ShivaniSikri: Put up a post...

2026-03-16T20:07:52Z

Put up a post...

New page

{{Short description|Indian-born Pakistani academic (1900–1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Syed Muzaffaruddin Nadwi
| birth_date = 1900
| birth_place = Maninda, near [[Sheikhpura]], [[Bengal Presidency]], British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1984|06|18|1900}}
| death_place = [[Karachi]], Pakistan
| resting_place = [[Sakhi Hassan Graveyard]], Karachi
| occupation = {{hlist|Scholar|writer|educator|translator}}
| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|
* [[Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama]]
* [[Presidency College, Calcutta]]
* [[University of Calcutta]]
}}
}}

'''Syed Muzaffaruddin Nadwi''' (1900–18 June 1984), also transliterated as '''Syed Muzaffar-ud-Din Nadvi''' or '''Syed Muzaffar Uddin Nadvi''', was an Indian-born Pakistani Islamic scholar, writer, educator, and translator. He wrote works in Urdu and English, focusing on Islamic studies, history, and philosophy. Nadwi authored several books and translations, including on topics such as Islamic thought, comparative religion, and biographical studies. He was involved in both traditional Islamic scholarship and modern academic writing.

== Early life and education ==
Syed Muzaffaruddin Nadwi was born in 1900 in Maninda, near [[Sheikhpura]], which at the time was part of the [[Bengal Presidency]] in British India (now in [[Sheikhpura district]], Bihar, India).<ref name="AbulKalam">{{cite book |last=Rahmani |first=Abul Kalam |title=Tazkira-e-Mashaheer-e-Adab Sheikhpura |trans-title=Biographical Dictionary of Literary Figures of Sheikhpura |publisher=Zainab Nunaravi |location=Kolkata |year=2005 |page=52 |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/tazkira-e-mashaheer-e-adab-shekhpura-abul-kalam-rahamni-ebooks }}</ref> He studied at [[Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama]] in Lucknow and graduated in 1915 at the age of seventeen. During his studies at Nadwa, he benefited from scholars such as [[Syed Sulaiman Nadvi]], Abdul Salam Nadvi, Muhammad Khalil Arab, as well as Shibli Nomani (Faqih-e-Awwal) and [[Shibli Nomani]] (Mutakallim).<ref>{{cite book |last=Azeem |first=Iqbal |author-link=Iqbal Azeem |title=Mashriqi Bengal mein Urdu |trans-title=Urdu in Eastern Bengal |publisher=Mashriq Cooperative Publications |location=Dhaka |year=1954 |pages=266–267 |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/mashriqi-bengal-mein-urdu-iqbal-azeem-ebooks }}</ref> In the same year, he passed the Central Madrasa examination. After completing his traditional Islamic studies, he pursued modern education and earned a B.A. from [[Presidency College, Calcutta]] in 1922. He later obtained two M.A. degrees privately, one in Arabic (1925) and another in Persian (1927) from the [[University of Calcutta]].{{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=267}}

== Career ==
After his B.A., Nadwi worked at the [[University of Dhaka]] from 1922 to 1927. Between 1922 and 1924, he served as an assistant in Persian and Urdu, and from 1924 to 1927, he worked as a lecturer in Arabic and Persian.{{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=267}} In 1927, he joined the Bengal Educational Service and served as a professor at [[Maulana Azad College|Islamia College, Calcutta]] until 1943. After 1943, he was appointed at the Islamic Intermediate College in [[Chittagong]], where he worked until 1944. In 1945, he was appointed as the Muslim Educational Officer of Bengal. However, the same year he returned to [[Maulana Azad College|Islamia College, Calcutta]], where he served as Vice Principal from 1946 to 1947. Following the partition of India, he became Principal of the Islamic Intermediate College in Chittagong, where he continued his educational work.{{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=267}} Additionally, he served as Principal of S.N. College, [[Dinajpur]], and as Assistant Director of Public Instruction in East Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi (Syed) |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7zgzAAAAMAAJ&q=muzaffar+uddin+nadwi+principal |title=Muslim Thought and Its Source |date=1965 |publisher=M. Ashraf |page=v |language=en}}</ref> After living for some years in [[East Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]), he migrated to [[West Pakistan]] (now [[Pakistan]]), eventually settling in [[Karachi]].{{Sfn|Rahmani|2005|p=53}}

