Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan
Syed Ahmad bin Muttaqi Khan CSI (17 October 1817 27 March
1898), commonly known as Sir Syed, was an Indian
Muslim pragmatist, Islamic reformist and philosopher of
nineteenth century British India. Born into nobility with strong ties
with Mughal court, Syed studied the Quran and sciences within
the court and later studied law from the University of Edinburgh.
In 1838, Syed entered the service of East India Company and
went on to become a judge at a Small Causes Court in 1867, and
retired from service in 1876. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857,
he remained loyal to the British Empire and was noted for his
actions in saving European lives. After the rebellion, he penned
the booklet The Causes of the Indian Mutiny a daring critique, at

the time, of British policies that he blamed for causing the revolt.
Believing that the future of Muslims was threatened by the rigidity
of their orthodox outlook, Sir Syed began promoting Western
style scientific education by founding modern schools and journals
and organising Muslim entrepreneurs.
In 1859, Syed, established Gulshan School at Muradabad, Victoria
School at Ghazipur in 1863, and a scientific society for Muslim's in
1864. In 1875, founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College,
the first Muslim university in South Asia. ] During his career, Syed
repeatedly called upon Muslims to loyally serve the British
Empire and promoted the adoption of Urdu as the lingua franca of
all Indian Muslims. Syed heavily critiqued the Indian National
Congress.
Educational work
Syed maintains a strong legacy in Pakistan and Indian Muslims,
and is often described as the founder of the two-nation theory the ideological foundation of Pakistan Movement. He strongly
influenced other Muslim leaders including Allama Iqbal and Jinnah.
His advocation of Islam's rationalist (Mutazila) tradition, and at
broader, radical reinterpretation of the Quran to make it
compatible with science and modernity, continue's to influence
the global Islamic reformation.] Many universities and public
buildings in Pakistan bear Sir Syed's name.
While continuing to work as a junior clerk, Sir Syed began
focusing on writing, from the age of 23 (in 1840), on various
subjects (from mechanics to educational issues), mainly in Urdu,
where he wrote, at least, 6000 pages His career as an author
began when he published a series of treatises in Urdu on religious
subjects in 1842. He published the book Ansar-as-sanadid (Great
Monuments) documenting antiquities of Delhi dating from the
medieval era. This work earned him the reputation of a cultured
scholar. In 1842, he completed the Jila-ul-Qulub bi Zikr-il
Mahbuband the Tuhfa-i-Hasan, along with the Tahsil fi jar-i-Saqil in

1844. These works focused on religious and cultural subjects. In
1852, he published the two works Namiqa dar bayan masala
tasawwur-i-Shaikh and Silsilat ul-Mulk. He released the second
edition of Ansar-as-sanadid in 1854. He also started work on a
commentary on the Bible the first by a Muslim in which he
argued that Islam was the closest religion to Christianity, with a
common lineage from Abrahamic religions.[12] He began
with Genesis and Matthew, the first books of the Old and New
Testament, but quit his project before even completing those first
two. His other writings such as Loyal Muhammadans of
India, Tabyin-ul-Kalam and A Series of Essays on the Life
of Muhammad and Subjects Subsidiary Therein helped to create
cordial relations between the British authorities and the Muslim
community
Throughout his life Syed Ahmad found time for literary and
scholarly pursuits. The range of his literary and scholarly interests
was very wide: history, politics, archaeology, journalism,
literature, religion and science.
Political career
In 1878, Sir Syed was nominated to the Viceroy's Legislative
Council. He testified before the education commission to promote
the establishment of more colleges and schools across India. In
the same year, Sir Syed founded the Muhammadan Association to
promote political co-operation amongst Indian Muslims from
different parts of the country. In 1886, he organised the All India
Muhammadan Educational Conference in Aligarh, which promoted
his vision of modern education and political unity for Muslims. His
works made him the most prominent Muslim politician in 19th
century India, often influencing the attitude of Muslims on various
national issues. He supported the efforts of Indian political
leaders Surendranath Banerjee and Dadabhai Naoroji to obtain
representation for Indians in the government and civil services. In
1883, he founded the Muhammadan Civil Service Fund
Association to encourage and support the entry of Muslim
graduates into the Indian Civil Service (ICS). While fearful of the
loss of Muslim political power owing to the community's
backwardness, Sir Syed was also averse to the prospect of
democratic self-government, which would give control of
government to the Hindu-majority population:
"At this time our nation is in a bad state in regards education and
wealth, but God has given us the light of religion and the Quran is
present for our guidance, which has ordained them and us to be
friends. Now God has made them rulers over us. Therefore we
should cultivate friendship with them, and should adopt that
method by which their rule may remain permanent and firm in
India, and may not pass into the hands of the Bengalis... If we join
the political movement of the Bengalis our nation will reap a loss,
for we do not want to become subjects of the Hindus instead of
the subjects of the "people of the Book..."
All-India Muslim League
Ahmad Khan helped form the All-India Muslim League (AIML). His
educational proposals and political activism inspired Muslim elites
to support the AIML. Ahmad Khan originally founded the All India
Muhammadan Educational Conference in 1886 in order to uplift
Western education, especially science and literature, among
India's Muslims. The conference, in addition to generating funds
for Ahmad Khan's Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College,
motivated Muslim elites to propose expansion of educational uplift
elsewhere, known as the Aligarh Movement. In turn this new
awareness of Muslim needs helped stimulate a political
consciousness among Muslim elites that went on to form the
AIML.
There was a sudden change in Sir Syed's views after the Hindi
Urdu controversy: his education and reformist policies became
Muslim-specific and he fought for the status of Urdu. His
biographer, Hali, wrote, "One day as Sir Syed was discussing
educational affairs of Muslims with Mr. Shakespeare the then
Commissioner of Banaras Mr. Shakespeare looked surprised and
asked him, "This is the first time when I have heard you talking
specifically about Muslims. Before this you used to talk about the
welfare of the common Indians. Sir Syed then told him, "Now I am
convinced that the two communities Muslims and Hindus will not
put their hearts in any venture together. This is nothing it is just

the beginning, in the coming times an ever increasing hatred and
animosity appears on the horizon simply because of those who
are regarded as educated. Those who will be around will witness
It.", (Hali, 1993). Overall Sir Syed is hailed as the father of the Two
Nation Theory and one of the founding fathers of Pakistan, along
with Allama Iqbaland Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Religious

Services
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, creating a balance between politics and
religion, served Islam a lot. He said that learning English and the
modern sciences is not against Islam but it was the most urgent
need of the time. Nevertheless, according to him, religion should
not be avoided with over emphasizing the world. He wrote various
books to achieve this purpose.
1. Tafseer-e-Quran (interpretion of Holy Quran consisting upon 7
volumes in which he has explained the Quranic teachings in an
easy and understandable manner. The Holy Quran has been
interpreted scientifically.
2. Khutbaat-e-Ahmadia (lectures of Syed Ahmed) in which he
reapplied objections raised by William Moor in his controversial
book Life of Muhammad (PBUH) in a reasonable manner. As a
result of the publication of Khutbaat-e-Ahmadia, British
Government apologized.

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Sir Syed Ahmed

the booklet The Causes of the Indian Mutiny a daring critique, at

Mahbuband the Tuhfa-i-Hasan, along with the Tahsil fi jar-i-Saqil in

put their hearts in any venture together. This is nothing it is just

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Religious

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