Syed Babar Ashraf is an Indian social activist and leader belonging to the

Barelvi movement The Barelvi movement ( ur, بَریلوِی, , ), also known as Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaah (People of the Prophet's Way and the Community) is a Sunni revivalist movement following the Hanafi and Shafi'i school of jurisprudence, with strong Suf ...

Sunni Islam Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word '' Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagre ...

. He is the Founder President of ''Sada-e-Sufia-e-Hind'', a representative body of Sufis in India. He had formerly been the General secretary of

All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board The All India Ulama & Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) has been established with the basic purpose of popularizing the message of peace of Islam and ensuring peace for the country and community and the humanity. AIUMB is striving to propagate Sunni Sufi ...

from 17 December 2013, but was sacked from the post on 16 August 2015, after anti-organisational activities.

Activism

During the pre-election period in India, Ashraf exhorted Muslims to vote those candidates "who are secular and have a clean image irrespective of their party affiliations." He denounced any move that was detrimental to the national good of the country. He has always been a strong critic of Wahhabism,

Salafism The Salafi movement or Salafism () is a Islah, reform branch movement within Sunni Islam that originated during the nineteenth century. The name refers to advocacy of a return to the traditions of the "pious predecessors" (), the first three g ...

, and associated ideologies. He has been promoting a Dargah Act to manage dargahs of Sufi saints according to Sufi traditions. Many Muslim heritage sites under Archaeological Survey of India belong to Sufi Muslims that have now been usurped. Ashraf is against such usurpation.

Barelvi and Khadim Controversies

Ashraf said that controversies should not be happen in the Dargah of Khwaja, he shown anger to Sarwar Chishty and said he is the main accused of the controversy.

Allah-Om controversy

He spoke against Arshad Madani, principal of Darul Uloom Deoband, an Indian seminary representing the Deobandi movement after Madani said Allah and Om are same at an event at Ramlila Maidan. He said:

Religious figures should not give this type of Political speeches. No one can ask people who say Om to say Allah. Muslim should be aware of these political speeches instead should focus on their child and their future.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ashraf, Syed Babar Aligarh Muslim University alumni Living people People from Ambedkar Nagar district Indian Sufi religious leaders Year of birth missing (living people)