Profile of Muhib Husain
Identity: Islamic Scholar, Sufi Poet, and a Pioneer of Urdu Journalism in the Deccan
Maulvi Mohib Husain (pen name: Mohib) was born in 1851 in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was a distinguished Islamic scholar, Sufi poet, journalist, and social reformer in Urdu. He later settled in Hyderabad Deccan, where he made significant contributions to journalism, literature, and social reform. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Urdu journalism in Hyderabad Deccan.
A contemporary of Maulana Altaf Husain Hali and Akbar Allahabadi, Mohib Husain founded the influential journal Muallim-e-Niswan in Hyderabad. Through this publication, he actively advocated women's education, social reform, and the spread of progressive ideas. The journal played an important role in promoting female education and social awareness in the Deccan.
He was an accomplished poet in both Urdu and Persian. His poetry is marked by Sufi thought, spiritual insight, and ethical values, while also reflecting his deep devotion to his spiritual guide, Hazrat Shah Muhammad Saudagar. Owing to his profound grounding in Islamic scholarship, he produced a verse translation and commentary of the Qur'an titled Masnavi Asrar-e-Quran, regarded as one of his major scholarly works. His other notable writings include Musaddas-e-Tawhid.
Death: He passed away in Hyderabad on 5 Jumada al-Awwal 1348 AH (1930 CE).