Chap.1 History

Q: Did Shah Waliullah contribute more to the spread of Islam than anyone else in the
subcontinent before 1850? Explain your answer. [14] (M-16)

Ans:
[Shah Wali Ullah]
Shah Wali Ullah was a great scholar and reformer. He was educated at Madras-i-Rahimiya
that was founded by his father. He pointed out that the lack of knowledge about Islam was the
main reason of decline of Mughal rule in India.
[Translation of Quran]
Only few Muslims were able to understand (know/speak) Arabic language so he translated
the Holy Quran in Persian which was common language of Muslims in India to increase
understanding (knowledge) of Islam.
[Shia-Sunni differences]
Muslims of India were divided in Shia and Sunni sects (religious groups). He wrote an
account (life history/biography) on first four caliphs of Islam to reduce (decrease) differences
between Shia and Sunni Muslims and increase unity in them.
[Reform Society]
He wrote 51 books to spread Islamic teachings to whole India. Hujjatullah-ul-Baligha was his
famous work. He also tried to improve Muslim society. He advised Muslims to respect
workers and adopt principles of equality and social justice. He struggled to purify Muslim
society from Hindu customs.
[Invitation to Ahmad Shah]
Shah Wali Ullah was worried from growing power of Marathas in India. He invited Afghan
ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali for help, who defeated Marathas in the third battle of Panipat in
1761. SWU was partly successful because Mughal rulers failed to improve themselves.
[Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi]
He was upset due to decline of Mughal rule and growing strength (control) of non-Muslim
forces. He was influenced by the teachings of Shah Wali Ullah. He considered India as Dar-
ul-Harab. He decided to start Jihad movement to set up an Islamic state so that Muslims
could lead their life according to Islam. He wanted to free the Muslims of Punjab from cruel
Sikh ruler Raja Ranjit Singh. Muslims of Punjab were not allowed to offer cow sacrifice and
Azan. Mosques were used to keep horses (stables). Syed Ahmad learned military skills from
the army of Amir Khan. He visited whole India and gathered (collected) a group of People
ready for Jihad and moved them to North-Western India (NWFP). In a letter he asked Ranjit
Singh to improve treatment (dealing/behavior) with Muslims but he showed disrespect (hate)
for Islam. In 1826 Syed Ahmad defeated strong Sikh army at Okara and Hazrothe. Syed
Ahmad was defeated at Attock due to disloyalty (deception/cheating) of Pathan Chief Yar
Muhammad. Syed Ahmad moved from Peshawar to Ballakot to free Kashmir from Sikh rule.
Syed Ahmad forces (army) were suddenly (surprisingly) attacked by a strong Sikh army.
Syed Ahmad was killed with his 600 followers. His remaining followers continued Jihad
against Sikhs and British. Jihad movement provided confidence to the Muslim of India to
struggle for freedom from British.
[Haji Shariat Ullah Faraizi movement]
He was a reformer from East Bengal. He thought that the poor condition (positions/situation)
of the Muslims of Bengal was due to ignorance (lack of knowledge) of the basic Islamic
duties. He asked them to offer Prayer, fasting, Zakat and Hajj known as Faraiz that’s why his
movement was named as Faraizi movement. He also advised Muslims of Bengal to pray for
past sins and adopt (carry out) right way of life. He considered (believed) Bengal to be Dar-
Ul-Harab so Muslims should not offer Friday and Eid prayers.
[Jihad against Zamindars]
He was worried due to poor treatment of Muslims by Hindu landlords known as Zamindars.
Muslim farm worker (peasants) were paid less and unfair taxes like beard tax was collected
from them. He united (organized) Muslims and forced Zamindars to improve treatment
(dealing) with Muslims. British forced Hajji Shariat Ullah to move to Dhaka district where he
died in 1840.
[Dudhu Mian]
His movement was continued by his son Mohsin-ud-Din (Dudhu Mian). He divided areas of
Bengal in circles and appointed (placed) his followers as Khalifas for welfare of Muslims.
After his death Faraizi movement declined.
The work of SWU was the most important because his mission was not limited to selected
parts of India. Also he left behind him a living legacy in the form of his books and followers.
Above all, he is the leading figure of the noble tradition of translation of the Holy Quran.
Q Why did Shah Wali Ullah wish to revive Islam in the sub-continent? [7]
Ans:
1) [Purifying Islam]
During Shah Wali Ullah’s time, Islam had lost its purity in the subcontinent. Hindu customs,
practices (way of life) and beliefs were followed by Muslims. It had become very important
to tell the Muslims that what was Islamic and what were Hindu traditions or customs.
2) [Cause of Downfall]
He believed that the real cause of Muslims’ decline was their lack of knowledge about the
teachings of Quran and Sunnah. He wanted the Muslims to carry out Islamic teachings in all
