الشاعر (تعريف الناشر، ١٩٤٠)

Khwaja Sahib's line of descent goes back to Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari, a Companion of the Messenger of God. His forefathers came from Herat to Hindustan and settled at Panipat. He was born at Panipat in 1837. From the very beginning Maulana had a passion for learning. In poetry he sat as a pupil at the feet of Mirza Ghalib. After the Mutiny he took employment in the Book Depot of the Government of Punjab. After that a friendship grew up with Sir Sayyid. At Sir Sayyid's prompting he wrote, in 1879, his famous "Musaddas", which raised an uproar among the Muslims and startled them out of their sleep of neglect.

In Sir Sayyid's circle Maulana Hali stood very high as a human being. Two qualities marked his character: the one was simplicity, the other a heart that felt for others, and the same two qualities mark his verse. Of prejudice there was not a trace in him. He met people of every community and creed with the same sincerity and affection. He was a great supporter of Hindu-Muslim unity. The late Maulana was a matchless example of our old culture. Nobility and goodness of heart reached their limit in him. He had an extraordinary capacity for bearing opposition. However sharp the disagreement, he heard it out with patience. In a man of letters that is a very great accomplishment.

Hali Publishing House, Kitab Ghar, Delhi. August 1940