Shah Waliullah

1703 – 1762
 Context of the subcontinent at start of eighteenth century
early 18th century = 1700 – 1750
Aurangzeb’s reign = 1658 – 1707 (almost 50 years)

Economic strain
Conditions of Mughal Prolonged military campaigns
empire led to high taxation and
depletion of resources
British expansion through
better weaponry and
tactics

Decline of central authority

Weak successors Religious intolerance
Vast size of the empire coupled
Nobility had become Strict Islamic policies such as jizya tax
with revolts and foreign
pleasure loving and by Aurangzeb led to tensions with other
invasions contributed to
spent wealth on religious groups that were in majority
empire inability to control
luxuries
 Shah Waliullah’s efforts to revive Islam
Problems
1. Religious values forgotten
• Ignorance of Quran and Sunnah led to
decline of Muslim influence in
subcontinent
• Hindu beliefs and customs had crept
into worships and lives of Muslims in
India
• Social evils had corrupted Islamic
society in form of injustice,
extravagance and idleness
Solutions
A - Writings
1. Translation of Quran in Persian from
Arabic
• Quran as a complete code of life
• Political, economic and social
behavior - guided by Islamic values
• Reviving faith = restoration of former
position
• Persian - main language of the
subcontinent
 Shah Waliullah’s efforts to revive Islam
Problems Solutions
A - Writings cont.
• Led to understanding of Islamic
teachings by large number of people

• His worked inspired future

1. Religious values forgotten generations; his sons Shah Abdul
Qadir and Shah Rafi translated Quran
into Urdu

• Urdu - main literary language of

northern India
 Shah Waliullah’s efforts to revive Islam
Problems Solutions
A - Writings
2. Wrote 51 books in Persian and Arabic
• Hujjatullah-ul-Baligha and Izalat-ul-
Akhfa

• Based on principles of Islam

1. Religious values forgotten
• Correct concepts presented in simple
form
 Shah Waliullah’s efforts to revive Islam
Problems Solutions
B - Education
Teaching and preaching true essence of
Islam at Madrassa-e-Rahimiya
• Trained his sons and other pupils

• Sent missionaries to parts of

1. Religious values forgotten subcontinent and other countries

• Spread his beliefs and thoughts even

after he passed away
 Shah Waliullah’s efforts to revive Islam
Problems Solutions
2. Lack of unity due to sectarian division Wrote account on ’First Four Caliphs of
– Shias and Sunnis Islam’ in a way that was acceptable by
both sects/ groups

3. Lack of unity among Muslims as a • United Muslims against the Marathas

community globally and Sikhs, who were attacking the
Mughals from south and north,
respectively

• Invited Muslim nobles to join forces

with Mughals via letters

• Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan

defeated Marathas at the Battle of
Panipat in 1761
Syed Ahmed Barelvi
1786 – 1831
Reasons for Jihad Movement
Reasons for Jihad Movement
Reasons for Jihad Movement
Events of the Jihad Movement
Events of the Jihad Movement
Why Jihad Movement failed?
Why Jihad Movement failed?
Why Jihad Movement failed?
Why Jihad Movement failed?
Why Jihad Movement failed?
Impact Why it failed?
Haji Shariat Ullah
1781 – 1840
 East
Bengal

Regions of Islamic
revivalist movements
 Reasons for Faraizi Movement
Socio-economic Religious
Status of Muslims reduced from ruling class Muslims had moved away from true Islamic
to poverty - they needed political awareness practices that led to their miserable state
Muslims not given equal opportunities in
Haji Shariat Ullah wanted Muslims to focus
education and employment
on the observation of Islamic duties
Zamindars – landowners and tax collectors
were all Hindus working closely with British Restore pride of Muslims and purify the faith
from Hindu rituals
Oppression of Muslims by the British rulers
and zamindars India had become Dar al Harb, Friday
The landlords imposed a ban on the prayers and Eid prayers should not be
slaughter of cows especially on Eid as an offered
additional religious tax
Conditions were worsened by frequent
cyclones and famines
 Faraizi Movement
1. Emphasis on repentance for past sins for the purification of soul

2. Muslims should promise to lead a righteous life in future and strictly

observe the obligatory religious duties of Faraiz i.e. prayer, fasting,
giving alms etc.

3. Strict adherence to Tawhid

4. Denounce all ceremonies which had no reference to the Quran and

Sunnah

5. Commanded Farsizis (his followers) not to pay landlords additional

religious taxes and not to obey ban on religious acts
 Faraizi Movement
The Islamic-led Faraizi movement soon turned into a socio-economic issue.

The growing popularity of the movement outraged landlords, who built up

a propaganda campaign with the British officials, imprisoning the Faraizis.

In 1837, Hindu landlords accused Haji Shariatullah of attempting to build

up a state of his own.

They also brought several lawsuits against the Faraizis, in which they
benefitted due to co-operation of the Europeans.

Haji Sahab was placed under arrest and later driven out of the region to
Nawabganj, Dhaka where he died in 1840.
 Faraizi Movement - Impact
The movement gave Muslims the courage to stand up for their rights. It made
them aware to voice their concerns and resist unfair treatment. It made them
understand their socio-economic importance as a major population of Bengal.

After the death of Haji Shariatullah, his son, Mohsin-ud-Din, known as

Dadu Miyan, led the movement.

▪ He divided East Bengal into areas called circles and appointed khalifas
for each of them. The khalifas were responsible for the social, political
and religious development of the circles. Under his leadership, the
movement took a more militant form.

▪ He organized resistance to Hindu landlords and money lenders,

boycotting the payment of taxes and interest charges.
 Faraizi Movement - Impact
▪ He also formed an armed force to attack the zamindars and their
followers and then went one stage further by attempting to form a
parallel Muslim government within East Bengal.

▪ Dadu Mian even threatened to declare a jihad against the British

government.

▪ Consequently, the British arrested him and put him in prison.

▪ After his death in 1860, the Faraizi Movement declined.