On February 17, a tragic incident shook me up and left me in deep shock. This mishap was the heartbreaking demise of my elder brother and the renowned Islamic scholar Moulana Sayeedur Rehman Nadvi. Inna lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon (we all belong to Allah and we will return to Him)! It took place on Thursday, February 17, at 12:15 AM.
Moulana Nadvi had been suffering from gallbladder cancer for the past one and a half years. Earlier, he recovered from the treatment and at one point he seemed to be in good health. But four months ago, the disease struck him again with extreme severity, and its severity continued to increase day by day with the treatment. Moulana had got bed ridden for the past two months, and in spite of numerous treatments, the promised time finally came which every human being has to face one day or the other and he marched to the place from where no one ever returns leaving all the family members including me crying and sobbing. The news came as a shock to all our families. This was the second tragic incident after the demise of my great father Hazrat Allama Mohammad Shihabuddin Nadvi (RA) which disturbed my peace of mind. Especially the incident of the demise of my elder brother at a young age has struck like a thorn in my heart, the pain of which will probably be felt for the rest of life. Alas! Destiny would have given him some more respite!
But objection to divine judgment is beyond the scope of anyone’s will. Late Maulana was a man of many talents. He was an expert of Urdu, Arabic and English languages and an eloquent writer. He exerted excellent control over them especially over English language which only a few can compete him in this regard, not only in the ranks of ulemas but also those of modern educated ones. He had a keen eye on the current affairs, especially on political, social and legal issues. Politics, journalism and law were his subjects of compassion. He had deep insights on these issues. From time to time, his articles would be published in Urdu and English newspapers and magazines with in-depth analysis of the current affairs. His study of Indian history and law was very extensive and in-depth. Lawyers would consult him on various matters. Numerous local religious institutions and organizations would consult him on legal matters, and he would offer his services to them free of cost. He was a good organizer, administrator and also a good physiognomist.
Birth and Education
Moulana was born on June 1, 1966 in Chikkabanavara, a suburb of Bangalore city. He completed his primary and secondary education at a local school in Chikkabanavara. He passed class 10th from Quwwatul Islam High School, an old Muslim school in Bangalore. After completion of PUC, my father had him admitted in Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema in the year 1985. Since he had completed pre-university education, he was admitted to Nadwa’s khususi, special grade class. My brother’s admission in Nadwa proved to be a good omen for our family. Therefore, in the following year, on my father’s counseling, many members of our family, including me, who had passed the class seven in the school, my elder brother Moulana Jameelur Rahman Nadvi, and some of our cousins who were five in number also got admitted in Nadwa. All of us were educated in Nadwa under the patronage of my late brother. He was our patron as well as our mentor in Nadwa. In his student days, he was reckoned among the intelligent, hardworking and disciplined students of Nadwa. Every student of that age still bears witness to his good manners and discipline. After graduating from Nadwa in 1990, he also completed MA in Political Science from the University of Mysore, and gained influence in English language and modern sciences along with religious education.
Academic activities at Furqania Academy
After graduating from Nadwatul Ulema, he was appointed as Assistant General Secretary of Furqania Academy. Soon all the administrative responsibilities of the Academy fell on his shoulders. He became the right hand of our late father in all matters. After my graduation from Nadwa in the year 1995, I was entrusted with the responsibility of research and study along with proofing of Urdu and Arabic manuscripts, while my late brother was entrusted with the task of translation of books from Urdu to English along with handling administrative matters. The books of our late father which were rendered from Urdu to English by late Moulana alone or with the help of others in a lucid and eloquent style among them are: ‘Evolution or Creation’, ‘The Holy Qur’an and Natural World’, ‘Qur’an, Science & Muslims’, ‘Qur’anic Concept of Knowledge’ and ‘Death of the Sun and Doomsday’ etc. are notable. His style of writing was so eloquent, simple and pleasing that the readers don’t even realize whether it is a translated book or the one originally written in English.
In my father’s lifetime itself, late Moulana was nominated as a member of Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah (CSSQS), a subsidiary of Muslim World League, Saudi Arabia. He used to attend its meetings, which were held once in two or three years in Makkah or Jeddah. He had also traveled to various countries, and participated in numerous international conferences representing the Academy, presenting scholarly dissertations, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Maldives.
After the demise of our father in the year 2002, he had unanimously been elected to the post of General Secretary of the Academy. During his tenure many books of our late father were translated from Urdu to Arabic and English and many unpublished books were published.
His Work on Social Issues
Late Moulana was always at the forefront of social affairs and community issues. If there was any religious or social issue regarding Muslims in the city of Bangalore or in the state of Karnataka, he would represent the academy on different stages and present the point of view of the academy. One of his unique and unparalleled tasks in this regard was the unification of secular votes in the state of Karnataka to prevent the fascist and communal forces from coming into power, which took place under the banner of the Karnataka Muslim Muttahida Mahaz (KMM), a representative body of all Muslim organizations and institutions in Karnataka. This work was done with great vigor and in a very successful manner in Karnataka in the nineties. The task of the late Moulana was to analyze all the previous results of the Karnataka’s provincial and central elections and to select a better candidate who could defeat the candidate of the communal party. For this, thousands of pages of data were computerized and analyzed in a new and modern scientific way. The entire responsibility of this task was on the shoulders of my late brother who carried it out with great skill and excellence.
Late Moulana possessed immense personal qualities. He was very humble, patient, generous person. Helping the needy was his pastime. Anyway, my elder brother, whom we all used to call pyare bhaiya (dear brother) in the house, after spending a busy life, left for his last journey at a young age. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. The eldest son is Moulvi Rasheedur Rehman who has also completed his studies from Nadwatul Ulema and the youngest son is studying in the College, and his two daughters are graduates. Moulana’s first funeral prayer was offered on the same day (Feb 17) in our neighborhood (BTM Layout) mosque after Zuhar prayers, while the second funeral prayer was offered in our native village Chikkabanavara at 4 pm and he was buried in the ancestral graveyard near our father’s grave. May Allah have mercy on my compassionate and merciful brother and fill his grave with light. Amen!