Zubair Qureshi
Noted intellectual, eminent scholar of Iqbaliyat and senior member of the Executive Committee of the Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) Prof Dr Ayub Sabir was laid to rest on Friday in Rawalpindi’s Army Graveyard.
He was 82. His Rasm-e-Dua will be held on Saturday (today) 11:00 a.m. at his residence in Street 72, I-8/4.
Recipient of several prestigious literary, academic and national awards, Dr Ayub Sabir was considered a living legend and a role model for young scholars, researchers and intellectuals.
Because of his passion and research on Allama Iqbal, the government of Pakistan awarded Dr Ayub Sabir Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam and Pride of Performance. Prof Ayub Sabir was among the pioneering members of late Zahid Malik’s (founder Chairman of the NPC and late Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer) team and remained NPC executive committee’s member till his death.
NPC Chairman Mian Muhammad Javed while expressing grief over the sad demise of Prof Ayub Sabir termed his death a national loss.
Prof Ayub Sabir, he said, was a committed Pakistani and always upheld Ideology of Pakistan in his teachings and lectures.
Mian Javed said for the NPC, Ayub Sabir was an asset and always participated in its motivational programmes and seminars and lectured youth on patriotism, ideology of Pakistan and the philosophy of Iqbal.
Mian Javed prayed on behalf of the NPC for eternal peace and blessings of Ayub Sabir’s soul that Allah Almighty might grant him elevated place in Jannah. Dr. Yousuf Khushk, Chairman, Pakistan Academy of Letters )PAL), in a statement also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of well-known writer, scholar and expert on Iqbaliyat , Prof. Dr. Ayub Sabir. his condolence message, the chairman PAL said that Professor Dr. Ayub Sabir wrote many books on Iqbal’s philosophy and ideology.
His books in defence of Iqbal are regarded as reference books as he also traveled to Britain and India to complete the three volumes written in response to various critics of Iqbal.
He said that Prof Dr. Ayub Sabir had written more than 20 books on Iqbal, including “Iqbal Enmity A Study”, “Evaluation of Objections on Iqbal’s Personality”, “Iqbal’s Urdu Kalam: Language”. A few discussions of Bayan, “Iqbal’s Dissenters”, “Allama Iqbal’s Concept of Ijtihad” are worth mentioning.
from this, he has written “Implementation of Urdu in Azad Kashmir”, “Researchers’ ideas about the origin of Urdu”, “Adabastan Hazara”, “Pakistani Poetry: Ghazal poets of Abbottabad”, Apart from “Urdu Development Institute in Pakistan”, he also wrote other scientific and literary books.
In recognition of his literary services, the Government of Pakistan awarded him Pride of performance award, Sitaia-e-Imtiaz and Allama Iqbal Award.PAL has also published a book named “Dr. Ayub Saber: Personality and Art” under “Maimaran Adab” series as a tribute to his literary services which has the status of reference book. Dr. Yousuf Khushk said that due to the death of Prof. Dr. Ayub Saber, literature has lost an important scholar. His services will always be remembered in academic and literary circles. Dr. Yousuf Khushk , Chairman PAL, prayed that Allah Ta’ala grant the deceased a place in mercy and give patience to the bereaved.
