Imad ud-din Lahiz
Encyclopedia
Rev. Mawlawi Dr. Imad ud-din Lahiz (1830−1900) was a prolific Islamic writer, preacher and Quranic translator, who converted to Christianity. Imad-ud Din Lahiz wrote his autobiography in 1866.
Imad ud-din Lahiz was among the fourth generation of Islamic scholars in the family. His father, Mohammed Siraj ud-din, grandfather and great grandfather had all been maulvis. The Lahiz family hailed from Panipat
, a town situated in the
modern day Haryana
state of India. The Muslims of Panipat
had a reputation for being zealous the faith of Islam and were well-versed in fiqh
or Islamic
jurisprudence. For centuries, the town of Panipat claimed Muslims who excelled in spiritual leadership and Islamic scholarship.
Imad ud-Din Lahiz was a prolific writer. He translated the Quran into Urdu
and also composed several Bible
commentaries. In addition to Lahiz’s writings about Islam, its history, faith and practices, his translation of the Quran into Urdu
and his many Bible commentaries, he wrote many rebuttals to the works of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
, the founder of the Ahmadiyyah movement in Islam
.
His works reflect the influence of the chief contenders of a famous debate between the Muslim and Christian scholars. The Muslim side was represented by Rahmatullah Kairanawi
and Muhammad Wazîr Khân
, and the Christian side by the German preacher, Karl Gottlieb Pfander
, that took place in Agra
in 1854. The debate itself went badly for Pfander, and he decided to withdraw from it.
The interest the debate aroused led a number of Muslims to read his literature and consider the questions that had been discussed. Some such as Imad ud-din Lahiz and his fellow Islamic scholar, the noted Sufi Maulvi Safdar Ali
, converted to Christianity. In his account of Safdar Ali's life (Lights in the World), Rajiah D. Paul notes that Safdar Ali's conversion came at great personal cost, bringing with it death threats and ultimately total exclusion from his Muslim family.
Lahiz converted to Christianity
at Amritsar
on 29 April 1866 together with his aged father and brother. The primary reason behind his conversion was the hope that his acceptance of Christianity would ensure his
salvation. His conversion was followed by that of his wife, five sons and four daughters. Prior to his conversion, he was a leading Sufi theologian and was appointed to preach against Dr. Pfander. Some of his writings deal mainly with his
conversion to Christianity and his new religious experience within his adopted faith.
After becoming a Christian, Lahiz wrote a book entitled Tahqiq ul-Iman criticizing those Maulvis who he felt were unnecessarily putting faith in Islam.
Imad ud-din Lahiz was among the fourth generation of Islamic scholars in the family. His father, Mohammed Siraj ud-din, grandfather and great grandfather had all been maulvis. The Lahiz family hailed from Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
, a town situated in the
modern day Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
state of India. The Muslims of Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
had a reputation for being zealous the faith of Islam and were well-versed in fiqh
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
or Islamic
jurisprudence. For centuries, the town of Panipat claimed Muslims who excelled in spiritual leadership and Islamic scholarship.
Imad ud-Din Lahiz was a prolific writer. He translated the Quran into Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and also composed several Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
commentaries. In addition to Lahiz’s writings about Islam, its history, faith and practices, his translation of the Quran into Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and his many Bible commentaries, he wrote many rebuttals to the works of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
Mīrzā Ghulām Aḥmad was a religious figure from India and the founder of the Ahmadiyya Community. He claimed to be the Mujaddid of the 14th Islamic century, the promised Messiah , and the Mahdi awaited by the Muslims in the end days...
, the founder of the Ahmadiyyah movement in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
His works reflect the influence of the chief contenders of a famous debate between the Muslim and Christian scholars. The Muslim side was represented by Rahmatullah Kairanawi
Rahmatullah Kairanawi
Rahmat Allâh Kairânawî or Rahmatullah Kairanvi was a Muslim scholar and author. He is best known for his grand work, Izhar ul-Haqq.-Background:...
and Muhammad Wazîr Khân
Muhammad Wazir Khan
Muhammad Wazir Khan was the second ruler of the princely state of Tonk .He was the son of Muhammad Amir Khan whom he succeeded. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 he allied himself with the British and repulsed rebels.-References:...
, and the Christian side by the German preacher, Karl Gottlieb Pfander
Karl Gottlieb Pfander
Karl Gottlieb Pfander was born in Württemberg in southern Germany. His background lay in the Pietist wing of the Lutheran state church, with its strong tradition of disciplined Christian living popular with evangelical craftsmen, tradesmen, and shopkeepers.-Biography:One of nine children, the son...
, that took place in Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
in 1854. The debate itself went badly for Pfander, and he decided to withdraw from it.
The interest the debate aroused led a number of Muslims to read his literature and consider the questions that had been discussed. Some such as Imad ud-din Lahiz and his fellow Islamic scholar, the noted Sufi Maulvi Safdar Ali
Safdar Ali
Safdar Ali, a convert from Islam to Christianity, was born in 1830 in the native state of Dholpur, and was the son of an orthodox Syud gentleman. Ali's father personally saw to his education which was deeply rooted in the religion of Islam but he also received instruction from other Islamic and...
, converted to Christianity. In his account of Safdar Ali's life (Lights in the World), Rajiah D. Paul notes that Safdar Ali's conversion came at great personal cost, bringing with it death threats and ultimately total exclusion from his Muslim family.
Lahiz converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
at Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
on 29 April 1866 together with his aged father and brother. The primary reason behind his conversion was the hope that his acceptance of Christianity would ensure his
salvation. His conversion was followed by that of his wife, five sons and four daughters. Prior to his conversion, he was a leading Sufi theologian and was appointed to preach against Dr. Pfander. Some of his writings deal mainly with his
conversion to Christianity and his new religious experience within his adopted faith.
After becoming a Christian, Lahiz wrote a book entitled Tahqiq ul-Iman criticizing those Maulvis who he felt were unnecessarily putting faith in Islam.
See also
- Christianity in IndiaChristianity in IndiaChristianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India's population. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings and 14th century Portuguese missionaries created an illusion to convert Indians that Christianity was introduced to...
- List of former Muslims
- List of converts to Christianity