Lucknow: Renowned Botanist and Author Dr. M.I.H. Farooqi’s Contributions Highlighted*

Dr. Mohammed Iqtedar Husain Farooqi, a distinguished botanist and author, continues to be recognised for his significant contributions to phytochemistry, economic botany, and Islamic scientific literature.

Born on April 7, 1936, in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Farooqi completed his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Plant Chemistry from Aligarh Muslim University. Over a career spanning nearly four decades, he served as Deputy Director at the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, under the Government of India. He also worked at the Forest Research Institute, contributing extensively to research in phytochemistry and economic botany.

Dr. Farooqi has authored more than 125 research papers published in national and international journals. In addition, he has written over 30 books on plants and natural products of economic importance, including the widely regarded Dictionary of Vegetable Gums, Resins and Dyes. Among his most acclaimed works are Plants of the Quran and Medicinal Plants in the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, which have earned global recognition for bridging science and religious knowledge.

Apart from his scientific achievements, Dr. Farooqi has also written more than 100 articles in Urdu and English on Islamic knowledge and popular science, published in leading newspapers and magazines in India and abroad.

He has held several key positions, including Convener of the Panel of Industrial Gums at the Bureau of Indian Standards, and leadership roles in organisations such as Kaul Science Foundation, Urdu Scientific Society, and Sir Syed Scientific Society. He has also been associated with educational and scientific bodies as a board member.

Dr. Farooqi’s work has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards, including the Sultan Qaboos bin Said Award from Oman, the AFMI Award of Excellence (USA & Canada), the Pride of Oudh Award conferred by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz Award by the Urdu Science Congress, and the Salim Ali Award by the U.P. Urdu Academy. He has also received recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, and various scientific and social organisations.

His publications have drawn praise from global leaders and scholars. Mohammed VI commended his work on Quranic and medicinal plants, while Turki Al-Faisal described his book as “excellent.” His research has been acknowledged for filling a long-standing gap in the study of plants mentioned in Islamic texts.

Dr. Farooqi remains a prominent figure in the intersection of science and faith-based studies, with his work continuing to inspire researchers, scholars, and readers worldwide.