areas of their lives – social, political, economic and religious. This would allow them to bring
back their pride and improve their living conditions.
3) [Reforming the Society]
(a) A number of social evils had become part of the Islamic society. Shah Wali Ullah wanted
to change the society in the light of Islamic teachings. He wanted the rulers to introduce
Islamic laws e.g. Islam rejects social injustice and protects the rights of workers.
(b) He advised the rich Muslims to lead (adopt) simple life and stay away from luxury and
waste of wealth.
(c) He also advised the traders to follow Islamic laws in their dealings.
(d) He wanted to remove the Shia-Sunni differences that were the main cause of lack of unity
among Muslim society.
Q: Why did Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi start his Jehad movement? [7]
Ans: [Islamic state]
Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi believed that subcontinent had changed into Dar-Ul-Harab a
place to become a ruler; he wanted to set up an Islamic state to follow Islamic beliefs (values)
and where Muslim were living under non-Muslim rule, so Jihad was necessary (compulsory)
for every Muslim to oppose growing strength (power/control) of non-Muslims. Syed Ahmad
Shaheed Barelvi had no wish teachings. He also wanted to free Muslim society from social
evils and Hindu customs (way of life).
[Growing strength of non-Muslim]
Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi was upset due to growing strength (power) of non-Muslim
forces like British, Marathas and Sikhs. Punjab was under cruel Sikh rule of Raja Ranjit
Singh where Muslims were not allowed carry out Islamic duties. Azan and cow sacrifice
(slaughtering) was banned and Mosques were used to keep horses (as stables) by Sikhs.
Muslim culture, values and religion was in danger. Therefore, he started Jihad movement to
free Muslims of Punjab from cruel Sikh rulers.
Q: How successful was Hajji Shariat Ullah in revival of Islam in Bengal? [7]
Ans:
1) [Faraizi movement]
(a) Hajji Shariat Ullah was the founder of Farazi movement in Bengal.
(b) Hajji Shariat Ullah believed that Muslim of Bengal had moved away from Islam. He
wanted that Muslims should offer Islamic duties known as Faraiz. He advised Muslims to
offer Prayer, fasting, Zakat and Hajj. Due to which his movement was known as Faraizi
movement and his followers were called ‘Faraizis’.
(c) He believed (thought) Bengal as Dar-ul-Hareb because Muslims of Bengal were ruled by
non-Muslim. In such area Friday and Eid prayers should not be offered.
2) [Reform society]
(a) He wanted that Muslims should not follow Hindu customs like singing, dancing at the
time of wedding and Hindu caste system. He advised his followers to pray for their past sins
and lead right path in future.
(b) The Faraizi movement supported the idea of Jihad.
3) [Muslim peasants]
(a) He united Muslim farm workers (peasants) against Hindu and British landlords
(zamindars).
(b) Muslim farm workers were paid less by Hindu land lords and they were collecting many
unfair taxes from Muslim workers like beard tax. Hindu landlords were collecting funds from
Muslim by force to set up Hindu temples. Haji Shariat Ullah forced Hindu landlords to
improve treatment (dealing) with Muslim farm workers.
4) [Dudhu Mian]
(a) Hindus Landlords were upset by the unity of the Muslim farm workers. Hajji Shariat
Ullah was arrested (jailed) so his son Dudhu Mian became leader of the Faraizi movement.
(b) He divided East Bengal in circles and appointed (placed) Khalifas in Bengal to help poor
and for prayers.
(c) After death of Dudhu Mian movement declined (ended) in Bengal. It can be said that
some seeds of Pakistan Movement were sown by Faraizi movement.
Q: Why did Haji Shariat Ullah start his Faraizi movement? [7]
Ans: [To reform Bengali Muslims]
Haji Shariat Ullah wanted Muslims to follow Islamic duties. He believed that due to growing
non-Muslim rule in different parts of India, Muslim’s had moved away from the teachings of
Islam. Therefore, he wanted them to return to the Islamic teachings. For this, he advised the
Bengali Muslims to fulfill Islamic duties or Faraiz to purify Islam from Hindu customs (way
of life).
[Cruel Hindu Landlords]
Muslims of Bengal were living under cruel rule of Hindu and British landlords known as
Zimindars. Muslim farm workers (peasants) were paid less. Unjust (unfair) tax was collected
from Muslims even on keeping beard. Hindu landlords were collecting funds (money) by
force from Muslims to set up Hindu temples. Haji Shariat Ullah wanted to unite Muslims to
force Hindu landlords to improve their dealing with Muslims that’s why he started Faraizi
movement.

Chap.1 History

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chap.1 History

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chap.1 History

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Q: Did Shah Waliullah contribute more to the spread of Islam than anyone else in the

sub- continent before 1850? Explain your answer. [14] (M-16)

You might also like