M A C M Saleh:

International Islamic scholar and patriot

Thirty seventh death anniversary today:

A H M Azwer

The deeds of men are more often buried in the sands of time. However, in unique instances some men establish their deeds where they create nations, or they become an integral part of the creation of nations, the attainment of freedom for their country and hence their memory never fades away. One such individual whose memory lingers in our memory as a part of Sri Lanka’s history was Mohamed Abdul Cader Mohamed Saleh.

Saleh was born on September 9, 1901 in Wellawatte, Colombo. He was an Islamic scholar and a prolific writer of international repute. He contributed towards the Deccan Times, Hyderabad, India. He contributed invaluable articles to the Islamic Review published by the Woking Muslim Mosque in England, the land for which was donated by King George V through the efforts of that great savant of Islam, Khawaja Kamaluddin.

When I met Moulavi Abdul Majeed, the editor of the Islamic Review at the Woking Mosque in 1963, he spontaneously inquired, “How is MACM Saleh,” and I was so amazed to realize how great Saleh’s stature was in the international sphere.

The Muslim Digest was another internationally acclaimed monthly magazine published in South Africa (founded by Allama Abdul Aleem Siddiqi, the great missionary who, as a globe-trotter, established Islamic institutions in the West Indies and the Far East which included even Japan and Korea) invited Saleh to contribute to its publication to enlighten and enhance the knowledge on Islam amongst its readership.

Social reformer

Saleh’s rich vocabulary and his reservoir of knowledge on international subjects, which included Islamic jurisprudence and international politics, took tiny Ceylon’s (Sri Lanka) image sky-high in the international arena.

He was a true patriot of mother Sri Lanka; a great social reformer. He fashioned the thoughts of the Sri Lankan Muslims to secure their rightful place within the Sri Lankan community. Saleh was the Deputy President at the All Ceylon Muslim League. He was a great source of strength to the NHM Abdul Cader and Dr TB Jayah (two illustrious presidents of the All Ceylon Muslim League) in their efforts for constitutional reforms. They sought his ideas and guidance to place a strong case for constitutional reforms for the nation’s benefit on various stages of Ceylon’s history - the Manning Commission, the Colebrooke Commission, the Donoughmore Commission ending with the Soulbury Commission. In all these efforts, Saleh always kept in mind the rights of the Muslim community not for a moment forgetting the larger interests of the nation.

There was a time, after the establishment of the State Council under the Donoughmore Constitution, where the leaders of the country comprising Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims consolidated themselves to agitate for self rule. Saleh, together with the leaders of his time - Sir Mohamed Macan Markar, Dr Jayah, Sir Razik and Dr Kaleel and others formed a formidable force similar to the one established by DS Senanayake, FR Senanayake, Sir Baron Jayatilake, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan and others of the Sinhala and Tamil communities.

Mahinda Chintana

Saleh together with the late MH Amit, ex-MP was greatly responsible in drafting the Memorandum to be placed before the Donoughmore Commission.

When the cry for 50-50 was raised, Saleh would not agree to such a claim and was of the mindset that the Muslims had to live in peace with both the Sinhala and Tamil communities throughout the island.

Such sentiments could now be observed in the concepts laid down in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Mahinda Chintana.

The memoranda submitted by the All Ceylon Muslim League and the All Ceylon Moors’ Association before the Soulbury Commission eventually added much weight for the representations made by the other communities for Ceylon to gain Independence.

My erstwhile friend, Ahamed Mamun - the eldest son of Saleh - when I met him last in California in the US, recalled with nostalgic memory what his father would always advise the youth in that, “Your sincere concern about your community and religion is what one should always be proud of and not one’s affiliations to any political party or organization.” Saleh was motivated by the emergence of the forces that led to SWRD Bandaranaike’s great social revolution in 1956.

Saleh was appointed by Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike to the Local Government Services Commission in 1956 and served until 1958; he also served in the UNESCO National Commission; he was also nominated to serve in the Board of Education by the Governor-General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke.

Being a close friend of Dr Badi-ud-din Mahmud, who was with the Muslim League at that time, Saleh always believed in Badi’s adage, “Don’t put your eggs in one basket (politically), but be realistic in accepting social and political reforms to serve your community, feeling the political pulse of the nation.”

This is the motivation which influenced him to throw his lot with those dedicated bands of men in order to organize the massive reception by the Muslim community for the world’s first woman Prime Minister, Sirimavo RD Bandaranaike on September 30, 1972 at the Maradana Mosque, Colombo, grounds notwithstanding great pressure from various powerful quarters which opposed the move. Saleh stood his ground and was of the view that the Muslim community would be making a serious historical error if the community failed to felicitate the world’s first woman Prime Minister hailed by the entire world including all Arab-Muslim countries - a salutary lesson to be followed by today’s politicians.

