RELIGIOUS REFORMERS

SHAH WALIULLAH DEHLAWI

Q) Who was Shah Waliullah? (4)

Ans) Shah Waliullah was born on 21 February 1703. His real name was Qutb-ud-Din but he
later became known as shah Waliullah because of his piety. His father was Shah Abdul Rahim,
Who founded Madrassa Rahimiya in Delhi and over there Shah Waliullah started to teach after
his father passed away. In 1724 Shah Waliullah went to Saudi Arabia for further studies and
hajj, he returned to Delhi in 1732. Decline of Mughal Empire had started on his return to India.
He identified the causes for the decline of the Muslims and pointed out the remedies. He
translated the Quran into Persian which was the main language of Muslims at that time and he
tried to end sectarian division.

Q) Describe the Services of Shah Waliullah? (4)

Ans) Shah Waliullah was very pious man and he worked hard to make sure he was role model
to other Muslims. Shah Waliullah translated holy Quran in Persian which was the main language
of the Muslims at that time and he wrote 51 books in Arabic and Persian to explain the
principles of Islam. In economics he emphasised the need for social justice and for peasants
and craftsmen to be truly valued for their contribution in the economy. Shah Waliullah organised
opposition against Marathas and wrote letter to Muslims nobles, He was able to call Ahmed
Shah Abdali of Afghanistan to sub-continent and he crushed the Marathas and Marathas
weren’t able to rise again.

Q) Why did Shah Waliullah wish to revive Islam in the subcontinent? (7)

Ans) Shah Waliullah wanted to revive Islam because during Shah Waliullah’s time Mughal
Empire was declining and Muslims were disunited and vulnerable to attacks, Islam had lost its
purity in subcontinent Hindu customs, practices and beliefs had crept into worships and lives of
Muslims. Muslims were depended on ulemas who had distorted the religion. So it became
important to tell Muslims what were Islamic teachings and what were Myths and traditions.

He believed that the real cause of Muslim's problems and decline was because of their
ignorance about Islam, Quran and Sunnah. He wanted Muslims to use Islamic teachings in
every activity of their lives. Several people had corrupted Islamic society he wanted to transform
the society in the light of Islamic teachings. He wanted to eradicate the sectarian differences
that were weakening Muslim unity.

 Shah Waliullah wanted to protect Muslim religion, identity, values, and interests. He believed
that under the influence of unbelievers, Muslims will forget Islam and with the passage of time it
would become difficult to distinguish them from non-Muslims. So he wished to revive Islam in
the subcontinent. 
 RELIGIOUS REFORMERS

Q) How important was Shah Waliullah in the spread of Islam in the Sub-Continent before 1850?
Explain your answer. (14) (N2004/P1/1c)

Ans) Shah Waliullah was very pious he was educated in his father Shah Abdul Rahim Madrassa
where Shah Waliullah started to teach after his father’s death. He then in 1724 went to Saudi
Arabia for hajj and further Studies when he returned Mughal Empire was declining. Muslims
were disunited and vulnerable to attacks. Islam had lost its purity in the subcontinent. Hindu
customs, practices and beliefs had crept into Muslims worships and lives of Muslims, Several
people had corrupted Islamic society. Non-Muslims forces were gaining strength in sub-
continent and making lives of Muslims difficult.

Shah Waliullah felt that Muslims were declining and facing a lot of problems because of their
ignorance about Islam, Quran and Sunnah. He encouraged Muslims to concentrate on Quranic
teachings and Sunnah and helped by translating the holy Quran into Persian which was the
main language of the Muslims at that time, Shah Waliullah wrote 51 books in Arabic and
Persian to explain principles of Islam. His writing in Persian made Islamic teaching available to
large numbers of Muslims who could not understand Arabic. His books were designed to spread
the principles of Islam amongst the Muslims.

Shah Waliullah suggested ways to purify and correct the Muslim society by bringing moral and
spiritual values of Islam. He preached true Islam and prepared large number of followers who
spread his message in sub-continent. He advised Muslims to come back on true Islamic
teachings and give up on un-Islamic practices and ideas. He emphasized unity amongst
Muslims and tried to eradicate the sectarian differences. Shah Waliullah tried to revive the
concept of ‘jihad’ among Muslims because this spirit was lost because living comfortable and
luxurious life over time. He advised Muslims to give up on extravagance and asked wealthy
Muslims to look after poor. Shah Waliullah was successful on calling Ahmed Shah Abdali to the
sub-continent and crush Maratha, after this Marathas weren’t able to rise again.

