islam 20th century india

8/6/2019 Islam 20th Century India

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II. Broad Schools of Thought

Barelvi

DeobandiAligarh Modernist

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Schools of Thought

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` Four common schools

` Often referred to as maslaks (lit. tacks, or schools)

` Barelvism:embracing ritualism and Sufi practice` Deobandism:promoting conservative revivalism

` Ahl-e-Hadith: spreading Saudi/Wahhabi salafism

` Aligarh Modernism: reconciling faith and science

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Schools of Thought: Barelvi

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` Background

` Founded as a movement by Ahmed Raza Khan (b. 1856),

who hailed from Bareilly, U.P., India (hence Barelvism)` Formally known as Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (people of the

way of Muhammad and the community), or simply,Ahle

Sunnat

` Believed to represent the majority of Muslims in India

and Pakistan, at least 200m strong

` In Pakistan, particularly prominent in Punjab and Sindh

` In Afghanistan, historically influential in the south

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JW1


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Slide 3

JW1 JW add notes about presence and role of Barelvism/Sufism in Afgh. Ref NBR article by Tom JohnsonJoshua White, 9/1/2010


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` Beliefs

` Widely seen as the most moderate school

` Accepting of popular devotion, including:` Celebrating the birthday of Muhammad, and the death

anniversaries (urs) of Sufi pirs and other holy men

` Visiting shrines

` Seeking counsel or healing from, or praying to,pirs

` Performing zikr(devotional repetition of the names of God)

` Theology

` Follows the Hanafi school of jurisprudence

` Believes Muhammad to be noor(light), more than man, and

possessing special powers of knowledge and presence

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` Affiliations

` Often equated with Sufism, but not precisely the same

(Sufi orders, or tariqah

s, dont correspond with schools)` Representative body: Sunni Ittehad Council

` Madaris board:Tanzeem-ul-Madaris

` Barelvi shrines, often led by Sufi pirs, are often important

social, economic, and political institutions

` Barelvi parties (e.g. Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan), are weak,

but Barelvis themselves are active in politics

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` Policy questions

` Are Barelvis the answer to extremism? If so, how can

they be supported in a way that is constructive?` U.S.Consulate in Lahore

funded restoration of

Barelvi Sufi shrines in

Punjab. Is this wise?

` Will, or can, Barelvis resistgrowing radicalization

in Punjab by Ahl-e-Hadith

or sectarian groups?

UNCLASSIFIED

Photo: U.S. Embassy Islamabad


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Schools of Thought: Deobandi

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` Background

` Revivalist movement that sprung up, like many others, in

the wake of the 1857

Mutiny` Dar-ul-Uloom madrassa founded in Deoband, U.P., grew

to be large and well-organized

` Spawned affiliated madaris throughout India and

Afghanistan

` Eventually came to be more influential in Pakistan than

present-day India, and intertwined with politics

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Dar ul-Uloom & Deobandism

` Founded in 1865 (U.P., India),instills intense hatred for British /foreign influence

`

3-8 yr programs in fiqh;

advocatespolitical activism & Salafi view

` 1947-96: 2,512 madrassa alongPak/Afg border (w/ student body of200 + talibs)

` Many funded by Wahhabis / SaudiArabia; serve as Incubator for

Taliban


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UNCLASSIFIED


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` Beliefs

` Early founders belonged to Sufi tariqahs

`

Movement sought to purify Islam of syncretism andpopular devotional practices, seen as being Hindu

` Over time, became more strict, austere, and anti-Barelvi

` Rejects popular mysticism

` Frequently suspicious of music, poetry, dance, etc.

` Follows Hanafi jurisprudence

` Most prominent in northwest Pakistan, Karachi, and

Afghanistan

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` Affiliations

` Strong madaris network, represented by the Wafaq-ul-

Madaris al-Arabia

` Pashtun-majority JUI political parties (discussed later)

` Militant groups, including HuJI, HuA

` Many anti-Shia sectarian organizations

` Taliban groups and Talibanism

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` Policy questions

` What can be done to broaden the curriculum at

Deobandi madaris, and the worldviews of the graduates?

` How to deal with a movement that is so fragmented?

` Do moderate Deobandis

have a voice to rein in the

militants?

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Schools of Thought: Aligarh

Modernist

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` Background

` Sir Sayyid Ahmed Khan founded the Muhammedan

Anglo-Oriental College in 1875,

modeled on Oxbridge

` Later became the famous Aligarh

Muslim University

` Not a maktab as such, but

representative of a modern visionof Islam and Islamic education

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Secular Modernism: 19th-20th CE

Shibli Nomani

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Aligarh Muslim University, India


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Schools of Thought: Aligarh

Modernist

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` Beliefs

` Compatibility of faith with modern science and technology

`

Social reform, especially in education` Policy questions

` The Aligarh vision had a profound impact on Indian Islam,

but gained less traction in Pakistan. Why? And can anything

be done to change this pattern?

` Can a modernist vision of Islam succeed in a region where

religion functions as a basis for identity politics?

` Does supporting modern education actually reduce

extremism? What about introducing scientific and technical

subjects into madaris curriculum?

UNCLASSIFIED

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