Syed Mahmood Quadri (1911–2000), also known as Syed Mahmood and Abul Fazl Syed Mahmood was a judge in the history of Hyderabad Estate and later in the Indian Judiciary after the merge of Hyderabad in free India.
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Syed Mahmood belonged to a well known family of Hyderabad Deccan. He was the grand son of Abul Fazl Syed Mahmood-I who rendered his services as the Director of Armed Forces, Member of the High Court & Mufti of the Legislative Council in the government of Nizam-V of Hyderabad Deccan. Syed Mahmood's father Syed Abdul Rashid besides being a noted scholar and Mufti of Hyderabad City also served as the Qazi in the then Qazath Courts.[1]
Syed Mahmood married Ayesha Begum, the daughter of Maulvi Syed Waheedul Quadri Al-Moosavi who was a respected scholar and descendant of the famous sufi saint Syed Abdul Qader Al-Gilani of Baghdad, Iraq.[2]
Syed Mahmood did his Bachelor of Arts (BA) from City College, Hyderabad and later completed in 1937 his Bachelor in Logic Law (LLB) from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Based on his commendable performance, he was appointed as the Criminal Court Magistrate immediately after his graduation. He continued his excellent services in different positions till he was appointed as the District & Sessions Judge. Most of his judgements were considered historic and used as ready references both during his service and after his retirement in 1966. He remained a source of guidance in person to many of his colleagues, subordinates, juniors and legal practitioners. He was a known expert on Islamic Jurisprudence and was often consulted thereon.[3]
Beyond his profession, He was always an active part for community services. He was the founder & president of the well known charitable body in Hyderabad, "Anjuman Moinul Millat" that he formed in 1956 as a cooperative services organisation. He was a founder member and Vice President of "Toor Baitul Mal", Honorary Secretary of "Jamia Nizamia", the Islamic University of Hyderabad, Founder and President of "Ma'arif-e-Islamia Trust", Founder Member of the "Anjuman Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf" an Organisation formed for protection of endowment properties, Management Committee Member of "Latifia Arabic College", the well known college of Oriental Studies in Hyderabad, Founder Member and Vice President of "Muslim Welfare Organization" etc.
He was equally known and respected among people of all religions and beliefs and acted effectively for the communal harmony in the society. His famous article "Hyderabad ki Ganga Jamni Tahzeeb" was published by various newspapers and magazines during the communal disturbance in Hyderabad and was appreciated for promotion of mutual respect and harmony.[4]
His community services through above mentioned and many other organizations are noted by several writers in their books and remembered even today among the people of Hyderabad. The recognition of Jamia Nizamia's degree by Osmania University for admission to M.A was a remarkable achievement during his tenure at the Jamia.[5]
His other remarkable achievement was the formation of the Mukarram Jah Student's Hostel in Hyderabad through Muslim Welfare Organization, an organization in Hyderabad of which he was a co-founder.
Syed Mahmood contributed the law section to the Urdu Encyclopedia published under the auspicies of Moulana Azad Research Institute of Hyderabad. He was also a known scholar, writer, translator and poet in English, Urdu, Arabic and Persian Languages and has written about thirty books.