Dr. Charis Waddy, 1909-2004

an interfaith pioneer

By David Young

Over 100 people gathered on the afternoon of 6th May 2005 to remember Dr Charis Waddy, who died last August. At a memorial occasion in London' s Belgrave Square organised jointly by members of Dr. Waddy ' s family and her friends in Initiatives of Change, young and old, relatives and friends, academics and others all paid tribute to this remarkable lady. The first woman to study Arabic and Hebrew in Oxford University, she combined, as the Principal of Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford (Frances Lannon) put it, academic brilliance, an open mind and a warm and caring heart. As a college, the Principal said, we miss her and she went on to explain how she used to send some of her students to meet her so they too could benefit from her experiences.

Dr. Lannon was one of a number of distinguished personalities present who together gave those present a wonderful panorama of a life selflessly lived for others, remaining relevant in her thinking and living up to her last days.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan spoke of Charis as her mentor. She met her when she was recovering from 6 years of political imprisonment and grieving for her father ' s death. " She helped me overcome my bitterness and encouraged me to have a purpose for my life " , she said. She remarked what a vision it was for a woman to have in 1927 to start studying Arabic! It was Pakistan which presented her with the award of Sitara-I-Imtiaz for services to that country.

In a film clip shown from an interview she made with a journalist in 1980, Charis described vividly her early years growing up in Jerusalem where her father was head of the Anglican school there. She described also the vision which Dr. Frank Buchman, the initiator of Moral Re-Armament, had given her for the Muslim world as being a ' girder of unity for the world ' .

Many speakers referred to the books she had written over the years. The best known is The Muslim Mind, first published by Grosvenor Books in 1976 and now in its third edition. Everyone was presented with a recently reprinted booklet of hers, " The Skills of Discernment " , which shows her profound understanding of human nature and the ways in which people can be changed.

Muslim contributors who spoke included Dr. Nagia Abdelmogney Said from Egypt , who told of the great friendship three generations of her family had had with Dr. Waddy. Friends in Egypt highly respected her as a woman of grace and faith as well as her conviction for all people of faith to be treated as one. Dr. Nagia said Dr. Waddy had the merit of getting her information from real people which resulted in her always being clear and succinct. As an educator and reformer, she wrote at one point to the Queen of one Muslim country, " You cannot reform people through a royal decree! " .

Another Muslim speaker was Dr. Raheem Khan, a member of the Muslim Council of Britain, who had been asked to attend by the Secretary General of the Council because he was unable to be present himself. Dr Khan commented on all that he had learnt about the life of a remarkable woman, as well as the amazing insight of her father in recommending to her that she study Arabic so many years ago.

During the meeting there was a time given when many from the audience spoke in brief of their own personal touches with Dr. Waddy and her assessment of her life. This included a message from Prince Hasan of Jordan who wanted people to know of his gratitude for the life of Dr. Charis Waddy. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Waddy family for arranging such a wonderful occasion about a woman, whose quality of life came from listening morning by morning to the wisdom of the Almighty.