The Nadwa library in Lucknow is a treasure mine of books for people of all faiths

on Sep 16, 2022

For most Lucknow residents, the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama madrasa next to Lucknow University is a closed-door institution inside which only Islamic scholars are permitted.

Contrary to common belief, the Allamah Shibli Nomani Library on the Nadwa campus is available to individuals of all faiths and allows them to peruse books for free.

"We don't discriminate based on faith," stated librarian Mohammad Faizan Nagrami Nadwi. This library is open to people of all faiths. Pundits come here to take notes. At the same time, maulanas go to the library to look up information. We offer a section dedicated to current novels."

"The library is open from 8 a.m. until midnight." We provide every assistance to scholars who wish to come here and study books and take notes. Photocopiers have been erected by the Nadwa government. "Because we do not allow anyone to take the books home, we have given photocopiers within the library," he explained.

"Over 2.60 lakh volumes on various disciplines, including fiction, science, languages, and religion, are housed in the three-story library, which spans 60,000 square feet." The library includes literature in around 25 languages, including over 25,000 English volumes. The library also includes around 5000 volumes in Hindi that describe Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, and other religions. Furthermore, the library houses around 6000 rare manuscripts, some of which are 800 years old."

Tafseer-e-Muntahal Uloom, an 800-year-old book written by Sheikh Nuruddin, is one of the library's prized possessions, along with 50 volumes of Al Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam, written by Oxford University professor Muhammad Akram Nadwi, who has written 50 volumes about 10,000 female scholars. It describes how the ladies had excellent public stature and traveled widely for religious understanding throughout Islamic nations.

"The task of digitalization of the library is ongoing on a massive scale," stated Mohammad Faizan Nagrami Nadwi. We have digitized practically all of the manuscripts in order to preserve them. Almost all of the books are now being digitized. Our crew is working on it around the clock."

According to Nadwi, the majority of the volumes in the library were contributed by intellectuals.