Shah Waliullah

Known for

Revived Islamic learning as Mughal power declined

Biography

A scholar of Delhi who worked to reform Muslim society and unite its sects as the Mughal Empire weakened. He translated the Quran into Persian so ordinary people could understand it, and invited Ahmad Shah Abdali to stop the Marathas, who were defeated at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).

Contributions

• Translated the Quran into Persian (Fath-ur-Rahman)
• Wrote Hujjat-Allah al-Baligha on the wisdom of Islamic law
• Sought to reduce sectarian differences between Sunnis and Shias and among schools of law
• His sons and students carried on his work