New Delhi, June 29, 2026
The Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR) on Monday expressed profound grief over the demise of eminent Islamic scholar, thinker, author, and orator Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadwi, describing his passing as an immense and irreparable loss not only for the Muslim community in India but also for the wider Muslim world.
In a condolence statement, the IMCR said that Maulana Nadwi symbolised Islamic scholarship, intellectual awakening, social reform, and the spirit of unity within the Muslim Ummah.
The organisation said he devoted his entire life to the promotion of Islam, the advancement of Islamic education, the guidance of the Muslim community, the intellectual and moral development of young people, and addressing the challenges confronting the Ummah. His demise, it said, has created a significant intellectual and scholarly void.
IMCR Chairman and former Member of Parliament Mohammad Adeeb recalled his long association with the late scholar and paid tribute to his remarkable contributions.
“The passing of Maulana Salman Husaini Nadwi has personally been a great shock to me. He was nearly ten years younger than I was. I used to visit Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama during the period when he was a student there. I had close personal ties with his family. Witnessing his extraordinary intelligence, vast knowledge, refined manner of speaking, and exceptional abilities even in those days, I was convinced that this young man would one day become a guiding light for the Muslim community — and history proved exactly that. He became an unparalleled orator, a fearless preacher, a distinguished scholar, and a profound thinker whose intellectual and scholarly contributions represented Indian Muslims across the world,” he said.
He further stated that Maulana Nadwi made invaluable contributions to the teaching and dissemination of Islamic knowledge while consistently taking clear, courageous, and reasoned positions on contemporary social and intellectual issues affecting the Muslim community. According to Adeeb, the late scholar strongly advocated Muslim unity, brotherhood, international Islamic cooperation, and the religious and moral education of the younger generation. Through his speeches, writings, and scholarly engagements, he inspired millions and strengthened their understanding of Islamic teachings.
Adeeb added that Maulana Nadwi’s life reflected sincerity, scholarship, Da’wah, reform, courage in speaking the truth, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of the Muslim Ummah. He described him as a true custodian of the rich scholarly tradition of the Indian subcontinent, a legacy rooted in moderation, wisdom, intellectual insight, and communal harmony. He said the Maulana’s services would continue to inspire future generations, and his scholarly works would remain a lasting source of guidance.
The IMCR also prayed that Almighty Allah grant Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadwi His boundless mercy, accept his righteous deeds, bless him with the highest place in Jannatul Firdaus, and give patience and strength to his family, relatives, students, followers, and the entire Muslim community.
Maulana Nadwi was also known for advocating dialogue on sensitive national issues. He was among the few Muslim scholars who publicly argued that the Ayodhya dispute should be resolved through negotiations rather than prolonged litigation. In 2018, he held several rounds of discussions with spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in an effort to facilitate an out-of-court settlement.
During those discussions, Maulana Nadwi maintained that Islamic principles permit the relocation of a mosque under exceptional circumstances if doing so promotes peace and communal harmony. He proposed that a Ram temple could be constructed at the disputed site while a mosque could be built at an alternative location. His remarks sparked a nationwide debate, drawing both appreciation and criticism.
His position was opposed by sections of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), which clarified that his views were personal and did not represent the organisation’s official stand. The differences eventually led to his departure from the Board.(Agency)
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