== Literary works ==
Nadwi wrote in both Urdu and English, focusing on Islamic studies, philosophy, and history.{{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=267}} His writing was noted for clarity and simplicity. In his article on Sufism, he criticized practices he believed to be deviations from original Islamic teachings and expressed concerns about widespread misconceptions regarding contemporary Sufi practices in India.{{Sfn|Rahmani|2005|pp=52–54}} According to [[Syed Sulaiman Nadvi]], Muzaffaruddin Nadwi, despite holding an M.A. degree, consistently engaged in scholarly Islamic pursuits and wrote on contemporary issues in Islamic studies. Nadwi contributed a detailed and researched English-language article in ''The Islamic Review'' critically responding to [[Reynold Alleyne Nicholson|Professor Nicholson]]'s views on the origins and sources of Islamic mysticism (Sufism). Nicholson had argued that Sufism was not originally part of Islam but had come from external influences. Nadwi's article refuted this claim and was appreciated by knowledgeable scholars of his time.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nadvi |first=Syed Sulaiman|author-link =Sulaiman Nadvi|title=Shazrat-e-Sulaimani |trans-title=Shazrat-e-Sulaimani (Selected Writings of Sulaiman Nadvi) |volume=2 |publisher=[[Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy]] |location=Azamgarh |year=1997 |page=271 |language=ur}}</ref>

His articles were published in various Urdu literary journals, including ''Ma'arif'' (Azamgarh), ''Nadeem'' (Gaya), ''Jadoo'', and ''Urdu Jadeed'' (Calcutta). During his student years at Nadwa, he also edited a handwritten student magazine titled ''Muallim al-Sibyan'' (The Children's Instructor).{{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=268}}

In Urdu, his notable work is a translation and commentary on the German philosopher [[Friedrich Nietzsche]]. The book, titled ''Nietzsche'', is a translation of M. A. Mugge’s work and was published in 1926 by [[Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy|Darul Musannifin, Azamgarh]], at the request of [[Syed Sulaiman Nadvi]].{{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=268}}<ref name="KitabiyatTarajim">{{cite book |editor=Mirza Hameed Baig |title=Kitabiyat-e-Tarajim, Volume 1 |trans-title=Bibliography of Translations |publisher=Muqtadara Qaumi Zaban |location=Islamabad |year=1986 |pages=250 |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/kitabiyat-e-tarajim-volume-001-ebooks }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Urdu translation of M.A.Magge's 'Nietzsche' by Muzaffar-ud-Din Nadvi |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/nitshe-mamagge-ebooks |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=[[Rekhta (website)|Rekhta]] |language=ur}}</ref>

He translated Part II of Syed Sulaiman Nadwi’s ''Arz-ul-Quran'' into English in 1936, incorporating additional material and revisions, which was published under the title ''A Geographical History of the Quran''.<ref name="BazmRaftagan">{{cite book |last=Abdur Rahman Nadwi |first=Syed Sabahuddin |title=Bazm-e-Raftagan Part 1 |trans-title=The Gathering of the Departed |publisher=Maktaba Jamia Limited |location=New Delhi |year=1981 |pages=102 |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/bazm-e-raftagan-part-001-syed-sabahuddin-abdur-rahman-ebooks-1 }}</ref>{{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=268}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi (Syed) |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o55xDbQdLdEC&pg=PR6 |title=A Geographical History of the Qur'an |year=2009 |orig-year=First published 1936 |edition=Revised |publisher=Islamic Book Press |isbn=978-967-5062-18-6 |language=en}}</ref>

Among his English works are:
* ''Muslim Thought and Its Source'' (1931){{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=268}}
* ''An Impartial Study of Nawab Siraj-ud-Dawla'' (1953)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Case |first=Margaret H. |url=http://archive.org/details/southasianhistor0000case_t4a9 |title=South Asian history, 1750-1950 : a guide to periodicals, dissertations, and newspapers |date=1968 |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=978-1-4008-7486-6 |location=Princeton, New Jersey |page=140 |language=en |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
* ''An Easy History of the Prophet of Islam'' (1954)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi (Syed) |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_VTB1VGP8gC |title=An Easy History of the Prophet of Islam |date=1954 |publisher=Sh. Muhammad Ashraf |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Human Rights and Obligations (In the Light of the Qur'an and Hadith)'' (1966)<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Islam |first1=Md Nazrul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ci3YDwAAQBAJ&dq=Muzaffaruddin+nadwi&pg=PA307 |title=Islam and Democracy in South Asia: The Case of Bangladesh |last2=Islam |first2=Md Saidul |date=2020-03-20 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-42909-6 |page=307 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''A Comparative Study of Islam & Other Religions'' (1977)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi (Syed) |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w6AtAQAAIAAJ |title=A Comparative Study of Islam & Other Religions |date=1977 |publisher=Sh. Muhammad Ashraf |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Islamic State of Pakistan''{{Sfn|Azeem|1954|p=268}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Syed Muzaffaruddin Nadwi |url=https://archive.org/details/ageographicalhistoryofthequran/page/n3/mode/1up |title=A Geographical History of the Qur'an |pages=Title}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pal |first=J. J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0gZuAAAAMAAJ&q=islamic+state+and+pakistan+by+Muzaffar+uddin+nadvi |title=Jinnah and the Creation of Pakistan |date=1983 |publisher=Sidhuram Publications |page=162 |language=en}}</ref>
* Islami Taleem-o-Tarbiyat (in Urdu){{Sfn|Slaich|2008|p=434}}

His works have also appeared in translation:
* Pashto: ''Islāmī fikar mākḫaẕ'' (1963)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi (Syed) |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SyZNzwEACAAJ |title=Da Islāmī fikar māḫaẕ |date=1963 |publisher=Pušto Akeḍemī da Pušto Yūnīwarsitī |language=ps}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://philpapers.org/rec/NADDIF |title=Da Islami Fikar Makhaz |date=1963 |publisher=[[Pashto Academy]] |location=University of Peshawar}}</ref>
* Turkish: ''Hazret-i Muhammed Aleyhisselam Hakkında Konferanslar'' (1967) by Osman Keski̇oğlu<ref>{{Cite web |title=KESKİOĞLU, Osman |url=https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/keskioglu-osman |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi |language=tr}}</ref>
* Indonesian: ''Pemikiran Muslim dan sumbernya'' (1984)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi (Syed) |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ntuAQAACAAJ |title=Pemikiran Muslim dan sumbernya |date=1984 |publisher=Pustaka |language=id}}</ref>
* Indonesian: ''Sejarah Geography Qur'an'' (1985) by Bambang Bujono<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi (Syed) |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tBx5nQAACAAJ |title=Sejarah Geography Qur'an |date=1985 |publisher=Pustaka Firdaus |language=id}}</ref>
* Turkish: ''Kur'ān-ı Kerîm'de kavimler ve toplumlar'' (2003) by Abdullah Davudoğlu<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nadvi (Syed) |first=Muzaffar Uddin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9EmAAAACAAJ |title=Kur'ân'-ı Kerîm'de kavimler ve toplumlar: Âd, Semûd, Medyen |date=2003 |publisher=İnkılab yayınları |isbn=978-975-7560-65-4 |language=tr}}</ref>

== Death ==
Nadwi died on 18 June 1984 in [[Karachi]], Pakistan, and is buried in Sakhi Hasan graveyard in Karachi.<ref name="KhftaganKarachi">{{cite book |last=Aslam |first=Muhammad |title=Khuftagan-e-Karachi |trans-title=The Deceased of Karachi |publisher=Idara-e-Tahqiqat-e-Pakistan, Punjab University |location=Lahore |year=1991 |pages=294 |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/khuftagan-e-karachi-mohammad-aslam-ebooks }}</ref><ref name="WafiyatAhlQalam">{{cite book |last=Slaich |first=Muhammad Munir Ahmad |title=Wafiyat-e-Ahl-e-Qalam |trans-title=Deaths of Literary Figures |publisher=Academy of Letters Pakistan |location=Islamabad |year=2008 |pages=434 |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/wafiyat-e-ahl-e-qalam-mohammad-munir-ahmad-ebooks }}</ref><ref name="WafiyatMashahir">{{cite book |last=Aslam |first=Muhammad |title=Wafiyat-e-Mashahir-e-Pakistan 1947-1987 |trans-title=Deaths of Famous Personalities of Pakistan |publisher=Muqtadara Qaumi Zaban |location=Islamabad |year=1990 |pages=282 |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/wafiyat-e-mashaheer-e-pakistan-1947-ta-1987-wafat-pane-wali-pakistani-shakhsiyat-ebooks }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nadwi, Syed Muzaffaruddin}}
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:Pakistani scholars]]
[[Category:Pakistani writers]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Pakistan]]
[[Category:People from Sheikhpura district]]
[[Category:Urdu-language Pakistani writers]]
[[Category:Urdu-language translators]]
[[Category:English-language Pakistani writers]]
[[Category:English–Urdu translators]]
[[Category:Historians of Islam]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Presidency University, Kolkata alumni]]
[[Category:Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Dhaka]]

Syed Muzaffaruddin Nadwi - Revision history

ShivaniSikri: Put up a post...