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The passing of Maulana Dr Saeedur Rahman Azmi Nadwi (1934–2026) marks the end of a remarkable chapter in the history of Nadwatul Ulama and Indo-Arabic Islamic scholarship. For more than seven decades, he devoted his life to teaching, writing, Arabic journalism and nurturing generations of scholars. His association with Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow, where he served as a teacher, academic administrator and rector, reflected a lifelong commitment to an institution and the scholarly tradition it represents.

Maulana Azmi Nadwi passed away in Lucknow on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, at the age of 92, following a prolonged illness. As scholars, former students and educational institutions remember his contributions, his legacy stands particularly in the generations he taught, the Arabic literary culture he helped sustain and the intellectual connections he strengthened between Indian Islamic scholarship and the wider Muslim world.

Born in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, he was the son of Maulana Muhammad Ayub Azmi. After receiving his early education at Jāmiʿah Miftāḥ al-ʿUlūm in Mau, he joined Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow in 1952 for advanced Islamic and Arabic studies. He subsequently joined its teaching faculty, beginning a lifelong association with the institution.

Among the scholars under whom he studied were Maulana Abul Fazl Abdul Hafeez Baliyawi, Dr Abdullah Abbas Nadwi and Maulana Muhammad Rabe Hasani Nadwi. In 1958, he travelled to Baghdad for further studies under the renowned Arabic scholar Dr Taqiuddin al-Hilali al-Marrakushi. His scholarly development was also closely associated with Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi, whose intellectual and educational legacy he continued to serve throughout his career.

His contribution to Arabic journalism was particularly significant. He joined the editorial team of al-Baʿth al-Islāmī when the journal was established in 1955 under Maulana Syed Muhammad Hasani Nadwi. Following the latter’s death in 1979, he assumed the position of editor-in-chief and continued to guide the publication for decades. His writings and editorial work helped strengthen literary and intellectual connections between Indian Muslim scholarship and the wider Arabic-speaking world.

At Nadwatul Ulama, he served as dean of the Faculty of Arabic Language and Literature from 1993 to 1999. In 2000, he was appointed rector (Muhtamim) of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, a position he retained for more than two decades. His long tenure encompassed teaching, academic administration, the training of scholars and the continuation of Nadwa’s distinctive educational tradition. He also served as Chancellor of Integral University in Lucknow.

Maulana Azmi Nadwi authored and edited numerous works in Arabic and Urdu. Among his notable publications were Islam aur Maghrib, Islāmī Saqāfat aur Nadwatul Ulama, Uswa-e-Hasana ke Aaine Mein and Qāfila-e-ʿIlm-o-Adab. His Urdu work 48 Sāl Shafqaton ke Sāye Mein preserves personal recollections of Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi and offers insights into the scholarly environment of Nadwatul Ulama. He also translated important Urdu works into Arabic, making the writings of Indian scholars accessible to a wider readership.

His contribution to Arabic language and literature received national recognition, including the Presidential Award in 1994. The Institute of Objective Studies honoured him with a Lifetime Award in 2013, while Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University conferred an honorary D.Litt. on him in 2019. He was also associated with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and several educational and religious organisations.

Recalling his character, Urdu scholar Mufti Muhammad Sanaul Huda Qasmi described Maulana Azmi Nadwi as a disciplined teacher known for his punctuality, simplicity and commitment to Nadwatul Ulama. He also highlighted his close association with successive scholarly leaders of the institution, particularly Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi and Maulana Muhammad Rabe Hasani Nadwi.

For those familiar with the scholarly history of Nadwatul Ulama, Maulana Azmi Nadwi’s life represents continuity across generations. He belonged to a generation that preserved the institution’s intellectual heritage while extending its engagement with the Arabic-speaking world through teaching, translation and scholarly publishing. His long stewardship of al-Baʿth al-Islāmī remains among his most enduring contributions.

With his passing, Nadwatul Ulama has lost one of its senior scholars, and the wider Muslim academic community has lost a distinguished contributor to Arabic language and Islamic education. Yet his work continues through the students he trained, the writings he left behind and the scholarly institutions to which he dedicated his life.

May Allah Almighty forgive his shortcomings, accept his lifelong service to Islamic knowledge, grant him the highest ranks in Jannah and enable succeeding generations to carry forward the scholarly tradition he served.

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn.