Blackwell Reference Online

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Born in 1925 in Badharia, Azamgarh in north India, Mawlana Wahiduddin Khan turned 80 on January 1, 2005. If we calculate his age according to the Hijri calendar, as he himself prefers, he passed his eightieth year more than two years ago. Mawlana Khan lost his parents at an early age and was brought up under the supervision of his paternal uncle, Sufi Hamid Khan. He studied at Madrasatul Islah in Sarai Mir where he graduated in 1944. Mawlana Khan has had a rather challenging and, by all standards of scholarly rigor, a productive and stimulating life. He is still vigorously engaged in community as well as scholarly activities and travels often to international peace conferences, attends inter-religious meetings, and addresses gatherings of Muslims and non-Muslims all over India and abroad. His writings continue to fill the pages of the monthly journal Al-Risāla (published since 1976 in Urdu and in English since 1984) and many other publications. One thing he does not do is “preach,” in mosques that is. Because of his stature as a scholar and community leader, he is often invited to give the khu ba , a sermon that precedes Muslim congregation prayers on Fridays. However, he never accepts such invitations because, as he related to this author, he is not a preacher type. His long gray hair, flowing beard, and the white traditional Indian outfit, on top of which he wears a rather ... log in or subscribe to read full text