Abdul Majid Daryabadi (16 March 1892 – 6 January 1977) was an influential Islamic scholar, philosopher, writer, critic, researcher, journalist, and Quranic exegete active in the Indian subcontinent during the 20th century. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . He was deeply concerned with modernism, comparative religion, and orientalism in India. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .
In his early life, Daryabadi identified as a " Skeptic rationalist" and distanced himself from religion for nearly nine years. However, he later re-evaluated his beliefs and became a devout Muslim. He was closely associated with the Khilafat Movement and was actively involved with prestigious institutions such as the Royal Asiatic Society, Aligarh Muslim University, Nadwatul Ulama, and the Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy. He was a disciple of Ashraf Ali Thanwi and Hussain Ahmad Madani, both prominent Islamic scholars of the time.
Throughout his career, Daryabadi edited the Urdu weekly Sidq-e-Jaded, a publication widely respected across the Indian subcontinent for its inspiring message and distinctive style. Known for his expressive writing, often marked by humor and sarcasm, he continued to edit the journal until his death. Under the guidance of his mentor, Ashraf Ali Thanwi, Daryabadi authored the Tafseer-e-Majidi, a Quranic commentary first written in English and later translated into Urdu. This tafsir sought to purify Muslim thought by promoting an understanding of Islam based on original teachings, free from external influences, and encouraged a thoughtful review of past scholarly interpretations.
In recognition of his contributions, Daryabadi received the Arabic Scholar Award from the Government of India in 1967. In 1975, Aligarh Muslim University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Literature. He died in January 1977.
Life and family Abdul Majid Daryabadi was born in Daryabad to Abdul Qadir (1848–1912) and Bibi Nasirun Nisa, both of Qidwai ancestry. His father, Abdul Qadir, was a follower of the Qadiriyya Sufi Order. Daryabadi's mother was also of Qidwai descent, and her father was the elder brother of Mufti Mazhar Karim Qudwai (Abdul Majid's paternal grandfather), making Daryabadi's parents cousins.
Daryabadi's maternal grandfather resided in Lucknow, which became a second home for him, as his father had also been born there. Abdul Majid was the youngest of five siblings. In his autobiography, Aap Biti, he noted that only one elder brother, Abdul Majid (d. 1951), and one elder sister, Zarifunnisa (later known as Bibi Sakina, d. 1945), were still alive during his later years.
Education Daryabadi grew up in a religious environment and initially studied Arabic and Persian under his father's guidance. In 1902, he began formal schooling at Sitapur High School, where he studied until 1908. In July 1908, Daryabadi was admitted to Canning College in Lucknow, which was then affiliated with Allahabad University. He pursued a B.A. (Honours) in Philosophy, with a curriculum that included English, metaphysics, ethics, and psychology. Daryabadi developed a keen interest in psychology, while his Arabic studies included classic works by Ibn Khaldun, Mutanabbi, and others.
In April 1912, he traveled to Allahabad to complete his B.A. exams, graduating with second-class honors in June. During this period, Daryabadi identified as a rationalist and agnostic, which marked a departure from his religious upbringing.
Following his B.A., Daryabadi hoped to pursue an M.A. in philosophy, available at only two institutions at the time: Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University. He enrolled at Aligarh but failed his first-year examinations. Later, he transferred to St. Stephen's College in Delhi in 1913. However, his studies were cut short when his father died while performing Hajj in 1912. Financial constraints forced Daryabadi to leave his studies and enter the job market. During this time, he studied Buddhism and Theosophy but gradually returned to Islam under the influence of Ashraf Ali Thanwi and poet Akbar Allahabadi. He later became involved in the Khilafat Movement, serving as the president of the Oudh Khilafat Committee.
Receiving the title 'Maulana' Although Daryabadi did not attend a traditional madrasah, he was well-versed in Arabic literature due to his education at Canning College. He graduated with strong knowledge in Arabic, English, psychology, philosophy, and logic. At around age 15 or 16, he published two articles, "Mahmud Ghaznavi" and "Ghadha-i Insani", in Wakil, a weekly magazine in Amritsar. Recognizing his scholarly potential, Wakil published the articles as a booklet and conferred upon him the title of "Maulana". However, Daryabadi did not accept this title at the time, as he was exploring rationalism and referred to himself as "Mr. Abdul Majid". Eventually, he returned to Islam, influenced by figures like Haji Warith Ali Shah, Akbar Ilah Abadi, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jawhar, and Rishi Bahgwan Das. Daryabadi's later contributions to Islamic literature, particularly his Tafsir, solidified his reputation as a scholar.
Career Writer and journalist After ending his studies, Daryabadi pursued a career in journalism. He initially worked for publications such as Udh Panch in Lucknow, Al-Hilal in Kolkata, Jamindar in Lahore, and Hamdard in Delhi. In 1925, he founded his own weekly magazine, Sach, in Lucknow, where he served as editor until 1933. In 1933, he ceased publishing Sach to dedicate himself to writing an English translation and commentary on the Quran. He later relaunched Sach as Sidq, eventually renaming it Sidq-e-Jadid in 1950, a publication he continued to edit until his death in 1977.
