"Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya" is the
series of lectures delivered by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in Allahabad in 1886, after
his return from England. This lecture is also known as the "Allahabad
Address" and was later titled "Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya" when
compiled and published.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was a famous
Muslim educationist and Urdu writer. He is also called the the founder of
modern Urdu literature. He was born in 1817 in Delhi, India and died in 1898 in
Aligarh, India. He realized that Muslims of India were falling behind in
education, particularly in modern science and technology. He launched the
Aligarh Movement to promote modern, Western-style education among Muslims. No
doubt, Ali Garh Muslim University is an unforgettable achievement of Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan.
According to Britannica:
“Sir
Sayyid Ahmad Khan (born October 17, 1817, Delhi—died March 27, 1898, Aligarh,
India) was a Muslim educator, jurist, and author, founder of the Anglo-Mohammedan Oriental College at
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India,
and the principal motivating force behind the revival of Indian Islam in
the late 19th century. His works, in Urdu, included Essays on the Life of
Mohammed (1870) and commentaries on the Bible and
on the Qurʾān. In 1888 he was made a Knight
Commander of the Star of India.”
Sir William Muir was Lieutenant Governor of the North-Western
Provinces of India and the principal of the University of Edinburgh. He is best known
for his historical and critical studies on Islam and the life of the Prophet
Muhammad ﷺ. His most famous work is :The Life of Mahomet". It was published in
1858 to 61 in 4 volumes. This book was one of the earliest Western
biographies of the Prophet ﷺ written from a Christian and colonial
perspective.
According to Maulvi Abdul Haq,
"Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya" was actually written in response to William
Muir’s famous book named “The Life of Muhammad : from original
source.” In his book, Muir had criticized the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon
him). Sir Syed Ahmad Khan wrote “Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya” as a rebuttal to Muir’s
claims and to defend the character and life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
using reason, logic, and historical analysis.
This is one of the earliest books on
the Seerah (biography of the Prophet ﷺ) written in the Urdu language. Sir Syed
undertook journeys to libraries in Europe to gather material for this book. It
contains responses to almost all the major objections raised by Orientalists.
Therefore, it is really a valuable work. However, it is unfortunate
that this book has not been utilized to the extent it deserves.
The reason this book is not very
well-known may be that Sir Syed was highly modernist in his approach. He did
not present concepts such as miracles, angels, paradise, and hell in the
traditional way accepted by most religious scholars. His extreme inclination
toward rationalism and modernism was not well received by many. Perhaps this is
why “Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya”, along with his other religious writings, did not
gain widespread popularity.
But I believe that a book is a treasure
of knowledge and must be read. This is one of the finest books on the Seerah
written in Urdu. Although it did not gain the same fame as Allama Shibli
Nomani’s “Seerat-un-Nabi ﷺ, it was actually written before
Seerat-un-Nabi ﷺ. I think it must be studied and benefited
from. Many scholars, including Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi, consider
“Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya” to be superior to “Seerat-un-Nabi” in certain aspects.
In my view, both books are valuable and
informative. On comparing “Seerat-un-Nabi” and “Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya”, it
becomes clear that “Seerat-un-Nabi” is a detailed biography, covering the
entire life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In contrast, “Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya” is not comprehensive, but
rather selective and concise. It focuses specifically on those aspects of the
Prophet’s life that William Muir had criticized. Therefore, we can say that
both books are precious assets for Muslims, each serving its own purpose. Both
hold their own importance and value** in the study of the Prophet’s life.
“Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya” is, in
fact, a true reflection of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s deep love for the Prophet
Muhammad ﷺ. He could not tolerate the criticism of
the Prophet ﷺ by William Muir. At the same time, he did
not choose the path of aggression or extremism; instead, he responded with scholarly
research and reasoned arguments. This remarkable effort of his will always be
remembered.
It is unfortunate, however, that today
we have forgotten this book. Very few people know that Sir Syed Ahmed Khan defended
the Prophet ﷺ through Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya. This noble
work deserves not only to be recognized and appreciated, but also to be studied
and benefited from.
“Khutbat-e-Ahmadiyya” consists of
twelve lectures delivered by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. These twelve lectures are
really valuable. They clearly show his deep knowledge regarding Islam and the
Holy Prophet ﷺ.
From here, you can read and download this
precious book.
Read and Download Khutbat-e-Ahmadiya in PDF
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