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Religious Thinkers Notes - Pakistan Studies 2059 Notes - O Level Academy
Religious Thinkers Notes - Pakistan Studies 2059 Notes - O Level Academy
OLEVEL
PAKISTAN STUDIES 2059
RELIGIOUS THINKERS
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Key Question 1: How successful were the religious thinkers in spreading Islam in the sub-continent
during the 18th and 19th centuries?
Biography:
He was born on 21 February 1703 just when the end of Aurangzeb’s reign was about to conclude.
By birth, he was given a name, Qutb-ud-Din.
Waliullah is a title given to him for his services.
His father was religious scholar himself, named Shah Abdur Rahim.
His father founded helped in the compilation of Fatawa-I-Alamgir under the direct supervision of
Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir.
His father also founded Madrassa Rahimya.
Shah Waliullah taught at the Madrassa Rahimya for 12 years.
In 1730, he went to Arabia for higher studies.
He was greatly influenced by the teaching of Abu Tahir a famous scholar of his time.
Beliefs:
Shah Waliullah believed that Islam has lost its glory in the sub-continent.
He realized that it was necessary for Muslims to reconnect with Islam and its teachings if they want
to improve their conditions.
He wanted the rulers to enforce Islamic laws.
He urged rich Muslims to live a simple life and traders to follow Islamic laws in their dealings.
He feared that if reforms are not taken then Muslims and non-Muslims will be indistinguishable.
He despised the division of Shia and Sunni because it was weakening Muslims roots and wanted
them to be united.
He believed that reforms cannot come from weak leadership of Dehli, they must come from
Community itself.
Biography:
He was born in November 1786 at Rai Bareilly near Lucknow.
His father name was Shah-Ilm-Ullah, a religious scholar.
He was a trustworthy follower of monarch Shah Abdul Aziz.
He was greatly influenced by the teachings of Shah Waliullah.
Took his education at Madrassa Rahimiyya in Delhi.
He joined the military force of Nawab Ameer Khan Tonak.
He went for Hajj, studied religion there and returned in 1823 with a clear and focused aim of Jihad.
He soon started the Jihad Movement against the Sikhs of Punjab and British.
Beliefs:
He realized that Muslims could not have their freedom to practice Islam without defeating the British
and Sikhs.
He believed that evil in the Islamic Society had to be cured.
He was sure, it is crucial to start a Jihad Movement to defeat the forces that are not letting the
Muslims practice their religion properly.
He was sure, it is the only way to rescue Islam from the evil customs of other societies.
Jihad Movement:
In the first half of the nineteenth century, the Sikhs of Punjab were disregarding the Muslim places,
culture, and customs. They even banned the Azaan,, Ahmed Barailvi founded the Jihad movement
to rebel and crush them.
In 1826, he sent a warning to Ranjit Singh, who was the Sikh ruler of Punjab at that time that either he
allows Muslims freedom to practice their religion or he should prepare to face the Mujahideen.
Jihad Movement was launched from Peshawar headquarters in 1826.
In order to gather force for this mission, he went to different states including Afghanistan, Sindh,
Rajasthan, and Balochistan. Everyone supported him except the Afghans.
The army that Ahmed Barailvi led was known as “Mujahideen” meaning ‘fighters for the faith – Islam’
because the main vision behind it was ‘Jihad’.
Since the force was comprised of people from different communities which gave Sikhs a way to
exploit them by calling out to them as being un-Islamic.
Ahmed Barailvi with the Mujahideen led the first attack at Okara with a force of 80,000 men and
come out victorious.
Haji Shariatullah
Biography:
Haji Shariatullah was born in 1781 in Faridpur, Bengal.
His father was an ordinary farmer.
At the age of 18-year, he went for Haj in 1799.
He stayed in Saudi-Arabia from 1799-1818 and received his religious education there.
He returned to Bengal in
Muslims living in poor conditions in Bengal were greatly influenced and motivated by his leadership.
During his stay in Arabia, he was greatly influenced by Sheikh Mohammad Abdul Wahab who had
initiated the Wahabi Movement in Arabia.
Beliefs:
He believed that the Muslim community had moved away from Islamic practice and were taking
influence from other religions such as Hinduism.
He wanted the Muslim community to return to the Faraizi i.e. the proper observation of Islamic
practice.
He realized that the miserable conditions of Muslims have led the country being Dar-ul-Harb (Area
where non-Muslims rule).
He supported the idea of Jihad against the non-Muslims who were undermining the true principles
of Islam.
Faraizi Movement:
Muslims were living in poor conditions and they were given fewer opportunities for jobs. He wanted
to restore their Pride
He started a movement, in the nineteenth century named as the Faraizi Movement for Muslims in
Bengal.
The movement was targeted to restore the Pride of the Muslims and remove what he thought were
the Hindu practices.
Haji Shariat Ullah urged from his followers to adopt ‘Tauba’ for past sins and a pledge to lead a
righteous that is in accordance with Islam and its teachings.
The Faraizi Movement provided a platform to Muslims to work together and fight the bad
treatments of Hindu Zamindars.
Zamindars:
Until the 1750s, Muslims were the ruling class, but everything changed after the British took over.
The British were working with the ‘Zamindars’, who were the landowners and tax collectors.
By 1800s, nearly all Zamindars were Hindus.
The Muslims were mistreated by their British Rulers and oppressed by the Zamindars.
Haji Shariatullah regarded British domination in Bengal as detrimental to the religious life of Muslims.
The Hindus were troubled by the unity of the Muslim peasants and opposed Haji Sahab.
The Hindus put false allegations against him and forced him to leave Dhaka.
Haji Sahab returned to Faridpur and continued his fight.
He categorized East Bengal into areas called circles, with their own Khalifa, who was responsible for
their wealth.
He died in 1840.
After his death, his son, Mohsin-ud-Din carried his legacy.
Titu Mir
Biography:
He was born in January 1782.
The real name of Titu Mir was Syed Mir Nisar Ali.
He was a faithful follower of Ahmed Barelvi.
He was a peasant leader and a freedom fighter from Bengal.
In 1822, he went to Makkah where he came into close approximation and influence of Ahmed Barelvi,
who was a great Islamic reformer.
Beliefs:
He believed that the terrible state of Muslims can only be improved if the Muslims of Bengal stand
united against the cruel Hindu Zamindars.
He realized that Muslims are introducing Shirk and Bid’dat and advised them to refrain from doing it.
Workings:
A cruel Zamindar, Krishna Deva Rai imposed a tax on Muslims on beards that made the Muslims
enraged.
Following Titu Mir's guidance, the Muslims refused to pay this tax.
The peasants and weavers saw Titu Mir’s leadership as a way free themselves from the slavery of
Hindu Zamindars and were greatly influenced by him.
He gathered a small army and trained the people with the lathi.
In 1831, he built a bamboo fort in Narkelbaria, Calcutta and set his own rule.
The British were threatened by his fellowship and with a force of 300 sepoys and 100 soldiers attacked
Titu Mir and his army.
They failed to resist the British attack and Titu Mir along with many of his followers died in the battle.
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