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Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was a well-known Indian Muslim reformer, philosopher, and educationist in the 19th century. He was an important figure in the intellectual and social renaissance of Indian Muslims during a time when there was political and cultural change. Additionally, his efforts to modernise the Muslim society and bridge the gap between Muslims and the British colonial administration have earned him a lasting legacy. Read on to learn more about Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, his early life, education, career, literary contributions, awards and honours.
Table of Contents
| Overview of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan | |
| Date of Birth | 17th of October, 1817 |
| Place of Birth | Delhi, Mughal Empire |
| Era | 19th century |
| Schools of Philosophy | Renaissance and Islamic philosophy |
| Interests | Metaphysics |
| Pragmatism | |
| Language | |
| Aesthetics | |
| Islam | |
| Christianity | |
| Death | 27th March, 1898 at Aligarh, British India |
Biography of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Furthermore, his life is nothing short of a full life. With all the accolades and timeless literary contributions throughout Khan’s life.
What was the Early Life and Education of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan?
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was born on the 17th of October 1817 in Delhi during the Mughal regime. His parents were Aziz-un-Nisa and Syed Muhammad Muttaqui, a close advisor to Emperor Akbar Shah II.
- His paternal grandfather was Syed Hadi Jawwad bin Imaduddin who was a high-ranking official under Emperor Alamgir II.
- In addition, his maternal grandfather was Khwaja Fariduddin, a Wazir in Emperor Akbar Shah II’s court.
- Khan was the youngest of three siblings and had an elder brother, Syed Muhammad bin Muttaqi Khan, and an elder sister, Safiyatun Nisa.
- Furthermore, Khan was brought up in a wealthy area of Delhi with Mughal noble traditions.
- Interestingly, his mother was the one who led him in modern education.
- Khan’s formative years began in 1822 under the guidance of Shah Ghulam Ali who was his father’s spiritual mentor.
- When it came to traditional studies, he attended a maktab (elementary school) which was run by Moulvi Hamiduddin, wherein he began learning Persian and Arabic.
- Khan was influenced by scholars and poets such as Ghalib, Zauq and Sahbai.
- Additionally, under Hakim Ghulam Haider Khan he studied astronomy, mathematics algebra, and medicine.
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- Khan was also skilled in shooting, swimming, and other sports and also participated in cultural activities at the Mughal court.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan: Career
During the earlier years of his career, he joined the East India Company. However, Khan only joined due to the decline of Mughal power.
- The first few positions that he had in the East India Company:
- Sadr Amin’s office, Delhi (managing court affairs and record-keeping) and Serestadar (Clerk) in the Criminal Department
- February 1839: He was transferred to Agra and promoted to Naib Munshi (Deputy Reader) in the Commissioner’s office.
- 1841: Then, he was appointed as Munsif (Sub-Judge) of Fatehpur Sikri.
- 1846: Transferred back to Delhi.
- 1855: Thereafter he was promoted to Sadr Amin in Bijnor.
- Khan’s role during the Revolt of 1857:
- He had the position of Chief Assessment Officer in Bijnor.
- Furthermore, he assisted British officers and saved many lives.
- Khan also rescued his mother, who later died due to the hardships faced during the revolt.
- Post-Rebellion Appointments from 1858 to 1864:
- 1858: He was appointed Sadarus Sudoor which is a high-ranking post at Muradabad. There he began writing “The Cause of the Indian Revolt.”
- 1864: Khan moved to Aligarh and then Banaras as Sub-Judge of Small Causes.
- In April 1869 he accompanied his sons Syed Hamid and Syed Mahmood to England.
- Khan retired in 1876 in Aligarh. Thereafter from 1878 to 1880, he was nominated as an additional member of the Imperial Legislative Council.
- Furthermore, from 1887 to 1893 he had two terms in the Legislative Council of the Lieutenant Governor of the North-Western Provinces.
Also Read: What was the Two Nation Theory?
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Books
Furthermore, along with such an exceptional educational background, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan also produced numerous literary contributions to the world of literature.
| Literary Contributions of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan | |||
| Category | Title | Year | Details |
| Early Religious Works | Jila al-Qulub bi Zikr al-Mahbub (Delight of the Hearts in Remembering the Beloved) | 1842 | Biographical sketch of Muhammad, in prose for Mawlid recitation |
| Tuhfa-i Hasan (The Gift to Hasan) | 1844 | Urdu translation of Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlavi’s Tuhfah-i Ithna Ashariyya | |
| Kalimat al-Haqq (The True Discourse) | 1849 | Critique of prevalent Sufi practices, focusing on piri and muridi | |
| Rah i Sunna dar radd i Bid’a (The Sunna and the Rejection of Innovations) | 1850 | Opposition to religious practices deviating from true Sunnah | |
| Namiqa dar bayan masala tasawwur-i-Shaikh (A Letter Explaining the Teaching of tasawwur i shaikh) | 1852 | Defence of the Sufi practice of visualising one’s spiritual guide | |
| Translation of al-Ghazali’s Kimiya al Sa’ada (The Alchemy of Happiness) | 1853 | Translated passages from al-Ghazali’s work | |
| Commentary on the Bible | Tabin al-al-kalam Fi tafsir altawrat Wa ‘I-injil’ala millat al Islam (Elucidation of the World in Commentary of the Torah and Gospel According to the Religion of Islam) | 1862 to 1865 | Commentary on the Torah and Gospel, explaining them in terms of Islam |
| Essays on Muhammad | Al-Khutbat al-Ahmadiya fi’l Arab wa’I Sirat al-Muhammadiya (Essays on the Life of Prophet Muhammad and Subsidiary Subjects) | 1869 | Response to William Muir’s book, defending Muhammad’s character and Islam |
| Quranic Commentary | Tafsir-ul-Quran | 1877 to 1904 | Seven-volume commentary on the Quran, including principles of commentary |
| Historical Works | Jam-i-Jum (Jamshed’s Cup) | 1840 | Chronological tables of Timurid rulers of Delhi |
| Silsilat-ul-Mulk | Biographical data of Delhi rulers | ||
| Tarikh-e-Firoz Shahi | 1862 | Critical edition of Ziauddin Barani’s historical text | |
| Tuzk-e-Jahangiri | 1864 | Critical edition of Jahangir’s memoirs | |
| Asar-us-Sanadid (The Remnants of Ancient Heroes) | 1847, 1854 | Documentation of Delhi’s antiquities, divided into four sections with illustrations | |
| Ain-e-Akbari | 1855 | A scholarly edition of Abul Fazl’s work, with a critical preface by Ghalib | |
| Political Works | Tarikh i Sarkashi-ye Bijnor (History of the Bijnor Rebellion) | 1858 | Account of the 1857 uprising in Bijnor |
| Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Revolt) | 1859 | Analysis of the causes of the Indian revolt, critiquing the East India Company | |
| Risala Khair Khwahan-e Musalmanan-e-Hind (An Account of the Loyal Mohammedans of India) | 1860 to 1861 | Series of pamphlets on Muslims’ loyalty during the 1857 uprising | |
| Review on Hunter’s Indian Musalmans | 1871 to 1872 | Rejoinder to William Hunter’s book on Indian Muslims, published in The Pioneer | |
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Awards and Honours of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
All his education, work and contributions to society led to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan receiving many awards and honours.
| Awards and Honours of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan | ||
| Year | Award and Honours | Description |
| 1869 | Companion of the Order of the Star of India (CSI) | For his service as Principal Sadr Amin |
| 1876 | Fellow of the Calcutta University | Appointed by the Viceroy |
| 1887 | Fellow of the Allahabad University | Appointed by the Viceroy |
| 1888 | Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI) | Knighted by the British government in the New Year Honours |
| 1889 | LL.D. honoris causa | Awarded by Edinburgh University |
| 1973 | Commemorative Postage Stamp | Issued by India Post |
| 1990 | Commemorative Postage Stamp | Issued by Pakistan Postal Services in the ‘Pioneers of Freedom’ series |
| 1997 | English Heritage Blue Plaque | Commemorated at 21 Mecklenburgh Square, Bloomsbury |
| 1998 | Commemorative Postage Stamp | Issued by India Post |
| 2017 | Commemorative Rs. 50 Coin | Issued by the State Bank of Pakistan on his 200th birth anniversary |
| 2022 | Commemorative Rs. 75 Note | Issued by the State Bank of Pakistan for Pakistan’s diamond jubilee celebrations, featuring Sir Syed Ahmed Khan along with other founding fathers |
FAQs
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan founded the Aligarh Movement. This movement aimed to encourage the Muslim community via education and modernisation. This was done by emphasising English education and Western knowledge.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was conferred the title ‘Sir’ by the British government in 1888. It was a recognition of his loyalty and contributions towards harmonising Western education with Islamic teachings.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh, India, in 1875. This institution later grew into the Aligarh Muslim University.
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