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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 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 disagr ...
revivalist movement following the
Hanafi The Hanafi school ( ar, حَنَفِية, translit=Ḥanafiyah; also called Hanafite in English), Hanafism, or the Hanafi fiqh, is the oldest and one of the four traditional major Sunni schools ( maddhab) of Islamic Law (Fiqh). It is named aft ...
and
Shafi'i The Shafii ( ar, شَافِعِي, translit=Shāfiʿī, also spelled Shafei) school, also known as Madhhab al-Shāfiʿī, is one of the four major traditional schools of religious law (madhhab) in the Sunnī branch of Islam. It was founded by ...
school of
jurisprudence Jurisprudence, or legal theory, is the theoretical study of the propriety of law. Scholars of jurisprudence seek to explain the nature of law in its most general form and they also seek to achieve a deeper understanding of legal reasoning a ...
, with strong
Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...
influences and with over 500-600 million followers in
South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
and in parts of
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
,
America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
. It is a broad Sufi-oriented movement that encompasses a variety of Sufi orders, including the
Chisti The Chishtī Order ( fa, ''chishtī'') is a tariqa, an order or school within the mystic Sufi tradition of Sunni Islam. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. It began with Abu Ishaq Shami in Chisht, a ...
s,
Qadiri The Qadiriyya (), also transliterated Qādirīyah, ''Qadri'', ''Qadriya'', ''Kadri'', ''Elkadri'', ''Elkadry'', ''Aladray'', ''Alkadrie'', ''Adray'', ''Kadray'', ''Kadiri'', ''Qadiri'', ''Quadri'' or ''Qadri'' are members of the Sunni Qadiri ta ...
s, Soharwardis and
Naqshbandi The Naqshbandi ( fa, نقشبندی)), Neqshebendi ( ku, نه‌قشه‌به‌ندی), and Nakşibendi (in Turkish) is a major Sunni order of Sufism. Its name is derived from Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari. Naqshbandi masters trace their ...
s. The movement drew inspiration from the Sunni Sufi doctrines of
Shah Abdur Rahim Shah Abdur Rahim ( fa, ; 1644-1719) was an Islamic scholar and a writer who assisted in the compilation of Fatawa-e-Alamgiri, the voluminous code of Islamic law. He was the father of the Muslim philosopher Shah Waliullah Dehlawi. He became a dis ...
(1644-1719) founder of
Madrasah-i Rahimiyah The Madrasah-i Rahimiyah is an Islamic seminary located in Delhi, India. It was founded by Shah Abdur Rahim, the father of Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. After the death of Shah Abdur Rahim in 1718 Shah Wal ...
and father of
Shah Waliullah Dehlawi Quṭb-ud-Dīn Aḥmad Walīullāh Ibn ʿAbd-ur-Raḥīm Ibn Wajīh-ud-Dīn Ibn Muʿaẓẓam Ibn Manṣūr Al-ʿUmarī Ad-Dehlawī ( ar, ‎; 1703–1762), commonly known as Shāh Walīullāh Dehlawī (also Shah Wali Allah), was an Islamic ...
,
Shah Abdul Aziz Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlavi (11 October 1746 – 5 June 1824; ) was Muhaddith (scholar of Hadith) and Mujadid Sufi and reformer from India. He was of the Naqshbandi Sufi order which emerged from a tradition of violent backlash against the ...
Muhaddith Dehlavi (1746 –1824) and
Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi (1796/1797 – 19 August 1861) was a Hanafi jurist, rationalist scholar, Maturidi theologian, philosopher and poet. He was an activist of the Indian independence movement and campaigned against British occupation. He issue ...
(1796–1861) founder of the Khairabad School. It emphasizes personal devotion to God and the
Islamic prophet Prophets in Islam ( ar, الأنبياء في الإسلام, translit=al-ʾAnbiyāʾ fī al-ʾIslām) are individuals in Islam who are believed to spread God in Islam, God's message on Earth and to serve as models of ideal human behaviour. So ...
Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد;  570 – 8 June 632 Common Era, CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Muhammad in Islam, Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet Divine inspiration, di ...
, adherence to
Sharia Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the H ...
, and
Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...
practices such as veneration of
saints In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual res ...
. They are called Sunni Sufis.
Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi Ahmed Raza Khan, commonly known as Aala Hazrat, Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, or Ahmed Rida Khan in Arabic, (14 June 1856 CE or 10 Shawwal 1272 AH – 28 October 1921 CE or 25 Safar 1340 AH), was an Islamic scholar, jurist, mufti, philosopher, ...
(1856–1921) who was a Sunni Sufi scholar and reformer in north India wrote extensively in defense of Muhammad and popular Sufi practices and became the leader of a movement called "Ahl-i Sunnat wa Jamàat".


Etymology

According to
Oxford Reference Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...
, Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaah or Barelvi is movement developed on the basis of writings of Mawlana Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi. The Database of Religious History refers the movement as the Ahl-e-Sunnat wa Jamaat (often, Ahl-e-Sunnat) which has a strong presence in South Asia. Professor
Usha Sanyal Usha Sanyal is an American scholar and historian. Her PhD dissertation analysed the Islamic legal scholar Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. She is Visiting assistant professor of history at Wingate University in North Carolina. Education Sanyal has grad ...
, an expert on 'Ahl-i Sunnat Movement', referred the movement as Ahl-i Sunnat. She wrote that the movement refer to themselves as 'Sunnis' in their literature and prefer to be known by the title of ''Ahle Sunnat wa Jama'at'' a reference to their perception as forming an international majority movement, although Barelvi is the term used by section of media.''Illustrated Dictionary of the Muslim World'', pg. 113.
Marshall Cavendish Marshall Cavendish is a subsidiary company of Times Publishing Group, the printing and publishing subsidiary of Singapore-based conglomerate Fraser and Neave (which in turn currently owned by ThaiBev, the beverage company in Thailand), and at pre ...
, 2011.
''Globalisation, Religion & Development'', pg. 53. Eds. Farhang Morady and İsmail Şiriner. London: International Journal of Politics and Economics, 2011.Elizabeth Sirriyeh, ''Sufis and Anti-Sufis: The Defense, Rethinking and Rejection of Sufism in the Modern World'', pg. 49.
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
:
Routledge Routledge () is a British multinational publisher. It was founded in 1836 by George Routledge, and specialises in providing academic books, journals and online resources in the fields of the humanities, behavioural science, education, law, and ...
, 1999. .
Rowena Robinson, ''Tremors of Violence: Muslim Survivors of Ethnic Strife in Western India'', pg. 191.
Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks is the second-largest city in Ventura County, California, United States. It is in the northwestern part of Greater Los Angeles, approximately from the city of Los Angeles and from Downtown. It is named after the many oak tree ...
:
Sage Publications SAGE Publishing, formerly SAGE Publications, is an American independent publishing company founded in 1965 in New York by Sara Miller McCune and now based in Newbury Park, California. It publishes more than 1,000 journals, more than 800 books ...
, 2005.
Usha Sanyal
Generational Changes in the Leadership of the Ahl-e Sunnat Movement in North India during the Twentieth Century
. Modern Asian Studies (1998), Cambridge University Press.
Main leaders of Ahle Sunnat movement Imam
Ahmad Raza Khan Ahmed Raza Khan, commonly known as Aala Hazrat, Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, or Ahmed Rida Khan in Arabic, (14 June 1856 Common Era, CE or 10 Shawwal 1272 Islamic calendar, AH – 28 October 1921 Common Era, CE or 25 Safar 1340 Islamic calendar, ...
and other scholars never used the term 'Barelvi' to identify themselves or their movement; they saw themselves as
Sunni 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 disagr ...
Muslims defending traditional Sunni beliefs from deviations. Only later was the term 'Barelvi' used by the section of media and by opposition groups on the basis of the hometown Bareilly, of its main leader Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Qadri (1856–1921).


History

Islamic scholar and teacher of Ahmed Raza Khan Qadri, Maulana
Naqi Ali Khan Naqi Ali Khan (1830-1880) (urdu: نقی علی خان) was an Indian Sunni Hanafi Islamic Scholar, Mufti and father of Ahmed Raza Khan. Naqi Ali wrote 26 books on Seerah and Aqedah and he issued thousand Fatwas. Family tree Publications * As ...
(1830-1880) had refuted the ideas of Sayyid Ahmad Barelwi (d. 1831), who was a founder of
Wahabism Wahhabism ( ar, ٱلْوَهَّابِيَةُ, translit=al-Wahhābiyyah) is a Sunni Islamic revivalist and fundamentalist movement associated with the reformist doctrines of the 18th-century Arabian Islamic scholar, theologian, preacher, and ...
in India. Naqi Ali Khan declared Sayyid Ahmad Rae Barelwi, a '
Wahabi Wahhabism ( ar, ٱلْوَهَّابِيَةُ, translit=al-Wahhābiyyah) is a Sunni Islamic revivalist and fundamentalist movement associated with the reformist doctrines of the 18th-century Arabian Islamic scholar, theologian, preacher, and ...
' due to his support for
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab ; "The Book of Monotheism") , influences = , influenced = , children = , module = , title = Imam, Shaykh , movement = Muwahhidun (Wahhabi) , native_name = محمد بن ...
's ideology. In his writings, Naqi 'Ali defended Muhammad against what he considered the belittling of his powers by Sayyid Ahmad Rae Barelwi and his associate Shah Isma'il Dihlawi. Similarly, founder of Khairabad school, Allama
Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi (1796/1797 – 19 August 1861) was a Hanafi jurist, rationalist scholar, Maturidi theologian, philosopher and poet. He was an activist of the Indian independence movement and campaigned against British occupation. He issue ...
in 1825 in his book 'Tahqîqul-Fatâwâ' and Allama Fazle-Rasûl Badayûnî in his book 'Saiful-Jabbâr' issued Fatwas against the founders of
Ahle Hadith Ahl-i Hadith or Ahl-e-Hadith ( bn, আহলে হাদীছ, hi, एहले हदीस, ur, اہلِ حدیث, ''people of hadith'') is a Salafi reform movement that emerged in North India in the mid-nineteenth century from the teach ...
and
Deobandi Deobandi is a revivalist movement within Sunni Islam, adhering to the Hanafi school of law, formed in the late 19th century around the Darul Uloom Madrassa in Deoband, India, from which the name derives, by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi, R ...
sect This refutation of traditional scholars against newly emerging Wahabi sect influenced Sunni scholars such as Ahmed Raza Khan Qadri and paved the way for more organised movement which later came to be known as Ahle-Sunnat movement in South Asia. The movement formed as a defense of the traditional mystic practices of South Asia, which it sought to prove and support. The Ahl-i Sunnat or Sunni Barelwi movement began in the 1880s under the leadership of
Ahmad Raza Khan Ahmed Raza Khan, commonly known as Aala Hazrat, Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, or Ahmed Rida Khan in Arabic, (14 June 1856 Common Era, CE or 10 Shawwal 1272 Islamic calendar, AH – 28 October 1921 Common Era, CE or 25 Safar 1340 Islamic calendar, ...
(1856-1921), who spent his lifetime writing fatwas (judicial opinion) and later established Islamic schools in 1904 with the
Manzar-e-Islam Madrasa Manzar-e-Islam ( ur, مدرسہ منظر اسلام), also known as Jamia Razvia Manzar-e-Islam, is an Islamic seminary in India. It was founded in 1904 in Bareilly, India by Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. It celebrated its hundredth annivers ...
in the
Bareilly Bareilly () is a city in Bareilly district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is among the largest metropolises in Western Uttar Pradesh and is the centre of the Bareilly division as well as the historical region of Rohilkhand. The city ...
and other madrasas in
Pilibhit Pilibhit is a city and a municipal board of Pilibhit district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Pilibhit is the north-easternmost district of Bareilly division, situated in the Rohilkhand region of the sub-Himalayan Plateau belt next to f ...
and
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
cities.: "...were advanced by Imam Ahmad Reza Khan of Bareilly in 1906 as the original form of Islam and as the alternative to the austere path of the Deobandis." The Barelvi movement formed as a defense of the traditional mystic practices of South Asia, which it sought to prove and support. The movement views themselves as ''Sunni or Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat'' and according to it main leaders of the movement including Imam Ahmad Riza Khan, did not invent new sect but defended traditional Sunni Islam. According to Ahle Sunnat scholars, Deobandis have created a news sect. The Sunni madrasas of this movement have rarely, if ever, been involved in extremist politics and militancy.


