Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi (Urdu: عبد الماجد دريابادي‎) (16 March 1892 – 6 January 1977) was an Indian Muslim writer and exegete of the Qur'an. Daryabadi was actively associated with the Khilafat Movement; Royal Asiatic Society, London; Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh; Nadwatul Ulema, Lucknow; Shibli Academy, Azamgarh, and several other leading Islamic and literary organisations. In addition to contributing an extensive commentary on the Qur'an in English, Daryabadi wrote also an independent Tafsir in Urdu published as Tafsir Majidi (Academy of Islamic Research and Publications, Lucknow).^[1][2] He also authored book Hakeem -ul- Ummat in 1950.^[3] He also authored biography named Muhammad Ali Zati Diary in 1943.^[4]

Early life and education

Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi Urdu Library, Begumganj, Barabanki

He was born in Daryabad, Barabanki district of India in the Qidwai family. His grandfather Mufti Mazhar Kareem was sentenced to Andaman Islands for signing a fatwa against the British Raj.^[5]

He obtained his BA(Hons) in Philosophy from Canning College, Lucknow in 1912. In his academic career, he edited the Urdu weekly Sach and then Sidq (1925–76). Amin Ahsan Islahi, another Indo-Pak Muslim scholar, also worked with him on his weekly newspaper, Sach. For higher studies, MA Philosophy, he joined the then MAO College and then went to St Stephen's College of Delhi, but because of his financial crisis, he could not complete the course. His first book in English, The Psychology of Leadership, was published by Louis Fisher, London in 1913.^[5][6]

Since childhood, he took great interest in reading a variety of books and writing articles. His first article was published in an Urdu daily, Wakeel Amritsar at the young age of nine years. Philosophy, logic and psychology were his favourite subjects. He studied several books of Orientalists and under their influence, became sceptical of religion and called himself a "rationalist". For almost nine years, he remained away from religion but repented and became a devout Muslim.^[5]

He came in contact with the great Muslim scholar, Shibli Nomani and assisted him in the composition of Sirat-un-Nabi. He developed friendship with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Syed Sulaiman Nadwi, Muhammad Ali Jouhar, Akbar Allahbadi and many prominent literary figures. He wrote more than fifty books on the Quran, the life of Prophet Muhammad, travelogues, philosophy and psychology. He also penned biographies, literary and critical essays, hosted radio talks and also translated a number of books into chaste Urdu in accordance with the Lucknow School of writing.^[5]

Works

Following is the list of books authored by Daryabadi listed at The Universal Digital Library:^[7]

• Falsafa e Ijtima Yani Jamaat Ki Dimaghi Zindagi Ki Tamseel Wa Tashrih

Language: Urdu, Year: 1915, Subject: Philosophy, Psychology, 258 pgs

• Falsafa e Jazbat

Language: Urdu, Year: 1920, Subject: Philosophy, Psychology, 264 pgs

• Feeh Ma Feeh Malfuzat Muhammad Jalaluddin Rumi Wa Tabsira

Language: Persian, Year: 1928, Subject: Religion, Theology, 302 pgs

• Mardaun Ki Seemaee

Language: Urdu, Year: 1943, Subject: Language, Linguistics, Literature, 310 pgs

• Mazameen Abdul Majid Darya Badi

Language: Urdu, Year: 1943, Subject: Language, Linguistics, Literature, 260 pgs

• Muhammad Ali Zati Diary

Language: Urdu, Year: 1943, Subject: Geography, Biography, History, 194 pgs

• Tafseer e Quran (Tafseer e Majidi) Vol 1

Language: Urdu, Year: 1968, Subject: Religion, Theology, 810 pgs

• Tafseer e Quran (Tafseer e Majidi) Vol 2

Language: Urdu, Year: 1996, Subject: Religion, Theology, 860 pgs

• Tafseer e Quran (Tafseer e Majidi) Vol 3

Language: Urdu, Year: 2000, Subject: Religion, Theology, 530 pgs

• Wafiyat e Majdi Ya Nashri Marsiye

Language: Urdu, Year: 1975, Subject: Language, Linguistics, Literature, 250 pgs

• Muhammad Ali Zati Diary

Language: Urdu, Year: 1943, Subject: Religion, Theology, 192 pgs

Following is the list of books authored by Daryabadi listed at 'Islamic Books Library':^[8]

• Tafseer – e – Majidi
• Tafseer – e – Majidi – English
• Bashriyyat -e- Ambiya [A.S]
• Hakeem -ul- Ummat
• Aap Beeti

Later evaluation

Aaap Beeti is autobiography of Daryabadi.^[9]

Abdul Qavi Desnavi published a special number on Daryabadi in Lucknow edition of Naya Daur an Urdu monthly magazine. He also published a review on Daryabadi in Maasreen published in Sahir Bombay Vol. 51 – No. 7 in 1980.^[10]

In 2008 Md. Shams Alam a Research Scholars from 'Department of Arabic, Persian and Urdu' of University of Madras published a research paper on Daryabadi which was titled Moulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi ki ilmi wa adabi khidmath.^[11]

References

External links

• Online Quran Project includes the Qur'an translation of Abdul Majid Daryabadi.
• THE HOLY QUR’AN Translated by Daryabadi, Abdul-Majid, 1941–57
• His Translation and Commentary of the Quran is beneficial for students who seek knowledge in comparative religions. The Glorious Quran: Text, Translation and Commentary
• "Seminar on Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi". The Milli Gazette. 1–15 Feb 2005. Retrieved 29 March 2013.