Shaikh Nadwi: humility and generosity

Shaikh Nadwi: humility and generosity

by: Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi
Oxford

Question:
Shaykh Abu Habban from Dallas, USA, asked me the following question:
“Shaikh, you previously shared a story with me when you visited my house in Dallas for tea. You mentioned that Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi received an award from the Qatari government, and that he donated the entire amount to an orphanage instead of keeping it for himself. Could you please recount the full story again, as I am working on a podcast about his life?”

Answer:
Shaykh Abu Habban, I must admit that I do not recall precisely what I shared with you during our tea in Dallas. However, I can recount two notable examples from my book on Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi’s life that illustrate his remarkable character, particularly in relation to the awards he received.

One of the most distinguished recognitions Shaikh Nadwi received was the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam in 1980. When he received the official notification, he wrote to the Chair of the Prize Committee, expressing both humility and principle:
“It is fortunate that those working in Islamic service will be rewarded in the Hereafter. The announcement of this prize was made in my absence. Out of respect for the late King Faisal, a pioneer of Islamic solidarity, and in appreciation of his services to Islam, I accept this prize and pray that Allah grants the objectives it represents, and that the recognition it entails encourages more good work. I wholeheartedly accept the moral aspect of the award, which acknowledges and honours service, but I beg to use the financial portion for purposes I consider beneficial to Islamic services.”

In response, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi wrote to him, highlighting the respect in which he was held by his peers:
“It gives me great pleasure, on my own behalf and that of my colleagues at the College of Shariah, University of Qatar, to extend our heartfelt congratulations on your receipt of the King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam. I believe, without any exaggeration, that this award honours and elevates the person who receives it, and none more so than yourself.”

In addition, Shaikh Nadwi was recognised as the Islamic Personality of the Year by the government of Dubai in Ramadan 1419 AH (1998 CE). Despite the prestige and substantial financial component of these awards, Shaikh Nadwi’s approach was consistent with his lifelong ethos of humility and service: he never retained the money for himself. Instead, he directed it entirely towards charitable causes, supporting Afghan Mujahideen, building mosques, funding schools, and aiding religious institutes.

Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi elaborates on this remarkable generosity:
“It is well known that when Shaikh Nadwi received the King Faisal Prize, which at that time amounted to 300,000 Saudi Riyals, he donated the entire sum, partly to the poor of the Two Holy Mosques, partly to the needy in India and its religious schools. Similarly, he treated all other awards in the same manner, including the Sultan of Brunei Prize in Islamic History and the Dubai International Qur’an Award, for which he was selected as Islamic Personality of the Year in 1419 AH, with a prize value of one million dirhams. Not a single penny entered his own pocket; all were spent purely in the way of Allah.”

These instances reflect Shaikh Nadwi’s extraordinary character. For him, such awards were not an opportunity for personal enrichment but a means to advance Islamic knowledge, education, and welfare. His actions exemplify a life guided by humility, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to the service of humanity and Islam.

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