Study Notes on Religious Thinkers: S

Birth and Real Identity:
- Shah Waliullah was born in the year $1703$ .
- His birth name/real name was Qutbuddin.
- His father's name was Shah Abdar Raheem.
Travels and Return:
- In $1724$ , he traveled to Arabia to perform Hajj.
- In $1732$ , he returned to India from his journey.
Death:
- He passed away in the year $1762$ .

Status of Muslim Leadership:
- He identified that the Muslim leadership of the time was weak.
Religious Deviation:
- He observed that Muslims were no longer following the true teachings of Islam.
Disunity and Rivalry:
- He was concerned that Muslims were not united.
- He identified significant rivalry between the Shia and Sunni sects as a major cause of this division.
Intervention in Indian Politics:
- Shah Waliullah urged Ahmad Shah Durrani to invade India.
- The purpose of this invitation was to stop the rising Maratha power.
- This action contributed to the occurrence of the Third Battle of Panipat.

Translation of the Holy Quran:
- He translated the Quran into Persian to make it more accessible.
- The transcript notes specific figures associated with these efforts: ( $23$ Arabic, $28$ Persian).
Scholarly Writings:
- He authored a total of $61$ books focusing on FIQAH (Jurisprudence) and Hadith.
- He authored a specific pamphlet entitled "Khalifatul Khulafa."
- The primary objective of this pamphlet was to remove misunderstandings and foster reconciliation between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Early Recognition of Mughal Decline:
- He was one of the first thinkers to realize that the Mughal Empire was in a state of decline.
Institutional Influence:
- Madrassa Rahimiya (founded by his father) played a continuous and vital role in the revival of Islam under his guidance.
Accessibility of Knowledge:
- By writing in Persian, the common literary language of the time, he made Islamic studies available to a large number of people.
Focus on Unity:
- His central desire was to establish the unity of all Muslims.

Personal Background:
- Born in $1786$ .
- Received his early education at the Madrassa Rahimiya located in Delhi.
- In $1810$ , he joined a military tribe army.
Pilgrimage and Education:
- In $1821$ , he traveled for Hajj and engaged in further religious studies.
- He returned to India in $1823$ .
Founding of the Movement:
- He was the founder of the Jihad Movement.
- He passed away in $1831$ .
Motivation for Revival and Jihad:
- He believed Muslims should be ruled by Muslim Rulers.
- He sought to eliminate Un-Islamic Practices.
- He was characterized as a "Man of Action," championing the idea of Jihaad.
- He was strongly motivated by the oppressive policies of Sikh rulers.

Geographic Choice:
- He chose the frontier region specifically because he hoped to establish an Islamic State there.
Chronology of Events:
- $1823$ : The movement officially started.
- $1826$ : He sent a formal invitation to Ranjit Singh.
- $1826$ : Two battles took place.
- $1830$ : Peshawar was successfully captured.
- $1831$ : The Battle of Balakot occurred, marking the end of the movement and his death.

Liberation Struggle:
- It was the first example in Indian history of a movement formed specifically to free Muslims from non-Muslim rule.
Unifying Force:
- The Jihad movement acted as a uniting force for the Muslim community.
Foundation for the Future:
- Many historians regard the Jihad movement as the fore-runner of the Pakistan movement in India.

Early Life and Education:
- Born in $1781$ to a poor family.
- Received early education in his local village.
- In $1799$ , he traveled to Arabia and stayed there for $20$ years.
Return and Death:
- In $1818$ , he returned to India and initiated his reform movement.
- He died in the year $1840$ .
- His son was named Mohsin-ud-Din.
Beliefs/Revival Objectives:
- Elimination of Un-Islamic Practices.
- Concern that Muslims had forgotten the basic principles of Islam.
- Response to the suppression of Muslims by Hindu landlords.
The Faraizi Movement Principles:
- Emphasized that Muslims should follow basic Islamic principles.
- Urged Muslims to adopt and accept "Tauba" (repentance).
- Declared India as "Dar-ul-Harb" (Land of War).

Expansion of the Movement:
- The son of Haji Shariatullah expanded the movement following his father's death.
- He worked specifically for the rights of poor Muslim farmers.
Administrative Structure:
- He divided East Bengal into specific administrative areas called "circles."
- Each circle was under the control of a "Khalifa."
- The Khalifas were responsible for the social and spiritual welfare of the people within their assigned area.
Economic Reform:
- He assisted peasants in opposing excessive taxes.
- He died in the year $1860$ .

Opposition:
- The movement faced strong opposition from the British authorities.
Lack of Internal Cohesion:
- There was a lack of unity among the Muslims themselves.
Scope:
- The movement suffered from limited geographical influence.

Shah Waliullah: Focused primarily on religious revival through the means of education and reform.
Syed Ahmad Barelvi: Focused on religious reform achieved through the platform of organized Jihad.
Haji Shariatullah: Focused on the enforcement of correct Islamic practices and social reform, particularly among ordinary Muslims in the Bengal region.