Shah Wali Allah al-Dihlawi

Ahmad ibn Abd al-Rahim al-Dihlawi, known as Shah Wali Allah (1703-1762 CE / 1114-1176H), was the most important Islamic scholar of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. Born in Delhi, he studied under his father before traveling to Makkah and Madinah, where he received ijazas from major scholars. His masterpiece, Hujjat Allah al-Balighah (The Conclusive Argument from God), is a comprehensive work explaining the wisdom and social principles underlying Islamic law. He sought to reconcile differences between the four madhabs, to revive hadith studies in India, and to translate the Quran into Persian to make it accessible. His intellectual tradition profoundly influenced later movements including the Deobandis and Barelwis.