religious thinkers Flashcards
Shah Waliullah biography
Born of 21 Feb 1703
Real name = Qutub ud din
Later known as Shah Waliullah because of his piety
His father = Shah Abdul Rahim (founded Madrassa Rahimiya in Delhi)
Father died in 1718 → shah waliullah started teaching in Madrassa
1724: Shah Waliullah went to Arabia to perform Hajj and further his studies
Studied under famous scholar Sheikh Abu Tahir bin Ibrahim
Returned to Delhi in 1732
Shah Waliullah beliefs
Believed that the Muslims were disunited and had weak leadership (vulnerable to attacks) reform had to come from Muslim community itself and not from weak leadership
Believed that many of the problems of the Muslims resulted from incomplete knowledge of the Quran and Islam in general– necessary that quranic teachings became more accessible.
All political, social, economical behavior should be based on Islamic principles
he wanted muslims to concentrate on the fundamental principles of Islam, believing that this would create a more united community
Essential to follow the moral and spiritual principles or Islam in order to create a good society. Unislamic principles were not acceptable in any area of society
Shah Waliullah work
Translated the Holy Quran into Persian so it would be available for a larger number of Muslims. The ulama criticized him but his work proved v popular.
His son’s Shah Abdul Qadar and Shah Rafi translated the Holy Quran into urdu.
Wrote 51 books in persian and arabic (Hujjat Allah al Baligha- and Izalat Akhfa)
His writings brought him great fame and enabled him to have influence in other areas too.
One of his most important contributions to the Muslim community was the organization of opposition against Marathas, who were threatening to over run the mughal empire from the south. Shah waliullah realized that the Muslims had to unite to deal with this threat, so he united forces with local Muslim leaders and defeated the Marathas at the battle of Panipat 1761. (Persuaded ahmed shah abdali of persia to intervene)
Shah Waliullah importance
one of the first Muslim thinkers to state that the decline of the Mughal empire and the vulnerable position of the Muslims were due to a neglect of the principles of Islam.
He showed that regeneration (moral and spiritual) might take place. The Madrassa Rahimiya played a vital role in teaching the principles of Islam and researching Islamic thought.
His writing in Persian made Islamic teachings available to a large number of people who weren’t able to understand arabic. Believed that Muslims could only prosper if they followed proper islamic customs.
Provided inspiration for all muslims to lead a pure life
Showed that Muslim revival could only take place if there was an acceptence that sectarian division was to stop. Muslims had ti concentrate on more basic principles of Islam and not allow differences to lead dto conflict.
Tried to build bridges between Muslims by organizing the opposition to Marathas and uniting the Muslims by emphasising the importance of jihad against a common enemy.
Syed Ahmad Bareilvi biography
born near lucknow in town of Rai Bareli (1786)
His father died when he was young (1806)
Studied under the sons of Shah Waliullah for 2 years learning Quran and Hadith
Joined the forces of Amir Khan, a Pathan military leader in 1810 & learnt how to use european weaponry
Was given command of a group of soldiers and was also made responsible for leading troops in prayer due to his piety
Returned to Delhi in 1817 where he tried to restore Islam to its original purity
Syed Ahmad Bareilvi beliefs
believed that freedom of Muskims could only come as a result of armed struggle against the foreign and non muslim forces that were oppressing them
Surrounded himself with men of great piety who were prepared to reject worldly wealth and work to improve the moral and intellectual lives of Muslims
He founded the Jihad movement which called for armed struggle to overthrow nonmuslim forces. He believed once this was done, Islam could be rescued from beliefs and customs contrary to Islam.
Syed Ahmed Bareilvi work
1821: went for Hajj, bt before going he held meetings across India to soread his beliefs about Jihad. 1823 = returned from Arabia = ready to take action
Thought that Punjab was the place to launch the Jihad movement against non muslims
Traveled many miles to raise a mujahideen force.
1826:established headquarters near Peshawar and sent a message to Ranjit Singh telling him to allow the Muslims freedom of worship or face the Mujahideen. Ranjit Singh dismissed the proposal so Syed Ahmad was forced to attack first at Akora on 21/12/1826 & then at Hazrothe; Sikhs suffered defeat.
