On the 25^th of Muharram 16 years ago Hyderabad as well as Mahdavia community lost one of the most out standing intellectuals, an orator, a lawyer, a teacher and a friend in Janab Syed Shah Mohammad Arif Nizami Advocate’s death. His was such a multifaceted personality that he was popular in many circles, be it legal, religious, political and social.

He was one of the eight children of Late Syed Shah Ali Qasim Nizami and Late Khairunnisa Bibi.  The first six children passed away within days of their birth. Almighty Allah answered prayers of their parents and well-wishers as the seventh (son Arif Nizami) and the eighth (daughter Mehmooda Nizami) survived despite of being very weak at birth.

After his schooling Late Arif Nizami completed his graduation BA and post-graduation MA in Economics from Osmania University. He was highly inspired and motivated by his maternal uncle late Syed Shah Alam Nizami sub-Judge, who was one of the founders of the Idara-e- Hayat wo Mamat and hence did his LLB. His maternal grandfather late Syed Shah Ruknuddin Nizami was a leading High Court Advocate. Before starting his legal practice, late Arif Nizami worked briefly as a lecturer at the famous Urdu Arts College in Hyderguda, Hyderabad.

From his college days Arif Nizami was very active in religious, social and political activities. He joined Youth Congress and soon became a prominent youth leader of his days especially due to his oratory skills. After the National Congress split and former Prime Minister Indra Gandhi formed her own Congress (I), he decided to stay with the original Congress Party and slowly lost interest in politics.  

As a lawyer he worked with honesty and integrity and within a short time became one of the leading advocates of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.  His service motive can be judged from the fact that he charged a nominal fee to the poor and under privileged people. In many cases he even worked for free. There are numerous instances where he used to do counseling and made both the parties settle their disputes (especially family and property disputes) at his office and didn’t let them go to the court and fight lengthy legal battles without charging any fee. One of his out standing achievements as a lawyer was the most difficult case of illegal occupation of large portion of Markazi Anjuman-e-Mahdavia. The illegal occupiers of the said property were using all kinds of tactics including money and muscle power for a long time and were not vacating. Arif Nizami Advocate volunteered to take up the case and worked tirelessly without charging a penny to the Anjuman and within a short time he got the eviction orders from the court. With the help of the police he got the illegal occupation removed.  What was once considered to be an impossible task, became possible only due to the dedication and commitment of a person who never compromised his commitment to the cause of Mahdavia community. This is the very piece of land within Markazi Anjuman-e-Mahdavia, Chanchalguda, where a sprawling function hall was later constructed in the memory of Qayed-e-Millat Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung, which is a continuous source of income to the Markazi Anjuman-e-Mehdavia.  

 In the famous Darus Salam case he pleaded on behalf of Begum Qayed-e-Millat. However, the AP Government made a political decision and allotted the property to the Majlis-e-Ittehad ul Muslimeen as a political favor.  

After a few years he was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader by the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh and held that position for more than a decade, which is in itself an achievement especially for a Muslim advocate.

He was also an active member of Majlis-e-Tameer-e-Millat and used to give his legal advice and guidance to the organization. He was regular speaker at the annual Jalsa-e-Rehmatulill Alameen SAS, the largest public meeting of more than 200,000 people organized in Hyderabad, by the Tameer-e-Millat.

His articles used to appear in major newspapers and magazines, among them being leading English daily “The Hindu” and leading Urdu daily “Siasat” on various subjects and issues.  He was also honorary editor of the “Noor-e-Vilayat”, published by Tanzeem-e-Mahdavia, till his untimely death.

Due to his oratory skills and knowledge he was regularly invited to speak at various religious meetings, seminars and symposiums organized by various organization within and out side our community.

He felt the need of English translation of Mahdavia literature and pioneered to write a biography of Imamuna Mehdi AS. After extensive research he wrote the biography of the Promised Mehdi SAS and named it as “ The Fragrance of Khalifatullah”. The work and the very title tell the reader of the author’s love and devotion for the Promised Mehdi SAS. “ Fragrance of the Khalifatullah” was published almost two years after the passing away of its author.  Even 16 years after the demise of the late Arif Nizami Advocate, any knowledgeable person can easily say that “Fragrance of the Khalifatullah” is the best biography of the Promised Mehdi SAS, to date in terms of research, presentation and the English language.

During the middle of 1991 when he was about to get his book on biography of Imamuna Mehdi SAS published, he suffered a massive heart attack on 07th of  August 1991, which brought to a sad end to an illustrated career.  Within a matter of minutes one of the brightest shining stars of Mahdavia community faded into darkness leaving thousands of his admirers in a state of shock and sadness. His mortal remains were laid to rest near his parents, uncles and grandfathers graves in the Daira of Hazrath Bandagi Mian Shah-e-Qasim Mujtahed-e-Guroah-e-Mehdavia RH, which was literally, filled with thousands of mourners.

Personally, in his death, I have not only lost my only one maternal uncle but also a well wisher and one of the best friends.

May Allah bless Syed Shah Mohammad Arif Nizami with His vision. And his work, “The Fragrance of Khalifatullah,” may be rewarded with the fragrance of Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen  

Posted on: 25 Muharram, 1427H- 15 February 2007.