Aligarh

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

(1817-1898)
and
Aligarh Movement
 Outline
1. Introduction
2. Prevailing Environment
– War of Independence
– British attitude towards Muslims
– Muslims attitude towards British
3. Services of Sir Syed
4. Critical Analysis
5. Conclusion
 1. Introduction

• Sir Syed led the Muslims after the War of

Independence.
• Politically, he advised the Muslim to stay away
from politics.
• Educationally, he laid the foundation of educated
Muslims.
• Socially, he addressed the evils which existed
amongst the Muslims.
• Religiously, his views were controversial.
 1. Introduction
• The War of Independence was a set back for
the Muslims.
• Relations between the Muslims and the British
rulers deteriorated.
• This was not a favorable situation for the
Muslims.
• Sir Syed came forward to act as a bridge
between the two for the uplift of Muslims.
 2. Prevailing Environment
• War of Independence (WOI):
• East India Company came to the Indian Sub-
continent in 1600.
• It was a trading company interested in raw
material and market for finished goods.
• Due to decline of Muslims rule, it started
interference in every walk of life
• WOI was an effort to over through this influence.
 2. Prevailing Environment

• War of Independence
• Events of 1857 War of Independence had a two
fold significance.
1. It dealt a final blow to the idea of Mughal
Empire and put a seal on the decline of Muslims
in all walks of life.
2. After the holocaust of 1857, there emerged an
atmosphere of animosity that shaped the
attitudes of both nations.
 2. Prevailing Environment
• British Attitude:
• Held Muslims responsible for Mutiny.
• Muslims were subjected to ruthless
punishment and merciless vengeance
• The landed gentry was disinherited through
large scale confiscation
 2. Prevailing Environment
• British Attitude:
• Muslim education system was replaced with
British. Urdu was replaced with English.
• English law replaced Muslim Law and Qazis
lost their jobs
• Muslims were thrown out of employment
opportunities
• Religious feelings of Muslims were tarnished
 2. Prevailing Environment
• Muslim Attitude
• Muslims considered British as oppressors who
deprived them of political power
• Muslims showed unwillingness to reconcile
with the British due to
– Pride of race
– Memory of bygone superiority
– Religious and cultural fears
 2. Prevailing Environment
• Muslim Attitude:
• The Muslims showed resentment to western
education.
• Muslim Ulama were hostile to British policy
of reformation.
• Deo-band Movement which started during the
same time was against any conciliation with
British due to religious reasons.
 3. Services of Sir Syed

• Sir Syed rose to the occasion and constructed

his reformation programmed on four pillars
I. Political
II. Educational
III. Religion
IV. Social
 I. Political Services
• Sir Syed advised Muslims
– Aloofness from politics
– Dedication to the Nation
– Loyalty to the British
 I. Political Services
• He tried to remove the misunderstandings
between the British and the Muslims.
• With this purpose in mind he wrote:
1. A Pamhlet in 1858 titled as “The causes of
Indian Revolt.”
2. “The Loyal Muhammadans of India”
• 502 copies of The Loyal Muhammadans of
India were sent to UK Parliament.
 I. Political Services
• The 1st Muslim who demanded separate
electorate for Muslims
• He used the words “Nation” and “My People”
which laid the basis of “Two Nation Theory”.
• That’s why he was called “The Real Founder
of Pakistan”
 I. Political Services
• In 1885 Congress was established. Sir Syed was
invited to its first meeting but he did not attend.
• When Congress made two demands of; merit
based appointment and introduction of Western
democracy, he advised the Muslims not to join
it.
• He predicted that Congress would turn out to be
Hindu majority party.
 II. Educational Services
• Times of London named him “The Prophet of
Education”
• Sir Syed said,
• “Educate, educate, educate, cure the roots and
the tree will flourish”.
• Education can be divided into formal and
informal education.
 II. Educational Services
• He went to England in 1869 and observed
British Education System
• He established “Translation Society” in 1864
at Ghazipur which was shifted to Aligarh in
1869.
• In 1870 he established “Society of Educational
Progress of Muslims”.
 II. Educational Services
• In the light of his observation of British
Education System, he established
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental School (MAO
School) in 1875
– MAO School was raised to the level of
college in 1877
– MAO College became University in 1920
 II. Educational Services
• In 1886 he established “Muhammadan
Educational Conference” with the following
objectives
1. It had to cater the Educational needs of the
Muslims
2. It had to act as a Political platform for the
Muslims
 II. Educational Services
• The student who got education in MAO
College (which later became University)
became leaders of the Pakistan Movement
• Quaid said that Aligarh provided ammunition
for Pakistan Movement
 III. Religious Services
• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan emphasized upon rational
interpretation of Religion
• He tried to reconcile Religion with Science and
tried to bridge the gulf between traditional patter
of Religious thinking and the modes of present
thinking
• He wrote a commentary in seven volumes
• Because of his rational ideas he was charged
“Infidel”
 III. Religious Services
• In response to the blasphemous book of
William Muir “Life of Muhammad” he wrote a
set of essays to reply the objections raised
against Muhammad (P.B.U.H) by William
Muir
• His essays were translated into Urdu and were
published with some additions later on with
the title “Khutebat-e-Ahmadiya”
 III. Religious Services
• He asked Muslims to beware of un-Islamic
practices which were rampant at that time with
this purpose in mind he wrote the book “Rah-
e-Sunat was Rah-e-Bidat
• He opposed the conventional type of Peeri-
Muridee and considered it a big source of a
number of evils.
 IV. Social Services
• Sir Syed wanted Muslims to adopt moderate
path and acquire modern education
• Sir Syed said,
• “In our right hand will be Science and
Philosophy in our left hand and there will be a
crown of Kalima on our heads.”
 IV. Social Services
• In second half of 19th century Muslims of the
Sub-Continent were suffering from different
social evils like
– Illiteracy
– Disunity
– Greed
– Pride
– Worship of the past
– Indifference to the present etc
 IV. Social Services
• In the backdrop of this bleak scenario he used
his magazine “Tehzeeb-ul-Akhlaq” to preach the
virtues of social ethics
• He focused upon teaching social manners to the
Muslims
• In his magazine “Ahkam-e-Ta’am-e-Ahl-e-
Kitab” he discussed the etiquettes of eating and
dinning in Islam. Moreover he discuss the issue
of taking meal with Ahl-e-Kitab
 4. Critical Analysis

• Sir Syed’s political philosophy of cooperation

with the British had serious limitations
• His advocacy of uncritical acceptance of
Western Educaiton and thought could not
provide a firm foundation for building up a
Nation with a well defined entity
• His concept of Religious truth was narrow and
un-philosophical
 4. Critical Analysis

• Yet at the same time when he advocated these

ideas, they were opportune and saved the
Muslims from economic, educational and
philosophical inertia
• In short he saved Muslims from annihilation
 5. Conclusion
• Dr. Maulvi Abdul Haq said,
• “People say Sir Syed set up a College. Nay, he
made a Nation.”