Islamic scholar Maulana Saeed-ur-Rahman Azmi Nadwi passes away

Lucknow: Renowned Islamic scholar, Arabic language expert, author and journalist Maulana Saeed-ur-Rahman Azmi Nadwi died on Wednesday at the age of 92, bringing to an end a scholarly career spanning more than seven decades.

Nadwi served as the Mohtamim (principal) of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow and was also associated with Integral University as its Chancellor. Born in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, on May 14, 1934, he came to Nadwatul Ulama in 1952 to pursue higher studies after completing his early education in Mau. He later joined the institution as a teacher and held several key academic and administrative positions, including dean of its Faculty of Arabic Language and Literature. He became its Mohtamim in 2000.

Nadwi earned particular recognition for his contribution to the Arabic language, literature and journalism. He became chief editor of the internationally known Arabic monthly Al-Ba’th Al-Islami in 1979 and played a major role in strengthening intellectual and scholarly links between India and the Arab world.

He authored numerous works in Arabic and Urdu, including Islam aur Maghrib, and his writings covered Islamic thought, culture and contemporary intellectual issues. His contribution to the Arabic language and literature was recognised with the Government of India’s Presidential Award in 1994.

In 2013, the Institute of Objective Studies honoured him with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his scholarly contributions. He was also conferred an honorary D.Litt by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University in 2019.

Nadwi’s death marks a significant loss to Islamic scholarship, Arabic literature and journalism in India.