Syed Ahmed’s victories established him as a successful military leader and encouraged other tribes to join the Mujahideen. Soon the army numbered 80,000. A major problem for him was that his army consisted of men from diff communities who disagreed over how the campaign fought- sikhs tried to exploit these differences by calling hud army un islamic
1827: Muslim leaders agreed unanimously that Syed Anmad should assume authority of an imam
Syed Ahmad was preparing to attack fort of Attock → encountered an army of 3500 Sikhs near Akora
Yar Muhammad Khan (Pathan chief) who joined his army was bribed by the Sikhs. First one of his servants tried to poison Syed Ahmad, then Yar Muhammad deserted the battlefield along with his men thus creating confusion and chaos in the ranks, leading to the defeat of Syed Ahmad’s forces. He had no other option but to move his forces to Panjtrar near Kashmir
Yar Muhammad = killed in battle against Mujahideen
However his brother sultan Muhammad khan also waged war against Syed Ahmad
Syed AHmad then moved his forces to Balakot, hoping to liberate Kashmir and Hazara. Balakot was thought to be a safe place as it was protected by mountains on three sides, however Syed AHmad was betrayed when local leaders told the Sikhs a way through the mountains
Surprise attack on Syed Ahmads forces
Battle of Balakot (1831) = fiercely contested
Though the Mujahideen were outnumbered, they fought bravely against the Sikhs. However, 600 Mujahideen soldiers were killed including Syed Ahmed and his commander Shah Ismail.
Syed Ahmad Bareilvi influence
Defeat of Mujahideen in battle of Balakot = serious setback for the Jihad movement and it struggled to survive. Movement continued till 1863 in the hills of the North West frontier until the British sent a large army to deal with the Mujahideen threat. Syed Ahmad’s work was Influential because:
First example in Indian history of a movement formed to free the Muslims from non-muslim/foreign rulers
It was a movement in order to achieve religious and spiritual freedom
The Jihad movement was a uniting force for the Muslims. The fact that many of Syed Ahmas soldiers were ready to die for their cause was an inspiration to all Muslims.
Historians regard the Jihad movement as a fore-runner of the Pakistan movement in India. Syed Ahmed’s efforts were an inspiration to all Muslims in defending their religion, culture, and freedom
Haji Shariatullah biography
Born in 1781, Faridpur district in East Bengal (today part of Bangladesh)
His father was a farmer and his family was not v well off
1799: traveled to Arabia for pilgrimage and stayed there for the next 19 years
Greatly influenced by the beliefs of Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Wahab
On his return to East Bengal, he started his own movement designed to purify Islam the Hindu influences
Died in 1840, but his son Mohsin-ud-Din carried on his work
Haji Shariatullah beliefs
He believed that the Muslim community had moved away from true Islamic practice. He wanted them to return to proper observation of Islamic duties called Faraiz. Which is why his movement is called the Faraizi movement.
Haji Shariatullah work
Haji Shariutallah found out that the Muslims of East Bengal were being oppressed by both the Hindus and the British. The Muslims had been given few education and employment opportunities, therefore reducing important Muslim families rto near poverty. Haji Shariatullah started the Faraizi movement in order to restore the pride of the Muslims and remove Hindu practices which had crept into their worship.
Important part of this reform = to follow religious obligations of a true Muslim
The success of his movement caused great concern among the Hindus of East Bengal. The landlords did not want Haji SHiatullah creating difficulties for them and were alarmed that the Muslim cultivators were uniting in a desire to improve their lives and purify their religion. Therefore the drove Haji SHariatullah out of the region to Nawabganj in Dhaka district where he died in 1840.
His work was carried on by his son Mohsin-ud-Din who worked to improve the position of Muslims in East Bengal and introduced important economic measures.
i) divided East Bengal into areas called circles, each under the control of Khalifas. They were responsible for the social and spiritual welfare of the people in their area.
ii) helped the peasant to oppose the excessive taxes imposed by the Hindu and British landlords iii) Mohsin-ud-dins opposition against payment of taxes led to unrest in East Bengal but he went even further and threatened to declare a jihad against the British government.
The British arrested him and put him in prison. After his death in 1860, the Faraizi movement declined
Haji Shariatullah influence
The Faraizi movement was influential for a number of reasons:
1- gave encouragement to Muslims at a time where they were demoralized by the oppression they suffered from the Hindus and British
2- was a spiritual revival which led to the revival in the Islamic religion in East Bengal. Hindu Practices were removed
3- had an important political and economical impact. The Bengal peasants became united in their opposition against the harsh treatment they received. They became more aware of their rights and political unity began to grow among them. Some of the seeds of the Pakistan movement were sown by the Faraizi movement.