Propagation against Shuddhi (Arya Samaj conversion) Movement

Hindu
Arya Samaj Arya Samaj ( hi, आर्य समाज, lit=Noble Society, ) is a monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes values and practices based on the belief in the infallible authority of the Vedas. The samaj was founded by the sanny ...
, through its founder Swami
Dayanand Saraswati Dayanand Saraswati () (born Mool Shankar Tiwari; 2 February 1824 – 30 October 1883) also known as Maharshi Dayanand is an Indian philosopher, social leader and founder of the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement. His Magnum Opus is the book ...
Dayanand and the Shuddhi Movement
''Indian Political Tradition'', by D.K Mohanty. Published by Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. . ''Page 116''.
initiated converting Muslims in to Hinduism specially in
North India North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Central ...
, and Punjab in early 1900s. They became active in Bharatpur State and among the neo-Muslim Malkanas, in Etawah, Kanpur, Shahajahnpur, Hardoi, Meerut and Mainpuri in the western United Provinces, exhorting them to return to what they called their 'ancestral religion'. As a result, the movement became controversial and antagonized the Muslims populace untouchable assertion
''The Politics of the Urban Poor in Early Twentieth-century India'', by Nandini Gooptu. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2001. . ''Page 157''.
To counter this movement Indian Muslims started Islamic Dawa work among the Muslim population and challenged the Arya Samaj leaders for debates. Mufti Naeemuddin Moradabadi,
Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri (1892–1981) was an Indian Muslim scholar and author, and leader of the Sunni Barelvi movement following the death of its founder, his father Ahmed Raza Khan. He was known as ''Mufti-Azam-i-Hind'' to his followers. ...
and Hamid Raza Khan along with a team of Ahle Sunnat scholars through
Jama'at Raza-e-Mustafa Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa ( ur, , hi, जमात-रज़ा-ए-मुस्तफ़ा) also known as JRM, is a historical organisation of Indian Sunni Barelvi Muslims associated with Sufism. It was founded by the Great Scholar and 14th Cen ...
worked in north Indian towns and villages against the
Shuddhi movement Shuddhi is Sanskrit for Ritual purification, purification. It is a term used to describe a Hindu religious movement aimed at the religious conversion of non-Hindus of Indian origin back to Hinduism. Shuddhi movement The socio-political movement, ...
. The
Jama'at Raza-e-Mustafa Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa ( ur, , hi, जमात-रज़ा-ए-मुस्तफ़ा) also known as JRM, is a historical organisation of Indian Sunni Barelvi Muslims associated with Sufism. It was founded by the Great Scholar and 14th Cen ...
prevented around four hundred thousand conversions to Hinduism in eastern U.P and Rajasthan during its activities under anti-
Shuddhi Shuddhi or Suddhi can refer to: * ''Shuddhi'' (film), a 2017 Indian Kannada-language film *Shuddhi (Hinduism) Shuddhi is Sanskrit for purification. It is a term used to describe a Hindu religious movement aimed at the religious conversion of ...
movement. In 1917, Islamic scholar Mufti
Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi (1887–1948), also known as Sadr ul-Afazil, was a twentieth-century jurist, scholar, mufti, Quranic exegete, and educator. He was a scholar of philosophy, geometry, logic and hadith and leader of All India Sunni Conf ...
organized the historical Jama'at Raza-e-Mustafa conference at
Jamia Naeemia Moradabad Jamia Naeemia Moradabad ( ur, , hi, जामिया नईमिया मुरादाबाद) is an Islamic seminary in India. It is located in Moradabad in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The seminary is a major center of the B ...
U.P, with a mission to curb, and if possible reverse, the tide of re-conversions threatening the Muslim community in the wake of the Shuddhi movement.


Shaheed Ganj Mosque Movement

Shaheed Ganj Mosque was commissioned in 1722 during the reign of Mughal Emperor
Alamgir II Aziz-ud-Din Muhammad (6 June 1699 – 29 November 1759), better known as Alamgir II, was the fifteenth Mughal Emperor of India, who reigned from 3 June 1754 to 29 November 1759. He was the son of Jahandar Shah. Born Aziz-ud-Din, the second s ...
and built by Abdullah Khan. The construction was completed in 1753. It was located in
Naulakha Bazaar Naulakha Bazaar ( Punjabi, ur, ) is Bazaar (market) located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. This Bazaar was established in 1633 and is located in Lahore Fort near Naulakha Pavilion. The Shaheed Ganj Mosque is located in Naulakha Bazaar. The used c ...
area of
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
,
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
,
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. In 1762, the Bhangi misl Sikh army conquered
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
and occupied the mosque. The
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
s were not allowed to enter and pray, although Sikhs were given the right to pray. The
Sikh Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism, Sikhism (Sikhi), a Monotheism, monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Gu ...
s built a
gurdwara A gurdwara (sometimes written as gurudwara) (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ''guradu'ārā'', meaning "Door to the Guru") is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs. Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as ''Gurdwara Sahib''. People from all faiths ...
in the courtyard while the Mosque building was used as a residence for the Sikh priest. On 17 April 1850, a case was in Punjab High Court. Several suits were filed between 1853 and 1883 to recover the Shaheed Ganj Mosque, but courts maintained the
status quo is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, political, religious or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the current state of social structure and/or values. W ...
. On 29 June 1935, the Sikhs announced that they would demolish the Shaheed Ganj Mosque. Several thousand Muslims assembled in front of the mosque to protect it. But, on the night of 7 July 1935 the Sikhs demolished the mosque, leading to riots and disorder in Lahore. Ahle Sunnat scholar and Sufi Peer
Jamaat Ali Shah Jamaat Ali Shah (1834–1951) was a Sufi of the Naqshbandi order and an author. He was President of All India Sunni Conference and the leader of the Shaheed Ganj Mosque. He was an influential leader of the Pakistan Movement.THE RELIGIOUS AND RE ...
of Sialkot, Pakistan, led the Shaheed Ganj Mosque movement.The Religious And Reformative Services Of Renowned Sufis Of Silsila-E-Naqshbandia Mujadidia (1841-2000) Hussain, Mehrban (2008) PhD thesis, University of Karachi, Karachi Muslims held a public meeting on 19–20 July 1935 at the
Badshahi mosque The Badshahi Mosque (Urdu, Punjabi: ; literally ''The Royal Mosque'') is a Mughal-era congregational mosque in Lahore, capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab. The mosque is located west of Lahore Fort along the outskirts of the Walled C ...
, and marched directly on the Shaheedganj mosque. Police opened fire on the crowd to kill more than a dozen. Peer
Jamaat Ali Shah Jamaat Ali Shah (1834–1951) was a Sufi of the Naqshbandi order and an author. He was President of All India Sunni Conference and the leader of the Shaheed Ganj Mosque. He was an influential leader of the Pakistan Movement.THE RELIGIOUS AND RE ...
presided over the first session of the Conference to organize protests against the demolition. He was appointed the Chief of the protests. "Shaheedganj Day" was observed on 20 September 1935 under his leadership. His appointment as leader of this movement garnered support from other Sunni scholars. Fazal Shah of Jalalpur and Ghulam Mohiuddin of Golra Sharif, Zainulabedin Shah of the Gilani family from Multan and Anjuman Hizb-ul-Ahnaf from Lahore offered support to Shah's leadership. This consensus created a religious and political base which reduced urban-rural differences. The struggle continued for several years.


All India Sunni Conference

Ahle Sunnat established in 1925 a body of Islamic scholars and Sufis named All India Sunni Conference, in the wake of Congress led secular
Indian nationalism Indian nationalism is an instance of territorial nationalism, which is inclusive of all of the people of India, despite their diverse ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds. Indian nationalism can trace roots to pre-colonial India, b ...
, changing geo-political situation of India. Islamic scholars and popular leaders
Jamaat Ali Shah Jamaat Ali Shah (1834–1951) was a Sufi of the Naqshbandi order and an author. He was President of All India Sunni Conference and the leader of the Shaheed Ganj Mosque. He was an influential leader of the Pakistan Movement.THE RELIGIOUS AND RE ...
,
Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi (1887–1948), also known as Sadr ul-Afazil, was a twentieth-century jurist, scholar, mufti, Quranic exegete, and educator. He was a scholar of philosophy, geometry, logic and hadith and leader of All India Sunni Conf ...
,
Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri (1892–1981) was an Indian Muslim scholar and author, and leader of the Sunni Barelvi movement following the death of its founder, his father Ahmed Raza Khan. He was known as ''Mufti-Azam-i-Hind'' to his followers. ...
,
Amjad Ali Aazmi Amjad Ali Aazmi (Urdu: مفتى أمجد على أعظمى) (November 1882 – 6 September 1948), also known with honorifics by followers as Sadr al-Shariah (Urdu: صدر الشريعه, Chief of the Islamic Law) Badr-e-Tariqat (Shining Moon of ...
, Abdul Hamid Qadri Badayuni ,
Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi Akhundzada Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi ( ur, اخوندزادہ محمد عبدالغفور ہزاروی چشتی) (1 January 1909 – 9 October 1970) was a Muslim theologian, jurist, and scholar of ahadith in Pakistan (''South Asia' ...
and Pir
Syed Faiz-ul Hassan Shah Faiz-ul Hassan Shah, known by some as Khatib ul Islam, was a Pakistani Islamic religious scholar, orator, poet, and writer. Political and social contribution He was president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan for ten years, and struggled to establi ...
were the main leaders. In 1925, its first Conference was attended by three hundred Ulema and Mashaikh. AISC focus was on Unity, brotherhood, preaching and protection of Islamic faith with a stress on need for acquiring modern education for Muslims. The Second Conference was held in
Badaun Budaun is commonly pronounced Badayun is a city and a seat of Budaun district, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located near the Ganges river in the centre of Western Uttar Pradesh. Budaun was the capital of Delhi Sultanate for four years from 1210 ...
U.P in October 1935 under the Presidency of Jamaat Ali Shah. It discussed
Shaheed Ganj Mosque Shaheed Ganj Mosque, originally named the Abdullah Khan Mosque ( ur, ), was a mosque in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. The Mosque was commissioned in 1722 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah and built by Abdullah Khan c ...
Movement. and openly opposed
Ibn Saud Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud ( ar, عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن آل سعود, ʿAbd al ʿAzīz bin ʿAbd ar Raḥman Āl Suʿūd; 15 January 1875Ibn Saud's birth year has been a source of debate. It is generally accepted ...
's policies in Arabia, the Conference demanded to respect the Holy and sacred places of the Muslims. The third Conference held on 27–30 April 1946 at
Benaras Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. * * * * The city has a syncretic tra ...
discussed the disturbed condition of the country and possible solution for the Muslims in the wake of demand for
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. *All India Muslim League Several Sufi Barelvi scholars supported the
All-India Muslim League The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party established in Dhaka in 1906 when a group of prominent Muslim politicians met the Viceroy of British India, Lord Minto, with the goal of securing Muslim interests on the Indian subcontin ...
and Pakistan's demand claiming that Congress aimed at establishing Hindu state and arguing, that Muslims need to have their own country. Few Barelvi scholars opposed the partition of India and the League's demand to be seen as the only representative of Indian Muslims. Main roles played by Ahle Sunnat movement scholars and leaders: In the aftermath of the 1948
Partition Partition may refer to: Computing Hardware * Disk partitioning, the division of a hard disk drive * Memory partition, a subdivision of a computer's memory, usually for use by a single job Software * Partition (database), the division of a ...
, they formed an association to represent the movement in Pakistan, called
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) ( ur, ) is a Islamist political party in Pakistan. It was founded in 1948 by leaders of All India Sunni Conference. JUP exercised considerable political influence in Pakistani politics during 1970s to 2003. Its stude ...
(JUP). Like ulema of the Deobandi and Ahl-i Hadith movements, Barelvi ulema have advocated application of
sharia law Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the Five Pillars of Islam, religious precepts of Islam and is based on the Islamic holy books, sacred scriptures o ...
across the country. As a reaction to the anti-Islam film ''
Innocence of Muslims ''Innocence of Muslims'' is an anti-Islamic short film that was written and produced by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. Two versions of the 14-minute video were uploaded to YouTube in July 2012, under the titles "The Real Life of Muhammad" and "Muham ...
'', a conglomerate of forty Barelvi parties called for a boycott of Western goods, while at the same time condemning violence which had taken place in protest against the film.


