Nadwi Foundation

Shaykh ’Abū al-Hasan ‘Alī Nadwī (1914-1999/1332-1419 AH), one of the most widely read and influential scholars of our time, was likened by his intellectual peers to the exemplary scholars of the earliest generations of Islam. His writings have been translated from Arabic or Urdu into all of the major languages of the world and remain popular from one generation to the next. In this account by a former student, various aspects of Shaykh ’Abū al-Hasan’s life and works are presented – his education and upbringing, his role as a leader and guide, his writings, and his da‘wah and tarbiyah (calling people to Islam and training others to do so). This biography sets out his response to groups and movements that did not share his distinctive approach to issues of concern to Muslims. The unifying theme of the book is Shaykh Nadwī’s timeless commitment, as a scholar and dā‘ī, to the spiritual well-being of Muslims, emphasising their relationship with God and each other, and their response to Western cultural influences.