Forum Pakistan

Ali, Saiyyid Amir (1849-1928) Historian/Lawyer. Arnir Ali belonged to a noble family who had moved to India from Iran at the invitation of Nasiruddin Muhammad Shah (1719-48). He began his education in Calcutta and completed it in London.
From 1883 to 1878, he was a Member of the Bengal Legislative Council and from 1883 to 1885 of the Imperial Legislative Council of India. He served as a Judge of the High Court from 1890 to 1904, and as a Privy Councillor in 1909.

Arnir Ali shared the reformist ideas of Sir Syed Ahmad *Khan and supported the modernization of the Muslim community. The Central National Mohammedan Association, famous for its educational activities, was organized and headed by Amir Ali from 1877 to 1904.

His historical works expounding the humanitarian nature of Islam and Christianity exerted a profound influence, not only on the Muslim intelligentsia of India, Egypt and other eastern countries but on Western European Islamic studies as well. Amir Ali attached particular importance to the study of Islamic ethics, and insisted that Islam contains basic moral values which have been operative throughout the course of history, and are applicable to all nations and eras.

WORKS: 'Memoirs and Other Writings of Sayyid Amir Ali', Lahore, 1968; 'The Spirit of Islam', Calcutta, 1902; 'The Life and Teachings of Muhammad', Lahore, 1891; 'A Short History of Muhammadan Law', Vols.1-11, Calcutta, 1892-94; 'A Short History of the Saracens', London, 1889.