Muhammad Azam Nadwi (born 15 December 1984) is an Indian Islamic scholar, writer, and professor, recognized for his work in Arabic literature and Islamic jurisprudence. He has authored and translated numerous scholarly articles and books in both Arabic and Urdu, focusing on Islamic law, contemporary Muslim identity, and classical scholarship. Nadwi currently teaches Islamic sciencesâÂÂincluding Ḥadëth and FiqhâÂÂat Al Mahadul Aali Al Islami, Hyderabad.
Muhammad Azam Nadwi was born on 15 December 1984. His father, Sayyid Hussain Ahmad âÂÂÃÂrif GayÃÂwë (1941âÂÂ2020), was an Islamic scholar and Urdu poet, and a student of Syed Fakhruddin Ahmad. He served as the imam and khatib of the JÃÂmiÿ Masjid in Sakchi, Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), for 27 years, from 1983 to 2010.
He memorized the QurâÂÂan and received certification in QirÃÂâÂÂah from Madrasa Hussainia in Jamshedpur and Ranchi. He then pursued traditional Islamic studies and completed the ÿÃÂlimiyyah course at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow, followed by the Faá¸Âëlah specialization in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) in 2004 â a qualification considered equivalent to a MasterâÂÂs degree in Islamic Studies. He later obtained a Bachelor's degree from the University of Lucknow, and subsequently earned an M.A. in Arabic language and literature from Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad.
He was awarded an M.Phil. in Arabic from the same university in 2017 for a dissertation titled Biographical Works of Mohammad Akram Nadwi on Indian Eminent Personalities: An Analytical and Critical Study, supervised by Abdul Quddoos, Associate Professor in the Department of Arabic. On 1 March 2023, he received his Ph.D. in Arabic from the same university for a dissertation titled Intertextuality in the Modern Literary Criticism & its Manifestations in the Writings of Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Al Hasani Al Nadwi, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Mohammad Sharfe Alam.
Nadwi previously served as a teacher at JÃÂmiÿat al-ImÃÂm Aḥmad ibn ÿIrfÃÂn al-Shahëd in Malihabad, and currently teaches Hadith, Fiqh, and Arabic at Al Mahadul Aali Al Islami, Hyderabad, where he also serves as coordinator of the Department of Culture.
He also serves as the Imam and Khatib of Masjid-e-Baqi in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, where he is recognized as the resident scholar. He is also a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, a global association of prominent Islamic scholars.
He also participated in international scholarly seminars, including one held in Rabat, Morocco, organized by ICESCO and the International Institute of Islamic Thought.
He served as one of the chief editors of the Arabic monthly journal RisÃÂlat al-ShabÃÂb, published since 2003 by the Markaz-e-IslÃÂmë of Jamÿiyyat ShabÃÂb al-IslÃÂm in Lucknow.
Nadwi has authored several Islamic jurisprudential and socio-religious articles in Urdu. His work often engages with contemporary issues through a legal and ethical lens. Notable examples include Bank se JÃÂri Hone WÃÂle Mukhtalif KÃÂrd kàSharâÂÂë Ḥukm (), which explores the permissibility and implications of modern financial instruments, and WhatsApp Group: Kitne Mufëd, Kitne Muá¸Âir? (), which discusses the benefits and harms of digital communication platforms.
In addition to his Urdu writings, Nadwi has published numerous research articles in Arabic on literature, history, and socio-political themes. He has also translated several Islamic jurisprudential texts between Urdu and Arabic.
Furthermore, he translated Faiz Ahmad FaizâÂÂs well-known Urdu poem "Hum Dekhenge" into Arabic under the title "Naḥnu NarÃÂ'" ().
His article titled al-DhÃÂt fë Adab IqbÃÂl: Mafhà «muhÃÂ, wa MaÿÃÂlim BinÃÂþihÃÂ, wa Dawruhàfë al-Nuhà «á¸ al-Ḥaá¸ÂÃÂrë li-l-Ummah () explores the philosophical concept of selfhood (khudi) in IqbalâÂÂs poetry and its significance for cultural and civilizational renewal.
He has also written about scholars such as Muhammad Rabey Hasani Nadwi and Jafar Masood Hasani Nadwi.
His Arabic article Faá¸Âëlat al-Shaykh Muḥammad SÃÂlim al-QÃÂsmë wa MaqawwimÃÂt BinÃÂþ Shakhá¹£iyyatihi al-Fadhdhah () was published in a commemorative volume by Hujjat al-Islam Academy, Darul Uloom Waqf, Deoband.
Other Arabic articles by Nadwi include al-Dawr al-QiyÃÂdë li-l-NisÃÂâ al-MuslimÃÂt fë Ḥarakat Taḥrër al-Hind (), Khuá¹Âaá¹ wa Khuá¹ÂuwÃÂt Naḥwa IbÃÂdah al-Muslimën fë al-Hind (MuqÃÂranah Taqrëbiyyah maÿa IsbÃÂniyÃÂ) (), al-Hujà «m ÿalàal-Waqf: IÿtidÃÂþ ÿalàal-êmÃÂn wa al-Huwiyyah wa al-Dustà «r (), and MëthÃÂq al-Madënah wa Dustà «r al-Hind: ÿAdlun Yajmaÿ wa Tanawwuÿun Yarfaÿ (), which draws a comparative perspective between the Prophet MuhammadâÂÂs Charter of Medina and IndiaâÂÂs Constitution, emphasizing their shared principles of justice, coexistence, and pluralism.
He also translated WÃÂjib al-ÿUlamÃÂþ wa al-FuqahÃÂþ fë al-WÃÂqiÿ al-MuÿÃÂá¹£ir (), an article by Khalid Saifullah Rahmani.
Nadwi has also written on literary and exegetical themes. His article titled al-TanÃÂṣṣ al-QurþÃÂnë wa TajalliyÃÂtuhu fë KitÃÂb "MÃÂdhàKhasira al-ÿÃÂlam bi-Inḥiá¹ÂÃÂá¹ al-Muslimën" lil-ImÃÂm Abë al-Ḥasan al-Nadwë () analyzes the role of QurâÂÂanic allusions and rhetorical structure in one of Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi's most influential works.
His paper Muḥammad ibn Nasser al-Aboudi wa RiḥÃÂlÃÂtuhu ilàal-Hind () discusses the cultural and artistic insights of modern Arabic travel literature.
He has authored, edited, and translated several works, including: