From Darkness into Light

The twentieth century witnessed an unusual growth of illustrious Qur’anic scholars and exegetes in the Indian subcontinent. Mawlana Abdul Majid Daryabadi (1892-1977) was a genius among them, and had the unique distinction of retrieving his faith following a long prelude of skepticism. Imbued equally with religious and modern sensitivity, Daryabadi made sterling contributions to Islamic learning and Urdu literature. His scholarly achievements have been duly recognized in research theses, articles and special issues of some Urdu journals. But his genius deserved wider recognition in a world language. The need is now duly fulfilled by the Mawlana’s grandson, Abdur Raheem Kidwai, a noted scholar of English. Avowedly indebted to Daryabadi’s autobiography, the opening chapters of Kidwai’s book bring out the former’s early cultural backdrop and religious regimen at home. Companionable by disposition and active in extra-curricular programmes at school, Daryabadi developed a life-long passion for books, and became a voracious reader. At college, the study of rationalist thinkers drove him to a long agnostic spell, but it was books again – especially the works of Jalal al-Din Rumi, Mujaddid Sirhindi and Shibli – with gentle nudging from Akbar Allahabadi – that led him back to the fountain of faith. Mawlana Ashraf [Ali Thanwi’s soul-breathing ministrations sealed the reunion.