Abdul Karim Parekh, Social Worker
Social Worker

Abdul Karim Parekh

Born 15 April 1928 · verify — Died 11 September 2007

Translated the Quran into Urdu and delivered influential Islamic discourses in India.

Abdul Karim Parekh , popularly known as Maulana, was an Indian social worker and scholar, known for his translation of Quran into Urdu language and his discourses on the Islamic religious text.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Despite only completing primary school before working as a laborer, Abdul Karim Parekh’s Urdu translation of the Quran was reprinted over 40 times by 2007.

The Story

1
🌟 Born on 15 April 1928 in Kanseoni village, Maharashtra, Abdul Karim Parekh left formal schooling after primary classes and worked as a laborer, yet taught himself to translate the Quran into Urdu, a version reprinted over 40 times by 2007.
2
In the early 1990s, he became the founding treasurer of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a critical institution defending Muslim personal law in post-Independence India.
3His Urdu translation of the Quran gained popularity not only in India but also among Urdu-speaking communities abroad, marking a rare scholarly feat by a self-taught laborer from rural Maharashtra.
4🏆 In 2001, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third highest civilian honor, explicitly recognizing his social reform efforts and religious scholarship.

🏅 Awards & Honours

2001
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Abdul Karim Parekh completed only primary schooling but self-taught himself to translate the Quran into Urdu, achieving over 40 reprints by 2007.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Kanseoni, Maharashtra
Abdul Karim Parekh was born as the third of 13 children to Abdul Latif and Hanifa in Kanseoni village, Maharashtra.
1928
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Career
Ends formal schooling, begins labor work
After primary school, Parekh worked as a laborer, beginning a self-taught journey into religious scholarship.
c.1940
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Career
Founding treasurer of AIMPLB
Parekh helped establish the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, taking the role of founding treasurer.
c.1990
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Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to social reform and religious scholarship.
2001
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Death
Death
Abdul Karim Parekh passed away, leaving behind his Urdu Quran translation and social reform legacy.
2007
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Other
Posthumous YouTube discourse upload
A recorded discourse by Parekh titled "Tauba Kyya Hai?" was uploaded on YouTube, continuing his influence.
2011
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He was the founder treasurer of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, established in the early 1990s to protect Muslim personal law rights in India.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Received the Padma Bhushan award in 2001 for his social reform and scholarly work, a rare honor for a self-taught religious scholar from rural Maharashtra.

03 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

His Urdu translation of the Quran remains popular decades after his death, with widespread use in India and among Urdu-speaking diaspora communities.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Parekh’s translation of the Quran into Urdu made Islamic scripture accessible to millions of Urdu-speaking Muslims, especially those without formal religious education. His role as founding treasurer of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board helped institutionalize Muslim personal law advocacy in India during a tumultuous post-Independence period. The Padma Bhushan award in 2001 cemented his recognition within India’s social reform and religious scholarship circles.

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