SYED AHMED SHAHEED

BARELVI
1786 to 1840
 SEQUENCE OF
PRESENTATION
 Brief Biography

 Beliefs

 Work and Contribution (Jihad Movement)

 Reasons for the Decline of Jihad Movement

 Achievements

 Questions from the Cambridge International Examinations

 BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
FROM A STUDENT TO A MAJOR RELIGIOUS REFORMER

 Born in Rae Bareli and lived from 1786 to 1831.

 In 1806 moved to Dehli and enrolled in Madrassa Rahimiya.
 Greatly impressed by Shah Waliullah and a staunch follower of Shah Abdul Aziz
and Sheikh Abdul Wahab.
 In 1810 joined the forces of Nawab Amir Khan the ruler of Junk.
 In 1821, he left for Hajj and returned to Dehli in 1823 with a clear vision of
Jihad i.e. to liberate the Punjab and NWFP from the oppressive Sikh Domination
and began “The Jihad Movement” or “Tehrik-e-Mujahideen”.
 In the Battle of Balakot due to treachery , embraced Martyrdom.
 BELIEFS

 Freedom of Muslims could only come as a result of armed

struggle against the foreign and non-Muslims forces.
 There was a need to end the evils that had corrupted Islamic
society.
 By overthrowing non-Muslim oppressive forces and by restoring
Muslim power. Islam could be revived and freed from the practices of
other religions.
WORK AND CONTRIBUTION
(JIHAD MOVEMENT)

 In 1812, when Syed Ahmed left for Hajj, Punjab was under the control of the
Sikh regime of Ranjit Singh.
 Muslims in the areas controlled by Ranjit Singh were unable to carry out their
religious practices.
 Syed Ahmad decided that the Punjab was the place from which to launch Jihad.
 He toured Rajasthan, Sindh, Baluchistan and Afghanistan to enlist men to fight
the Sikhs and in 1826 established headquarters near Peshawar.
 Won battles at Akora in December 1826 and later at Hazrothe.
WORK AND CONTRIBUTION
(JIHAD MOVEMENT)

 In 1827 He assumed the authority of an Imam as his words united

various Muslim groups.
 He was preparing to attack the fort of Attock when Yar
Muhammad Khan, a Pathan chief of his army was bribed by the
Sikhs and he deserted in battle. The Muslim forces were defeated.
 Yar Muhammad’s brother, Sultan Muhammad Khan also waged
war against Syed Ahmad and forced him to move his capital to
Balakot, to liberate Kashmir and Hazara.
WORK AND CONTRIBUTION
(JIHAD MOVEMENT)

 In 1831 Sikhs made a surprise attack on the

forces of Syed Ahmad, resulting in the Battle of
Balakot (1831).
 The Muslims fought bravely but were heavily
outnumbered.
 Six hundred Mujahideen soldiers were killed,
including Syed Ahmad and his commander, Shah
Ismail.
REASONS FOR THE DECLINE
OF JIHAD MOVEMENT

 The Muslim army was composed of different communities who

disagreed on Military matters.

 The Pathan tribesmen, as independent natured, were not satisfied

by their little control over the large army.

 The taxes imposed by Syed Ahmed caused resentment.

 As Syed Ahmed had studied under Sheikh Abdul Wahab, his work
was influenced by Wahabism with which the Pathans disagreed.
REASONS FOR THE DECLINE
OF JIHAD MOVEMENT

 The treachery by the Governor of Peshawar and the martyrdom

of Syed Ahmed proved to be a big blow for the cause.

 Many of the officers in the Mujahideen force were previously

college professors and spiritual leaders with little or no military
training. In contrast, the Sikh army was in many ways much stronger.

 The Muslims were also disorganized, had limited funds and

military training.
 ACHIEVEMENTS

Although Syed Ahmed Shaheed failed to finish Sikh rule in Punjab yet his Jihad
Movement enlightened a flame of freedom in the Sub-Continent. The Pathans of
the Frontier province were greatly inspired by the courageous deeds of the
Mujahideens, The tribesmen continued the Jihad for freedom against the British.
Similarly the Mujahideen spread the spirit of Jihad throughout the length and
breadth of Sub-Continent. The spirit of freedom led to the war of Independence in
1857. In addition the Jihad Movement imbibed in the Muslims the spirit of Islamic
nationalism which ultimately led to the Two Nation Theory and establishment of
Pakistan.
 CIE QUESTIONS
 Q1. Against whom did Syed Ahmed fight at Akora in 1826? [1]
Q2. Who led the Pathan forces that Syed Ahmed Joined following his graduation from the
Madrassah in Dehli? [1]

 Q3. Who ruled the Punjab in the early 19th century? [1]

 Q4. Why did Shaheed Ahmed Barelvi wish to revive Islam in the sub-continent? [7]

 Q5. Why did Syed Ahmed Shaheed have such a major influence on the revival of Islam in the

sub-continent? [7]

 Q6. Why were there attempts to revive Islam in the subcontinent during the 18th and early 19th century? [7]

 Q7. Was the work of Syed Ahmed, the most important factor in the revival of Islam in the subcontinent
during the 18th and 19th century? Give reasons for your answer. [14]
Thank You for Your
Patient Hearing