Hyderabadi Muslims are an ethnocultural community of Muslims, part of a larger group of Dakhini Muslims, from the area that used to be the princely state of Hyderabad, India, including cities like Hyderabad, Aurangabad, Nanded and Bidar.
First generation immigrants are not included, but second and third generation immigrants who have adopted Hyderabadi Muslim culture are usually considered Hyderabadi Muslims, and are included in the list. Descendants of those who shifted from Hyderabad or the Deccan to other regions/countries are also included.
Literature
Syed Waheed Akhtar (1934–1996), Urdu poet, writer, critic, orator, and Muslim scholar and philosopher Samina Ali, PEN/Hemingway Award winner for her novel Madras on Rainy Days Sulaiman Areeb (b. 1922), Urdu poet Siraj Aurangabadi (1715–1763), Sufi mystic poet and a Persian/Urdu author and poet Fatima Surayya Bajia (1930–2016), Pakistani Urdu novelist and playwright Mirza Farhatullah Baig (1883–1947), Urdu writer Abid Hasan (d. 1986), translated Tagore's Jana Gana Mana into Shubh Sukh Chain Mujtaba Hussain (b. 1936), Urdu satirist and humorist; Padma Shri recipient Amjad Hyderabadi (1878–1961), Urdu poet of Ruba'i Khamakha Hyderabadi (1929–2017), Urdu language poet and humorist from Hyderabad, known for his poems and was a regular at Mazahiya Mushairas Razaul Jabbar (1937–2011), Indo-Canadian author of many books, settled in Canada Omar Khalidi (1952–2010), authored Hyderabad: After the Fall; migrated to US M. A. Muqtedar Khan (b. 1966), political science professor, Islamic philosopher and Muslim intellectual Masood Ali Khan (b. 1947), authored Islamic and cultural encyclopedia Mir Taher Ali Khan, distinguished linguistic scholar and professor in European languages Bilkees I. Latif (1931–2017), authored four books Syed Abdul Latif, Indian writer of English literature; president of Institute of Indo-Middle East Cultural Studies and Academy of Islamic Studies, Hyderabad; author of books on Islamic culture and Urdu literature Kenan Malik, writer on race and multiculturalism Anwar Maqsood (b. 1940), Pakistani script writer, anchorperson, show host Ahmed Abdullah Masdoosi (1905–1968), Pakistani poet Fatima Farheen Mirza, American novelist best known for her novel A Place for Us (2018), which was a New York Times best seller Makhdoom Mohiuddin (1908–1969), Urdu poet and Marxist politician Sayyid Ahmedullah Qadri (1909–1985), Urdu writer, critic, author and politician; President of Lutfuddaulah Oriental Research Institute, Hyderabad Sayyid Shamsullah Qadri (1885–1953), Urdu scholar, writer, historian and archaeologistUrdu literature - History and criticism. Lucknow : [s.n.], 1930. Sayyed ShamsUllah Qadri (1930). "Tareekh - Malabaar". Hindustan - Malabaar (in Urdu). Aligarh: Muslim University Press. p. 98. Aziz Qaisi (1931–1992), Urdu poet, short story writer, and film writer Awaz Sayeed (1934–1995), Urdu writer of short stories and biographer Haroon Siddiqui, Indo-Canadian journalist Wali Mohammed Wali (1667–1707), considered by many scholars to be the "father of Urdu poetry", being the first established poet to have composed ghazals in the Urdu language Mohiuddin Qadri Zore (1905–1962), Urdu poet, literary critic and historian, established Idare Adabiyaat-e-Urdu in Hyderabad Sikandar Ali Wajd (1914–1983) - Urdu poet from Aurangabad, Maharashtra India Sughra Humayun Mirza (1884 - 1958) - Also known as Begum Sughra, was a social reformer, Urdu writer and traveller from Hyderabad, India. She is believed to be Hyderabad's first female novelist, having written 14 major novels.
