Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in a faculty meeting and serve as an examiner for a PhD defence at Islamic University, Kushtia.
At the very beginning of the journey, upon arriving in Jhenaidah, I felt that before going anywhere else, I should pay a visit to the grave of our beloved Shaykh Khandaker Abdullah Jahangir (raḥimahullāh).
Perhaps it was the desire to spend a few quiet moments reflecting on his memory, make duʿāʾ for him, and draw inspiration from the work he left behind that drew us there. Accompanying me was the Chairman of our Department, Professor Dr. Momtaz Uddin Qaderi.
As it was already night, it was no longer possible to meet anyone at the institution and trust established by the Shaykh. Nevertheless, I was genuinely overwhelmed by the various activities of the institution. It made me reflect on how a person’s ideas, work, and legacy of service can continue to live among people long after their departure from this world. These institutions will carry his memory for generations and, Inshāʾ Allāh, remain a testament to his contributions to Islam, knowledge, and the welfare of humanity.
As we were leaving, a profound thought came to mind:
How immense a contribution Allah Almighty can enable a single person to make for the Ummah! One day, we all must leave this world. Perhaps some of us do not have much time left, either.
But the question is:
**What will we leave behind for the Ummah when we are gone? What enduring legacy will remain of our work—something that will continue to serve Islam and benefit people even in our absence?**
The institution and trust established by the Shaykh brought this question home to me once again. Observing the work he had left behind inspired me and gave me an opportunity to reflect on my own life and efforts.
I also have some personal memories of the Shaykh. He visited my home in Chattogram on several occasions, and I had opportunities to speak with him privately about various matters.
He appreciated my writing and encouraged me in my work. I, too, tried to encourage him in his multifaceted service to Islam. He was a member of the editorial board of *Islamic Law & Justice*, and in that capacity, we also exchanged experiences and ideas on various subjects.
He was particularly pleased to see the books in my *Bidʿah* series. One of his remarks about several of those books remains vivid in my memory. He said:
“These were ideas I had intended to write about. You have written them instead, so that is good—I have been relieved of the responsibility!”
His sincere words and affectionate encouragement remain precious memories to this day.
On my return journey from Kushtia, I again had the opportunity to visit the Shaykh’s institution, albeit briefly. I felt that I should stop by once more to draw some nourishment for the soul and renewed inspiration from the environment shaped by the work he had left behind.
This time, I met the Shaykh’s eldest son, Khandaker Usama (may Allah increase him in knowledge and grant him success), who serves as Chairman of the Trust. He was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Professor Dr. Nurul Alam of the Department of Arabic at the University of Dhaka.
They were delighted by our unexpected visit and welcomed us with great warmth and sincerity. They urged us to make their place our home whenever we travelled to that area and to stay with them on such occasions.
When we were leaving, they even arranged for us to be driven in their car along a stretch of road that we could easily have covered on foot. Their warmth, courtesy, and hospitality genuinely touched my heart.
Perhaps the greatest measure of a scholar’s life is not simply the number of books he has written or the memories of his speeches. Rather, much of his enduring influence can be measured by how far his ideas, institutions, students, teachings, and service continue to benefit people after he has departed this world.
Standing before the institutions and the body of work left behind by Shaykh Khandaker Abdullah Jahangir (raḥimahullāh), I found myself asking a question:
**Our lives, too, will one day come to an end. What, then, will remain after us?**
May Allah Almighty accept the institutions and trust established by the Shaykh, bless their activities, and preserve them for generations as centres of Islamic guidance, the illumination of knowledge, and service to the Ummah.
May Allah Almighty also accept us for the service of Islam and the Muslim community, and grant us the ability to accomplish work whose benefits will continue long after we have departed this world.
Āmīn, yā Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn!