On This Day In Muslim History: February 21

Malcolm X Was Assassinated

On this day, on 21 February 1965, Malcolm X, an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist was assassinated. A prominent figure during the civil rights movement, he advocated black empowerment and the pursuit of racial justice and is largely responsible for the spread of Islam in the black community in the United States.

Shah Waliullah Dehlawi Was Born

On this day, on 21 February 1703, Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, an Islamic scholar, muhaddith, theologian, and philosopher was born. A great scholar at an early age, he reassessed Islamic theology amidst modern changes and authored 51 books in Persian and Arabic including the first Persian translation of the Qur’an in the Indian Subcontinent.

Amir Meenai Was Born

On this day, on 21 February 1829, Ameer Minai, a 19th-century Indian poet, writer, and linguist, was born. Popular amongst both the people and the aristocracy, he is best known for his ghazals and for pioneering the naat genre of poetry. A connoisseur of language, he authored nearly 50 books in Urdu and Persian.