Religious scholars Maulana Abdullah Quraishi Al-Azhari (1935–2015), Islamic scholar from Hyderabad; served as the khateeb and imam of the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad and the vice chancellor of Jamia Nizamia University Hashim Amir Ali, Islamic scholar and translator of the Quran in English under the title The Message of the Quran – presented in perspective (1974) Hameeduddin Aqil, founder of the Darul Uloom Hyderabad Muhammad Hamidullah (1908–2002), professor, translator of Quran into French, authored over a hundred books Sahib Husayni (1805–1880), Sufi saint from Hyderabad State; had a great influence over spiritual developments in the Deccan area; belonged to Qadiri Order; proponent of the concept of Wahdat al-Shuhood Syed Sultan Mahmoodullah Shah Hussaini, renowned Muslim Sufi, saint and scholar of the Quadri, Chisti order Inayat Khan (1882–1927), founder of the Sufi Order in the West M. A. Muqtedar Khan (b. 1966), reformist Islamic thinker and strong advocate of Ijtihad Abul Ala Maududi (1903–1979), Pakistani philosopher, founder of the Jamaat-e-Islami Sayyid Shamsullah Qadri, author and Scholar who wrote a history of Urdu literature, Urdu E Qadim (1925) Abdul Raheem Quraishi, Indian Islamic scholar who served as the president of Majlis-e-Tameer-e-Millat, a socio-religious organization based in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, founded by Syed Khaleelullah Hussaini in the 1950s Ghousi Shah (1893–1954), Muslim Sufi saint and poet Hazrath Syed Kamalullah Shah, renowned Muslim Sufi, saint and scholar of the Quadri, Chisti order Kareemullah Shah (1838–1913), Muslim Sufi, saint and scholar of the Naqshbandi order Moulana Sahvi Shah, Sufi mystic, scholar, writer, and poet born in Hyderabad; founded the Conference of World Religions, and served as editor for Urdu weeklies like Jhalkian, Inquilab, and Al-Noor Muhammad Muslehuddin Siddiqui, Islamic scholar, migrated to Pakistan Rasheed Turabi, Islamic scholar Syed Sadatullah Husaini (1973) , the president (Amir) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) and Vice President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)
Arts Asif Ali (b. 1988), American comedian Mahmood Ali (1928–2008), Pakistani television and radio artist Mast Ali, Indian actor Mohammad Irfan Ali, singer and winner of Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star Sulaiman Areeb (1922–1972), Indian poet Talat Aziz (b. 1965), ghazal singer Shabana Azmi (b. 1950), Bollywood actress Zeshan Bagewadi, American singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and recording artist with family roots from Hyderabad Mohammad Ali Baig, theater personality and ad film maker; Padma Shri recipient Fatima Surayya Bajia (1930–2016), Pakistani Urdu novelist, playwright and drama writer Aditi Rao Hydari, Bollywood actress Kamal Irani (1932–1989), Pakistani film actor Sana Javed, Pakistani television actress Adnan Sajid Khan, Indian comedian and actor, popularly known by his stage named Gullu Dada and Gullu Bhai Ajit Khan (1922–1998), Bollywood actor Ateeq Hussain Khan (b. 1980), qawwali musician Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (1902–1968), Hindustani classical musician and vocalist Bahauddin Khan (1934–2006), Pakistani qawwali musician; used to perform in the court of the Nizam Inayat Khan (1882–1927), Indian classical musician and Sufi leader Kabir Khan, Indian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer Razak Khan (1951–2016), Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan (b. 1965), Bollywood actor (half Hyderabadi) Anwar Maqsood (b. 1940), Pakistani playwright and satirist Ghulam Mohiuddin, Pakistani actor with roots from Hyderabad India Mumtaz (b. 1947), Bollywood actress Aziz Naser (b. 1980), actor and film director Irshad Panjatan (b. 1931), actor and mime artist Aziz Qaisi (1931–1992), Urdu poet, short story writer, and film writer Munshi Raziuddin (1912–2003), Pakistani qawwali musician; used to perform in the court of the Nizam Waheeda Rehman (b. 1938), Bollywood actress and classical dancer; Padma Bhushan recipient Ahmed Rushdi (1934–1983), Pakistani playback singer Nigar Sultana (1932–2000), Bollywood actress Tabu (b. 1971), Bollywood actress; Padma Shri recipient Sharmila Tagore (b. 1944), Bollywood actress Zubaida Tariq (1945–2018), Pakistani chef and cooking expert Warsi Brothers, qawwali musicians Subhani Ba Yunus (1931–2006), Pakistani actor and television and radio personality Surayya Tyabji - (1919–1978), Indian artist who designed the current Indian national flag Lena Khan - Film Director, Producer and Writer
Academics Mehdi Hasan, British-American broadcaster, journalist, and founder of the media company Zeteo Syed Ali Bilgrami (1851–1911) - An Indian scholar and linguist Abid Hussain, Indian economist, civil servant and diplomat; India's ambassador to the United States 1990–1992; member of the Planning Commission 1985–1990 Ali Yavar Jung (1906–1976), served as vice-chancellor of the Osmania University as well as the Aligarh Muslim University Arastu Yar Jung (1858–1940), chief physician and advisor to the Nizam Nizamath Jung Bahadur (1871- 1955) - High court judge of Hyderabad State and author Omar Khalidi (1953–2010), Muslim scholar, staff member of MIT in the US, and author Mohammed Vizarat Rasool Khan (1946–2013), founder of Shadan Group of Institutions Syed Ahmed Quadri (1908–1990), administrator, educator, and senior officer in the government of the Nizam of Hyderabad and later in the government of India and the UNO Muhammad Zia ud-Din, served as the acting vice-chancellor of Federal Urdu University, having an Alvi Urdu-speaking (Muhajir) Hyderabadi Muslim background Ghulam Yazdani, Indian archaeologist; one of the founders of the Archaeological Department during the colonial-era reign of Nizam of Hyderabad Faizan Zaki, first Muslim to win the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee
Scientists Saleh Muhammad Alladin, among the most famous 100 astronomers of the world and served as the educational advisor to former president APJ Abdul Kalam of India Ahmed Mohiuddin (1923–1998), founder of the Pakistan Zoological Society, wrote 37 books on scientific research Aneesur Rahman (1927–1987), physicist Raziuddin Siddiqui (1908–1998), theoretical physicist; member of imperial Britain's nuclear physicist delegation; participated in nuclear weapons programs of the US (Manhattan Project) and UK (Tube Alloys Project)
Politics Mahmood Ali (b. 1952), Indian politician, deputy chief minister of Telangana 2014–2018 Mir Laiq Ali, last prime minister of Hyderabad State Shabbir Ali, minister during Indian National Congress rule in AP Maulvi Allauddin (1824–1889), revolutionary and Indian independence activist Mohammed Hameeduddin, American former politician and the former mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey Ghazala Hashmi, American politician serving as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia since 2026 Mohammad Majid Hussain, former mayor of Hyderabad Sir Akbar Hydari (1869–1941), former prime minister of Hyderabad Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari (1894–1948), former governor of Assam Imtiyaz Jaleel (1968), Indian politician Ali Yavar Jung (1906–1976), former governor of Maharashtra Bahadur Yar Jung, prominent figure of the Pakistan movement Mehdi Nawaz Jung (1894–1967), former governor of Gujarat Akbar Ali Khan (1899–1994), former governor of Uttar Pradesh and governor of Orissa Suhail A. Khan, American conservative political activist Turrebaz Khan (?–1859), revolutionary and war hero of the Indian War of Independence Idris Hasan Latif (1923–2018), former governor of Maharashta Makhdoom Mohiuddin (1908–1969), communist activist of the Telangana Rebellion Hassan Nasir, Pakistani communist activist Akbaruddin Owaisi (b. 1970), MLA from Chandrayangutta constituency Asaduddin Owaisi (b. 1969), president of AIMIM and member of Parliament Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi (1931–2008), served six terms as member of Parliament; former AIMIM president Sayyid Ahmedullah Qadri (1909–1985), Indian independence activist Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri, politician Qazi Saleem (1930–2005), Indian politician and Indian Urdu poet Nabeela Syed, American politician and Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 51st district
Military services Moin-Ud-Daula Bahadur (1891–1941), an Indian nobleman and member of the Paigah Nobility and the Amir of the Asman Jahi Paigah one of the 3 great Paigahs of Hyderabad State