The Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR) on Monday, 29 June expressed deep grief over the passing of eminent Islamic scholar, thinker, author, and orator Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadwi, describing his death as an immense and irreparable loss for both the Muslim community in India and the broader Muslim world.

IMCR's Tribute

In a formal condolence statement, the IMCR said Maulana Nadwi embodied Islamic scholarship, intellectual awakening, social reform, and the spirit of unity within the Muslim Ummah. The organisation noted that he devoted his entire life to the promotion of Islam, the advancement of Islamic education, and the intellectual and moral development of young people. His passing, it said, has left a significant scholarly and intellectual void.

What IMCR Chairman Mohammad Adeeb Said

IMCR Chairman and former Member of Parliament Mohammad Adeeb recalled a long personal association with the late scholar. 'The passing of Maulana Salman Husaini Nadwi has personally been a great shock to me. He was nearly ten years younger than I was. I used to visit Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama during the period when he was a student there. I had close personal ties with his family. Witnessing his extraordinary intelligence, vast knowledge, refined manner of speaking, and exceptional abilities even in those days, I was convinced that this young man would one day become a guiding light for the Muslim community — and history proved exactly that. He became an unparalleled orator, a fearless preacher, a distinguished scholar, and a profound thinker whose intellectual and scholarly contributions represented Indian Muslims across the world,' Adeeb said.

Adeeb further noted that Maulana Nadwi made invaluable contributions to the teaching and dissemination of Islamic knowledge while consistently taking clear, courageous, and reasoned positions on contemporary social and intellectual issues. He described the late scholar as a true custodian of the Indian subcontinent's rich scholarly tradition — one rooted in moderation, wisdom, and communal harmony — whose works would remain a lasting source of guidance for future generations.

His Role in the Ayodhya Dialogue

Maulana Nadwi was notably among the few Muslim scholars who publicly argued that the Ayodhya dispute should be resolved through negotiation rather than prolonged litigation. In 2018, he held several rounds of discussions with spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in an effort to facilitate an out-of-court settlement. During those talks, he maintained that Islamic principles permit the relocation of a mosque under exceptional circumstances if doing so promotes peace and communal harmony, and proposed that a Ram temple could be constructed at the disputed site while a mosque be built at an alternative location.

His remarks sparked a nationwide debate, drawing both appreciation and sharp criticism. Sections of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) opposed his position, clarifying that his views were personal and did not represent the organisation's official stand. The differences eventually led to his departure from the Board.

Legacy and Impact

Through his speeches, writings, and scholarly engagements, Maulana Nadwi reportedly inspired millions and strengthened public understanding of Islamic teachings. He was a strong advocate of Muslim unity, brotherhood, international Islamic cooperation, and the religious and moral education of younger generations. The IMCR prayed that his righteous deeds be accepted and that his family, students, and followers be granted patience and strength in this time of grief.