Dr. Mohiaddin Alwaye

One of the best-known Islamic scholars from Kerala in the Arab world, Dr. Mohiaddin Alwaye spent more than 35 years in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as a teacher, editor and writer, then came home to found Azharul Uloom.

Early life and education

He was born on 1 June 1925 in Veliyathunad village near Aluva. His first teacher was his father, Makkar Moulavi, a religious scholar and imam in central Kerala. He earned the Moulavi Fadhil from Baqiyathus Salihath College in Vellore and the Afzal-ul-Ulama from the University of Madras in 1949, and began teaching at Rawdatul Uloom Arabic College, Feroke.

Al-Azhar years

In 1949 he travelled to Cairo, where he studied at the Faculty of Usul al-Din of Al-Azhar University and earned the Alimiyya, equivalent to an M.A., in 1953. He later returned to Al-Azhar for his doctorate. There he taught Islamic principles in English, edited the English section of Al-Azhar's research journal and served in the Technical Office of the Rector of Al-Azhar.

A bridge between India and the Arab world

He worked with the Arabic service of All India Radio in Delhi, became chief editor of Sawt al-Hind, the Arabic magazine of the Indian Embassy in Cairo, taught at the Islamic University of Madinah and edited the Islamic pages of a daily newspaper in Qatar. Through his research on Indo-Arab relations and his translations, including the Arabic translation of Thakazhi's novel Chemmeen, he introduced India to Arab readers.

Return to Kerala and the founding of Azhar

Returning to Kerala at the end of 1988, he became the first principal of Dawa College, Santhapuram, advised the Muslim Educational Society, chaired forums that united Muslim groups and took part in interfaith dialogue. Azharul Uloom, founded in 1990, was the last great work of his life. He passed away on 23 July 1996 and was laid to rest in his home village.