An Indian religious leader and scholar. Maulana Thanvi authored about 1,200 publications ranging from small booklets to his widely known encyclopaedic works like 'Bashisti Zevar', which has seen millions of copies in print. He also translated the Qur'an and wrote its tafsir in Urdu. Maulana Thanvi ran a small seminary and a religious school. He used to answer all his mail everyday, which consisted of dozens and sometimes hundreds of pieces. He also taught many generations of scholars. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi was a man of strict discipline and had a deep concern about accountability for time.