Daryabadī's Atheism and Revivalism of Islam

Aroosha Mushtaq , Muhammad Sultan Shah

Abstract

Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi  (1892 –  1977) was an Indian writer and exegete of the Holy Qur’an. Daryabadi was actively associated with the Khilafat Movement; Royal Asiatic Society, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh; Nadwatul Ulema, Lucknow; Shibli Academy, Azamgarh, and several other leading Islamic and literary organisations. He studied several books of Orientalists and under their influence, became sceptical of religion and called himself a "rationalist". For almost nine years, he remained away from religion but repented and became a devout Muslim. This article depicts the turning points of Daryabadi’s life. Being atheist he wrote many books on philosophy and on psychology, which became leading books of that field. While being Muslim he not only refuted his early writings of atheist’s period but  also devoted his whole life for the service of Islam