Principal ofjami 'a Ahmadi yya, Rabwah. Maulana Kaleem was married twice. His first wife was Naseema Begum, w ho was his companion for 53 years. He had two sons and four daughters with her , who are all residing in Virginia, USA. Three years after the death of Naseema Begum, he married Nasira Qureshi , w ho is currently residing in German y. He had a simple, pleasant personality, devoid of formality or ostentation. He liked to eat simple food, and always dressed in a neat manner. He was a very humble person , a devout worshipper, and extremely God -fearing. He conversed in the language of the common man, which was simple, informal and full of dignity. Despite his limited resources, he always took care of the need y and helped them as much as possible. He maintained deep concern for social welfare, and felt pride in working for need y men and women. Maulana Kaleem possessed deep love and affection for the Centers of the Ahmadi yya Movement in Qadian and Rabwah. It was this love that would take him to Qadian. In addition to speaking at the Annual Conventions there, he also had the honor of presiding over various sessions of them ov er the years. During his tenure in Ghana , he presented the Holy Qur'an and other Jama ' at literature to two Prime ministers, two Presidents, other high government officials of Ghana, as well as five prime ministers and presidents of three other countries who visited Ghana. Because his stay in Ghana spanned over a period of nineteen years, the students of the schools and colleges which he visited and spoke at, later became the teachers in those schools. Therefore,