Well-known Indian Islamic scholar Rabe Nadvi passes away

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI(AA) - Renowned Islamic scholar and president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Rabe Hasani Nadvi, died in Lucknow, the capital of India's Uttar Pradesh state, on Thursday, the board announced. He was 93.

He will be laid to rest on Friday in his native Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh. Nadvi was brought to Lucknow for treatment as he was suffering from pneumonia.

Nadvi was the president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a representative body for Indian Muslims, for the last 21 years.

Nadvi was the head of the board when it fought a long legal battle for the possession of the Babri Mosque.

On Dec. 6, 1992, the 16th-century Babri Mosque in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya was torn down by Hindu hardliners, who claimed the site was the birthplace of their lord Ram.

In November 2019, India’s top court ruled that the historical site of the early 16th century Babri Mosque will be handed over to Hindus for the construction of the Ram temple.

Former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, Zafarul Islam Khan, took to Twitter to express his condolence, saying he was the greatest surviving Muslim personality in India and the author of many books.

In 2021, the AIMPLB under his leadership released new guidelines for Muslims in the country with the aim of prohibiting dowries and extravagant marriages after a woman committed suicide due to “dowry harassment.”

At that time Nadvi had urged all members of the Muslim community to shun the dowry system and lavish spending during wedding ceremonies.