AL ASHARI SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

 *Professor Khaliq Ahmad Nizami Amrohvi*

Among the representative historians of India, one distinguished name is Professor Khaliq Ahmad Nizami. At the same time, because of his extraordinary abilities, he was renowned throughout the world as a great Islamic scholar and as a person of unique style. In History, Islamic Studies, Sufism, and various other fields, Professor Khaliq Ahmad Nizami authored more than 50 books in Urdu, Hindi, and English that are regarded as authoritative references worldwide. 

Apart from these literary achievements, the greatest testimony to Nizami Sahib’s services to education is that he spent 40 years of his life as a teacher at Aligarh Muslim University. He also served as Vice Chancellor of this recently renowned university. 

Professor Nizami was born on 23 December 1925 in Mohalla Jhanda Shahid, Amroha. He was the pride of a family descended from the great Sufi saint Hazrat Masududdin, popularly known as Sheikh Fariduddin Ganjshakar — known in the world of Sufism as Baba Farid. Professor Nizami’s father’s name was Azizuddin Nizami, who was a well-known lawyer of his time. In connection with his legal practice, he moved from Amroha to Meerut. Consequently, most of Professor Nizami’s education took place in Meerut. From there, after completing his Intermediate and B.A., he obtained an M.A. in History and later an LL.B. degree. 

At a young age, Khaliq Ahmad Nizami joined Aligarh Muslim University in 1947 as an Assistant Professor. His eloquence and capacity for work further propelled him forward, as a result of which he earned a doctorate in History. After that, the university promoted him to Associate Professor, and Dr. Nizami became a full Professor in 1963. He then became Head of the Department of History and attained high stature in his subject. By 1968 he had become head of the entire Faculty of Social Sciences, while also discharging the responsibility of Dean of Students’ Welfare. 

In 1975, Nizami Sahib first became Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university and later had the opportunity to demonstrate his scholarly and administrative talents as Vice Chancellor. 

Dr. Nizami’s book on the religious tendencies of the Muslim sultans, _Salatin-e-Delhi ke Mazhabi Rujhanat_, was a detailed work published in three volumes. This book was first published in 1958 and for the second time in 1981 in Delhi.

In his distinguished 72-year life, Professor Khaliq Ahmad Nizami authored more than 50 books and wrote over 100 research papers for various universities. Among his books, _Tarikh-e-Masha’ikh-e-Chisht_ is a very important work, published in five volumes. In this historical book, Dr. Nizami introduced, in detail, the representative Sufi saints of the Indian subcontinent over a thousand years. His fundamental perspective was related to Sufism. 

In recognition of his services, the university later named its center related to Islamic/Qur’anic studies the “K.A. Nizami Centre for Qur’anic Research.” 

Professor Khaliq Ahmad Nizami passed away on 5 December 1997 in Aligarh, where he is buried. But his name and stature will always remain alive in Amroha. The land of Amroha will always take pride in its worthy son.