Beliefs

Like other Sunni Muslims, they base their beliefs on the
Quran The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
and
Sunnah In Islam, , also spelled ( ar, سنة), are the traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time evidently saw and followed and passed ...
and believe in
monotheism Monotheism is the belief that there is only one deity, an all-supreme being that is universally referred to as God. Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford ...
and the prophethood of Muhammad. Although Barelvis may follow any one of the
Ashari Ashʿarī theology or Ashʿarism (; ar, الأشعرية: ) is one of the main Sunnī schools of Islamic theology, founded by the Muslim scholar, Shāfiʿī jurist, reformer, and scholastic theologian Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ashʿarī in the ...
and
Maturidi Māturīdī theology or Māturīdism ( ar, الماتريدية: ''al-Māturīdiyyah'') is one of the main Sunnī schools of Islamic theology, founded by the Persian Muslim scholar, Ḥanafī jurist, reformer (''Mujaddid''), and scholastic th ...
schools of
Islamic theology Schools of Islamic theology are various Islamic schools and branches in different schools of thought regarding ''ʿaqīdah'' (creed). The main schools of Islamic Theology include the Qadariyah, Falasifa, Jahmiyya, Murji'ah, Muʿtazila, Bati ...
and one of the
Hanafi The Hanafi school ( ar, حَنَفِية, translit=Ḥanafiyah; also called Hanafite in English), Hanafism, or the Hanafi fiqh, is the oldest and one of the four traditional major Sunni schools ( maddhab) of Islamic Law (Fiqh). It is named aft ...
,
Maliki The ( ar, مَالِكِي) school is one of the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. It was founded by Malik ibn Anas in the 8th century. The Maliki school of jurisprudence relies on the Quran and hadiths as primary ...
,
Shafi'i The Shafii ( ar, شَافِعِي, translit=Shāfiʿī, also spelled Shafei) school, also known as Madhhab al-Shāfiʿī, is one of the four major traditional schools of religious law (madhhab) in the Sunnī branch of Islam. It was founded by ...
and
Hanbali The Hanbali school ( ar, ٱلْمَذْهَب ٱلْحَنۢبَلِي, al-maḏhab al-ḥanbalī) is one of the four major traditional Sunni schools (''madhahib'') of Islamic jurisprudence. It is named after the Arab scholar Ahmad ibn Hanbal ...
madhhab A ( ar, مذهب ', , "way to act". pl. مَذَاهِب , ) is a school of thought within ''fiqh'' (Islamic jurisprudence). The major Sunni Mathhab are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali. They emerged in the ninth and tenth centuries CE an ...
s of
fiqh ''Fiqh'' (; ar, فقه ) is Islamic jurisprudence. Muhammad-> Companions-> Followers-> Fiqh. The commands and prohibitions chosen by God were revealed through the agency of the Prophet in both the Quran and the Sunnah (words, deeds, and ...
in addition to optionally choosing from one of the
Sunni 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 disagr ...
Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...
orders or
tariqa A tariqa (or ''tariqah''; ar, طريقة ') is a school or order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking ''haqiqa'', which translates as "ultimate truth". ...
s, most Barelvis in South Asia follow the
Maturidi Māturīdī theology or Māturīdism ( ar, الماتريدية: ''al-Māturīdiyyah'') is one of the main Sunnī schools of Islamic theology, founded by the Persian Muslim scholar, Ḥanafī jurist, reformer (''Mujaddid''), and scholastic th ...
school of
Islamic theology Schools of Islamic theology are various Islamic schools and branches in different schools of thought regarding ''ʿaqīdah'' (creed). The main schools of Islamic Theology include the Qadariyah, Falasifa, Jahmiyya, Murji'ah, Muʿtazila, Bati ...
, the
Hanafi The Hanafi school ( ar, حَنَفِية, translit=Ḥanafiyah; also called Hanafite in English), Hanafism, or the Hanafi fiqh, is the oldest and one of the four traditional major Sunni schools ( maddhab) of Islamic Law (Fiqh). It is named aft ...
madhhab A ( ar, مذهب ', , "way to act". pl. مَذَاهِب , ) is a school of thought within ''fiqh'' (Islamic jurisprudence). The major Sunni Mathhab are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali. They emerged in the ninth and tenth centuries CE an ...
of
fiqh ''Fiqh'' (; ar, فقه ) is Islamic jurisprudence. Muhammad-> Companions-> Followers-> Fiqh. The commands and prohibitions chosen by God were revealed through the agency of the Prophet in both the Quran and the Sunnah (words, deeds, and ...
and the
Qadiri The Qadiriyya (), also transliterated Qādirīyah, ''Qadri'', ''Qadriya'', ''Kadri'', ''Elkadri'', ''Elkadry'', ''Aladray'', ''Alkadrie'', ''Adray'', ''Kadray'', ''Kadiri'', ''Qadiri'', ''Quadri'' or ''Qadri'' are members of the Sunni Qadiri ta ...
or
Chishti The Chishtī Order ( fa, ''chishtī'') is a tariqa, an order or school within the mystic Sufism, Sufi tradition of Sunni Islam. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. It began with Abu Ishaq Shami in Ch ...
Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...
orders.


Positions

Several beliefs and practices differentiate the Barelvi movement from others (particularly
Deobandis Deobandi is a Islamic revival, revivalist movement within Sunni Islam, adhering to the Hanafi school of law, formed in the late 19th century around the Darul Uloom Deoband, Darul Uloom Madrassa in Deoband, India, from which the name derives, ...
and
Wahhabis Wahhabism ( ar, ٱلْوَهَّابِيَةُ, translit=al-Wahhābiyyah) is a Sunni Islamic Islamic revival, revivalist and Islamic fundamentalism, fundamentalist movement associated with the reformist doctrines of the 18th-century Arabians, ...
including beliefs in the intercession of Muhammad, the knowledge of Muhammad, the "Nur Muhammadiyya" (Light of Muhammad), and whether Muhammad views and witnesses actions of people.


Intercession of Muhammad

All jurists comprising
Imami Twelver Shīʿīsm ( ar, ٱثْنَا عَشَرِيَّة; '), also known as Imāmīyyah ( ar, إِمَامِيَّة), is the largest branch of Shīʿa Islam, comprising about 85 percent of all Shīʿa Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers t ...
,
Shafi'i The Shafii ( ar, شَافِعِي, translit=Shāfiʿī, also spelled Shafei) school, also known as Madhhab al-Shāfiʿī, is one of the four major traditional schools of religious law (madhhab) in the Sunnī branch of Islam. It was founded by ...
,
Maliki The ( ar, مَالِكِي) school is one of the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. It was founded by Malik ibn Anas in the 8th century. The Maliki school of jurisprudence relies on the Quran and hadiths as primary ...
,
Hanafi The Hanafi school ( ar, حَنَفِية, translit=Ḥanafiyah; also called Hanafite in English), Hanafism, or the Hanafi fiqh, is the oldest and one of the four traditional major Sunni schools ( maddhab) of Islamic Law (Fiqh). It is named aft ...
and
Hanbali The Hanbali school ( ar, ٱلْمَذْهَب ٱلْحَنۢبَلِي, al-maḏhab al-ḥanbalī) is one of the four major traditional Sunni schools (''madhahib'') of Islamic jurisprudence. It is named after the Arab scholar Ahmad ibn Hanbal ...
are unanimous on the permissibly of tawassul whether during the lifetime of Muhammad or after his death.
Tawassul Tawassul is an Arabic word originated from wa-sa-la- wasilat (). The ''wasilah'' is a means by which a person, goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved. In another version of the meaning of tawassul in another text: Tawassul is an Ara ...
is a fundamental belief of all traditional Sunni movements. The belief is that Prophet Muhammad helps in this life and in the afterlife. According to this doctrine, God helps through Muhammad (
Tawassul Tawassul is an Arabic word originated from wa-sa-la- wasilat (). The ''wasilah'' is a means by which a person, goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved. In another version of the meaning of tawassul in another text: Tawassul is an Ara ...
).
Sunni 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 disagr ...
Muslims of the Barelvi movement believe that any ability that Muhammad has to help others is from God, who helps through Muhammad. The help received from Muhammad is therefore considered God's help. Proponents of this belief look to the Quran as a proof that God prefers to help through Muhammad. One of the titles of the Prophet is 'shaafi', one who performs intercession. Other spiritual leaders who will act as intermediaries will be prophets, martyrs, huffaz of the Quran, angels and pious people whom God deems fit. Prophet Jesus' intercession for his people on the Day of Judgment is mentioned in the Quran (5:16-18). They also believe that in the afterlife, on the day of judgement, Muhammad will intercede on the behalf of his followers and God will forgive his nation of sins and allow them to enter ''Jannah'' (paradise). The belief of Muhammad providing support and help is a common theme within classical
Sunni 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 disagr ...
literature. The Quran says, ''O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek a wasila to him (5:35).'' Further, the Quran says, ''We sent not the Messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah. If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come to the Messenger and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Messenger had (also) asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful.(Al-Qur'an, Surah an-Nisa, 4:64)'' The belief of Muhammad interceding is found in various hadith as well. ''A Bedouin of the desert visited the Prophet's tomb and greeted the Prophet, addressing him directly as if he were alive. "Peace upon you, Messenger of God!" Then he said, "I heard the word of God 'If, when they had wronged themselves . . .,' I came to you seeking pardon for my mistakes, longing for your intercession with our Lord!" The Bedouin then recited a poem in praise of the Prophet and departed. The person who witnessed the story says that he fell asleep, and in a dream he saw the Prophet saying to him, "O 'Utbi, rejoin our brother the Bedouin and announce ohim the good news that God has pardoned him!"'' Syrian Islamic scholars Salih al-Nu'man, Abu Sulayman Suhayl al-Zabibi, and Mustafa ibn Ahmad al-Hasan al-Shatti al-Hanbali al-Athari al-Dimashqi have similarly released
Fatwa A fatwā ( ; ar, فتوى; plural ''fatāwā'' ) is a legal ruling on a point of Islamic law (''sharia'') given by a qualified '' Faqih'' (Islamic jurist) in response to a question posed by a private individual, judge or government. A jurist i ...
s in support of the practice.
Al-Suyuti Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti ( ar, جلال الدين السيوطي, Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī) ( 1445–1505 CE),; (Brill 2nd) or Al-Suyuti, was an Arab Egyptian polymath, Islamic scholar, historian, Sufi, and jurist. From a family of Persian or ...
in his book ''History of the Caliphs'' also reports Caliph Umar's prayer for rain after the death of Muhammad and specifies that on that occasion 'Umar was wearing his mantle (al-burda), a detail confirming his ''tawassul'' through Muhammad at that occasion.
Sahih al-Bukhari Sahih al-Bukhari ( ar, صحيح البخاري, translit=Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī), group=note is a ''hadith'' collection and a book of '' sunnah'' compiled by the Persian scholar Muḥammad ibn Ismā‘īl al-Bukhārī (810–870) around 846. Al ...
narrates similar situation as: Hadith states that on that day people will be running to and fro looking for an intercessor, until they come to the Prophet Muhammad, who will answer, "I am for intercession". The Lord will then ask him to "...intercede, for your intercession will be heard" (Bukhari). Sunni Muslims of this movement also commonly say ''Ya Rasool Allah'' ('O Messenger of Allah'), addressing Muhammad in the present tense with the belief that he is able to listen. They believe that Muhammad is a Rahmah (mercy) to all creation as mentioned in the Quran . Muhammad therefore is a means by which God expresses his attribute, Ar-Rahman, to creation.


Light of Muhammad (Nur Muhammadiyya)

A central doctrine of this movement is that Muhammad is both human and (Noor) light. Muhammad's physical birth was preceded by his existence as a light which predates creation. The primordial reality of Muhammad existed before creation, and God created for the sake of Muhammad. Adherents of this doctrine believe that the word ''Nur'' (light) in the Quran refers to Muhammad.
Sahl al-Tustari Sahl al-Tustarī ( ar, سهل التستري) or Sahl Shushtarī ( fa, سهل شوشتری) according to Persian custom, born Abū Muḥammad Sahl ibn ʿAbd Allāh (c.818 CE (203 AH) – c.896 CE (283 AH)), was a Persian Sunni Muslim schola ...
, the ninth-century Sunni Quran commentator, describes the creation of Muhammad's primordial light in his
tafsir Tafsir ( ar, تفسير, tafsīr ) refers to exegesis, usually of the Quran. An author of a ''tafsir'' is a ' ( ar, مُفسّر; plural: ar, مفسّرون, mufassirūn). A Quranic ''tafsir'' attempts to provide elucidation, explanation, in ...
.
Mansur Al-Hallaj Al-Hallaj ( ar, ابو المغيث الحسين بن منصور الحلاج, Abū 'l-Muġīth Al-Ḥusayn bin Manṣūr al-Ḥallāj) or Mansour Hallaj ( fa, منصور حلاج, Mansūr-e Hallāj) ( 26 March 922) (Islamic calendar, Hijri ...
(al-Tustari's student) affirms this doctrine in his book, ''Ta Sin Al-Siraj'': According to ''Stūdīyā Islāmīkā'', all Sufi orders are united in the belief in the light of Muhammad.


