Thread by @syedurahman

Maulana #AbdulMajidDaryabadi (1892 –1977) was a top Islamic scholar, author and mufassir of Quran. He must be among the very few people who wrote tafsir of Quran in 2 languages, English & Arabic. It must be mentioned that both r different exegesis and not translation.
#Thread

He was a smitten by sufis and was great fan of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi. He was his murid and got influenced by him. He was closely associated with Khilafat Movement; Royal Asiatic Society, London; Aligarh Muslim University, Nadwatul Ulema, Shibli Academy, many other initiatives

Daryabadi was born in Daryabad, Barabanki in reputed Qidwai family. His family was associated with 1857 Mutiny and his grandfather Mufti Mazhar Kareem was sentenced to the Andaman Islands for signing a fatwa against the British Raj. The family endured severe hardship in its wake.

A well-known translator of Qur’an, editor of Urdu weeklies Sack and Sidq-e-Jadeed (Lucknow), major contributor to Hamdard , and biographer of Ashraf Ali Thanawi, whom he considered his spiritual mentor, Daryabadi articulated himself with rare clarity on a variety of issues.

Author of 50 books and multiple other contributions, he passionately followed the religious cause of pan-Islamism. In early 1910s, he was the most active contributor to Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar’s (1878-1931) Hamdard in which he wrote on impact of the Balkan Wars on Muslims.

Although he entered active politics via the Khilafat Movement during 1919-1926, Daryabadi’s concern with other political entities such as the Indian National Congress or Muslim League was almost negligent as far as most of his writings go.

But when Jawaharlal Nehru visited Daryabad in 1932 Daryabadi presided over the meeting. His biographer, Saleem Kidwai, concludes that Daryabadi entered politics with Muhammad Ali Jauhar, who had influence on him and after his death in 1931 Daryabadi stayed away from politics.

He came in contact with the Muslim scholar, Shibli Nomani and assisted him in the composition of Sirat-un-Nabi. He developed friendships with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Syed Sulaiman Nadwi, Muhammad Ali Jouhar, Akbar Allahbadi and many prominent literary figures.

He wrote more than 50 books on Quran, life of Muhammad, travelogues, philosophy and psychology. He also penned biographies, literary and critical essays, hosted radio talks and also translated a number of books into chaste Urdu in accordance with the Lucknow School of writing.

More than Muhammad Ali Jauhar, Daryabadi was a solid advocate of Muslim religious interests, while being an equally strong adherent and admirer of Gandhi. 26 Daryabadi wrote in the journal Aaj Kal that he was greatly impressed with Gandhi’s vision, resolve and integrity.

In fact, Kidwai suggests that Daryabadi’s emphasis on religiosity and respect for all religions was an imprint of Gandhi, in addition to others. In an essay in Subh-e-Ummeed, Daryabadi justified Gandhi’s principles of politics, religious vision and perspectives on cultures.

He also argued that there was essentially no difference between Gandhi’s non-violent tool of satyagraha (truth force) and the emphasis on peace in Islam. 28 Finding himself in sync with a Gandhian approach and philosophy, he wrote extensively in favour of freedom movement.

In April 1955, he visited Lahore n Karachi for two and a half weeks and wrote a travelogue titled Dhai haftah Pakistan Mein ya Mubarak Safar. In it, he provided a vivid description of Pakistan, the residents ofwhich he refers to as‘a piece of one’s heart \dil\ and liver jjigar]

Daryabadi’s observation and emphasis on striking likenesses between India n Pakistan and people of the two countries seem to indicate the shallow and synthetic nature of boundaries that divided the two nations and the hollowness of the rhetoric that had led to this situation.

His books include Feeh Ma Feeh Malfuzat Muhammad Jalaluddin Rumi Wa Tabsira, Mazameen Abdul Majid Darya Badi, Wafiyat e Majdi Ya Nashri Marsiye, Muhammad Ali Zati Diary, Tafseer– e– Majidi, Tafseer – e – Majidi – English, Bashriyyat -e- Ambiya [A.S], Hakeem -ul- Ummat, Aap Beeti