On This Day In Muslim History: January 14

Abdali Defeats Marathas At Panipat

On this day, on 14 January 1761, Afghan King Ahmad Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas at the Third Battle of Panipat. Considered to be one of the largest, eventful battles fought in the 18th century, it ended the Maratha attempt to succeed the Mughals as rulers of India and marked the virtual end of the Mughal empire. It also reported the largest number of fatalities in a single day of battle.

Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani Was Born

On this day, on 14 January 1947, Abul Qasim Nomani, an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar and the current Vice-Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband was born. Ranked among the 500 most influential Muslims, Nomani is a well-known scholar of hadith, jurist, orator and Shaikhul Hadith of the Jamia Islamia in Varanasi, UP.

Writer Ahmed Ali Died

On this day, on 14 January 1994, Ahmed Ali, novelist, poet, critic, translator, diplomat and scholar, died. He was the founder of the All-India Progressive Writers’ Association. Al-Quran, A Contemporary Translation, his most notable contributions, is recognized as one of the best existing translations of the Holy Qur’an.

Sultan Mehmed VI Was Born

On this day, on 14 January 1861, Mehmed VI, the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire was born. His forced abdication and exile in 1922 prepared the way for the emergence of the Republic of Turkey. In his reign of four years, he is described as optimistic and patient, a good calligrapher and a poet of 63 works.