Prophet views and witnesses (Hazir o Nazir) actions of people

Another central doctrine of this movement is that the Prophet Muhammad is a viewer and witness (حاضر و ناظر, Ḥāḍir-o nāẓir) actions of people. The doctrine appears in works predating the movement, such as Sayyid Uthman Bukhari's (d. ca. 1687) ''Jawahir al-Quliya'' (''Jewels of the Friends of God''), describing how Sufis may experience the presence of Muhammad. Proponents of this doctrine assert that the term ''Shahid'' (witness) in the Quran (, ) refers to this ability of Muhammad, and cite
hadith Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval ...
s to support it. This concept was interpreted by
Shah Abdul Aziz Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlavi (11 October 1746 – 5 June 1824; ) was Muhaddith (scholar of Hadith) and Mujadid Sufi and reformer from India. He was of the Naqshbandi Sufi order which emerged from a tradition of violent backlash against the ...
in Tafsir Azizi in these words: The Prophet is observing everybody, knows their good and bad deeds, and knows the strength of faith (Imaan) of every individual Muslim and what has hindered his spiritual progress. Hafiz
Ibn Kathir Abū al-Fiḍā’ ‘Imād ad-Dīn Ismā‘īl ibn ‘Umar ibn Kathīr al-Qurashī al-Damishqī (Arabic: إسماعيل بن عمر بن كثير القرشي الدمشقي أبو الفداء عماد; – 1373), known as Ibn Kathīr (, was ...
says: "You are witness of the oneness of Allah Almighty and that there is no God except Allah. You will bear evidence about the actions and deed of whole mankind on the day of judgment. (Tafseer Ibne Katheer, Vol. 3, Page 497).


Muhammad's Knowledge of the Unseen (Ilm-e-Ghaib)

A fundamental Sunni Barelvi belief is that Prophet Muhammad has knowledge of the unseen, which is granted him by Allah (''ata'e'') and is not equal to God's knowledge. This relates to the concept of ''Ummi'' as mentioned in the Quran (). This movement does not interpret this word as "unlettered" or "illiterate", but "untaught". Muhammad learns not from humankind, but from Allah; his knowledge is universal, encompassing the seen and unseen realms. This belief predates this movement, and is found in Sunni books such as
Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī ( fa, جلال‌الدین محمد رومی), also known as Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī (), Mevlânâ/Mawlānā ( fa, مولانا, lit= our master) and Mevlevî/Mawlawī ( fa, مولوی, lit= my ma ...
's ''
Fihi Ma Fihi The ''Fihi Ma Fihi'' ( fa, فیه مافیه; from ar, فیه ما فیه), "It Is What It Is" or "In It What Is in It") is a Persian prose work of a famous 13th century writer, Rumi. The book has 72 short discourses. Description The title ...
'': Allah has sent down to you the Book and Wisdom and has taught to you what you did not know, and great is the grace of Allah upon you" ura an-Nisa, verse 113 Imam Jalal udin
Al-Suyuti Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti ( ar, جلال الدين السيوطي, Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī) ( 1445–1505 CE),; (Brill 2nd) or Al-Suyuti, was an Arab Egyptian polymath, Islamic scholar, historian, Sufi, and jurist. From a family of Persian or ...
writes: (Taught to you what you did not know) means that Allah Most High has told the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) of Ahkam and Unseen.Knowledge of Unseen (In the light of Quran and Sunnah)https://www.ahlus-sunna.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=119 Qur'an states: This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou thyself knewest it not, nor did thy folk (know it) before this. Then have patience. Lo! the sequel is for those who ward off (evil).
urah Hud (11), verse 49 ''Oorah'' is a battle cry common in the United States Marine Corps since the mid-20th century. It is comparable to Hooah in the United States Army, the United States Air Force, and the United States Space Force, or Hooyah in the United States N ...
Qur'an states: Nor will He disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen. "But He chooses of His Apostles or the purpose ura Aali-Imran, verse 179


Practices

*Public celebration of Muhammad's birthday * Veneration of pious. This consists of the intervention of an ascending, linked and unbroken chain of holy persons claimed to reach ultimately to Muhammad who Barelvis believe intercede on their behalf with God. * Visiting the
tombs A tomb ( grc-gre, τύμβος ''tumbos'') is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes. Placing a corpse into a tomb can be called ''immureme ...
of Prophet Muhammad, his companions and pious Muslims, an act they believe is supported by the Quran,
Sunnah In Islam, , also spelled ( ar, سنة), are the traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time evidently saw and followed and passed ...
and the acts of the companions. *Group
dhikr ''Dhikr'' ( ar, ذِكْر}, , also spelled ''Zikr'', ''Thikr'', ''Zekr'', or ''Zikar'', literally meaning "remembrance, reminder" or "mention") is a form of Islamic meditation in which phrases or prayers are repeatedly chanted in order to reme ...
: synchronized movements of the body while chanting the
names of God There are various names of God, many of which enumerate the various qualities of a Supreme Being. The English word ''god'' (and its equivalent in other languages) is used by multiple religions as a noun to refer to different deities, or speci ...
. Some groups, notably those in the Sufi
Chishti Order The Chishtī Order ( fa, ''chishtī'') is a tariqa, an order or school within the mystic Sufi tradition of Sunni Islam. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. It began with Abu Ishaq Shami in Chisht, a ...
, sing
Qawwali Qawwali ( Punjabi: (Shahmukhi), (Gurmukhi); Urdu: (Nasta'liq); Hindi: क़व्वाली (Devanagari); Bengali: কাওয়ালি (Bengali)) is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing, originating from the Indian subcontinent ...
; others do not use musical instruments. *Letting the beard grow. The four schools of fiqh generally (with the exception of the Shafi and Hanbali school of fiqh) consider it unlawful to trim a beard less than a fistful length.


Sufi tradition

Sufism is a fundamental aspect of this movement. Imam
Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi Ahmed Raza Khan, commonly known as Aala Hazrat, Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, or Ahmed Rida Khan in Arabic, (14 June 1856 CE or 10 Shawwal 1272 AH – 28 October 1921 CE or 25 Safar 1340 AH), was an Islamic scholar, jurist, mufti, philosop ...
was part of the
Qadri The Qadiriyya (), also transliterated Qādirīyah, ''Qadri'', ''Qadriya'', ''Kadri'', ''Elkadri'', ''Elkadry'', ''Aladray'', ''Alkadrie'', ''Adray'', ''Kadray'', ''Kadiri'', ''Qadiri'', ''Quadri'' or ''Qadri'' are members of the Sunni Qadiri ta ...
tariqa A tariqa (or ''tariqah''; ar, طريقة ') is a school or order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking ''haqiqa'', which translates as "ultimate truth". ...
and pledged ''
bay'ah ''Bayʿah'' ( ar, بَيْعَة, "Pledge of allegiance"), in Islamic terminology, is an oath of allegiance to a leader. It is known to have been practiced by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. ''Bayʿah'' is sometimes taken under a written pact ...
'' (allegiance) to Sayyid Shah Al ur-Rasul Marehrawi. Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi instructed his followers in Sufi beliefs and practices. Traditional Sufi practices, such as devotion to Muhammad and the veneration of ''
wali A wali (''wali'' ar, وَلِيّ, '; plural , '), the Arabic word which has been variously translated "master", "authority", "custodian", "protector", is most commonly used by Muslims to indicate an Islamic saint, otherwise referred to by the ...
s'', remain an integral part of the movement (which defended the Sufi status quo in South Asia. They was at the forefront of defending Sufi doctrines such as the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad and
tawassul Tawassul is an Arabic word originated from wa-sa-la- wasilat (). The ''wasilah'' is a means by which a person, goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved. In another version of the meaning of tawassul in another text: Tawassul is an Ara ...
. The wider Ahle Sunnat Wal jamaat Barelvi movement was sustained and connected through thousands of Sufi
Urs Urs (from ''‘Urs'') or ''Urus'' (literal meaning wedding), is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint, usually held at the saint's dargah (shrine or tomb). In most Sufi orders such as Naqshbandiyyah, Suhrawardiyya, Chishtiyya, Qadiriyya, etc ...
festivals at Dargahs/shrines in south Asia, as well as in the Britain and other parts.
Ahmad Raza Khan Ahmed Raza Khan, commonly known as Aala Hazrat, Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, or Ahmed Rida Khan in Arabic, (14 June 1856 Common Era, CE or 10 Shawwal 1272 Islamic calendar, AH – 28 October 1921 Common Era, CE or 25 Safar 1340 Islamic calendar, ...
Qadri and many Sunni scholars countered Deobandi, Ahl-i Hadith and Wahabi hardliners which resulted in the institutionalization of diverse Sufi movements in many countries of the world.