Daryabadi's unique writing style and his editorial work in Sidq-e-Jadid gained him recognition as an eminent journalist and Islamic scholar. His prolific output includes over sixty published works, as well as contributions to prestigious Urdu journals such as Ma'arif of Azamgarh, Al-Nazir, Hamdam of Lucknow, and Hamdard of Delhi. He was also affiliated with institutions like the Royal Asiatic Society in London, the Hindustani Academy, and the Nadwatul Ulama of Lucknow. His commentaries on the Quran, written in both Urdu and English, are among his most celebrated contributions to Islamic scholarship.
Translator of Osmania University Daryabadi's reputation as a scholar and writer earned him a position at Osmania University in Hyderabad. He served as a translator in the Department of Translation from September 1, 1917, to July 31, 1918, focusing on philosophy and logic. Although his tenure lasted only eleven months, his contributions were recognized by the government of Hyderabad, which supported the publication of his works. He received a lifetime pension from Hyderabad in appreciation of his services to Urdu literature. His early works, including pamphlets like Ghaza-i Insani and Mahmud Ghaznavi, reflected his early rationalist leanings and were published by the Anjuman-i Taraqqi-i Urdu.
Islamic philosopher and a Mufassir Upon his return to Islam, Daryabadi developed close associations with devout Muslim intellectuals such as Akbar Allahabadi, Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Hussain Ahmad Madani, and Ashraf Ali Thanwi. Inspired by Thanwi, he embarked on an English and Urdu tafsir (Quranic commentary) project, comparing Islamic teachings to those in other religious texts like the Bible and the Jewish Encyclopedia. His Tafsir-ul-Quran in English and Al-Quran al-Hakim in Urdu are significant contributions to comparative religion and Islamic scholarship. He devoted much of his life to Islamic writing, publishing extensively on Islamic philosophy, Sufism, and Quranic interpretation.
Oath of allegiance Daryabadi came from a family devoted to Islam, and after his return to the faith, he developed an interest in Sufism. In search of spiritual guidance, he initially considered taking an oath of allegiance with Mohammad Ali Jauhar, but ultimately took the oath from Ashraf Ali Thanwi in 1928. Later, he renewed his oath under Hussain Ahmed Madani with Thanwi's permission. His search for a spiritual guide is detailed in his book Murshid ki Talash ("In Search of a Spiritual Guide").
Awards In 1966, Daryabadi received the Arabic Scholar Award from the Government of India. In 1976, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Literature from Aligarh Muslim University, which was presented to him by the Indian President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Additionally, the Hyderabad State granted him a lifetime pension for his contributions to Urdu literature.
Final days and passing Daryabadi spent his last days at Khatun Manzil in Lucknow, where he was gravely ill. Despite his condition, many people from diverse backgrounds came to visit him. Among his frequent visitors were Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi and professors from Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama. His final visitor was Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi, the principal of Darul Uloom Deoband, who met with Daryabadi the day before his passing.
On January 6, 1977, at 4:30 a.m., Abdul Majid Daryabadi died at the age of 85. In accordance with his last wishes, his first Namaz-e-Janazah (funeral prayer) was led by Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow, attended by a large gathering. His body was then transported to his ancestral home in Daryabad, where a second Namaz-e-Janazah was held after the Maghrib prayer, led by Hafiz Gulam Nabi. He was laid to rest in his family's graveyard next to his forefather Makhdum Abkash.
Personal life Daryabadi had influential and notable family ties. His brother-in-law, Khan Bahadur Sheikh Masood-uz-Zaman, served as a member and the last deputy president of the Legislative Council in the United Provinces under British rule before the council was dissolved. Another sister married Nawab Nazir Yar Jung, a judge of the Hyderabad High Court. Their daughter, Hamida Habibullah, was married to General Enaith Habibullah, making her the mother of Wajahat Habibullah of the Saidanpur taluqa in Awadh.
Daryabadi's son-in-law, Hakeem Abdul Qavi Daryabadi, was a well-regarded Urdu journalist, while another son-in-law and nephew, Muhammad Hashim Kidwai, was a distinguished author, academic, and former MP, who also taught at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Among his grandchildren, several have made their mark in academia and journalism: Abdur Raheem Kidwai, an English professor and author at AMU; Shafey Kidwai, an award-winning critic and professor at AMU; Rasheed Kidwai, a well-known political analyst and journalist; and Nafay Kidwai, a prominent columnist and journalist who received the highest honor from the UP Urdu Academy.
On June 2, 1916, Daryabadi married Aftun Nisa, daughter of Shaykh Yusufuz-Zaman, a former magistrate. In 1930, he briefly entered a second marriage, which ended in divorce. Daryabadi remained with his first wife, Aftun Nisa, with whom he had daughters and sons, although his sons tragically died in early childhood.
Views and thoughts
Rationalist period Abdul Majid Daryabadi was born into a noble family. His father was a pious Muslim. As a child, he was raised and educated in a religious environment.
The 20th century was a time of freethinking and rationalism. During college he encountered the rationalist school of the West and became a rationalist and an agnostic. Gradually suspicion and disbelief started in his thought and faith. He read the books of atheists and orientalists, such as the Greek philosophers Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and Dicard. He had especial zeal for the writings of Bacon, Hume, Locke, Mill, Baikal, Spenser, Huxley, Darwin, and William James; he read William James' The Book of Psychology and The Principles of Psychology.