Abu al-Hasan an-Nadwi

Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani an-Nadwi (1332-1420 AH / 1914-1999 CE) was one of the most prominent Indian Islamic scholars and thinkers of the 20th century. Born in Rai Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, into a scholarly family descended from the Prophet ﷺ through Imam al-Hasan, he studied at Nadwat al-Ulama in Lucknow and under private tutors, mastering the Islamic sciences as well as Arabic and Urdu literary traditions.

An-Nadwi became the rector of Nadwat al-Ulama and one of the most eloquent Arab-language writers among non-Arab scholars. He wrote in Arabic with a mastery that earned him recognition from Arab scholars and his election to membership in the Arabic Language Academies of Cairo and Damascus.

His most celebrated work is Madha Khasira al-Alam bi-Inhitat al-Muslimin (What Did the World Lose with the Decline of Muslims?), a sweeping analysis of Islamic civilization's contributions to humanity and the consequences of its decline. This book was acclaimed across the Muslim world and translated into numerous languages. He also authored as-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah (a Seerah work), al-Arkan al-Arba'ah (a book on the pillars of Islam), and numerous other works on Islamic thought, history, and spirituality.

An-Nadwi was deeply committed to the spiritual revival of Muslims and critical of Western materialism. He was a member of the Qadiriyyah Sufi order. He passed away in Rai Bareli in 1999, having spent his life promoting a vision of Islam that was simultaneously intellectually engaged, spiritually grounded, and globally engaged.