Attempts to revive Islam [7]

Question 1

Why did Muslims lose their leadership and importance in the subcontinent?

Answer 1

• When the Mughal Empire declined, Muslims lost their political power and royal support.
• Without this backing, they became economically weak and lost their status in society.
• Reformers stepped in to fill the leadership gap and help Muslims strengthen themselves against rising non-Muslim powers like the Marathas, Sikhs, and British.

Question 2

Why did reformers focus on purifying Islam?

Answer 2

• Islam in the subcontinent had become mixed with un-Islamic practices.
• Reformers believed that to build a moral society, Muslims needed to return to the pure teachings of Islam.
• They aimed to remove corrupt practices from everyday life, politics, and society, ensuring that future generations could practice Islam in its true form.

Question 3

How did oppression from non-Muslim powers lead to revival movements?

Answer 3

• Muslims faced oppression from non-Muslim powers in several regions.
• In the south, the Marathas threatened Muslim identity, leading Shah Waliullah to oppose them.
• In Punjab, Ranjit Singh banned the Azaan and turned the Badshahi Mosque into a stable, prompting Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barelvi to lead a jihad force.
• In Bengal, Hindu and British landlords oppressed Muslim peasants, and Haji Shariat Ullah launched a movement to improve their status.
• These events fueled the efforts to revive and protect Islam.