Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
SIR SYED AHMAD KHAN
A GREAT MUSLIM REFORMER
Following their crushing of the revolution of 1857, the British consolidated their secular rule in the Indian subcontinent, which marginalized, if not totally ignored, religion, particularly Islam. The whole of India suffered in the backlash, but the consequences were most devastating for the Muslims. It was at this critical juncture that Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898) gallantly came forward to counter the threat, and to defend the Islamic faith and Muslim community. He was greatly moved by the agony that followed the rebellion and its containment.
Notwithstanding his dismissal by some conservative Muslims as an atheist, a traitor and a British agent, Ahmad Khan strongly advocated that Islam is not a religion of violence but of peace that respects other religions. He concentrated on the educational field, which he rightly saw as the best means to raise the Muslims from their backwardness and ignorance vis-à-vis the dominant Hindus. Today the highly respected Aligarh Muslim University in India is a visible monument of his great foresight and outstanding work for Muslims world wide.
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was born in 1817 in Delhi. He came from a wealthy family which was well known and respected in the area. Great care was taken by Sir Syed’s father to ensure that he received a high-quality education.By the age of 18 he was skilled in Arabic, Persian, Ahmed Khan Mathematics and Medicine. He had also been introduced to some of India’s most able writers and had developed a love for literature.
In 1838 Sir Syed’s father died and he was forced to seek employment. He quickly rose from a lowly position in the legal system to become a judge in Delhi in 1846 .That year he wrote his well-known book on archaeology called Athar-al-Sanadeed. When the War of broke out in 1857 Sir Syed was working as chief judge in Bijnaur and is said to have saved the lives of many women and children during the fighting. In
A GREAT MUSLIM REFORMER
Following their crushing of the revolution of 1857, the British consolidated their secular rule in the Indian subcontinent, which marginalized, if not totally ignored, religion, particularly Islam. The whole of India suffered in the backlash, but the consequences were most devastating for the Muslims. It was at this critical juncture that Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898) gallantly came forward to counter the threat, and to defend the Islamic faith and Muslim community. He was greatly moved by the agony that followed the rebellion and its containment.
Notwithstanding his dismissal by some conservative Muslims as an atheist, a traitor and a British agent, Ahmad Khan strongly advocated that Islam is not a religion of violence but of peace that respects other religions. He concentrated on the educational field, which he rightly saw as the best means to raise the Muslims from their backwardness and ignorance vis-à-vis the dominant Hindus. Today the highly respected Aligarh Muslim University in India is a visible monument of his great foresight and outstanding work for Muslims world wide.
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was born in 1817 in Delhi. He came from a wealthy family which was well known and respected in the area. Great care was taken by Sir Syed’s father to ensure that he received a high-quality education.By the age of 18 he was skilled in Arabic, Persian, Ahmed Khan Mathematics and Medicine. He had also been introduced to some of India’s most able writers and had developed a love for literature.
In 1838 Sir Syed’s father died and he was forced to seek employment. He quickly rose from a lowly position in the legal system to become a judge in Delhi in 1846 .That year he wrote his well-known book on archaeology called Athar-al-Sanadeed. When the War of broke out in 1857 Sir Syed was working as chief judge in Bijnaur and is said to have saved the lives of many women and children during the fighting. In