Captive of Malta

Captive of Malta — Travelogue of Shaykh al-Hind Mawlana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi

Shaykh al-Hind, Mawlānā Maḥmūd Ḥasan Deobandī was that outstanding personality who benefitted greatly from the spiritual oceans of, amongst others, Ḥājī ʿImdādullāh Makkī, Mawlānā Qāsim Nanotwī, Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī, and others.

The battle of the Balkans had made Mawlānā extraordinarily restless. Similarly, the world war had sowed much dissention worldwide, bloodshed became the order of the day, localities were destroyed, and mischief and strife became widespread. Injustice and tyranny overwhelmed Turkey. The long-standing conspiracy in Iraq, years of plotting in Syria, secret endeavors for a long time in Hijaz, centuries of clear and hidden efforts in Armenia, the old directives of Peter and the aspirations of Gladstone and France were ready to produce their fruit.

In such a volatile political situation, following the footsteps of Mawlānā Qāsim Nanotwī, Shaykh al-Hind made a desperate effort to help Islam by, amongst other efforts, dispatching groups of students and personally proceeded to encourage the masses to help the cause of Islam. He undertook many tireless journeys to Hijaz and Egypt in particular for the sake of upholding the Dīn. This book extensively discusses these travels and the great sacrifices Shaykh al-Hind underwent for the sake of the Dīn to the extent of imprisonment as well.