Nuzhat al-Khawatir

Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bahjat al-Masam' wa al-Nawazir

Cover of the 1965 Urdu Edition from Pakistan
Author	Abdul Hai Hasani Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi
Original title	نزهة الخواطر وبهجة المسامع والنواظر
Working title	Al-I'lam biman fi Tarikh al-Hind min al-A'lam'
Language	Arabic
Subject	Islam in India
Genre	Biography
Publisher	Dairatul Maarifil Osmania
Publication date	1931–1968
Publication place	India
Media type	Print
OCLC	43503633
Dewey Decimal	920.71
LC Class	DS434 H373 1999
Website	abulhasanalinadwi.org

Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bahjat al-Masam' wa al-Nawazir (Arabic: نزهة الخواطر وبهجة المسامع والنواظر, lit. 'Promenade of Thoughts and Delight of the Ears and Eyes'), commonly abbreviated as Nuzhat al-Khawatir, is an 8-volume Arabic historical account of Greater Indian Muslim figures, primarily scholars, spanning the 1st to 14th centuries AH, corresponding to the 7th and 20th centuries CE. It was originally published by Dairatul Maarifil Osmania between 1931 and 1968, comprising approximately 4,500 entries. Authored by Abdul Hai Hasani, the work is widely regarded as his magnum opus, with seven volumes completed before his death in 1923, and the final volume left unfinished and later completed by his son, Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi, after which the entire series was republished under the title Al-I'lam biman fi Tarikh al-Hind min al-A'lam' (Arabic: الإعلام بمن في تاريخ الهند من الأعلام). The second volume of the series was published first, as a supplement to Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's Al-Durar al-Kaminah. Compiled using 300 sources in Persian, Urdu, and Arabic, the work distinguishes itself from traditional Indo-Persianate historical narratives by adopting a methodical and objective approach to religious personalities. Aimed at introducing the role of Indian Muslim figures to the Arab world, the work is organized chronologically: the first volume covers the 1st to 7th centuries AH, while each subsequent volume focuses on a specific century from the 8th century AH onward.

Conceptual background

The arrival of Islam in India was marked by advancements in culture, sciences, and Arabic literature, yet historical documentation in Arabic remained limited, with scholars primarily focusing on Persian writings. Abdul Hai Hasani highlighted the lack of comprehensive records on Indian Muslim scholars, their educational systems, and intellectual efforts, observing that their biographies were rarely included in Arabic historical works. He attributed this absence to Indian scholars' failure to make such information accessible, rather than any oversight by Arab historians. Influenced during his student years, possibly by his teacher Muhammad Naeem Firangi Mahali, Hasani began documenting the scholarly heritage of Indian Muslims. The work aimed to trace the transmission of religious knowledge through generations, emphasizing the role of the Ulama as custodians of intellectual traditions and situating Indian Muslim history within the broader context of Islamic scholarship.

Hasani faced challenges in compiling the work, such as reliance on oral traditions, the prioritization of miraculous accounts over historical accuracy, and the scarcity of essential details like dates and biographical data. To address these gaps, he consulted various sources, including libraries and manuscripts, to reconstruct historical accounts. Indo-Persianate historiography often emphasized rulers, poets, and Sufis, while intellectual achievements received less attention, an approach Hasani critiqued for its focus on literary embellishments and lack of historical rigor. With access to resources such as the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama Library, the Raza Library in Rampur, and the Asafia Library in Hyderabad, along with the use of the Imperial postal system, Hasani worked on the book until his death in 1923.

Publishing timeline

1999 Beirut Edition Cover Featuring the New Title

The work was published posthumously, with the second volume released in 1931 by Dairatul Maarifil Osmania in Hyderabad as a supplement to Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's Al-Durar al-Kaminah. This decision was based on thematic similarities and its expanded focus on notable Indian Muslims omitted in Ibn Hajar's work. Sayyid Hashim Nadwi, who was familiar with the author, played a key role in recommending its publication. Following its positive reception, the first, third, and fourth volumes were published between 1947 and 1951, after scholars like Manazir Ahsan Gilani emphasized its significance for research on Islamic education. Progress temporarily stalled due to political changes in Hyderabad, but in 1959, the fifth, sixth, and seventh volumes were released after Hussain Ahmed Madani sought the assistance of Abul Kalam Azad, the Minister of Education of India, citing its relevance to his research. The eighth and final volume was published in 1968, completed by the author's son, Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi, who finalized incomplete entries. A second edition was published in Hyderabad in 1973, followed by a Beirut edition in 1999 under the title Al-I'lam biman fi Tarikh al-Hind min al-A'lam'.

Approach and features

The book approaches historical documentation by focusing on accurate and well-reasoned accounts, emphasizing evidence and logical reasoning, in contrast to some historical works from India that incorporate mystical or miraculous elements. Drawing from the tradition of Arabic biographical compilations, the author follows a model he cites as exemplary. Each entry begins with an overview of the subject's life, including their name, family background, education, influences, works, notable students, and date of death. The author limits his own voice, relying on quotations from earlier sources to maintain authenticity, often including lengthy excerpts. For more contemporary figures, firsthand accounts are emphasized, with the author carefully selecting and organizing information.

