Abdul Majid Daryabadi
Who was Abdul Majid Daryabadi?
Indian Islamic scholar, philosopher, writer, critic, researcher, journalist and exegete of the Quran (1892–1977)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Abdul Majid Daryabadi (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Abdul Majid Daryabadi (16 March 1892 – 6 January 1977) was an Islamic scholar, philosopher, writer, critic, researcher, journalist, and Quran commentator who significantly influenced Muslim intellectual life in 20th-century India. Born during the British Raj, he studied at renowned institutions like the University of Lucknow, the University of Allahabad, Aligarh Muslim University, and St. Stephen's College. This extensive education shaped his career as a thinker and writer.
In his early adult life, Daryabadi went through a phase of skepticism, embracing rationalism and moving away from religion for almost nine years. This period of doubt and questioning deeply impacted him and made his return to Islam sincere and meaningful. His renewed faith led him to engage deeply with modernism, comparative religion, and the challenges facing Muslim thought and identity in India due to orientalism.
Daryabadi became a follower of two leading Islamic scholars of the time, Ashraf Ali Thanwi and Hussain Ahmad Madani. He was involved with important organizations like the Royal Asiatic Society, Aligarh Muslim University, Nadwatul Ulama, and the Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy. He also took part in the Khilafat Movement, which brought Indian Muslims together against British policies affecting the Ottoman Caliphate after World War One. His participation highlighted his commitment to Muslim unity and political awareness.
Throughout his career, Daryabadi edited the Urdu weekly Sidq-e-Jaded, known widely in India for its clear purpose and unique style. His writing was expressive with frequent humor and sarcasm, and he edited the journal until his death. His most famous scholarly work, the Tafseer-e-Majidi, was a Quran commentary first written in English with Ashraf Ali Thanwi's guidance and then translated into Urdu. The tafsir aimed to offer an understanding of Islamic teachings based on original sources, urging readers to critically reevaluate established scholarly traditions and resist external influences. He also wrote Aalamul Quran, another key contribution to Quranic literature.
In recognition of his long-standing scholarly and literary work, Daryabadi was awarded the Arabic Scholar Award by the Government of India in 1967. Aligarh Muslim University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Literature in 1975. He passed away on 6 January 1977 in Barabanki district, leaving a substantial body of work still valued and consulted after his death.
Before Fame
Abdul Majid Daryabadi was born on 16 March 1892, during British colonial rule in India, a time when South Asian Muslims faced intense intellectual and political challenges. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Muslim thinkers dealt with the decline of traditional authority, the rise of Western rationalism, and new educational models introduced by colonial institutions. Daryabadi was educated at top universities in the region, including Aligarh Muslim University, which aimed to produce English-educated Muslims ready to engage with the modern world.
Before becoming known as a scholar and journalist, Daryabadi experienced a long period of religious skepticism, publicly identifying as a rationalist for about nine years. This personal turmoil, probably intensified by his exposure to Western philosophical thought through his education, eventually led him to sincerely return to Islamic faith. His journey from doubt back to devotion, along with his academic training, gave his later religious and literary work a unique credibility and depth that set him apart from contemporaries who hadn't undergone the same intellectual struggle.
Key Achievements
- Authored the Tafseer-e-Majidi, a major Quranic commentary written in English and later translated into Urdu, produced under the guidance of Ashraf Ali Thanwi.
- Edited the widely respected Urdu weekly Sidq-e-Jaded for decades until his death in 1977.
- Received the Arabic Scholar Award from the Government of India in 1967.
- Awarded an honorary Doctorate in Literature by Aligarh Muslim University in 1975.
- Contributed to the Khilafat Movement and maintained active association with the Royal Asiatic Society, Nadwatul Ulama, and Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy.
Did You Know?
- 01.Daryabadi publicly identified as a rationalist and actively distanced himself from religion for nearly nine years before returning to Islam as a devout believer.
- 02.His landmark Quranic commentary, the Tafseer-e-Majidi, was written first in English before being translated into Urdu, an unusual composition sequence for a classical Islamic tafsir.
- 03.He edited the Urdu weekly Sidq-e-Jaded continuously until his death, making the journal a lifelong personal project spanning decades.
- 04.He was a disciple of both Ashraf Ali Thanwi and Hussain Ahmad Madani, two prominent Islamic scholars who themselves held differing political positions regarding Indian nationalism.
- 05.The Government of India awarded him the Arabic Scholar Award in 1967, and Aligarh Muslim University honored him with an honorary Doctorate in Literature just two years before his death in 1977.
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Letters | — | — |