Sayyid Muhammad Quli Musawi Hindi
Founder
1761–1844
Sayyid Muhammad Quli Musawi Hindi was a distinguished Shi‘a scholar whose vision and dedication led to the establishment of the Nasiriyyah Library. Born in Kantor on June 8, 1761, he traced his lineage to Imam Musa b. Ja‘far (a) through twenty-five generations.
Early Life and Education
- Son of Sayyid Muhammad Husayn, a jurist who transcribed religious texts
- Studied in Lucknow under the renowned Sayyid Dildar Ali Naqvi
- Mastered hadith, jurisprudence, and theology
Scholarly Contributions
- Taught and issued religious rulings in Mirthe, near Lucknow
- Authored several important theological works
- Established the foundation of one of the Islamic world’s greatest libraries
Legacy
Sayyid Muhammad Quli passed away on January 30, 1844, in Lucknow at the age of 84 and was buried in his own Husayniyya. His vision for preserving Islamic knowledge continues through the library he founded.
Sayyid Hamid Husayn Musavi
Mir Hamid Husayn · Al-Sayyid Mahdi Abu Zafar
1246–1306 AH / 1830–1888 CE
Born on Muharram 5, 1246 (June 26, 1830) in Meerut, Sayyid Hamid Husayn Musavi Kinturi Lakhnavi descended from Imam Musa b. Ja‘far (a) through twenty-seven generations. He transformed the Nasiriyyah Library into a world-renowned institution through extraordinary dedication.
Education & Teachers
Beginning his formal education at age six, he studied under eminent scholars including:
- Sayyid Muhammad b. Dildar Ali
- Sayyid Husayn b. Dildar Ali
- Sayyid Muhammad Abbas Tustari
Scholarly Works
- 'Abaqat al-Anwar: His masterpiece defending Shi‘a beliefs and proving the Imamate of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
- Istiqsa’ al-Afham: A comprehensive response to anti-Shi‘a literature
- Numerous other theological and jurisprudential works
Library Development
- Expanded the library collection to over 30,000 manuscripts
- Traveled extensively across Islamic countries to purchase rare books
- Sent copyists to distant locations to transcribe unavailable manuscripts
- Waited 20 years to obtain specific rare texts, showing extraordinary persistence
Extraordinary Dedication
His scholarly dedication was so intense that his right hand became paralyzed from continuous writing. Even then, he continued his work while lying down, developing a callus on his chest from the constant pressure of writing in this position. This devotion exemplifies his lifelong commitment to preserving and defending Islamic knowledge.
Legacy
Sayyid Hamid Husayn passed away on Safar 18, 1306 (October 24, 1888) in Lucknow and was buried at Imambara Ghufran Ma’ab. His son, Sayyid Nasir Husayn Musavi, continued his legacy, and the library was named “Nasiriyyah” in his honor.
Nasir Husayn
The Namesake “Nasir al-Millah”
Maulana Nasir Husayn, known as “Nasir al-Millah,” was the son of Mir Hamid Husayn. Under his management, the library reached new heights of recognition and was named in his honor as the “Nasiriyyah Library.”
Contributions
- Continued the family tradition of scholarly excellence
- Expanded the library’s influence and accessibility
- Ensured the preservation of the collection for future generations
Family Legacy
The library benefited from the contributions of other family members:
- Sayyid I‘jaz Husayn: Brother of Mir Hamid Husayn, helped manage the library
- Sayyid Siraj Husayn: Another scholarly son of the founder
This remarkable family’s dedication to preserving and disseminating Islamic knowledge has created a lasting legacy that continues to benefit scholars and researchers worldwide.