Identity: Religious Thinker, Editor, Publisher, and Founder of 'Jamiat-us-Salehat' and 'Al-Hasanat'

Maulana Abu Saleem Muhammad Abdul Hai was born on December 1, 1910, in Rampur (Uttar Pradesh). He received his primary education at a religious seminary (Madrasah), and later completed his middle school from Sherkot School in 1923 and high school from Rampur State High School. On a scholarship from Nawab Hamid Ali Khan, he went to Allahabad, where he completed his Intermediate from Ewing Christian College in 1932 and graduated with a B.Sc. degree from Allahabad University in 1934. From his student days, he possessed an extraordinary passion for reading, writing, and intellectual pursuits. During his studies in 1933, he went through a phase of intellectual skepticism and atheism. However, in 1943, reading the works of Maulana Abul A'la Maududi, especially "Naya Nizam-e-Taleem" (The New System of Education) and "Deeniyat" (Islamic Studies), brought a profound revolution in his intellectual life, after which he dedicated his life to Islamic dawah (preaching) and movement.

Initially, he served as an English teacher at Madrasah Aliya Rampur, an Assistant Cataloguing Officer at the Raza Library, and also worked in the Agriculture Department. However, following his commitment to Islamic thought, he resigned from government service. In 1946, after meeting Maulana Maududi, he formally joined Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, was appointed as the local Ameer (President) of Rampur, and later became a member of the Central Majlis-e-Shoora (Central Advisory Council) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

Maulana Abu Saleem Muhammad Abdul Hai rendered outstanding services in the fields of publishing, journalism, and the propagation of Islamic literature. In January 1947, he launched the monthly magazine "Al-Hasanat", which was followed by other influential periodicals such as "Ujala" (Hindi), "Noor", "Hadi", "Hilal", and "Batool". He founded the publishing house 'Maktaba Al-Hasanat', which played a key role in publishing Islamic literature. Under his supervision, the Hindi translation of the Holy Quran was published in 1966, proving to be a major milestone in effectively conveying the Quran's message to the Hindi-knowing audience. His other notable achievements include preparing curriculum material for adult education, training workers in the field of writing, and establishing 'Jamiat-us-Salehat' in Rampur in 1979, a renowned institution for Muslim female students.

Maulana Abu Saleem Muhammad Abdul Hai authored dozens of books on Islamic thought, Seerah (biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), education, training, and children's literature. His prominent works include "Hayat-e-Tayyiba" (a popular book on the Prophet's life written from the perspective of the Islamic movement), "Aasan Tafseer" (a simple and lucid commentary on the Holy Quran), "Ijtima'i Zindagi Ke Taqaze", "Kaun Hai Raja?", and "Insaan Ki Kahani" (for children). A key characteristic of his writings is the presentation of Islamic teachings in a simple, effective, and easily understandable manner.

Death: Maulana Abu Saleem Muhammad Abdul Hai passed away on July 16, 1987.