Khalil sahib is a simple, gentle Muslim. He considers his emaan to be an extremely valuable, nay, priceless thing which he would readily guard with his life if need be. The heart beating in his chest is full of love for Ulama-i-Keram. He has spent his life serving them and considers their existence more important than any other person's life. The shahadah of Ulama-i-Keram, the descendants of prophets, one after the other, has saddened him immensely. Had it been in his power he would have become a human shield for them receiving the killers' bullets in his own chest. He wouldn't have let even one of them be martyred. Talking about them one day he said, "How I wish we could name the roads after the Ulama-i-Keram who died there." "You are right of course," I answered, "but how many roads will you re-name? So many Ulama have been martyred that the names of dozens of roads will have to be changed."

This is Buffer Zone, Karachi, let us see. In 1997, the grandson of Sheikh Darkhwasti (may his grave be filled with noor) and his scholarly and spiritual heir, Maulana Anisur Rahman Darkhwasti was martyred here. Ten innocent children were deprived of their father within seconds. Allah Ta`ala had blessed Maulana Anisur Rahman with profound religious knowledge and a character to match. When he sat down to teach, people were reminded of his grandfather; when he took to the mimber, the same topics as his grandfather's and words like pearls on a string, touched the people's hearts. A face as innocent as that of a child, a character as flawless and pure as driven snow, he had. Neither did he hate anyone nor was he anyone's enemy. Neither did he desire to rise high in the world nor did he ever wish to put anyone down. Never was even a trace of sectarianism found in his speech or dars or wa'z. You must be wondering what his crime was. What had he done to be so brutally shot down dead?

I will tell you. His crime was speaking the truth aloud; his crime was interpreting Quran and Sunnah, spreading the knowledge of religion, and protecting the legacy left by our illustrious ancestors. And for that he was martyred! So come let us begin from here. Let us re-name the road passing by Masjid Al-Huda and call it Shahrah-i-Anisur Rahman Darkhwasti.

Take a look at this part of Karachi where rickshaws abound. It is known as Patel Para. It was here, on Business Recorder Road, that Dr. Habibullah Mukhtar (rahmatullah `alaihe) and Mufti Abdus Sami (rahmatullah `alaihe) were gunned down. Hazrat Dr. Habibullah (rahmatullah `alaihe) was fadhil of Madinah University, son-in-law of Sayyed Binnori (rahmatullah `alaihe), Chief Editor in Jamia Uloom Islamiyyah, compiler and translator of dozens of books, patron and teacher of thousands of ulama, sponsor and guardian of scores of madaris, a person of excellent morals and manners, a person who valued each and every moment of his life. Generous to a fault, large-hearted in the extreme, he deeply cared for the sanctity of pen and paper, had a spotless character and led a flawless life. And Mufti Abdus Sami? He was the beloved of each and every 'alim and student. He loved them deeply in return too. Out of the twenty-four hours of a day he hardly spent two or three for his personal needs and the rest were spent in looking after the physical, moral and spiritual needs of his students. Having completed his studies from the Jamia, he dedicated his life to serving it. He used to judge his services not in terms of a salary, but on the criteria of Allah Ta`ala's approval. Whenever he had some free time, he spent it in serving the masajid and madaris of his school of thought that spread throughout the city. He was usually found busy in solving committee disputes and countering the mischiefs of opposing sects. At times he used his own influence and power to settle the disputes; at others he drew the attention of his elders and friends to them, for he never could rest till the matter was solved to his satisfaction. His students, who had learnt so much from him still shed tears in his memory, still miss him ever so badly. Wouldn't it then be appropriate to name Business Recorder Road after these two benefactors of the nation, these two shuhada?

You must be acquainted with Jamia Masjid Al-Falah. The mosque had been built years ago but it became famous only when an 'alim-i-rabbani graced its mimber and mihrab. The `alim was no ordinary person but among the few, chosen, selected ones who are an honour for their nation, their city and country and whose name lives forever in the pages of history. Such people shine in the sky of knowledge like a blazing sun and enlighten the hearts and minds of all upon whom their rays fall. Everyone, stranger or friend, found himself irresistibly drawn to him, spontaneously acknowledging his out ward and inward qualities. You must have guessed by now that I am talking of none other than Shaheed-ul-Islam, Hazrat Maualana Muhammad Yusuf Ludhyanvi (rahmatullah `alaihe), who was not only a teacher par excellence but a great mystic also; who knew well the spiritual meaning or reality of things that is neither apparent to the senses of common people nor obvious to their intelligence. His pen was like a naked sword against the Ahle Batil and none of the false sects existing in society were spared. He was a past master in recognizing the weak points of the mulhideen, the heretics, infidels, the tamperers with the Quran and Sunnah, the innovators in religion and the enemies of Deen, and dealing with them appropriately. Whenever he challenged any one of them they backed down without giving any solid proof of the soundness of their wrong beliefs. He had converted Masjid Al-Falah into a khanqah. He had changed countless lives and steered millions to the right path. Maulana Yusuf Ludhyanwi was busy carrying on all these good works when he became a victim of one of the stalking beasts who have become so fond of human blood and who roam the city fearlessly. Maulana Ludhyanwi's body was riddled with bullets as he was returning home one morning. Wouldn't it be nice if the road passing in front of Masjid Al-Falah were to be named after Maulana Yusuf Ludhyanwi and he be thus honoured?

This is Natha Khan Goth. It may have been a village once, now it is a thriving town. The jewel of the entire area is Jamia Farooqia that had the honour of being founded by no less a distinguished personality than the notable student of Hazrat Madani , Hazrat Maulana Saleemullah Khan. Hazrat Maulana Saleemullah Khan has dedicated his entire youth and God-gifted abilities for the uplift of Jamia Farooqia. Old age has now caught up with him (though even his old age is the envy of young men). Yet the Jamia is in the prime of youth. It is flourishing so exuberantly that those who are associated with it, love it all the more and those who hate it, burn with envy. To bring it to such a state of glory how hard has Hazrat Maulana Saleemullah Khan worked? The answer is known to him alone and his Maker. Today Jamia Farooqiah is blossoming with the care and labour veteran muftiyan-i-keram, seasoned shuyukh-ul-Hadith, proficient teachers, and writers who are masters of their art have lavished upon it. In order to gather such people together and make Jamia what it is today Maulana Saleemullah Khan has spent his entire youth. Three people who were extremely valuable assets of Jamia, Maulana Inayatullah, Maulana Hameedur Rahman and Maulana Mufti Muhammad Iqbal embraced shahada. If the road leading to the airport is named after them, surely not the shuhada but the road itself will be honoured.

You must be well acquainted with the name and work of Hazrat Shamzai. A person like him will never be born in this world again. If dignity and gravity, worship and politics, bravery and generosity, sagacity and the spirit of jihad and daring were to be moulded together they would take the form of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai. If his countless attributes were to be written down, reams and reams of paper would be required. Cruel, unknown people shattered the form with bullets in such a way that it couldn't be put back again. Mufti Shamzai may never come back but his name can be kept alive. If a board carrying it is erected exactly on the spot where his blood was spilled, his name and works might live in the memory of people forever.