Presence


India

It defends a more traditional South Asian version of the faith centered on the practices of Sufi mysticism. ''
India Today ''India Today'' is a weekly Indian English-language news magazine published by Living Media India Limited. It is the most widely circulated magazine in India, with a readership of close to 8 million. In 2014, ''India Today'' launched a new onl ...
'' estimated that over two-thirds (2/3) of
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
s in India adhere to the Sufi oriented Ahle Sunnat (Barelvi) movement. *
Bareilly Sharif Dargah Bareilly Sharif Dargah or Dargah-e-Aala Hazrat is a Dargah (tomb) or monument of Ahmed Raza Khan located in Bareilly city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. He was a 19th-century Ahle Sunnat, who is known for his staunch opposition of Wahhabis ...
Markaz-e-Ahle Sunnah at Dargah Ala Hazrat is one of the main center of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat movement in south Asia. Millions of people turned to seek guidance in Islamic matters towards this center of Islamic learning. Bareilly city has been heart throb of Sunni Muslims since 1870 when revered Islamic Scholar
Ala Hazrat Ahmed Raza Khan, commonly known as Aala Hazrat, Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, or Ahmed Rida Khan in Arabic, (14 June 1856 CE or 10 Shawwal 1272 AH – 28 October 1921 CE or 25 Safar 1340 AH), was an Islamic scholar, jurist, mufti, philosophe ...
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan established Fatwa committee under the guidance of his father
Naqi Ali Khan Naqi Ali Khan (1830-1880) (urdu: نقی علی خان) was an Indian Sunni Hanafi Islamic Scholar, Mufti and father of Ahmed Raza Khan. Naqi Ali wrote 26 books on Seerah and Aqedah and he issued thousand Fatwas. Family tree Publications * As ...
. Later, his son Maulana Hamid Raza Khan and Mufti Azam-e-Hind
Mustafa Raza Khan Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri (1892–1981) was an Indian Muslim scholar and author, and leader of the Sunni Barelvi movement following the death of its founder, his father Ahmed Raza Khan. He was known as ''Mufti-Azam-i-Hind'' to his followers. ...
continued Fatwa work. In mid-' 70s during
The Emergency (India) The Emergency in India was a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared across the country. Officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution beca ...
, Indian Govt. on the advice of
Sanjay Gandhi Sanjay Gandhi (14 December 1946 23 June 1980) was an Indian politician and the younger son of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. He was a member of parliament, Lok Sabha and the Nehru–Gandhi family. During his lifetime, he was widely expected ...
, son of Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi did try to force vasectomy (Nasbandi). Huge but unconfirmed numbers of young men were forcibly sterilized. Government officials, even school teachers were given orders to induce a predetermined number of males to endure vasectomy or Nasbandi, as it was called. Indian Muslims were finding to difficult to oppose this harsh Govt. action as the time was of emergency and the powers were totally in the hands of Prime Minister. Mufti-e-Azam
Mustafa Raza Khan Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri (1892–1981) was an Indian Muslim scholar and author, and leader of the Sunni Barelvi movement following the death of its founder, his father Ahmed Raza Khan. He was known as ''Mufti-Azam-i-Hind'' to his followers. ...
at that time acted without pressure and passed a verdict against Vasectomy that it is Un-Islamic. He published his judicial verdict and circulated it all over the India giving a sigh of relief to Muslims but a tension to Indian Govt. The government unsuccessfully tried to get the Fatwa withdrawn and with in two years the Indira Gandhi lost the Parliamentary elections. For Islamic missionary activities, Sunni Dawat-e-Islami (SDI) is an important Islamic preaching movement in India. It is working in at least 20 countries around the world. Muhammad
Shakir Ali Noori Shakir Ali Noorie (also written as Muhammad Shākīr ´Alī Nūrī) is an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar, preacher and current President of Sunni Dawate Islami, a non-political, religious organisation in Mumbai, India. He has been ranked among the ...
founded it in Mumbai city. It has a large network of (Dawah workers) preachers in India and in other countries. Sunni Dawat-e-Islami has established many modern and religious educational institutions around India and some in other parts of the world. At present Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi,
Ziaul Mustafa Razvi Qadri Zia ul Mustafa Aazmi Qadri Razvi Amjadi ( ur, مفتی ضیاء المصطفیٰ اعظمی رضوی قادری امجد; hi, हिन्दी मुफ्ती अल्लामा ज़ियाउल मुस्तफा कादर ...
,
Muhammad Madni Ashraf Ashrafi Al-Jilani Syed Mohammed Madni Ashraf often referred to as Shaykh al-Islām, and Madni Miyan (born on 27 August 1938 Common Era, CE; 1 Rajab 1357 Islamic calendar, AH) is an Indian people, Indian Islamic scholar, theologian, murshid, spiritual leader and a ...
, Syed
Ameen Mian Qaudri Syed Muhammad Ameen Mian Qadri is the custodian (Sajjada Nashin) of the Khanqah-e-Barkatiya Marehra Shareef (Sufi Khanqah) of Qadri Order, a subgroup of the Indian Sufi Barelvi movement and founder of Al Barkaat Educational Institutions,Aligarh ...
of Barkatiya Silsila, Shaikh Aboobacker Ahmad of All India Sunni Jamiatul Ulma and Mufti
Mukarram Ahmad Mufti Mukarram Ahmed is an Indian Muslim religious and literary scholar. Ahmad is the Shahi Imam (Royal prayer leader) and Khateeb (Prayer leader and main speaker) of Shahi Masjid Fatehpuri Mosque, India's second largest mosque. He was born in a ...
of
Fatehpuri Masjid The Fatehpuri Mosque is a 17th-century mosque in India located at the western end of the oldest street of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. It is opposite the Red Fort on the opposite end of Chandni Chowk. History Fatehpuri Masjid was built in 1650 b ...
Delhi are some of the influential Sunni leaders of India. while
Jama'at Raza-e-Mustafa Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa ( ur, , hi, जमात-रज़ा-ए-मुस्तफ़ा) also known as JRM, is a historical organisation of Indian Sunni Barelvi Muslims associated with Sufism. It was founded by the Great Scholar and 14th Cen ...
, Bareilly,
Raza Academy Raza may refer to: * Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi Islamic reformer * ''Raza'' (film), a 1942 Spanish film *S. H. Raza (1922–2016), Indian artist *Sardar Muhammad Raza, former Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan *Raheel Raza (born 1949), Canadia ...
, Mumbai, and All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board,
All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam (AITUI), also known as Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam is an organisation of Bareilvi-Sunni Muslims. In 2019 an article in the Times of India via the Times News Network feed claimed AITUI was the predominant Sunni organ ...
, Delhi are representative bodies. The Grand Mufti of India is the senior and influential religious authority of the Islamic Community of India. The incumbent is Shafi Sunni scholar
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar known as Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad (Born as ''A. P. Aboobacker'' at ''Kanthapuram'' on 22 March 1931) is the Grand Mufti of India and also the Social Worker. He is also the Chancellor of the Jamia ...
, general secretary of
All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama, or All India Muslim Scholars Association, is one of the principal Sunni-Shafi'i scholarly bodies in northern Kerala. The council administers Shafi'ite mosques, institutes of higher religious learning (the equiv ...
, who was conferred the title in February 2019 at the Ghareeb Nawaz Peace Conference held at
Ramlila Maidan Ramlila Maidan also Ramlila Ground is a large ground located in New Delhi, India, traditionally used for staging the annual Ramlila. It is used for religious festivals, major political rallies and meetings, and entertainment events. It is locate ...
,
New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House ...
, organised by the
All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam (AITUI), also known as Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam is an organisation of Bareilvi-Sunni Muslims. In 2019 an article in the Times of India via the Times News Network feed claimed AITUI was the predominant Sunni organ ...
.


Madarsa Network

Al Jamiatul Ashrafia Al Jamiatul Ashrafia ( ur, , hi, अल जामियत-उल-अशरफ़िया) is a Barelvi Sunni school in India. It is located in Mubarakpur in a northern state of India, Uttar Pradesh. History It started off as a madrasa cal ...
, Azamgarh,
Jamia Naeemia Moradabad Jamia Naeemia Moradabad ( ur, , hi, जामिया नईमिया मुरादाबाद) is an Islamic seminary in India. It is located in Moradabad in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The seminary is a major center of the B ...
,
Jamia Amjadia Rizvia Jamia Amjadia Rizvia is an Islamic seminary (Madrasa) of the Sunni denomination situated in Ghosi city in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.It was established by Mufti Ziaul Mustafa Azmi a north Indian Muhaddith and son of a 19th century Faqih ...
, Ghosi
Al-Jame-atul-Islamia Al-Jame-atul Islamia is an Islamic seminary of Sunni- Barelvi Muslims in India. It is located in Raunahi, District. Faizabad, near Lucknow, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in India. History Al-Jame-atul-Islamia was founded in 1964 ...
, Mau,
Markazu Saquafathi Sunniyya Jamia Markaz (also called Markaz or Sunni Markaz) is an Islamic University running under the Markazu Saqafathi Sunniyya at Kozhikode in Kerala, India. The Markaz is located east of Kozhikode city. The foundation stone was laid by the Saudi ...
, Kerala and
Jamia Nizamia Jamia Nizamia more properly, Jami'ah Nizamiyyah, is one of the oldest Islamic seminaries of higher learning for Muslims located in Hyderabad, India. It is named after its founder- the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad. History It was founded by Shaykh ...
, Hyderabad are some of the notable institutions of the movement.
Markazu Saquafathi Sunniyya Jamia Markaz (also called Markaz or Sunni Markaz) is an Islamic University running under the Markazu Saqafathi Sunniyya at Kozhikode in Kerala, India. The Markaz is located east of Kozhikode city. The foundation stone was laid by the Saudi ...
or Jamia Markaz operates more than 50 institutions and many sub-centers across the world. Al Jamiatul Ashrafia is considered as a main institution of learning in north India with thousands of students across the country.


Pakistan

Sufism has strong links to South Asia dating back to the eighth and ninth centuries and preaches religious tolerance, encourages spiritual over ritualistic practicing of Islam, and encourages diversity. The Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement has originated from South Asian Sufism itself. The religious and political leaders of this movement were followers of Sufism and lead the masses in to revivalist Sunni movement. ''
Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...
'' and ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' gave assessments that vast majority of Muslims in Pakistan follow Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement.Karin Brulliard
In Pakistan, even anti-violence Islamic sect lauds assassination of liberal governor
. The Washington Post, Saturday, 29 January 2011; 9:55 PM.
Political scientist Rohan Bedi estimated that 60% of Pakistani Muslims follow this movement. The movement form a majority in the most populous state
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
,
Sindh Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...
and
Azad Kashmir Azad Jammu and Kashmir (; ), abbreviated as AJK and colloquially referred to as simply Azad Kashmir, is a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entitySee: * * * and constituting the western portion of the larger Ka ...
regions of Pakistan. Dawat e Islami International, Tanzeem ul Madaris Ahle Sunnat,
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) ( ur, ) is a Islamist political party in Pakistan. It was founded in 1948 by leaders of All India Sunni Conference. JUP exercised considerable political influence in Pakistani politics during 1970s to 2003. Its stude ...
,
Jamaat Ahle Sunnat The Jamaat Ahle Sunnat ( ur, ) is a Muslim religious organization in Pakistan that represents the Barelvi movement. It was supported by Muhammad Shafee Okarvi. As a Sunni organisation it has adopted many Sufi customs and traditions. History ...
, Sunni Ittehad Council and
Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat -e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat ( ur, مجلسِ تحفظِ ختمِ نبوت, translation="The Assembly to Protect the End of Prophethood") is the programmatic name of a Pakistani Barelvi organization and Islamic religious movement in Pakistan ...
are some of the leading organisations of Pakistani Sunni Muslims. While
Jamia Nizamia Ghousia Darul Uloom Jamia Nizamia Ghousia (Urdu: دارالعلوم جامعہ نظامیہ غوثیہ) is an Islamic seminary for Sunni Muslims. It was established by Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi, where he served as the Mohatmim and Grand Mufti. ...
,
Jamia Naeemia Lahore Jamia Naeemia Lahore is an Islamic University in Lahore associated with the Sunni Barelvi movement. Founded by Mufti Muhammad Husain Naeemi, father of Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi. It serves as the largest Sunni institution for the Barelvi movement in P ...
and Dar-ul-Madinah Schools are some of the leading seminaries of this movement.


