The name is Abdur Rahim Kidwai, and the alias is "Rahmani". His father's name was Abdul Aleem Kidwai, and his mother was Zahida Khatoon, the daughter of Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi. Abdur Rahim Kidwai was born on October 21, 1956, at "Khatun Manzil", Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. His early education began at home, then in a local madrasa, followed by Taleem Gah Niswan School, Lucknow. He later enrolled at Minto Circle School, Aligarh, and subsequently joined Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). He completed a B.A. in Chemistry, followed by M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in English Literature. In 1981, he earned a second Ph.D. from AMU on "Lord Byron’s Turkish Tales." Additionally, he obtained a teaching certification in English from Aston University, Birmingham, UK.

From 1978 to 1997, he served as a Reader in the Department of English at AMU, and since 1997, he has been serving as a Professor. Moreover, since 1985, he has been a Visiting Professor every summer at Leicester University, Oxford University, and University College London (UCL).

In 2000, he briefly served as the Registrar of AMU, and since 2001, he has been the Director of the Academic Staff College. Since 2017, he has also been the Director of the Center for Qur’anic Studies, Aligarh.

Prof. Kidwai has delivered lectures at various prestigious national and international institutions, including Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi), Lucknow University, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (Hyderabad), University of Hyderabad, English and Foreign Languages University (Hyderabad), Allahabad University, Kashmir University (Srinagar), Kolkata University, Integral University (Lucknow), Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University (Lucknow), International Islamic University (Islamabad, Pakistan), Leicester University, Oxford University, and the Islamic Foundation (Leicester, UK). He frequently participates in academic conferences and seminars and delivers insightful lectures.

Prof. Kidwai has published approximately 250 scholarly, research-based, and literary articles and reviews. Additionally, he is associated with several religious, educational, and social institutions, including Nadwatul Ulama (Lucknow), Jamiatul Hidaya (Jaipur), Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi Islamic Academy (Bhatkal), Sultan Jahan Muslim Social Upliftment Society (Aligarh), Al-Barkat Educational Society (Aligarh), and Iqra Public School (Aligarh).

In addition to translating the Qur’an into English, he has authored 30 books on Qur’anic studies, Islamic studies, and English and Urdu literature.