The servant of the Qur’an, and renowned Indian Islamic scholar Maulana Ghulam Muhammad Vastanvi passed away on 4 May 2025 at the age of 75. He was an educationist, known for his efforts to incorporate contemporary disciplines into traditional Islamic education. In addition to his Islamic studies, Maulana Vastanvi also earned an MBA degree.
He was the founder and rector of Jamia Islamia Ishaatul Uloom in Akkalkuwa, Maharashtra, which became a pioneering institution offering both religious education and modern professional courses like medicine, engineering, and IT. The Jamia Islamia Ishaatul Uloom runs a number of hospitals in Maharashtra and Gujarat. In 1979, Vastanvi established this institution in the tribal area of Akkalkuwa, Maharashtra, starting with just six students in a hut. Over decades, it expanded into a sprawling 60-acre campus.
Maulana Vastanvi was born on June 1, 1950, in Vastan village, the Surat district in the state of Gujarat. He dedicated his life to reforming Islamic education by integrating modern disciplines with traditional teachings, leaving a lasting legacy in India’s educational and religious spheres. He has played a pivotal role in incorporating modern subjects such as medicine, engineering, and related disciplines into the institutions he manages in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
In 1998 Maulana Vastanvi became a member of the governing council (Majlis-e-Shura) of Darul Uloom Deoband (the most important Islamic seminaries in India and the largest in the world). Later he was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband on January 10, 2011. However, his tenure lasted only six months.
His life exemplified a rare synthesis of tradition and modernity, leaving behind a transformative impact on educational institutions and countless students. As he once stated, “We must build a society that strengthens the nation”, a vision he tirelessly pursued until his final days.
