Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi

Who was Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi?

Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi was an Islamic Scholar and the main person responsible for establishing a centre of excellence where the true teachings of Islam are taught. Nanotvi was born in 1833 in Nanota, a village near Saharanpur, India. He completed his early education in his hometown and then he was sent to Deoband, where he studied in Maulvi Mahtab Ali's madrassa. Then, he travelled to Saharanpur, where he remained with his maternal grandfather. In Saharanpur, he studied elementary kitabs of Arabic grammar and syntax under Maulvi Nawaz. At the end of 1843, Mamluk-Ul-Ali escorted him to Delhi. There, he studied Kafia and various kitabs. Later he was admitted to Madrassa Gaziuddin Khan.

his close relative, Muhammad Yaqub Nanotvi wrote:

"My late father enrolled him at the Arabic Madrasa and said, 'Study Euclid yourself and complete the arithmetical exercises.' After a few days, he had attended all of the ordinary discourses and completed the arithmetical exercises. Munshi Zakatullah asked a few questions of him, which were difficult. Because he was able to solve them, he became well-known. When the annual examination drew near, he did not write it and left the madrasa. The whole staff of the madrasa, particularly the headmaster, regretted this very much".