Finality of Prophet-hood movement

In 1950, scholars of Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement initiated a sub-movement named, '
Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat -e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat ( ur, مجلسِ تحفظِ ختمِ نبوت, translation="The Assembly to Protect the End of Prophethood") is the programmatic name of a Pakistani Barelvi organization and Islamic religious movement in Pakistan ...
' the history of which can be traced back to the 1880s when
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Mirzā Ghulām Ahmad (13 February 1835 – 26 May 1908) was an Indian religious leader and the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam. He claimed to have been divinely appointed as the promised Messiah and Mahdi—which is the metaphoric ...
of
Qadian Qadian (; ; ) is a city and a municipal council in Gurdaspur district, north-east of Amritsar, situated north-east of Batala city in the state of Punjab, India. Qadian is the birthplace of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya m ...
proclaimed himself to be a prophet in Islam. This proclamation of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was against the tenets of Islam and created a schism in the Muslim community. Therefore, with the aim to protect the belief in the finality of
prophethood In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the su ...
of Prophet
Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد;  570 – 8 June 632 Common Era, CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Muhammad in Islam, Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet Divine inspiration, di ...
based on their concept of
Khatam an-Nabiyyin Seal of the Prophets ( ar, خاتم النبيين, translit=khātam an-nabīyīn or khātim an-nabīyīn; or ar, خاتم الأنبياء, translit=khātam al-anbiyā’ or khātim al-anbiyā), is a title used in the Qur'an and by Muslims ...
. The movement launched countrywide campaigns and protests to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslims.
Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi Akhundzada Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi ( ur, اخوندزادہ محمد عبدالغفور ہزاروی چشتی) (1 January 1909 – 9 October 1970) was a Muslim theologian, jurist, and scholar of ahadith in Pakistan (''South Asia' ...
Zafar Ali Khan Zafar Ali Khan (1874– 27 November 1956) ( pnb, – ), also known as Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, was a Pakistani writer, poet, translator and a journalist who played an important role in the Pakistan Movement against the British Raj. He is genera ...
, Abdul Hamid Qadri Badayuni,
Khwaja Qamar ul Din Sialvi Khawaja Muhammad Qamar Ud Din Sialvi (1906–1981) known as Shaykh-ul-Islam was a Pakistani Islamic scholar, religious leader and politician. He was a Waliullah (Sufi saint) of the Chishti Sufi order; his Sufi convent (zawyah) is located in t ...
,
Syed Faiz-ul Hassan Shah Faiz-ul Hassan Shah, known by some as Khatib ul Islam, was a Pakistani Islamic religious scholar, orator, poet, and writer. Political and social contribution He was president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan for ten years, and struggled to establi ...
, Ahmad Saeed Kazmi,
Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi Abdus Sattar Khan Niazi (مولاناعبدالستارخان نیازی) (1 October 1915 – 2 May 2001) was a Pakistani religious and political leader. Early life He was born on 1 October 1915 at Isakhel in Mianwali District, Punjab, B ...
, Pir of Manki Sharif
Amin ul-Hasanat Amin ul-Hasanat (1 February 1922 – 5 January 1960), better known as the Pir of Manki Sharif, was the son of Pir Abdul Rauf and an Islamic religious leader in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of British India (now Pakistan). After j ...
,
Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari (1 July 1918 – 7 April 1998) was an Islamic scholar of Hanafi jurisprudence, Sufi, and Muslim leader. He is known for his magnum opus,'' Tafsir Zia ul Quran fi Tafsir ul Quran,'' meaning “The light of the ...
, Sardar Ahmad Qadri and Muhammad Hussain Naeemi were the leaders of the movement. Scholars of various schools of thought under the leadership of Shah Ahmad Noorani Siddiqui, who was president of
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) ( ur, ) is a Islamist political party in Pakistan. It was founded in 1948 by leaders of All India Sunni Conference. JUP exercised considerable political influence in Pakistani politics during 1970s to 2003. Its stude ...
initiated a successful campaign against the
Ahmadis Ahmadiyya (, ), officially the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at (AMJ, ar, الجماعة الإسلامية الأحمدية, al-Jamāʿah al-Islāmīyah al-Aḥmadīyah; ur, , translit=Jamā'at Aḥmadiyyah Musl ...
and compelled the National Assembly to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslims. And such a clause was inserted in the 1973
Constitution of Pakistan The Constitution of Pakistan ( ur, ), also known as the 1973 Constitution, is the supreme law of Pakistan. Drafted by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, with additional assistance from the country's Pakistani political parties, opposition ...
by Second Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan. After meeting the first agenda, Khatme-Nabuwat started the next phase of their campaign – to bar Ahmadis from using the title of Muslim. The then president General
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq HI, GCSJ, ร.ม.ภ, (Urdu: ; 12 August 1924 – 17 August 1988) was a Pakistani four-star general and politician who became the sixth President of Pakistan following a coup and declaration of martial law in ...
passed an ordinance in 1984 amending the
Pakistan Penal Code The Pakistan Penal Code (; ), abbreviated as PPC, is a penal code for all offences charged in Pakistan. It was originally prepared by Lord Macaulay with a great consultation in 1860 on the behalf of the Government of India as the Indian Penal ...
(PPC) commonly known as
Ordinance XX Ordinance XX ( ur, آرڈیننس 20) is a legal ordinance of the Government of Pakistan that was promulgated under the regime of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq on 26 April 1984 and is meant to prohibit the practice of Islam and the usage of Islamic ...
. Sunni leaders Shaikh ul Quran Allama Ghulam Ali Okarvi, Muhammad Shafee Okarvi,
Syed Shujaat Ali Qadri Syed Shuja’at Ali Qadri (Urdu: ) (January 1941 – 27 January 1993) was the first Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Judge of Federal Shariat Court,Federal Shariat Court Annual Report 2003, p56 a member of the Pakistani Council of Islamic Ideolo ...
, Iftikharul Hasan Shah and
Khalid Hasan Shah Khalid Hasan Shah was an Islamic religious leader and an exponent of modern Naqshbandi Sufism. Birth He was born in Allo Mahar, Pakistan. His father was Faiz-ul Hassan Shah. Education He gained secular knowledge during the day, and in the even ...
were the main leaders of this sub-movement.


Madarsa Network in Pakistan

Tanzeem-ul-Madaris Ahl-e-Sunnat ASJ education board is the central organisation to register Ahle Sunnat Barelvi Madarsas. The board follows Sunni Barelvi ideology and is opponent of the
Wahabi Wahhabism ( ar, ٱلْوَهَّابِيَةُ, translit=al-Wahhābiyyah) is a Sunni Islamic revivalist and fundamentalist movement associated with the reformist doctrines of the 18th-century Arabian Islamic scholar, theologian, preacher, and ...
doctrine. As per Islam online, around 10,000 madrassas are managed by Tanzeem-ul-Madaris Pakistan. Tahzibul Akhbar in its report on the educational services of Religious institutions has estimated that Tanzeem has 3000 institutions in Khyber Pakhtunwa and 1000 in the area of Hazara. Muhammad Ramzan, in his report on Madarsas has stated that Tanzeem has most has maximum 5584 Madarsas in Punjab state in comparison to others. 'In
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
336, Sheikhupura 336, Gujranwala 633, Rawalpindi 387, Faisalabad 675, Sargodha 461, Multan 944, Sahiwal 458, D.G.Khan 605, Bahawalpur 749 madarsa are affiliated with the Tanzeem'. According to Rizwan, 'the Madarsas of Tanzeem are rarely involved in militancy which is maximum in Deobandis. In population, Barelvis or traditional Sunnis outnumber all other sects combined. They are about 53.4% of total population of the province'.


Stand on blasphemy laws

The movement has opposed any change in the Pakistani blasphemy laws. They have always uphold the blasphemy as highest crime and endorsed the strict punishment for blasphemers. Punjab governor
Salman Taseer Salman Taseer ( Punjabi and ur, ); ( 4 January 2011) was a Pakistani businessman and politician, who served as the 26th Governor of Punjab from 2008 until his assassination in 2011. A member of the Pakistan Peoples Party since the 1980s, ...
was assassinated on 4 January 2011 by
Mumtaz Qadri Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri (1985 – 29 February 2016), better known as Mumtaz Qadri (, ur, ), was the assassin of Salmaan Taseer, Governor of Punjab. Qadri was a commando of the Elite Police and, at the time of the assassination, a member ...
, a member of the Barelvi group
Dawat-e-Islami Dawat-e-Islami ( ur, دعوتِ اسلامی) is a Sunni Islamic organization based in Pakistan. It has several Islamic educational institutions around the world. In addition to local charity efforts, Dawat-e-Islami offers online courses in ...
, due to Taseer's opposition to Pakistan's
blasphemy laws A blasphemy law is a law prohibiting blasphemy, which is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. According to Pew Research Center, about ...
.Omar Waraich
Why Pakistan's Taliban Target the Muslim Majority
''
Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...
'', Thursday, 7 April 2011.
Over five hundred scholars supported Qadri and a boycott of Taseer's funeral.R. Upadhyay
Barelvis and Deobandhis: "Birds of the Same Feather"
.
The Jamestown Foundation The Jamestown Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based conservative defense policy think tank. Founded in 1984 as a platform to support Soviet defectors, its stated mission today is to inform and educate policy makers about events and trends, which ...

Sufi Militants Struggle with Deobandi Jihadists in Pakistan
, 24 February 2011.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integrati ...
: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 9 Issue: 8. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
Pervez Hoodbhoy
A long, sad year after Salman Taseer's killing
.
The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...
, 4 January 2012.


Persecution

They have been targeted and killed by radical Deobandi groups in Pakistan such as the
TTP TTP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Tractatus Theologico-Politicus'', a book by the philosopher Baruch Spinoza Biology * Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a blood disorder * Tristetraprolin, a protein Computing * Terrori ...
, SSP, LeJ, etc. Suicide attacks, vandalism and destruction of sites considered holy to those in the Sunni Barelvi movement have been perpetrated by Deobandi extremist groups. This includes attacks, destruction and vandalism of Sufi
Data Darbar Data Darbar (also spelt Data Durbar; ), located in the city of Lahore (Punjab, Pakistan), is the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia. It was built to house the remains of Ali Hujwiri, commonly known as ''Data Ganj Baksh'', a Sufi saint from Ghazni ...
in Lahore, Abdullah Shah Ghazi's tomb in Karachi, Khal Magasi in Balochistan, and Rahman Baba's tomb in Peshawar. The murder of various Barelvi leaders have also been committed by Deobandi terrorists. The clerics claim that there is a bias against them by various Pakistani establishments such as the
DHA DHA, Dha and dha may refer to: Chemicals * Docosahexaenoic acid, a 22:6 omega-3 fatty acid * Dehydroandrosterone, an endogenous androgenic steroid * Dehydroascorbic acid, an oxidized form of ascorbic acid * Dehydroacetic acid, a pyrone derivati ...
, who tend to appoint
Deobandi Deobandi is a revivalist movement within Sunni Islam, adhering to the Hanafi school of law, formed in the late 19th century around the Darul Uloom Madrassa in Deoband, India, from which the name derives, by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi, R ...
Imams Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, serve ...
for mosques in their housing complexes rather than Barelvi ones. Historical landmarks such as
Badshahi Masjid The Badshahi Mosque (Urdu, Punjabi: ; literally ''The Royal Mosque'') is a Mughal-era congregational mosque in Lahore, capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab. The mosque is located west of Lahore Fort along the outskirts of the Walled Cit ...
also have Deobandi Imams, which is a fact that has been used as evidence by Barelvi clerics for bias against Barelvis in
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. The ''Milade Mustafa Welfare Society'' has asserted that the Religious Affairs Department of DHA interferes with Human Resources to ensure that Deobandi Imams are selected for mosques in their housing complex. During the 1990s and 2000s, sporadic violence resulted from disputes between Barelvis and Deobandis over control of Pakistani mosques. The conflict came to a head in May 2001, when sectarian riots broke out after the assassination of Sunni Tehreek leader Saleem Qadri. In April 2006 in
Karachi Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former cap ...
, a bomb attack on a Barelvi gathering celebrating Muhammad's birthday killed 57 people, including several Sunni Tehreek leaders. Militants believed to be affiliated with the Taliban and
Sipah-e-Sahaba Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP, , Guardians of the Prophet's Companions), renamed to Millat-e-Islamia, is a Islamist organisation in Pakistan, which also functioned as a political party. It broke away from the main Deobandi Sunni organisation ...
attacked Barelvis celebrating ''
Mawlid Mawlid, Mawlid an-Nabi ash-Sharif or Eid Milad un Nabi ( ar, المولد النبوي, translit=mawlid an-nabawī, lit=Birth of the Prophet, sometimes simply called in colloquial Arabic , , among other vernacular pronunciations; sometimes , ) ...
'' in
Faisalabad Faisalabad (; Punjabi/ ur, , ; ), formerly known as Lyallpur ( Punjabi, Urdu: لائل پور), named after the founder of the city, but was renamed in 1977 in honour of late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. It is the 3rd largest city of Pak ...
and
Dera Ismail Khan Dera Ismail Khan (; bal, , Urdu and skr, , ps, ډېره اسماعيل خان), abbreviated as D.I. Khan, is a city and capital of Dera Ismail Khan District, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is the 37th largest city of Pakistan ...
on 27 February 2010, sparking tensions between the groups. In 2021, the
Pakistani government The Government of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=hakúmat-e pákistán) abbreviated as GoP, is a federal government established by the Constitution of Pakistan as a constituted governing authority of the four provinces, two autonomous territories, ...
officially banned the
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (; TLP) is a far-right Islamic extremist political party in Pakistan. The party was founded by Khadim Hussain Rizvi in August 2015. It became the fifth largest party at the 2018 Pakistani general election, but faile ...
and is severely cracking down on
Sunni 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 disagr ...
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
political voices of the Barelvi movement.
Deobandi Deobandi is a revivalist movement within Sunni Islam, adhering to the Hanafi school of law, formed in the late 19th century around the Darul Uloom Madrassa in Deoband, India, from which the name derives, by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi, R ...
political parties like
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (Fazl) also Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) or simply as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Urdu: ; ; JUI-F) is a Deobandi Sunni political party in Pakistan. Established as the ''Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam'' in 1945, it is the result o ...
, however, are still freely operating and even supported by elements within the Pakistani government.


Bangladesh

A sizeable number of Bangladeshi Muslims follow Ahle Sunnat (Barelvi) movement.Barelvi movement has strong bases in Chittagong and Sylhet region of Bangladesh. Ahle Sunnat wal jamaat situated in Dhaka is a central organization of Barelvi ulemas of Bangladesh. A majority of Bangladeshi Muslims perceive Sufis as a source of spiritual wisdom and guidance and their
Khanqah A khanqah ( fa, خانقاه) or khangah ( fa, خانگاه; also transliterated as ''khankah'', ''khaneqa'', ''khanegah'' or ''khaneqah''; also Arabized ''hanegah'', ''hanikah'', ''hanekah'', ''khankan''), also known as a ribat (), is a buildin ...
s and
Dargah A dargah ( fa, درگاه ''dargâh'' or ''dargah'', Turkish: ''dergâh'', Hindustani: ''dargah'' दरगाह درگاہ, bn, দরগাহ ''dorgah'') is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often ...
s as nerve centers of Muslim society and large number of Bangladeshi Muslims identify themselves with a Sufi order, almost half of whom adhere to the
Chishti The Chishtī Order ( fa, ''chishtī'') is a tariqa, an order or school within the mystic Sufism, Sufi tradition of Sunni Islam. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. It began with Abu Ishaq Shami in Ch ...
order that became popular during the Mughal times, although the earliest
Sufis Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spiri ...
in
Bengal Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...
, such as Shah Jalal, belonged to the Suhrawardiyya order, whose global center is still Maner Sharif in Bihar. During the Sultanate of Bengal, Sultanate period,
Sufis Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spiri ...
emerged and formed khanqahs and dargahs that served as the nerve center of local communities. World Sunni Movement led by Syed Mohammad Saifur Rahman is one of the main organisation of the movement which opposes Wahabi ideologies. Beside Bangladesh, WSM is active in various European and Gulf countries. Bangladesh Islami Front and its students wing Bangladesh Islami Chattra Sena have worked to protect the faith and belief of Sunni Sufis in the country and took stands against Deobandi Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and Khelafat Majlish. Jamia Ahmadiyya Sunnia Kamil Madrasa is a notable institution following ideology of Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat or Maslak-e-Aala Hazrat.


United Kingdom

According to Irfan Al Alawi, 'The Sufism influenced Ahle Sunnat Barelvi in United Kingdom immigrated to Britain earlier than the Deobandis, established the main mosques in Britain. They integrated into UK society and are considered law abiding.' moderate majority, peaceful and pious. In 2011, the Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement had most of the British mosques. The majority of people in the United Kingdom of Pakistani and Kashmir origin are descended from immigrants from Sunni Barelvi-majority areas. In Manchester, by 2014, Ahle Sunnat Barelvi was the largest denomination in terms of the number of mosques and population. The majority of Birmingham Muslims are adherent to the Ahle Sunnat barelvi movement. The movement in Pakistan has received funding from their counterparts in the UK, in part as a reaction to rival movements in Pakistan also receiving funding from abroad. According to an editorial in the English-language Pakistani newspaper ''Daily Times (Pakistan), The Daily Times'', many of these mosques have been however usurped by Saudi-funded radical organizations. The Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement formed British Muslim Forum (BMF) and the Sufi Muslim Council (SMC) in 2005 and 2006, respectively to represent themselves at the national level. In 2017, the movement had around 538 mosques in the United Kingdom along with their fellow Sufi organisations which are second largest in terms of number. Pir Maroof Shah Qadri has built a number of mosques in Bradford. Allama Arshadul Qaudri along with Peer Maroof Qadri established World Islamic Mission (WIM) in 1973 at Makkah and became the leader of WIM in England. He worked in the United Kingdom to strengthen the movement of Ahle Sunna wal Jam'aat. Qadri through this movement shaped spirituality based Islam in Europe. Sufi Abdullah a Sunni Sufi scholar, also established a strong Ahle Sunnat foundation in the Bradford. Allama Qamaruzzaman Azmi who is present General Secretary of World Islamic Mission worked for five decades in several parts of Europe and U.K to establish several mosques and institutions with his support and supervision. In Bradford, Azmi help established Islamic Missionary College (IMC) Bradford. In Manchester he established, North Manchester Jamia Mosque and in Birmingham, Ghamkol Shariff Masjid. His continuous Dawah work helped Southerland Mosque become of Sunni Barelvi. International Sunni organization
Dawat-e-Islami Dawat-e-Islami ( ur, دعوتِ اسلامی) is a Sunni Islamic organization based in Pakistan. It has several Islamic educational institutions around the world. In addition to local charity efforts, Dawat-e-Islami offers online courses in ...
has at least 38 Centers in the United Kingdom. Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada, a leading scholar of Islam and commentator of Quran, has established Darul Uloom Jamia Al-Karam in 1985, an Islamic institute which has produced over 400 British Islamic scholars. He is also president of Muslim Charity and British Muslim Forum.


South Africa

The Ahle Sunnat movement has presence in various cities and town of South Africa where they have build network of Madarsas and Mosques. In South Africa debate with Tablighi Jama'at was called as Sunni-Tablighi controversy. The movement is represented by Sunni Jamiatul Ulema (SJU) which was founded in 1979. It was established to address the various social, welfare, educational and spiritual needs of the community and to preserve and to promote the teachings of the Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaah. The Imam Ahmed Raza Academy is one of the publishing house which publishes books authored by various Ahle Sunnat authors. The academy was established in 1986 (1406 A.H.) by Sheikh Abdul Hadi Al-Qaadiri Barakaati, a graduate of Darul Uloom
Manzar-e-Islam Madrasa Manzar-e-Islam ( ur, مدرسہ منظر اسلام), also known as Jamia Razvia Manzar-e-Islam, is an Islamic seminary in India. It was founded in 1904 in Bareilly, India by Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. It celebrated its hundredth annivers ...
, Bareilly Shareef, India.The "Chatsie Muslim": A Socio-historical Analysis of Muslims of Indentured Origin Sultan Khan, First Published 5 September 2019 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0976343020120215?journalCode=oana https://doi.org/10.1177/0976343020120215 Darul Uloom Aleemiyah Razvia was established in 1983 and on 12 January '1990, Mufti Muhammad Akbar Hazarvi established Darul Uloom Pretoria Darul Uloom Qadaria Ghareeb Nawaz (New Castle) is one of the leading Madarsa of the mission which was founded in 1997 at Lady smith by Maulana Syed Muhammad Aleemuddin. Jamia Imam Ahmed Raza Ahsanul Barkaat was established in 2007. All these institutions have focused more on defending Sufi beliefs from Deobandis. Debates and Munazaras are common features of these institutions In Durban, Sunnis Barelvis run Durban's largest mosque, the Juma Mosque (Durban), Juma Mosque which is also known as Grey Street mosque. The Sunni Barelvi community celebrates Mawlid un Nabi and observes anniversaries of Sufis in association with various Sufi orders. In Mauritius, the Ahl-e Sunnat or Sunni (Barelvi) forms majority population. Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqi established the movement in Mauritius. World Islamic Mission (WIM), Halqa-e-Qadria Ishaat-e-Islam and Sunni Razvi Society founded by Muhammad Ibrahim Siddiqui in 1967 and Jummah Mosque (Mauritius) (1852) at Port Louis are some of the notable centers of the movement.


Europe, United States and Canada

In United States and Canada, the movement has found a strong following among Muslims of South Asian and in some cities it has significant presence. Two notable madrasas are Al-Noor Masjid in Houstn, Texas and Dar al-Ulum Azizia, in Dallas. The Sunni missionary organization
Dawat-e-Islami Dawat-e-Islami ( ur, دعوتِ اسلامی) is a Sunni Islamic organization based in Pakistan. It has several Islamic educational institutions around the world. In addition to local charity efforts, Dawat-e-Islami offers online courses in ...
(D.I) established twelve centers in Greece and seven in Spain which are being used as mosque and madrasas. In Athens, D.I has established four centers.


Relations with other movements

The relations of Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement with Sunni Sufi scholars of various countries have been cordial. The only exceptions with whom Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement has no relations are Wahabis/Deobandis. Wahabis/Deobandis were declared out of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama'ah by 2016 international conference on Sunni Islam in Grozny.


2016 international conference on Sunni Islam in Grozny

The scholars following Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat from India and Pakistan namely
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar known as Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad (Born as ''A. P. Aboobacker'' at ''Kanthapuram'' on 22 March 1931) is the Grand Mufti of India and also the Social Worker. He is also the Chancellor of the Jamia ...
, Grand Mufti of India, Shaikh Anwar Ahmad al- Baghdadi and Mufti Muḥammad Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Grand Mufti of Pakistan, participated in International conference on Sunni Islam in Chechen Republic at Grozny in 2016. The conference was convened to define the term "Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah", i.e. who are "the people of Sunnah and majority Muslim community", and to oppose Salafi/
Wahabi Wahhabism ( ar, ٱلْوَهَّابِيَةُ, translit=al-Wahhābiyyah) is a Sunni Islamic revivalist and fundamentalist movement associated with the reformist doctrines of the 18th-century Arabian Islamic scholar, theologian, preacher, and ...
groups and their ideology. It was attended by 200 notable Muslim scholars from 30 countries which includes Ahmed el-Tayeb (Grand Imam of Al-Azhar), Shawki Allam (Grand Mufti of Egypt), Ali Gomaa (former Grand Mufti of Egypt), Habib Ali al-Jifri among others. It identified Salafism/Wahhabism as a dangerous and misguided sect, along with the extremist groups, such as ISIS, Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Muslim Brotherhood and others. The conference definition stated:
"Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah are the Ashʿari, Ash'arites and Maturidis (adherents of the theological systems of Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi and Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari). In matters of belief, they are followers of any of the four schools of thought (
Hanafi The Hanafi school ( ar, حَنَفِية, translit=Ḥanafiyah; also called Hanafite in English), Hanafism, or the Hanafi fiqh, is the oldest and one of the four traditional major Sunni schools ( maddhab) of Islamic Law (Fiqh). It is named aft ...
,
Maliki The ( ar, مَالِكِي) school is one of the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. It was founded by Malik ibn Anas in the 8th century. The Maliki school of jurisprudence relies on the Quran and hadiths as primary ...
,
Shafi'i The Shafii ( ar, شَافِعِي, translit=Shāfiʿī, also spelled Shafei) school, also known as Madhhab al-Shāfiʿī, is one of the four major traditional schools of religious law (madhhab) in the Sunnī branch of Islam. It was founded by ...
or
Hanbali The Hanbali school ( ar, ٱلْمَذْهَب ٱلْحَنۢبَلِي, al-maḏhab al-ḥanbalī) is one of the four major traditional Sunni schools (''madhahib'') of Islamic jurisprudence. It is named after the Arab scholar Ahmad ibn Hanbal ...
) and are also the followers of the Sufism of Imam Junayd of Baghdad, Junaid al-Baghdadi in doctrines, manners and [spiritual] purification."
This definition was in accordance with the ideology of Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement. The relations with
Deobandi Deobandi is a revivalist movement within Sunni Islam, adhering to the Hanafi school of law, formed in the late 19th century around the Darul Uloom Madrassa in Deoband, India, from which the name derives, by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi, R ...
and
Wahabism Wahhabism ( ar, ٱلْوَهَّابِيَةُ, translit=al-Wahhābiyyah) is a Sunni Islamic revivalist and fundamentalist movement associated with the reformist doctrines of the 18th-century Arabian Islamic scholar, theologian, preacher, and ...
have been strained; Scholars of Ahle Sunnat declared Deoband's founders and Ahl-e-Hadith scholars as "Gustakh-e-Rasool" (the one who blasphemes against the Prophet) and Kafir, infidels and Apostasy in Islam, apostates due to their certain writings found to be against Prophet of Islam.


Opposition to terrorism

They opposes South Asian Deobandi Taliban movements, organizing rallies and protests in India and Pakistan and condemning what they view as unjustified sectarian violence. The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), an alliance of eight Sunni organizations, launched the Save Pakistan Movement to slow Talibanization, Talibanisation. Calling the Taliban a product of global anti-Islamic conspiracies, SIC leaders accused the Taliban of playing into the hands of the United States to divide Muslims and degrade Islam. Supporting this movement, Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan), Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi said: "The Sunni Tehreek has decided to activate itself against Talibanisation in the country. A national consensus against terrorism is emerging across the country." In 2009, Islamic scholar Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi issued a fatwa denouncing suicide bombings and criticized Taliban leader Sufi Muhammad by saying that he "should wear bangles if he is hiding like a woman". Naeemi added, "Those who commit suicide attacks for attaining paradise will go to hell, as they kill many innocent people", and was later killed by a suicide bomber. In India, the Sunni Barelvi community has issued of a fatwa against terrorism, with concerns expressed over activities of Wahhabism, Wahabis in New Delhi at All India Sunni Conference in Feb 2016.


