Question Answers - The Religious

Thinkers

The Religious Thinkers

Q1 - Who was Shah Wali Ullah? [4]
Qutub-ud-Din Ahmad, known as Shah Wali Ullah due to his piety was
born in Delhi in 1703. He was a religious scholar, who studied in
Mudrassa-e-Rahimyya and later on taught there for 12 years. In 1736
after coming back from Arabia, He noticed that Islam was going in a
downfall as the Muslims had incomplete knowledge of the Islamic
teachings and so he translated Quran in to persian for more people to
understand it. He wrote 51 Arabic and Persian books like Izalat Akhfah
& Hujjatullah al Baligha to motivate Muslims. He wrote a writing on
Caliphs in a way that it was acceptable for both Sects as he wanted
Muslims not be divided in sects and be united. Moreover he stopped
the rapid decline of the Mughal Empire, by defeating Marathas with
the help of Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761 at Panipat. The 2 nation theory
was also developed by his teachings. He died in 1762.

Q2 - Who was Shaheed Ahmad Bralvey? [4]

Shaheed Ahmad Bralvey was born in 1786 in Rai Barely, a small town
near Lucknow. He received his education from Madrassa-e-Rahimya. In
1810, he learnt to use European weaponry. His capabilities then
allowed him to be a commander of a group of soldiers. He believed
that Muslims should get freedom through armed struggle. So, he
started the Jihad Movement, which was the inspiration for Pakistan
movement. This made him travel Punjab, Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Rajestan and Sindh to capture Peshawar from the Sikhs and establish
headquarters there. This allowed Muslim rule to start over Peshawar
strengthening them, and defending Islam. He was martyred in 1831 in
Balakot. After his death, his movement gradually lost momentum.
Q3 - What was Jihad Movement? [4]
Jihad Movement was a movement started by Shaheed Ahmad Barelvy
in 1826 in Punjab. At the time Punjab was under Sikh ruler, Ranjit
Singh who did not allow Muslims to practice Islam freely. Syed Ahmad
Barelvy believed in a strict interpretation of Islam and sought to
establish Islamic law in the region through armed struggle,
considering it a Jihad. He visited towns to gathered support for his
movement and succeeded. After establishing headquarters in Nashera
he declared a war against Ranjit Singh. In 1830 he was able to capture
Peshawar and establish headquarters there with the help of the
movement. Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvy was eventually martyred in
1831. The Jihad Movement gradually lost momentum.

Q4 - What were the reasons for the failure of the Jihad Movement? [4]
Jihad Movement was a movement initiated by Syed Ahmad Shaheed
Barelvy in 1826 in Punjab. The movement in the beginning was very
successful, however, the movement gradually lost momentum. One of
the major reasons for why the movement failed was due to the rumors
spread, that SSAB's reforms were Un-Islamic. Moreover, the movement
failed due to the Shahadat of SSAB. In addition, the movement did not
have a proper funding system nor proper weapons, and so the
movement failed!

Q5 - Who was Haji Shariat Ullah? [4]

Haji Shariat Ullah was an Islamic Reformer who was born in the district
of Faridpur in 1781. He went to Arabia in 1799 and stayed there for 19
years. When he returned back to Bengal in 1819 he began his Faraizi
Movement which was a Movement designed to free Muslims from
Hindu Practices and to make them follow Islamic obligatory acts that
are Faraiz, basically trying to purify Islam. He was able to succeed and
the conditions of Muslims improved economically and socially.
Muslims were reunited. He passed away in 1840.

Q6 - What was Faraizi Movement? [4]

Faraizi Movement was a movement initiated by Haji Shariat Ullah in
Bengal in 1819. In This movement anyone who joined the it was
required to give up all sins and pray for the forgiveness of his sins. He
was also required to perform Islamic Obligatory acts that are Faraiz
and he was also required to give up all Hindu Practices. Faraizi
Movement also supported the Idea of Jihad against Non-Muslim
forces which were oppressing Muslims. The movement also helped
Muslims economically, as Muslim labor started. This also allowed the
society to improve. The movement was very successful and was able to
unite Muslims and make them return to their original roots.

Q7 - Why was Haji Shariat Ullah's movement called Faraizi Movement?

[4]
Haji Shariat Ullah's Movement initiated Faraizi Movement in 1819 in
Bengal. The word Faraizi is derived from the Arabic word "Faraiz" or
"Faraid" which mean "Obligations". It is known as Faraizi Movement as
a Muslims was required to perform Islamic Obligatory acts that are
Faraiz like Salah and he was also required to give up all Hindu
Practices. The Movement was very successful and improved the
conditions of Muslims economically and socially. Muslims were
reunited.

Q8 - Why did Shah Wali Ullah wish to revive Islam in the Sub-
Continent? [7]
Shah Wali Ullah wished to revive Islam in the Indian Sub-Continent for
numerous reasons.
Shah Wali Ullah wished to revive Islam in the Sub-Continent due to
many reasons, one of the major being the "purification of Islam".
During Shah Wali Ullah's time, Islam had lost it's purity in the Sub-
Continent. Hindu practices and beliefs had crept in the worships and
lives of the Muslims. Therefore, he wrote many books for this purpose
to educate Muslims on this motive. Hence, he decided the revival of
Islam as, it had become very important to revive Islam in the Sub-
Continent.
Another Reason for why Shah Wali Ullah wished to revive Islam in the
Sub-Continent was to stop the ignorance of the teachings of Quran
and Sunnah. Shah Wali Ullah wanted Muslims to implement Islamic
teachings in all the aspects of their lives, let it be social, political or
religious, which was not possible without making Quranic teachings
more accessible to people. Therefore, he translated Quran in to
Persian, so more Muslims can understand it. Hence, he wanted to
revive Islam, as he believed this would enable them to restore their
pride and improve their living conditions. Therefore, Shah Wali Ullah
sought to revive Islam in the Sub-Continent.
Another reason for why Shah Wali Ullah wished to revive Islam in the
Sub-Continent was to save the weakening Mughal Empire. At the time,
Mughal Empire was going in a rapid decline and that the spread of
Islam was slow, if not at all, due to this. One of the major reasons for
the decline was the Marathas, who were weakening the Empire.
Therefore, Shah Wali Ullah invited Ahmad Shah Abdali and united
Muslims to fight against Marathas, so that Islam could both be
protected and revived. The Afghan ruler attacked the Marathas and
defeated them in the battle of Panipat in 1761. This stopped the rapid
decline of the Mughal Empire and the spread of Islam began, which
was why Shah Wali Ullah wished to revive Islam in the Sub-Continent.