Srinagar, June 29:  On early morning of Monday a little known employee of Fire and Emergency Services, Abdul Majeed performed a heroic act. He claims that he was among the first few people who ran through the flames which had enveloped the shrine to save a rare manuscript of hand written Quran dating back to 1400 years.
 Majeed, a 35 year old is posted in Kral Khud Fire and Emergency Service Station was tasked by his officers to douse the flames and save the shrine.
 “It was around 6:30 am in the morning when some unidentified caller informed us that fire has broken out in the shrine. We immediately geared up and rushed to the spot. When we went inside the shrine, fire was only in 2nd floor of the shrine. So we targeted the ceiling of the first floor to prevent the fire from reaching the first floor which housed the relics. Our second fire tender was targeting second floor to douse the fire. This was our strategy,” Majeed recounts the moments of the fateful day.
 “As fire tried to engulf us in first floor it became unbearable for us. We ran out, as I was stepping outside, an old man informed me that a rare, big and long Quran Sharief is still there. I went back in the shrine and came out with it. Local boys and my colleagues had already moved other relics from the shrine. We were successful in saving all the Qurans and other Islamic books.” Majeed hails from Sithharaan Khag Budgam and is father of four children.
 Fire tenders from Kral Khud and Rainwari were the first to reach the shrine.
 Majeed who has cuts and bruises in hands and arms is all praise for local boys, “They helped us like anything. There was coordinated effort from both sides. We have got training in fire fighting and are employed for this by the government. But they risked their lives to save the shrine,” says Majeed, “People from other areas beat us and snatched water pipes from us,” he alleged.
 A day before Sajada Nasheen (custodian of the shrine) Syed Khalid Geelani displayed the holy relics, which were housed in the shrine named after 11th century saint Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA), before reporters at his Khanyar residence here.
 Sajada Nasheen (custodian of the shrine) G Syed Khalid Geelani said the relics included a hair stand of Dastgeer Sahab (RA), Quranic verses written by Hazrat Ali (RA) on which the stamp of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is affixed, Quran manuscripts by Hazrat Abu Bakar Sidiq (RA) and a copy of hand-written Quran dating back to 1400 years.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST