Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

As a social reformer, a political leader, a religious thinker and as a moralist,

a rationalist, a humanist, and a jurist, he contributed much to the realm of
theology, philosophy, religion, history, literature, education, and politics,
besides building institutions which aimed at eradicating ignorance, apathy
and superstition.

Introduction
The greatest Muslim reformer and statesman of the 19th Century, Sir Syed
Ahmad Khan was born in Delhi on October 17, 1817. His family on the
maternal and paternal side had close contacts with the Mughal court. His
maternal grandfather, Khwajah Farid was a Wazir in the court of Akbar Shah
II. His paternal grandfather Syed Hadi held a mansab and the title of
Jawwad Ali Khan in the court of Alamgir II. His father, Mir Muttaqi, had been
close to Akbar Shah since the days of his prince-hood. Syed Ahmad's
mother, Aziz-un-Nisa, took a great deal of interest in the education and
upbringing of her son.
Early Education
Sir Syed was taught to read and understand the Qur'an. He received an
education to Muslim nobility in Delhi. Under the charge of Maulvi
Hamiduddin, Sir Syed was trained in Persian, Arabic, Urdu and religious
subjects. He read the works of Muslim scholars and writers such as Sahbai,
Rumi and Ghalib. Other tutors instructed him in mathematics, astronomy
and Islamic jurisprudence.

Muslim Plight After 1857 War

The upheaval of 1857 swept away the last relics of Muslim rule in India. The
British troops were sewing the Mohammedans in pigskins, smearing them
with pork fat, and burning their bodies and forcing Hindus to defile
themselves. Governor General Canning protested against the violent temper
of his countrymen and told Queen Victoria in his usually measured language.
The Muslims were held responsible for the Revolution of 1857 and they had
to pay a heavy penalty for their complicity in the plot.
To the Muslims he advocated loyalty to the government and to the British he
asked to review their policy, which would win the support of the largest
minority in the country. This two-way policy resulted in the reconciliation of
the Muslims.

Muslims Community Miseries

The British held Muslims responsible for this war and ignored the Hindus who
were equally responsible. The Muslims were the direct target of the British
policies who closed the doors of educational institutions for the Muslims. Sir
Syed was greatly shocked at the destructions of the Muslims families of
Delhi. The properties of the Muslims were confiscated and their jobs
withdrawn. To further aggravate the situation the British replaced Persian,
which was the language of the Muslims, with English as an official language.
To sum up the Muslims as a community had fallen on evil days. The War of
Independence left them in a state of sullen despair. They were backward
educationally and impoverished economically. They were treated as pariahs
in Government offices and had practically no share in industry, commerce or
professions like medicine, law and journalism.
The Muslims were not prepared to learn English. On the other hand, Hindus
learned this language and left behind the Muslims in the field of education,
politics and economy. The English newspapers daily brought out articles
against the Muslims. Maulana Hali says,
The condition had become so bad that there was no need of condemning a
Muslim. His being a Muslim was enough crime.

Contribution in Political Field

The political career of Syed Ahmed khan began after 1957. He provided
political leadership by uniting the people under a banner of Islam. He wrote
various remarkable works in order to remove the suspicion of the Britishers
towards the Muslims. To the Muslims he advocated loyalty to the government
and to the British he asked to review their policy, which would win the
support of the largest minority in the country. This two-way policy resulted in
the reconciliation of the Muslims. Following were some major contribution by
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

1.The Causes of Indian Revolt

Syed Ahmad Khan was so overwhelmed by the plight of the Muslims in the
sub-continent that he decided to make efforts to save the Muslim Nation
from total ruin. To remove suspicions of the British officers and bring them
closer to the Muslims, he wrote his well-known pamphlet, The Causes of
Indian Revolt, which Graham describes as true and manly words.

2.Pamphlet The Loyal Muhammandans of India

In this pamphlet, he drew their attention of the critics to the services of

Muslims families who had saved the lives of many Englishmen, women, and
children at the risk of their own lives. He also pointed out that Muslims are
not opposed to Christians.

3.Indian National Congress

Sir Syed had known the intention of the Hindus and advised the Muslims not
to join it. He said that Congress was mainly a Hindu body which worked for
the protection of the rights of the Hindus. He asked the Muslims to get
modern education first then come in the field of politics in order to protect
their rights. He believed that the political activity would divert the attention
of the Muslims from the constructive task and revive British mistrust.

Aligarh Movement
According to Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi,
Syed Ahmad Khans contribution to Muslim renaissance in India can be
summarized in one phrase, that it was the inculcation of self confidence in
his people. (The Struggle For Pakistan)
Seeing the atmosphere of despair and despondency, Sir Syed launched his
attempts to revive the spirit of progress within the Muslim Community of
India.
Sir Syed's greatest achievement was his Aligarh Movement, which was
primarily an educational venture. He had two objects behind the foundation
of Aligarh: to remove the state of misunderstanding and tension between
the Muslims and the new British government, and to induce them to go after
the opportunities available under the new regime without deviating in any
way from the fundamentals of their faith.

Educational Services
Sir Syed rightly said,
From the seed which we sow today there may spring up a mighty tree
whose branches, like those of the banyan of the soil, shall in their turn strike
firm roots into the earth and themselves send forth new and vigorous
saplings. This college may expand into a university whose sons shall go forth

throughout the length and breadth of the land to preach the gospel of free
enquiry, of large hearted toleration, and of pure morality.
Sir Syed established Gulshan School at Muradabad in 1859, Victoria School
at Ghazipur in 1863, and a scientific society in 1864. In April 1864, Syed
Ahmad Khan was transferred to Aligarh where he took the office of the newly
founded Society. The Aligarh Institute Gazette, which was published in two
languages English and Urdu. Its two-fold object was to keep the British
informed of the trends of Indian opinion and enable the Indians to
appreciate the methods of British administration.
When Sir Syed was posted at Aligarh in 1867, he started the Muhammadan
Anglo-Oriental School in the city. Sir Syed got the opportunity to visit
England in 1869-70. During his stay, he studied the British educational
system and appreciated it. On his return home he decided to make M. A. O.
High School on the pattern of British boarding schools. The School later
became a college in 1875. The status of University was given to the college
after the death of Sir Syed in 1920. M. A. O. High School, College and
University played a big role in the awareness of the Muslims of South Asia.
The following were some of the famous associations which were founded for
the uplift of the Muslims.
The Muhammadan Educational Conference(1886)
The Indian Patriatic Association(1888)
The Mohammadan Defence Association of Upper India(1893)
The Mohammad Anglo-Oriental Defense Association

Social Services
Sir Syed was much worried about the social conditions of the Muslims and
desired to see the revival of the Muslims in their social life. He published the
most influential magazine Tahzib-ul-Aklaq in which he outlined the ethical
aspects of the Muslim life. In this magazine, he criticized the conservative
way of life and advised them to adopt new trends of life. He opened a
number of orphan houses in order to provide them shelter. He did not want
these children going to Christian missionaries.
For the promotion of Urdu, he founded Anjuman-i-Tariki-i-Urdu. He also
wrote Akham-i-Taam-i-Ahle-Kitab in which he highlighted that it was not
against Islam to eat with the Christians on the same table.

Religious Services
It was a gloomy period when Muslims were not allowed to practice their
religion as they wanted. The Aligarh Movement protected the religious
activities of the Muslims by defending them against the Christians
Missionaries who were against Islam.

A Christian writer, Sir William Muir, had written a book on Life of

Muhammad in which he had criticized the Holy Prophet(PBUH). So Sir Syed
had great love for the Holy Prophet and his remarkable work, the Essays on
the Life of Muhammad, is an ample proof of his love and reverence which he
always carried for the Holy Prophet(PBUH)

Father of Two Nation Theory

Sir syed was far from disputation, but the Urdu-Hindi controversy had a
great effect on the life of Sir Syed. Before this event, he had been a great
advocate of Hindu-Muslim Unity and was of the opinion that the Two Nations
are like two eyes of the beautiful bride, India. But this movement altered his
point of view. Therefore, Sir Syed appeared as the spokesman of the
Muslims of the Sub-Continent. He put forward the Two Nation Theory,
predicting that the differences between the two groups would increase with
the passage of time and two communities would join together in anything
wholeheartedly.

Hindi-Urdu Controversy
In 1867, Urdu-Hindi controversy began, which was only partly stilled with
the partition of the sub-continent. It became a perennial source of HinduMuslim discord, had important repercussions on subsequent political
development, and it was during this debate that Syed Ahmad was inevitably
driven to the belief that Hindu-Muslim unity was a forlorn hope.

Impact of Aligarh Movement

1. Establishment of Islamic Institutions
2. Promotion of Western Education
3. Improvement in the life of the Muslims
4. Unity of the Muslims after War of Independence
5. Promotion of Urdu
6. Political Leadership
To remove suspicions of the British officers and bring them closer to the
Muslims, he wrote his well-known pamphlet, The Causes of Indian Revolt,
which Graham describes as true and manly words.
Muslim concept of Nationality
That religion is the basic ingredient of the Muslim concept of nationality is
the most recurring refrain of Syed Ahmads speeches and writings. A few
typical extracts will bear this out:

Some reflection is required to grasp the nature of Muslim nationality. From

time immemorial, ties of common descent or common homeland have held
communities together. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
obliterated all territorial and ancestral conventions and laid the foundation of
a broad and enduring kinship which comprehends all those who subscribe to
the formula of faith this tribe divine assimilates all human beings
regardless of colour or place of birth.

Views on Religion
Religion is not a matter of popular beliefs or prejudices. It must pass the test
of reasons. Formal piety carried to extremes defeats its own purpose. The
essence of sin is immoderation. High objectives can never be achieved by
wishing alone. They have to be striven for. God helps those who help
themselves. The self-righteous passivity and spirit of resignation, which is
mistaken for submission to the will of God, has benighted Muslim fortunes
through the ages. Religion and modern knowledge do not necessarily
contradict each other. The habit of running after scriptural authority on
matters outside the scope of the revelation benefits neither learning nor
religion.

Conclusion
Let us not make the facile assumption that Syed Ahmad was occasionally
creating the separatist movement. The contributory causes of all movements
in history are found in the environment itself. Leaders are seldom aware of
the full implications and possibilities of the attitude they strike and the
tendencies they initiate. Movements easily overflow their original banks;
sluices widen into floodgates. Syed Ahmad did not more than drive a
stream of tendency through the Muslim affairs in this sub-continent but in
doing so he was making the future.