Mark A. Foster Ph.D., a professor of Sociology at Johnson
Community College, Kansas City Missouri, had compiled a book on the life of
Mufti Muhammad Abduh of Egypt.
Muhammad Abduh had never heard or seen Nahjul Balagha. While in Lebanon,
he came across a copy of Nahjul Balaghah. He was so much impressed by the deep
and divine knowledge of the Gateway of Knowledge (Babul ilm), the Commander of
the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) that on his return to Egypt, he edited and
published Peak of Eloquence (Arabic Nahjul Balaghah) with a brief commentary. Mark
Foster said in the article, “He said that he had no knowledge of “Peak of
Eloquence” until he undertook its study far from home in a distant land. It is
aid that he was struck with wonder and felt as if he had discovered a precious
treasure trough. Thereupon, he immediately decided to publish it and introduce
it to the Egyptian public.”
Shaykh Muhammad Abduh was born in a family of peasants in
1849 A.D. at Nile Delta in Egypt and died on July 5, 1905 at Alexandria. In
1877, he was granted a degree of “Alim” and started teaching at Al-Azhar
University. In 1899 A.D. he was appointed Mufti of Egypt, the highest Islamic
title. He traveled throughout Europe. He was dedicated to reforming all aspect of
the then Egyptian society and believed that education was the best way to
achieve this goal. He was in favor of good religious education, which would
strengthen a child’s morals, and a scientific education, which would mature a
child’s ability to reason.
In 1888 A.D. he began his legal career. He was appointed a
judge in the courts of First Instance of the Native Tribunal and in 1890, he
became a consultative member of the Courts of Appeal.
His famous saying was, “I went to the West and saw Islam, but no Muslims; I got back
to the East and saw Muslims, but no Islam.
He said that the two greatest possessions relating to the religion
that man was graced with were the independence of will and independence of
thought and opinion. It was with the help of these tools that he could attain
happiness.
Sources used:
Muhammad Abduh by Mark A. Foster Ph.D.
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