Haji ShariatUllah (HSU)

Q. Who was Haji Shariatullah (HSU)

ANS: Shariatullah Haji (1781-1840) was a prominent Islamic reformer from Bangladesh. The
district of Shariatpur was named after him in his honor. He was born in 1781 in the village of
Shamail, under the Madaripur sub-division of the greater Faridpur district, in a petty Talukdar
family. In 1799, he migrated to Makkah and returned to Bangladesh in 1818. He initiated an
Islamic revivalist reform movement which was like contemporary Arabian Wahhabism, and it
became known as the Faraizi movement. Although his movement was primarily religious, it also
addressed various other aspects of society. He can be described as an Islamic revivalist, a social
reformer, and a populist peasant leader.

Q. Why he wished to revive Islam?

ANS: During the early 18th century, the Bengali Muslims were going through a difficult time.
Under British rule, they were experiencing economic, social, and educational limitations.
Additionally, they faced oppression and torture from Hindu landlords, which had weakened their
religious beliefs, causing Hinduism to have a negative influence on Islam. As a result, these
Muslims had become superstitious and were far from the true ideal of Islam. Unfortunately, there
was no hope for political regeneration at that time.

Haji Shariat Ullah was born in 1781 in Faridpur district of Bengal, India under difficult circumstances. At a
young age, he went to Mecca and stayed there for a long time. During his stay, he learned about the true
essence of Islam and decided to improve the living conditions of poor Muslims by spreading the true teachings
of Islam. After returning from Mecca, he urged Bengali Muslims to follow the basic principles of Islam

After Haji Shariat Ullah's passing in 1840, his son Mohsin-ud-Din Ahmad, also known as "Dudu Mian," took
over the Faraizi Movement. Born in 1810, he transformed the movement into a religious-political one. He
demonstrated his natural leadership abilities by strengthening and popularizing the movement. To ensure
effective and systematic management, he divided Bengal into administrative units and appointed deputies
known as "Khalifahs" in each unit. These Khalifahs were responsible for running the movement in their
respective areas.

Q. What were his contribution

Ans:The Faraizi Movement was established by Haji Shariatullah in 1818, with the aim of purifying the
Islamic religion by eradicating any customs or doctrines that were against its precepts. The main concern of the
movement was social inequality, particularly as the British rule had a significant impact on the lives of
Muslims. The Faraizi Movement was a revivalist movement that emerged in the 19th century. It was founded
to spread Shariatullah's latest Islamic research and to uphold the Fard. After the death of his father, Haji
Shariatullah's son, Ahmad Dudu Miyan, took over the leadership of the movement. In 1838, his followers
defied the indigo planters' demands and refused to pay taxes. Dudu Miyan's headquarters were in Bahadurpur,
where he united the peasants in opposition to the zamindars and indigo planters, inspiring a new awareness
among them. Fun Fact: The name "Fairazi" is derived from the Urdu word "Farz," which signifies the
obligations imposed by Allah or God. The movement focused on educating people about their
moral responsibilities towards Allah. The movement gained prominence during the British Raj as
leaders like Shariatullah believed that British rule had weakened Islam. Consequently, he aimed
to bring about significant reforms through the campaign.

Q. Was he successful
Ans: The success of his Movement perturbed the Hindu zamindars'. After his death in 1840 his son
Mohsin-ud-Din assumed the leadership of the movement. The Movement supported the idea of jihad (Holy
war) against the non-Muslims who were undermining the true principles of Islam