Notable scholars

*Abdul Hamid Qadri Badayuni (1898–1970) * Ahmad Saeed Kazmi (1913–1986) *
Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi Ahmed Raza Khan, commonly known as Aala Hazrat, Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, or Ahmed Rida Khan in Arabic, (14 June 1856 CE or 10 Shawwal 1272 AH – 28 October 1921 CE or 25 Safar 1340 AH), was an Islamic scholar, jurist, mufti, philosopher, ...
(1856–1921) – a Mujaddid, reformer who was founder of the Barelvi movement *Akhtar Raza Khan (1941–2018) – former grand mufti and chief islamic justice of India *
Ameen Mian Qaudri Syed Muhammad Ameen Mian Qadri is the custodian (Sajjada Nashin) of the Khanqah-e-Barkatiya Marehra Shareef (Sufi Khanqah) of Qadri Order, a subgroup of the Indian Sufi Barelvi movement and founder of Al Barkaat Educational Institutions,Aligarh ...
(born 1955) *
Amjad Ali Aazmi Amjad Ali Aazmi (Urdu: مفتى أمجد على أعظمى) (November 1882 – 6 September 1948), also known with honorifics by followers as Sadr al-Shariah (Urdu: صدر الشريعه, Chief of the Islamic Law) Badr-e-Tariqat (Shining Moon of ...
(1882–1948) *Arshadul Qaudri (1925–2002) *Asjad Raza Khan (born 1970) – said to be Qadi Al-Qudaat (chief Islamic justice) of India. *Ghulam Ali Okarvi (1919–2000) *Hamid Raza Khan (1875–1943) *Hamid Saeed Kazmi (born 1957) *Ilyas Qadri (born 1950) – main leader of
Dawat-e-Islami Dawat-e-Islami ( ur, دعوتِ اسلامی) is a Sunni Islamic organization based in Pakistan. It has several Islamic educational institutions around the world. In addition to local charity efforts, Dawat-e-Islami offers online courses in ...
. *
Jamaat Ali Shah Jamaat Ali Shah (1834–1951) was a Sufi of the Naqshbandi order and an author. He was President of All India Sunni Conference and the leader of the Shaheed Ganj Mosque. He was an influential leader of the Pakistan Movement.THE RELIGIOUS AND RE ...
(1834–1951) – President of All India Sunni Conference *Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar (born 1931) – said to be Grand Mufti of India *Kaukab Noorani Okarvi (born 1957) *Khadim Hussain Rizvi (1966–2020) *Maulana Sardar Ahmad (1903–1962) *
Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi Akhundzada Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi ( ur, اخوندزادہ محمد عبدالغفور ہزاروی چشتی) (1 January 1909 – 9 October 1970) was a Muslim theologian, jurist, and scholar of ahadith in Pakistan (''South Asia' ...
(1909–1970) —
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) ( ur, ) is a Islamist political party in Pakistan. It was founded in 1948 by leaders of All India Sunni Conference. JUP exercised considerable political influence in Pakistani politics during 1970s to 2003. Its stude ...
*Muhammad Arshad Misbahi (born 1968) *Muhammad Fazal Karim (1954–2013) *Muhammad Fazlur Rahman Ansari (1914–1974) *
Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari (1 July 1918 – 7 April 1998) was an Islamic scholar of Hanafi jurisprudence, Sufi, and Muslim leader. He is known for his magnum opus,'' Tafsir Zia ul Quran fi Tafsir ul Quran,'' meaning “The light of the ...
(1918–98) – author of ''Tafsir Zia ul Quran'' (1995) and ''Zia un Nabi'' *Muhammad Muneeb ur Rehman (born 1945) *Muhammad Muslehuddin Siddiqui (1918–1983) *Muhammad Raza Saqib Mustafai (born 1972) * Muhammad Shafee Okarvi (1930–1984) — founder of
Jamaat Ahle Sunnat The Jamaat Ahle Sunnat ( ur, ) is a Muslim religious organization in Pakistan that represents the Barelvi movement. It was supported by Muhammad Shafee Okarvi. As a Sunni organisation it has adopted many Sufi customs and traditions. History ...
*Muhammad Waqaruddin Qadri (1915–1993) – former Mufti-e-Azam Pakistan *
Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri (1892–1981) was an Indian Muslim scholar and author, and leader of the Sunni Barelvi movement following the death of its founder, his father Ahmed Raza Khan. He was known as ''Mufti-Azam-i-Hind'' to his followers. ...
(1892–1981) *
Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi (1887–1948), also known as Sadr ul-Afazil, was a twentieth-century jurist, scholar, mufti, Quranic exegete, and educator. He was a scholar of philosophy, geometry, logic and hadith and leader of All India Sunni Conf ...
(1887–1948) *Naseeruddin Naseer Gilani (1949–2009) *Qamaruzzaman Azmi (born 1946) *Shahabuddin Razvi (born 1974) - The Preacher of Dargah Ala Hazrat *Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi (1948–2009) *Shah Ahmad Noorani (1926–2003) — founder of World Islamic Mission in 1972 *
Shakir Ali Noori Shakir Ali Noorie (also written as Muhammad Shākīr ´Alī Nūrī) is an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar, preacher and current President of Sunni Dawate Islami, a non-political, religious organisation in Mumbai, India. He has been ranked among the ...
(born 1960) *Shamsul-hasan Shams Barelvi (1917–1997) *Shihabuddeen Ahmed Koya Shaliyathi (1885–1954) *
Syed Faiz-ul Hassan Shah Faiz-ul Hassan Shah, known by some as Khatib ul Islam, was a Pakistani Islamic religious scholar, orator, poet, and writer. Political and social contribution He was president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan for ten years, and struggled to establi ...
(1911–1984) – President of Jamiat-e-Ulema, Pakistan *Syed Mohammed Madni Ashraf (born 1938) *Syed Mohammed Mukhtar Ashraf (died 1996) *
Syed Shujaat Ali Qadri Syed Shuja’at Ali Qadri (Urdu: ) (January 1941 – 27 January 1993) was the first Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Judge of Federal Shariat Court,Federal Shariat Court Annual Report 2003, p56 a member of the Pakistani Council of Islamic Ideolo ...
(1941–1993) – judge Federal Shariat Court, Pakistan *Yaseen Akhtar Misbahi – director, Darul Qalam, New Delhi *
Ziaul Mustafa Razvi Qadri Zia ul Mustafa Aazmi Qadri Razvi Amjadi ( ur, مفتی ضیاء المصطفیٰ اعظمی رضوی قادری امجد; hi, हिन्दी मुफ्ती अल्लामा ज़ियाउल मुस्तफा कादर ...
(born 1935) – Muhaddis al-Kabeer, present Deputy Chief Islamic Justice of India (Deputy Grand Mufti of India) *Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri (born 1951) – Minhaj-ul-Quran International, founder *Mufti Muhammad Akmal Madani (born 1968) – Al Furqan Scholars Academy, director


Notable organizations

In Pakistan, prominent Sunni Barelvi religious and political organizations include: *
Dawat-e-Islami Dawat-e-Islami ( ur, دعوتِ اسلامی) is a Sunni Islamic organization based in Pakistan. It has several Islamic educational institutions around the world. In addition to local charity efforts, Dawat-e-Islami offers online courses in ...
*
Jamaat Ahle Sunnat The Jamaat Ahle Sunnat ( ur, ) is a Muslim religious organization in Pakistan that represents the Barelvi movement. It was supported by Muhammad Shafee Okarvi. As a Sunni organisation it has adopted many Sufi customs and traditions. History ...
*
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) ( ur, ) is a Islamist political party in Pakistan. It was founded in 1948 by leaders of All India Sunni Conference. JUP exercised considerable political influence in Pakistani politics during 1970s to 2003. Its stude ...
*
Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat -e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat ( ur, مجلسِ تحفظِ ختمِ نبوت, translation="The Assembly to Protect the End of Prophethood") is the programmatic name of a Pakistani Barelvi organization and Islamic religious movement in Pakistan ...
– The Assembly to Protect the End of Prophethood * Sunni Ittehad Council * Sunni Tehreek *Tehreek-e-Labaik * Minhaj-ul-Quran * Markaj-e-Majlis-e-Raza, Lahore * Raza Academy * Raza Foundation * Kanzul Iman Society


In India

* All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board *
Jama'at Raza-e-Mustafa Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa ( ur, , hi, जमात-रज़ा-ए-मुस्तफ़ा) also known as JRM, is a historical organisation of Indian Sunni Barelvi Muslims associated with Sufism. It was founded by the Great Scholar and 14th Cen ...
*Karwan-I-Islami *Muslim Jamaat *
Raza Academy Raza may refer to: * Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi Islamic reformer * ''Raza'' (film), a 1942 Spanish film *S. H. Raza (1922–2016), Indian artist *Sardar Muhammad Raza, former Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan *Raheel Raza (born 1949), Canadia ...


In United Kingdom

*World Islamic Mission *British Muslim Forum *Kanzul Huda


In Bangladesh

*World Sunni Movement *Bangladesh Islami Front *Bangladesh Islami Chattra Sena * Anjuman-E-Rahmania Ahmadia Sunnia Trust * A'la Hazrat Foundation * Raza Islamic Academy


In South Africa

* A'la Hazrat Academy * Sunni Rizvi Society * Imam Mustafa Raza Research Centre, Durban, South Africa


In Iraq

* Ala Mazmaur Rizvi Al Alimi, Baghdad


Main institutions


India

*
Al Jamiatul Ashrafia Al Jamiatul Ashrafia ( ur, , hi, अल जामियत-उल-अशरफ़िया) is a Barelvi Sunni school in India. It is located in Mubarakpur in a northern state of India, Uttar Pradesh. History It started off as a madrasa cal ...
, Uttar Pradesh, India *
Al-Jame-atul-Islamia Al-Jame-atul Islamia is an Islamic seminary of Sunni- Barelvi Muslims in India. It is located in Raunahi, District. Faizabad, near Lucknow, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in India. History Al-Jame-atul-Islamia was founded in 1964 ...
, Raunahi *Jamia Al Barkaat Aligarh, Aligarh *
Jamia Amjadia Rizvia Jamia Amjadia Rizvia is an Islamic seminary (Madrasa) of the Sunni denomination situated in Ghosi city in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.It was established by Mufti Ziaul Mustafa Azmi a north Indian Muhaddith and son of a 19th century Faqih ...
, Ghosi *Jamiatur Raza, Bareilly *
Manzar-e-Islam Madrasa Manzar-e-Islam ( ur, مدرسہ منظر اسلام), also known as Jamia Razvia Manzar-e-Islam, is an Islamic seminary in India. It was founded in 1904 in Bareilly, India by Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. It celebrated its hundredth annivers ...
, Bareilly *Markazu Saqafathi Sunniyya *
Jamia Nizamia Jamia Nizamia more properly, Jami'ah Nizamiyyah, is one of the oldest Islamic seminaries of higher learning for Muslims located in Hyderabad, India. It is named after its founder- the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad. History It was founded by Shaykh ...
, Hyderabad


Pakistan

*Aleemiyah Institute of Islamic Studies *
Jamia Amjadia Rizvia Jamia Amjadia Rizvia is an Islamic seminary (Madrasa) of the Sunni denomination situated in Ghosi city in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.It was established by Mufti Ziaul Mustafa Azmi a north Indian Muhaddith and son of a 19th century Faqih ...
Karachi *Ashraf ul Madaris, G.T Road, Okara, Pakistan, Okara, Punjab,
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
*
Jamia Naeemia Lahore Jamia Naeemia Lahore is an Islamic University in Lahore associated with the Sunni Barelvi movement. Founded by Mufti Muhammad Husain Naeemi, father of Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi. It serves as the largest Sunni institution for the Barelvi movement in P ...
*
Jamia Nizamia Ghousia Darul Uloom Jamia Nizamia Ghousia (Urdu: دارالعلوم جامعہ نظامیہ غوثیہ) is an Islamic seminary for Sunni Muslims. It was established by Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi, where he served as the Mohatmim and Grand Mufti. ...
Wazirabad *Jamia-tul-Madina


Bangladesh

* Jamia Ahmadiyya Sunnia Kamil Madrasa * Quaderia Taiyebia Alia Kamil Madrasah * Chipatali Jamia Gausia Muinia Kamil ( M.A) Madrasah


United Kingdom

*Jamia Al-Karam


Republic of Ireland

*Al-Mustafa Islamic Cultural Centre Ireland


See also

* Pakistan Movement * Islamic Republic of Pakistan * Islam in India * Islam in Pakistan * Islamic schools and branches * Schools of Islamic theology * List of Muslim philosophers * List of Pakistani poets * List of Urdu-language poets


Notes


References

* * * * * * * * *


External links


Ahle SunnatAhlus Sunnah Islamic ResourceIslamic AcademyAhlesunnat Network PakistanKanzuliman FoundationSunni.org.uk
{{Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi Barelvi, Sunni Islamic movements Bareilly 1904 establishments in India Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi Sunni Islamic branches Hanafis Maturidis