New Delhi— A two-day national seminar exploring the life, scholarship, and legacy of the Grand Mufti of India, Mufti Muhammad Kifayatullah Dehlvi (RA), concluded on Saturday at Mavlankar Hall, Constitution Club of India. The event brought together more than a thousand scholars, historians, and public figures from India and abroad, with over fifty research papers presented.
In his address, Maulana Mahmood Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind ( Mahmood faction), reaffirmed that the Jamiat’s elders were unanimous in their opposition to the Partition of India. “Their stand was absolutely correct. The proposal they put forth was never fully implemented; had it been adopted, today’s circumstances would have been far better,” he said, urging younger generations to study the documented reasoning behind that historic stance.
During a late-night session, Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, Rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, described Mufti Kifayatullah as a scholar of “towering character” whose life mirrored a century of India’s socio-political evolution. He emphasized the Grand Mufti’s humility, selflessness, and dedication to public service.
Several prominent leaders—including Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mahdi Salafi, Maulana Khalid Siddiqi, and Maulana Rahmatullah Mir Kashmiri—highlighted Mufti Sahib’s universal acceptance across different schools of thought. His works, particularly Ta’lim-ul-Islam and Kifayat-ul-Mufti, were praised for their continuing global relevance.
Speakers also reflected on his role in India’s freedom movement. Supreme Court advocate Anil Nauriya noted the respect Mufti Kifayatullah enjoyed among leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, while historian Dr. Saurabh Bajpai spoke of his commitment to composite nationalism and Hindu–Muslim unity. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi recalled Subhash Chandra Bose’s description of him as a “brave leader of India’s freedom struggle.”
In his presidential remarks, Mufti Muhammad Rashid Azmi of Darul Uloom Deoband said that Mufti Kifayatullah’s sincerity, humility, and courage against injustice earned him admiration across communities. He also recalled the Grand Mufti’s strong support for the Palestinian cause.
Scholars from institutions including Darul Uloom Deoband, Nadwatul Ulama, and Mazahir Uloom presented papers on Mufti Sahib’s jurisprudential contributions, political thought, and influential role in strengthening Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. Several papers could not be presented due to time constraints.
Concluding the programme, Maulana Muhammad Hakimuddin Qasmi, General Secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, thanked participants and announced that the organization has so far hosted five major seminars, producing numerous books and papers on eight distinguished scholars.
The event ended with a prayer led by Maulana Habib Bandwi, marking the close of a seminar that celebrated Mufti Kifayatullah’s enduring influence on scholarship, nation-building, and interfaith harmony.
