Wide forehead, fair in complexion, a round dignified head, large bright eyes, spectacles on the eyes, straight nose, broad chest, well-defined lips and full dense beard. Teeth - small pomegranate-like, inter-connected with a small gap in the centre - When he smiled – oh what a sheer delightful view!
His moustache met his beard at the sides. An ancient-style Sunnah turban, often of a dark hue adorned his head, emphasising the charm of his face. An Arabian-style tunic over which a loose elegant ankle-length robe made from coarse fabric, was often left open at the neck. A long scarf graced his neck, with the two ends hanging on either side.
Later in life, a srikingly beautiful black or brown Tasbeeh (prayer bead) would garland his neck, which, when visible, amplified the charm of his visage. In his hand, a delicate staff.
Muballigh-e-Islam Allama Maulana Shah Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Meeruthi Muhājir Madani Ꜥalaiýhir Raĥmaĥ war Riḑwān was born on the 15th of Ramadan 1310 Hijri, corresponding with 3rd April 1892 in Meerut U.P. India. He hails from the noble Siddiqui family who are direct descendants of Ameer al-MoꜤminīn Hazrat Sayyidunā Abu Bakr Al-Siddique Raḑī ꜤAllāhu Ta Ꜥālā ꜤAnhu in the 37th generation.
His father’s name was Maulana Shah Abdul Hakeem Siddiqui. He came from a highly reputable family reigning from Mohallah Mashāikhān, a locality noted for religious sciences, poetry and literature. The name Mashaikhān itself suggested that this neighbourhood was inhabited by pious, learned, and spiritual people. This family was an example in itself.
His honourable father was an esteemed scholar and a fine poet with a deep passion for esoteric sciences and the disciplines of Tasawwuf. Under the tutelage of his father, He completed the Holy Quran at the age of four years and ten months.
The compassionate shadow and guidance of his father were lifted at the tender age of 12. After the demise of his father Maulana Shah Abdul Hakeem Siddiqui, his mother took this bright child in her maternal embrace. His elder brother Hazrat Maulana Shah Ahmad Mukhtār Siddiqui Rahmatullahi ta’ala alaih took the responsibility of his education under his patronage.
He had not yet reached puberty, his education was still in its infancy when the Muslims of Meerut discovered an amazing talent in this nine-year-old Siddiqui prince. One day, during a Meelad-un-Nabi Jalsah in the Jāma mosque Meerut, this promising Siddiqui prince astonished the audience by delivering a bayān (talk) for over an hour! Thus, distributing the Faiz (spiritual blessings) of his ancestors. The congregation present there witnessed his innate ability to conquer the minds of the masses through the gift of speech.
His profound thirst for knowledge propelled him to complete the Darse-Nizāmi syllabus and thus he graduated from the Madrasa Qaumiyya Arabia, Meerut, at the young age of sixteen. According to the family tradition as well as the customs of the time, this level of education was more than sufficient. This would conventionally be followed by research and personal development.
Maulana Shah Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqui had now reached the age of consciousness when one assumes and paves one’s way forward. However, the requirements and demands of the destination mapped by his progressive ambitions contrasted with the customs and traditions of the time. He decided that, to benefit from modern sciences, mathematics, physics and modern philosophy among other fields, it was necessary to learn English. Initially, he made many personal efforts towards this end. Eventually, he took admission to Itawa High School, matriculating in the year 1913. This was followed by an application for the Divisional College in Meerut. Hence, in 1917, he successfully graduated from this institute with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
While the educational path he had selected acquainted him with western sciences and ideologies, it had also revealed the secrets of western conspiracies against Islam, the Muslim Ummah, eastern sciences, as well as religious and spiritual values. The secrets of their intellectual betrayals were laid bare before him! The deliberate erasure of the favours and benevolence of Muslims upon western sciences, medicine and the inventions of the Arab scholars and their services to humanity had become exposed to him! These were the facts that Maulana was not only well aware of but also wanted to reach the bottom of and expose to the world.
His oratory talents had already become apparent at the age of nine. Over time, as his knowledge and education matured, so did this invaluable skill. Nature had already bestowed him with a melodious voice. The Sincerity of his tone and the noble aspirations of his life augmented it further, affecting the hearts of his audience, mesmerizing them as his words gently travelled their hearing.
Poetry in simple prose – His speeches that gave the pleasure of rhythm and presented a unique style in preaching Islam, a style that Maulana himself had pioneered, sadly, ended too with him.
In his foreword to a book authored by Maulana, “Cultivation of Science by the Muslims “ (a lecture delivered by his eminence on the 24th July 1936 at the Summer College of Tokyo Japan), the Japanese Orientalist professor NH Berlas notes the quaintness of his speech, proclaiming:
“For a fuller appreciation, one must hear Maulana Siddiqi from the platform. One is sure to be charmed like the audience here: by his magnetic personality and oratorical powers, his loud and impressive but musical voice and splendid delivery”.
