Biography of Ubaidullah Sindhi – Revolutionary Scholar & Deobandi Thinker
A time has come when the revival of Islam must begin with the revival of free Muslim intellect.
Early Life & Education
Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi (1872–1944 CE) was a powerful blend of Islamic scholarship and political activism, remembered as one of the earliest Deobandi revolutionaries who aimed to establish a just Islamic order free from colonial domination. A convert to Islam, he embraced Darul Uloom Deoband’s teachings and committed his life to pan-Islamic unity, education, and resistance against British imperialism.
Born in Sialkot, Punjab, Ubaidullah Sindhi accepted Islam at a young age and studied under the renowned Shaykh Mahmood-ul-Hasan, aligning with the Reshmi Rumal Movement. He later traveled to Afghanistan and beyond to mobilize support for an Islamic government free of British influence. His commitment to freedom, justice, and Islamic governance earned him exile but also a revered place in South Asian history.
Ubaidullah Sindhi’s Legacy: Pan-Islamism, Education & Revolutionary Spirit
Throughout his life, Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi championed a reformist and revolutionary interpretation of Islam, focusing on liberation, social justice, and Muslim unity. He spent years in exile in Afghanistan, Russia, and the Middle East, engaging with global Islamic movements and attempting to revive Muslim societies intellectually and politically.
A prolific writer, Ubaidullah Sindhi’s works addressed education reform, Islamic governance, and anti-colonial strategy. He envisioned an Islamic system that combined Shariah, reason, and political independence, and he firmly believed that Muslims must reclaim their intellectual and spiritual sovereignty.
His life was a living testimony of how a scholar could also be a freedom fighter, strategist, and ideologue, influencing generations of Islamic revivalists and political thinkers. Read more at Darul Uloom Deoband Archives – Ubaidullah Sindhi
Quick Facts:
- Full Name: Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi
- Born: 1872 CE, Sialkot (British India)
- Died: 1944 CE, Deoband, India
- Known For: Anti-colonial activism, Deobandi movement, pan-Islamism
- Key Ideology: Islamic governance, unity of the Muslim Ummah
- Legacy: Scholar-revolutionary, global Islamic network builder