Shah Waliullah Dehlawi

21 February 1703 – 20 August 1762

Shah Waliullah Dehlawi was an Indian Islamic scholar, theologian, and reformer of the eighteenth century, regarded as one of the most important Muslim thinkers of Mughal-era South Asia. He sought to revive Islamic learning amid the decline of the Mughal Empire, translated the Quran into Persian, and wrote the influential Hujjat Allah al-Baligha, attempting to reconcile the different schools of Islamic law and Sufi thought.

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Life events

Born near Delhi
21 February 1703

Shah Waliullah was born in the town of Phulat near Delhi into a distinguished scholarly family during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Memorized the Quran as a young child
c. 1710

He is reported to have memorized the entire Quran by about the age of seven under his father's instruction.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Studied at his father's Madrasa Rahimiyya in Delhi
c. 1713

He completed the traditional curriculum of Arabic, Persian, jurisprudence, hadith, and philosophy at the Madrasa Rahimiyya, founded by his father Shah Abdur Rahim.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Succeeded his father as head of the Madrasa Rahimiyya
1719

After his father's death in 1719, the sixteen-year-old took over teaching duties at the madrasa, which he led for the rest of his life.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Pilgrimage to Mecca and studies in the Hejaz
1730 – 1732

He performed the hajj and remained in Mecca and Medina for about fourteen months, studying hadith under scholars including Abu Tahir al-Kurani al-Madani.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Returned to Delhi to teach and write
1732

Back in Delhi in 1732, he devoted himself to teaching, writing, and reformist scholarship during a period of Mughal political collapse.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Translated the Quran into Persian
c. 1738

His Persian translation of the Quran, Fath al-Rahman, made the scripture accessible to educated Indian Muslims and drew criticism from some conservative scholars.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Wrote Hujjat Allah al-Baligha
c. 1745

His magnum opus, The Conclusive Argument from God, presented a comprehensive rationale for Islamic law and belief and remains widely studied.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Delhi
20 August 1762

Shah Waliullah died in Delhi; his sons, including Shah Abdul Aziz, continued his scholarly and reformist legacy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