Shah Waliullah was not only one important in spread of Islam before 1850. Syed Ahmed Barelvi
was greatly impressed by the thoughts of Shah Waliullah and he started to spread Islam
through the Jihad Movement, this movement became an armed struggle to liberate Punjab and
the NWFP from Sikh rule because Muslims were banned from prayer and had to face many
humiliations, which made it difficult to practice their religion. Haji Shariat Ullah was also
important in spread of Islam in subcontinent before 1850. He spread Islam through faraizi
movement. Haji Shariat Ullah started the faraizi movement to remove Hindu practices which had
crept into their worship and insisted that Muslims should perform their religious obligations. It
can be said that Shah Waliullah was most important in spread of Islam, many people were
inspired because of him for example Syed Ahmed Barelvi, because of Shah Waliullah’s work
many people understood Quran, Sunnah and true teachings of Islam and accepted Islam and
many people’s faith became stronger.
 RELIGIOUS REFORMERS

SYED AHMED SHAHEED BARELVI (1786-1831)

Q) Who was Syed Ahmed Barelvi? (4)

Ans) Syed Ahmed was born in Rae Bareli in 1786. His father died while he was young and in
1806 he moved to Delhi and he enrolled in madrassa Rahimiya, for two years he studied under
the son of shah Waliullah learning Quran and hadith. In 1810 he joined armed forces of Amir
Khan, A Pathan Military leader and at this time Syed Ahmed learned how to use European
Weaponry. In 1817 Syed Ahmed Barelvi returned to Delhi where he tried to restore Islam and its
purity. Syed Ahmed Started Jihad against Raja Ranjit Singh ruler of Punjab and in Battle of
Balakot 1831 Syed Ahmed Barelvi became a martyr.

Q) Why did Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barelvi wish to revive Islam in the sub-continent? (7)

Ans) As a man of action, Syed Ahmad was an ideal person to act as leader to work Against the
British power in India and to try to ensure that the Muslims were ruled By fellow Muslims. He
believed that the freedom of the Muslims could only come Because of armed struggle against
the foreign and non-Muslim forces, which were oppressing them.

Syed Ahmad believed that there was a need to end the evils that had corrupted Islamic society.
He wanted to improve the lives of Muslims, even when he served as an army officer he
surrounded himself with the men of great piety who were prepared to reject worldly wealth and
work for improving the moral and intellectual lives of Muslims.

The British had ensured that the Mughal emperors had little real power and the Sikhs were
dominant in the Punjab. Sir Syed founded the Jihad Movement, which Called for armed struggle
to overthrow non-Muslim oppression and restore Muslim Power. He believed that once this was
done, Islam could be rejuvenated and rescued from beliefs and customs contrary to Islamic
beliefs which had crept into everyday Life.

Q) What was Jihad movement? (4)

OR

Q) What was Mujahideen Movement? (4)

Ans) Jihad movement was started by Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barelvi in 1826. Jihad Movement
was an armed struggle to liberate Punjab and the NWFP from Sikh rule. Muslims were banned
from prayer and had to face many humiliations, which made it difficult to practice their religion.
This movement ended in 1831.

Q) describe Mujahideen movement?(7)

Q)Describe the failures of mujahedeen movement?(7)

 RELIGIOUS REFORMERS

Q) How important was Shah Waliullah in the spread of Islam in the Sub-Continent before 1850?
Explain your answer. (14) (N2004/P1/1c)

Ans) Shah Waliullah was very pious man; he was educated in Madrassa Rahimiya. He then in
1724 went to Saudi Arabia for hajj and further Studies when he returned Mughal Empire was
declining. Muslims were disunited and vulnerable to attacks. Islam had lost its purity in the
subcontinent.

Shah Waliullah felt that Muslims were declining and facing a lot of problems because of their
ignorance about Islam, Quran and Sunnah. He encouraged Muslims to concentrate on Quranic
teachings and Sunnah and helped by translating the holy Quran into Persian which was the
main language of the Muslims at that time, Shah Waliullah wrote 51 books in Arabic and
Persian. His books were designed to spread the principles of Islam amongst the Muslims.

Shah Waliullah suggested ways to purify and correct the Muslim society by bringing moral and
spiritual values of Islam. He preached true Islam and prepared large number of followers who
spread his message in sub-continent. He advised Muslims to come back on true Islamic
teachings and give up on un-Islamic practices and ideas. He emphasized unity amongst
Muslims and tried to eradicate the sectarian differences.

Shah Waliullah tried to revive the concept of ‘jihad’ among Muslims because this spirit was lost
because living comfortable and luxurious life over time. He advised Muslims to give up on
extravagance and asked wealthy Muslims to look after poor. Shah Waliullah was successful on
calling Ahmed Shah Abdali to the sub-continent and crush Maratha.

Shah Waliullah was not only one, important in spread of Islam before 1850. Syed Ahmed
Barelvi was greatly impressed by the thoughts of Shah Waliullah and he started to spread Islam
through the Jihad Movement, this movement was an armed struggle to liberate Punjab and the
NWFP from Sikh rule. Haji Shariat Ullah was also important in spread of Islam in subcontinent
before 1850. He spread Islam through faraizi movement. Faraizi movement was started to
remove Hindu practices which had crept into their worship and insisted that Muslims should
perform their religious obligations. It can be said that Shah Waliullah was most important in
spread of Islam, many people were inspired because of him for example Syed Ahmed Barelvi,
because of Shah Waliullah’s work many people understood Quran, Sunnah and true teachings
of Islam and accepted Islam and many people’s faith became stronger.
RELIGIOUS REFORMERS