Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi: A Legendary Islamic Scholar of the 21st Century

Rampur, a former princely state in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is renowned for its significant role in the Caliphate movement and for introducing innovative trends in Hindustani classical music. The leaders of the Caliphate movement were Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar and Maulana Shaukat Ali, and the music master was Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan, who established it in the late 19th century. Rampur still remembers and recognizes them.

In 1943, when a new baby arrived in a city of about 500000, no one thought that one day he would link the city to an Islamic scholarship recognized all over the world.

Rampur had the distinction of housing a voluminous library that included a copy of the Quran handwritten by Imam Ali Ibn Talib, the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as the fourth Caliph of Islam. The Rampur Raza Library has 83,000 books. In addition to the books, it also houses numerous manuscripts, miniature paintings, and specimens of Islamic calligraphy. The library's collection is known for its focus on Indo-Islamic cultural heritage.

Expectations were always there that the city would one day produce a scholar of prominence.

The 1947 partition of India impacted Muslims in particular. A section of India wanted them to leave the country. They did not like Muslims to stay in India when a homeland in the name of Islam had come into existence. Not many Muslims left India or Rampur. Tawassul Hussain, with his meager resources and a small, growing family, decided to stay in India. It was his country, the land where his ancestors were buried, and a country he loved. He was confident that an independent India would offer his children opportunities in education unknown to his generation. He was not wrong.

His son, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, took advantage of the opportunities and studied at Aligarh Muslim University, the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow, India. Islamic University of Medina in Saudi Arabia, the University of Birmingham, and Harvard University. He is one of the very few Muslim scholars who hold a Ph.D. in Comparative Religion from Harvard University in the United States.

Rampur, India, and the US, where he lives as a naturalized citizen, can rightfully take pride in his work and contributions to knowledge.

He served as an adjunct professor of Islamic Studies at Chapman University in Orange, California. He was also an external examiner for the Departments of Islamic Studies at the University of Durban-Westville in South Africa, the University of Karachi, Pakistan, and the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

Likewise, he is a member of the Supreme Islamic Council of Egypt and the Supreme Council of Mosques in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and a member of the Executive Board of the International Assembly of the Council of Ulema in Mecca. Not only that, but he is a founding member of the Council of 100 of the World Economic Forum, based in Switzerland. The Council aims to foster dialogue and better relations between Islam and the West.

The young scholar worked with many Islamic organizations in Switzerland, England, and the United States. He was Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Muslim Students Association in the US and Canada, and the Director of the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C. He served two terms (1997-2001) as President of the Islamic Society of North America with Headquarters in Indiana. Since 1981, he has served as the Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County in Garden Grove, California. The Shura Council of Southern California, an organization representing the Islamic centers, masjids, and organizations in Southern California, elected him as its chairman. He served as the Chairman of the Fiqh (Islamic Law) Council of North America from 2004 to 2023. He is a founding member of the Council of Mosques in US and Canada.

Dr. Siddiqi has lectured at universities, colleges, and other academic and religious institutions in 28 countries. Furthermore, he taught courses on Islam and world religions at Harvard University, Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey; Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey; the University of Birmingham in England; the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan; and California State University, Long Beach.

Dr. Siddiqi held the Presidency of the Academy of Judaic-Christian and Islamic Studies at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). He spoke at the World Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Vancouver, Canada, and at the World Assembly of Religions in the Vatican, as well as at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. After 9/11, President George Bush invited him to lead a Muslim Prayer at the Interfaith Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral. In September 2006, President Bush invited him to lead an interfaith prayer on the 5th Anniversary of 9/11 at Ground Zero in New York.

Soft-spoken, calm, and energetic, Dr. Siddiqi faced several challenges in his Islamic work. He, however, overcame all of them with wisdom and in a sober manner. At one stage of his activism, he faced stiff opposition from a group of Muslims, who made him a target of their criticism. They disagreed with his understanding of Islam. They even manipulated an Islamic Center's voting list and stripped him of his scholarly duties. He faced them gracefully and forgave them when they lost face in public. He followed the Quran in his response. Furthermore, he remained quiet without any retaliation. His opponents felt ashamed.

He serves as a strong pillar of the Muslim American community.

These are some excerpts from his writings.

Many people claim Abraham and his inheritance, but who are his real children? Humanity needs real children of Abraham, not those who pretend to be his children and follow not his way. The true children of Abraham will be the faithful followers of Allah’s Prophets and Messengers: Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them all). It is the message of this`Eid. It is the message of Islam, and it is the message that the world needs. The Ummah needs this message, and humanity needs it as well. Let us remember: be sincere, surrender to Allah, obey His commands, be kind and caring, be active and dynamic, be a community builder, and be willing to sacrifice for the love of Allah. It is the way of Prophet Abraham, and this is the way of Prophet Muhammad. I pray to Allah to help us follow this way. We face numerous challenges, and the world faces many challenges at this time; however, with the right spirit and action, we can resolve all of them. (O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and be conscious of Allah, that ye may prosper.) (Aal-`Imran 3: 200)

“If a Muslim commits adultery, we don’t call it Islamic adultery. We should judge Muslims by Islam. We shouldn’t judge Islam by Muslims.”