In the July 27, 1937 issue of his weekly journal Harijan, Mahatma Gandhi praised Islamic Caliphs Abu Bakar (RA) and Umar Farooq (RA) as examples of humble and responsible leadership.
In a rare reference to Islamic history, Mahatma Gandhi praised Caliphs Abu Bakar and Umar Farooq as examples of simple and honest leadership.
He made this statement in the July 27, 1937 issue of his weekly journal, Harijan, offering advice to Indian National Congress leaders as they began to hold public office.
In that issue of Harijan, Gandhi wrote:
“I cannot give you the reference of Ram Chandar or Krishna, because they were not considered as historical figures. I cannot help it but to present to you the names of (Hazrat) Abu Bakar (RA) and (Hazrat) Umar Farooq (RA). They were leaders of a vast Empire, yet they lived a life of austerity.” Harijan – Dated: 27.07.1937
This statement came during an important moment in India’s history. In 1937, the Indian National Congress formed governments in several provinces for the first time under British rule, following elections held under the Government of India Act, 1935.
Gandhi, always cautious about the moral health of leaders, urged Congress members not to be consumed by power or luxury. He used the examples of Caliphs Abu Bakar and Umar Farooq to remind them that true leaders live simply and serve the people.
Harijan was Gandhi’s weekly newspaper, launched in 1933 to support his social reform campaigns — especially against untouchability. The journal regularly featured Gandhi’s views on religion, politics, and ethics.
The journal was published in English, along with versions in Hindi (Harijan Sewak) and Gujarati (Harijanbandhu), and ran until 1955.
This was not the only time Gandhi showed appreciation for Islamic values. He often quoted the Quran, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his companions in speeches and writings.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has presented a new landmark scholarly publication titled “Al-Jami‘ al-Musnad al-Sahih of Imam al-Bukhari: The Book of the Ummah. A Scientific Representation of the Civilization of Isnād and Hadith Authentication,” reports Dunyo IA.
Leading scholars and researchers from 16 countries contributed to the preparation of the publication.
The book is the result of the International Scientific Conference “Imam al-Bukhari’s Work ‘Al-Jami‘ al-Sahih’ – The Book of the Ummah,” held on July 9–10, 2026, in Samarkand. The international scientific and practical conference was organized by the Center of Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan, the Imam al-Bukhari International Research Center, and ICESCO.
The new publication, comprising nearly 800 pages, represents one of the most extensive modern studies dedicated to the scholarly legacy of the great Islamic scholar Imam al-Bukhari. It includes academic articles covering contemporary research in hadith studies, the history of Islamic scholarship, and methods of verifying the authenticity of hadiths.
The book focuses on five major thematic areas: the historical and scholarly environment in which Imam al-Bukhari lived and worked; his unique methodology for selecting and classifying hadiths; rare manuscripts of Sahih al-Bukhari preserved in libraries around the world; the contributions of scholars from different eras to the study and dissemination of this significant work; and modern academic discussions surrounding Sahih al-Bukhari, including well-founded responses to existing critiques.
The publication marks an important contribution to international cooperation in the field of Islamic studies and highlights Uzbekistan’s growing role as one of the world’s leading centers for research into the rich spiritual and scholarly heritage of Imam al-Bukhari.
The book also contributes to the preservation and promotion of Islamic scientific heritage among researchers, students, and a wide global audience.