Description

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817–1898) was an influential Indian Muslim reformer, philosopher, and educationist in 19th-century British India.

Initially advocating Hindu-Muslim unity, he later became a pioneer of Muslim nationalism and is credited with the two-nation theory, the foundation of the Pakistan movement. Believing Muslims needed modern education, he founded schools and journals, including the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875, the first Muslim university in Southern Asia.

Sir Syed promoted Urdu as the lingua franca for Indian Muslims and criticized the Indian National Congress. His legacy is strong in Pakistan and among Indian Muslims, inspiring the Pakistan Movement and figures like Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His work for rational Islam and modernity continues to influence global Islamic reformation.