The Chairman of the Souvenir Committee of this historic reception, Advocate Zam Zam Akbar, the prolific writer himself and a true disciple of that great Justice MT Akbar, KC, wrote thus: “Many are familiar with the part played by the Ceylon Muslims like Sir Mohamed Macan Markar, Dr TB Jayah, Dr Badi-ud-din Mahmud, Sir Razik Fareed, Dr MCM Kaleel and MACM Saleh in the constitutional reforms of the country. They enthusiastically supported the demand for Dominion Status and also for the Independence. They have never obstructed the political progress of the country. With several others, like Siddi Lebbe, Wappchi Marikar and ILM Abdul Azeez they have forged close and intimate bonds of friendship with the Sinhala people.”

Although Saleh helped with his vast knowledge and wisdom to create Muslim national leaders in this country, he unfortunately could not enter the stately sanctums of legislature. He was almost knocking at the door to enter Parliament in the First Parliamentary elections of 1947, when he unsuccessfully contested the Kalkudah seat in the East. His courage to venture out from Colombo to venture out in the Eastern Province of contesting this seat paved the way for AH Macan Markar in later years to win both the Kalkudah and the Batticaloa constituencies.

Temperance Movement

Saleh was a true believer of Mathata-thitha and when the Temperance Movement was launched, by great men like Sir Baron Jayatilake, FR Senanayke, DS Senanayake, Ven Kalukondayawe Pagnaasekera Maha Nayake, Dr TB Jayah and Prof Rauf Pasha and MK Mohamed Ali (the first Amir of Ceylon Thabligh Jama’ath), SMM Mohideen, SS Madar, young MD Kitchilan and others, going about closing down taverns in Pettah, Slave Island, Colpetty and in other areas, Saleh did not hesitate to join this brigade.

Prof Rauf Pasha

Incidentally, Badi-ud-din Mahmud, MA Bakeer Markar, MHM Naina Marikar, MLM Aboosally, ALM Hashim, Razick Marikar and Shafie Marikar to name a few, came under the tutelage of Prof Rauf Pasha who instilled in them Islamic thoughts and national mindedness.

Saleh was in the forefront of any movement for social reform and he helped from the first Hilal Committee under the aegis of the All Ceylon Muslim League for which he received the blessings of Allama Omar Hazrath and Moulavi MS Samsudeen Hazrath (Baqavi) of Ghafooriya Arabic College fame, an institution established by that great philanthropist, NDH Abdul Caffoor, father of M Falil A. Caffoor, MP, MBE.

Black July 1983

Saleh had a well-equipped library on religion, literature, culture and history which was burned down during the riots of Black July-1983; a time when the Tamil exodus began from the country in disgust.

Saleh used to recall this dark period and emotionally related to me, “Azwer, I didn’t mind my business premises being burnt but not my treasured collection of my writings, books and articles which were more precious than the gems I sold in my shop.”

As a student at Zahira College, Colombo and a fresher at the All Ceylon Muslim League, I had the great privilege, of coming under the influence of Saleh when I frequently visited his Gem and Jewellery shop at Hemas building in Fort, Colombo. What an experience it was for me to listen to copious recitation of his concepts on politics and Islamic dissertations, while I jotted them in shorthand and typed them in English. He used to correct my mistakes. Such coaching helped me immensely to become a journalist (at Lake House and subsequently in the Sun Group) and to sharpen my knowledge in the English language.

During my recent official visit to Pakistan, I saw images of that indefatigable founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Jinnah’s features were gaunt and cadaverous, while his intellect was sharp and focused. This brought to me flashes of Saleh’s personality, who too had such identical similarities.

Palestinian question

Saleh always firmly believed the world will not rest in peace until the searing Palestinian Question was solved.

He was the true lieutenant of Dr TB Jayah when he addressed mass anti-partition rallies and demanded restoration of the land to the Palestinian people.

So much so, the commercial hub of Pettah, where these meetings were held, came to be called as Palestine or Jinnah Maidan. Saleh’s firm belief in a Free Palestine motivated him to support His Eminence Haji Amin Al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Palestine and the first President of Motamar al-Alam al-Islami (World Muslim Congress) which was established under the aegis of King Ibn Saud in the holy city of Makkah in 1926.

Saleh’s lived by a philosophy which he often would relate to his young friends who came for advice: “Unselfish devotion is the highest form of submission to the will of the Supreme.”

Today January 22, 2011, marks the 37th death anniversary of MACM Saleh, this great patriot; a man of wisdom and erudition. Inna Lillaahi Wa-innaailahi Raajioon!

The writer is Member of Parliament and Member of Parliament Council (Former Minister of State for Islamic Religious and Cultural Affairs)