Revival of Islam in the Indian Sub-continent (1700-1850)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key personalities, movements, events, and concepts involved in the revival of Islam in the Indian sub-continent between 1700 and 1850.

Shah Waliullah (1703-1762)

Eighteenth-century scholar who sought to revive Islam by simplifying its teachings, translating the Qur’an into Persian, and urging Muslim unity.

Madrasa-e-Rahimia

Delhi-based religious school where Shah Waliullah studied and later taught, becoming a centre for Islamic learning and reform.

Persian Translation of the Qur’an

Shah Waliullah’s groundbreaking rendering of the Qur’an that made its message accessible to non-Arabic-speaking Muslims of India.

Sectarian Unity

Shah Waliullah’s emphasis on common fundamentals of Islam to bridge Shia-Sunni divides and strengthen Muslim solidarity.

Ahmed Shah Abdali

Afghan ruler whom Shah Waliullah invited to aid Indian Muslims; defeated the Marathas at Panipat (1761), checking Hindu expansion.

Battle of Panipat (1761)

Decisive victory of Ahmed Shah Abdali over the Marathas, influenced by Shah Waliullah’s appeal, safeguarding Muslim interests in Delhi and Punjab.

Social Justice (Shah Waliullah)

His teaching that peasants and artisans deserved fair economic treatment and Muslims should avoid extravagance.

Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi (1786-1831)

Reformer-warrior who led the Jihad Movement to establish an Islamic state and resist Sikh oppression in Punjab.

Jihad Movement (1820s-1831)

Armed struggle launched by Syed Ahmad Shaheed to liberate Punjab & NWFP from Sikh rule and restore Islamic governance.

Imamate at Nowshera (1827)

Syed Ahmad’s declaration as Imam, making Nowshera his headquarters for organising Mujahidin forces.

Battle of Balakot (1831)

Final clash in which Syed Ahmad Shaheed was killed, leading to the collapse of the Jihad Movement.

Reasons for Jihad Movement’s Failure

Superior Sikh military, weak local support, internal dissension, and severe logistical shortages.

Haji Shariat Ullah (1781-1840)

Bengali reformer who founded the Faraizi Movement to purge un-Islamic practices and defend Muslim peasantry.

Faraizi Movement

Religious-social campaign in Bengal urging Muslims to perform obligatory duties (Faraiz) and abandon Hindu-influenced customs.

Dar-ul-Harb (Haji Shariat Ullah)

Label he gave Bengal, declaring it a ‘land of war’ where full Islamic practice was obstructed, legitimising resistance.

Dudu Mian (Mohsin-ud-Din Ahmad)

Son of Haji Shariat Ullah who transformed the Faraizi Movement into a mass religious-political force after 1840.

Khalifas (Faraizi)

Deputies appointed by Dudu Mian to administer regional units of the Faraizi Movement.

Bengal Peasant Rights

Economic aspect of the Faraizi Movement; refusal to pay illegitimate taxes to Hindu landlords, fostering Muslim unity.

Ranjit Singh

Maharaja of the Sikh Empire whose oppressive rule over Punjab triggered Syed Ahmad’s armed resistance.

Sharia-based State

Goal shared by Syed Ahmad and earlier reformers: governance according to Islamic law ensuring justice for Muslims.

Un-Islamic Practices

Customs absorbed from Hindu culture—such as superstitions and extravagant rituals—targeted by all three reformers for elimination.

Ghuraba (Common Muslims)

Ordinary believers whom Shah Waliullah aimed to empower through Qur’anic understanding and simplified teachings.

Tasawwuf (Mysticism)

Spiritual discipline studied by Shah Waliullah but criticised when degenerating into pir-murid excesses by later reformers.

Muslim Decline (18th-century)

Era marked by Mughal disintegration, Maratha and Sikh ascendancy, and British encroachment, prompting revival efforts.

Marathas

Hindu confederacy threatening Delhi in mid-1700s; defeated at Panipat after Shah Waliullah’s call for Afghan intervention.

Pirs and Murids

Mystic patron-disciple relationships condemned by Haji Shariat Ullah as obstacles to genuine teacher-student learning.

Shah Abdul Aziz

Eldest son of Shah Waliullah who continued his father’s mission and translated the Qur’an into Urdu.

Legacy of Shah Waliullah

Enduring influence through books, institutions, and students that shaped later movements including those of Barelvi and Faraizi leaders.

Logistical Constraints

Supply and communication problems faced by the Mujahidin, hindering sustained resistance against the Sikh Empire.

Comparison of Movements

Historians view Shah Waliullah’s intellectual reforms as longer-lasting than the military Jihad or region-specific Faraizi efforts.