Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, an advocate of inter-religious harmony passed away at the age of 96 on 21 April 2021 due to Covid-related complications in Delhi. He was a renowned Islamic scholar who eliminated false notions about Islam and called for peace and harmony in the country.
Life and achievements
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan was born in Azamgarh, India in 1925. He was educated in a traditional seminary. Khan wasn’t fluent in English, so immediately after graduating, he self-taught himself the language. He is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern science.
Khan was also involved in India’s struggle for Independence. He was a strong supporter of Mahatma Gandhi and was deeply influenced by the Gandhian non-violence.
Khan, an Islamic scholar, had also worked to dispel the notion that Islam is a violent religion. He has translated the Quran into English, Hindi, Urdu, and Arabic. He has authored more than 200 books on prophetic wisdom and peaceful co-existence in a multi-ethnic society. His books offer a peaceful solution to the menace of terrorism and help people understand the concept of peace in Islam. His most famous book is arguably God Arises, which establishes the existence of God by using modern scientific findings. It has been included in the curricula of universities in six Arab countries.
Khan made peace and interfaith as his life’s mission and presents Islam in the modern idiom. He also established the Islamic Centre in Delhi in 1970. To carry on his mission of peace, Khan set up the Centre of Peace and Spirituality in January 2001, and prepared a team of Peace Ambassadors to spread the message of peace to the world.
After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, he went on a 15-day Shanti yatra through Maharashtra with Acharya Muni Sushil Kumar and Swami Chidanand and addressed groups, calling for peace at 35 different places from Mumbai to Nagpur.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan gained nationwide popularity when he suggested his “peace formula” to resolve the Babri Masjid conflict and urged Muslims to relinquish their claim on the land.
In January this year, the Government had announced that he would be accorded the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award. In 2000, Khan was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award.
Khan has been internationally recognized for his contributions to world peace. In 2009, Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.’s list of 500 Most Influential Muslims of 2009 named him “Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world.”