The work includes scholars whose views the author may not agree with, as long as they have had an impact on the broader tradition of Islamic scholarship. It focuses on documenting the historical ties between early Islam in India, drawing primarily on Arabic sources while avoiding later Persian narratives. The biographies cover a range of figures, such as scholars, poets, writers, kings, and spiritual leaders, with a particular emphasis on scholars, presenting a balanced perspective without favoring any sect or group. Most entries are related to India, with many individuals of Indian origin, while others, born outside the subcontinent, have significant connections to it. A key feature is the author's attention to manuscripts, often noting the location of relevant manuscripts, especially autographed copies. The entries are organized alphabetically, and the original pronunciation of names is preserved to ensure clarity.

Scholarly examination

It has received scholarly attention for its approach to biographical writing and its broader research on the intellectual, historical, political, and religious landscape of Greater India. The İslâm Ansiklopedisi, published by Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs, highlights its value beyond biography, noting its extensive coverage of various topics. Taqi Usmani, a former judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan, regarded it as a significant resource for scholars and historians. Syrian scholar and writer Ali Al-Tantawi acknowledged its importance in the field, noting its usefulness and relevance. Indian historian and Islamic scholar Sulaiman Nadvi compared it to Ibn Khallikan's Deaths of Eminent Men and the Sons of the Epoch, emphasizing its role in the biographical tradition. Muhammad Qasim Zaman, a professor of Islamic Studies at Princeton University, interpreted the work as a response to the colonial-era Muslim identity crisis, highlighting its use of Arabic to assert cultural authenticity and connect with the Islamic heartland. Mohsin Ali, a scholar at the University of California, analyzed its historiographical significance, noting its departure from Indo-Persianate traditions by focusing on intellectual lineages rather than saintly miracles. He further argued that the book represented a shift in Indo-Muslim historical writing, illustrating the persistence of Arabic historiographical methods alongside the rise of historicism. Shafiqul Islam Ansary, a scholar at B.H. College, noted the book's accessible language and clear structure. Samee Ullah Bhat from the University of Kashmir emphasized its importance as a significant biographical work on the Indian Ulama, written in Arabic. Jubailiya P from the University of Calicut acknowledged the book as the first extensive documentation of Indian scholars. Ahmed Mohammed Al-Jawarneh, a scholar at Yarmouk University, highlighted the book's scholarly value. Muhammad Hasan Musa, author of Al-Mukhtar al-Masun min A'lam al-Qurun, pointed out its rarity in focusing on Indian history within historical literature. Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi, founding chairman of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, commended the book's thoroughness and its role in consolidating information from various sources, making it a valuable resource for researchers. Md. Hamid Uddin from Patharkandi College recognized its pioneering role in documenting the Arabic writers of India, emphasizing its importance for scholars and researchers in the field. Abdulla Yaseen, a scholar at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, highlighted the book's clarity of expression and smooth narration, noting its natural flow and absence of artificiality. Abdul Hakeem, a scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, considered it a significant reference work in its field. Naushad Noori Qasmi, in an article on The League of Syrian Scholars, described the book as one of the most notable historical works in India, emphasizing its linguistic richness and well-executed style.

In-depth critique

The İslâm Ansiklopedisi highlights that the decision to condense the first seven centuries of Islamic history into a single volume resulted in brief biographies, particularly of the Companions of the Prophet and Tabi'un who traveled to the Indian subcontinent. The work has also been noted for lacking clear criteria for selecting figures, providing limited details on scholars from outside the author's region, and not covering significant intellectuals, especially from South India. Abdul Hakeem, in Naqeebul Hind, pointed out the absence of extensive coverage of scholars from South India, particularly Kerala and Karnataka, and criticized the use of Persian, which may be difficult for some readers. He also observed varying depths of coverage for different personalities, with some receiving more detailed treatment than others. Furthermore, Hindu scholars who engaged with Arabic, Persian, and Urdu, as well as their works, were not included in the book. Ali Mohsin, in his PhD thesis, suggested that had the author consulted European publications on Indian Muslim history, a more thorough representation of South Indian scholarship might have been achieved.

Continuing legacy

It has been the basis for various scholarly works examining its content and significance. In 1934, Muin al-Din Nadwi compiled Mu'jam al-Amkina al-Lati Laha Dhikr Fi Nuzhat al-Khawatir, an Arabic dictionary of places referenced in the text. In 2016, Abid Hussain Shah Pirzada authored Nuzhat al-Khawatir ka Ilmi aur Tahaqqiqi Jaiza in Urdu, presenting a critical review of its academic approach. Qazi Athar Mubarakpuri's 1957 work Rijal al-Sind wal-Hind acknowledged the text as a key source on Indian Ulama, while noting omissions of figures from early Arabic records, demonstrating areas for further investigation. In 2022, Mohsin Ali's PhD dissertation, Modern Islamic Historiography: A Global Perspective from South Asia, examined the text's relevance in Islamic historiography within a broader context.

External links

• Nuzhat al-Khawatir at Internet Archive
• Nuzhat al-Khawatir at Google Books