Syed Ahmed Khan

Syed Ahmed Khan
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was born on October 17, 1817, in Delhi into a respectable
Muslim family. He was a loyalist member of the British government's judicial
service. He was the 19th century's most prominent Muslim reformist and
philosopher. After retiring in 1876, he was appointed to the Imperial Legislative
Council in 1878. In 1888, he was knighted for his devotion.
Background
He was educated in both the Quran and science. Later in life, he was awarded an
honorary law degree by the University of Edinburgh. He was a voracious reader
who devoured books on mathematics, medicine, Persian, Arabic, and Urdu, among
other subjects. Sir Syed was well aware of the Mughal Empire's decline. As a result,
he accepted a position as a clerk with the East India Company.
Syed Ahmed Khan – Ideology
He sought to reconcile Western scientific education with Quranic teachings, which were to
be interpreted in light of contemporary rationalism and science, despite his belief that the
Quran was the ultimate authority. He advocated for a critical approach and freedom of
thought, rather than total reliance on tradition or custom. He advocated for the study of
English. He was also opposed to superstition and the evil customs that were prevalent in
society at the time. He also advocated for interfaith harmony. He was also a Christian
scholar who wrote a book called ‘Commentary on the Holy Bible.’
Educational Reforms
He opened schools in towns and had books translated into Urdu. Sir Syed is best known for
his pioneering role in transforming Muslim educational opportunities. He realized that
Muslims could only advance if they received modern education. He started the Aligarh
movement to accomplish this. He established many educational institutes to spread
education, the most notable of which was the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College
(MAOC), which he founded in 1875. This was later renamed Aligarh Muslim University. The
MAOC played an important role in the 19th-century Aligarh Movement, which was a
renaissance movement among Indian Muslims. This had long-term consequences for the
country’s politics, religion, and culture.
Social Reforms
He also advocated for social reforms and was a supporter of democratic ideals and free
speech. He was an outspoken opponent of religious intolerance, ignorance, and
irrationalism. He also worked to improve women’s status through better education,
opposition to purdah and polygamy, support for easy divorce, and condemnation of the piri
and muridi systems. He was a firm believer in the fundamental underlying unity of religions,
also known as ‘practical morality.’ He also preached the fundamental similarity of Hindu
and Muslim interests. Tahzebul Akhlaq (Social Reformer in English), a magazine he
founded, attempted to raise people’s awareness of social and religious issues through
expressive prose.
Criticism of National Movement
Sir Syed later encouraged Indian Muslims not to join the National Movement. He believed
that they required education rather than politics. At this point, he encouraged
communalism and separatism.In 1878, he was appointed to the Viceroy’s Legislative
Council. He backed Dadabhai Naoroji and Surendranath Banerjee in their efforts to gain
representation for Indians in the government and civil services.
Literary Works
He had written a paper titled “The Causes of the Indian Revolt” in which he explains the
reasons for the revolt from the perspective of an Indian. Sir Syed’s Aligarh Institute Gazette,
a magazine he published, was an organ of the Scientific Society. He wrote a profound
booklet titled ‘Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind’ (Reasons for the Indian Revolt of1857), in which
he blamed the revolt on British ignorance and aggressive expansion policies. He also
advocated for interfaith harmony. He was also a Christian scholar who wrote a book called
‘Commentary on the Holy Bible.’
Conclusion
Sir Syed died in Aligarh on March 27, 1898, at the age of 80. Sir Syed’s biography, Hayat-e-
Javed (1901), was published three years after his death. Shafey Kidwai, an eminent scholar
and critic, recently published a book on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan titled “Sir Syed Ahmad Khan:
Reason, Religion, and Nation.” He remained India’s most powerful Muslim politician, with
his views guiding the convictions of the vast majority of Muslims

Syed Ahmed Khan

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Syed Ahmed Khan

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Syed Ahmed Khan

Syed Ahmed Khan – Ideology

Criticism of National Movement

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