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Abdul Majid Daryabadi | |
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Personal details | |
Born | Dariyabad, Barabanki British India | 16 March 1892
Died | 6 January 1977 Barabanki, India | (aged 84)
Political party | Khilafat Movement |
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Alma mater | |
Personal | |
Denomination | Sunni |
Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
Creed | Maturidi |
Main interest(s) | Comparative religion, Tafsir, Biography, Orientalism, Modernism, Islamic philosophy, Psychology, travelogue, Sufism, Journalism |
Notable work(s) |
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Senior posting | |
Disciple of | Ashraf Ali Thanwi |
Awards |
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Abdul Majid Daryabadi (16 March 1892 – 6 January 1977) was an Islamic scholar, philosopher, writer, critic, researcher, journalist and exegete of the Quran, who was active in the Indian subcontinent in the 20th century.[1][2] As one of the most influential Indian Muslim scholars, he was much concerned with modernism, comparative religions and orientalism in India.[3] In his early life, he became sceptical of religion and called himself a "rationalist". For almost nine years, he kept away from religion but eventually changed his maind and became a devout Muslim.[4] He was actively associated with the Khilafat Movement, the Royal Asiatic Society, Aligarh Muslim University, Nadwatul Ulama, Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy and several other leading Islamic and literary organisations.[5] He was a disciple of Ashraf Ali Thanwi and Hussain Ahmed Madani.
Throughout his academic career he edited the Urdu weekly Sidq-e-Jaded, which was acclaimed in the Indian subcontinent for its inspiring message and stylistic qualities.[2] He continued to edit the journal until his death. He had a unique style of writing which was expressive and tinged with humor and sarcasm.[2] Under the influence of Ashraf Ali Thanwi he authored a Tafsir which was to become famous, the Tafseer-e-Majidi, written first in English and then in Urdu.[2] He wanted to purify Muslim thinking to make it possible to understand and implement true Islamic teachings, free from "foreign" and "un-Islamic" elements, and to review the decisions of previous scholars instead of accepting them blindly.[3] In 1967, he received the Arabic Scholar Award from the Government of India. In 1975, the Aligarh Muslim University awarded him a Doctorate in Literature. He died in January 1977.[2]