Abdul Majid Daryabadi (1892–1977) was an Indian Islamic scholar, writer, journalist, critic and exegete of the Quran. He is remembered for his contributions to Urdu literature and Quranic exegesis (tafsir), and for his work as a literary critic and editor in early and mid-twentieth-century India.
| Name | Abdul Majid Daryabadi |
|---|---|
| Born | 1892 |
| Died | 1977 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known for | Quranic exegesis, Urdu literary criticism, journalism |
| Fields | Islamic scholarship, philosophy, literature, journalism |
Daryabadi belonged to the generation of Indian Muslim intellectuals who engaged with both classical Islamic learning and modern Western thought. He took the nisbat "Daryabadi" from his association with Daryabad, a town in the Barabanki district of present-day Uttar Pradesh. His writing career spanned several decades and covered religion, philosophy, literature and contemporary affairs.
Daryabadi is best known in Islamic scholarly circles for his Quranic commentary, produced in both Urdu and English, which sought to present the meaning of the Quran in accessible language while engaging with modern readers. Alongside his exegetical writing, he contributed extensively to Urdu prose, producing essays, criticism and journalistic commentary.
He was active as an editor and journalist in the Urdu press, where he wrote on religious, literary and social subjects. His journalistic work formed an important channel through which his views on literature, religion and contemporary public life reached a wide readership.
As a critic, Daryabadi participated in debates within Urdu literary circles, including discussions on prominent contemporaries. His essays reflect a perspective that combined a commitment to Islamic values with engagement in mainstream Urdu literary culture.
Daryabadi is regarded as a notable figure in twentieth-century Indian Muslim intellectual history. His Quranic commentary remains in circulation among Urdu and English readers, and his literary essays are studied as part of the broader history of Urdu prose and criticism in colonial and post-colonial India.