Ashraf Ali Thanwi , also known as Ḥakīm al-Ummat (1863 – 1943), played a central role in the Islamic religious, spiritual, and intellectual landscape of late 19th and 20th century South Asia, and his influence still resonates today. [1] While his primary focus was on religious and spiritual matters, he also expressed some political views. He believed that politics should be considered an integral part of religion and categorically dismissed both secularist and political interpretations of Islam. [2] In his view, the sole purpose of politics is to serve the greater objectives of religion, which entail establishing a connection between believers and God, and thus, religious norms must never be subordinated to political ends. [3] He remained skeptical of democracy, considering it a Western import that did not necessarily align with Islamic principles. He emphasized the significance of reinstating the Islamic concept of the caliphate, which functions as a system of Islamic governance based on the principles of Islam, but he did not devise any specific model for it. [4] He opposed the Khilafat Movement due to its non-compliance with Sharia and was against the Indian National Congress. Therefore, he resigned from the management committee of Darul Uloom Deoband due to its pro-Congress stance. [5] As a primary supporter of a separate homeland for Muslims, popularly known as the Pakistan Movement, he firmly backed the Muslim League and sought to transform it into an army of Allah through his guidance. [6] He was recognized when he was invited as a guest to the 30th Session of All-India Muslim League, held on 24-26 April 1943 in Delhi. After his death, his disciples established the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam to support the creation of Pakistan, with Zafar Ahmad Usmani and Shabbir Ahmad Usmani being the key players in religious support for the movement. [1]
As per Ashraf Ali Thanwi, the secularist perspective of there being no correlation between politics and Islam is erroneous. Nonetheless, it is also not entirely precise to assert that the paramount purpose of human existence is to establish politics and the state in Islam. [7] Thanwi substantiates his argument by citing Quranic verse 22:41, which reads: "They are those who, if established in the land by Us, would perform prayer, pay alms-tax, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil. And with Allah rests the outcome of all affairs." Thanwi elucidates that this verse unequivocally indicates that the primary objective of Islam is piety and religion, not politics or jihad. Rather, politics and jihad serve as means and conduits to foster piety and religion. Therefore, while all prophets and messengers were dispatched to institute religion and its precepts, not all were bestowed with the responsibility of jihad and politics. Rather, the allocation of these duties is contingent upon their necessity, depending on the available resources and means. [8]
Verse 24:55 of the Quran avers, "Allah hath promised such of you as believe and do good works that He will surely make them to succeed (the present rulers) in the earth even as He caused those who were before them to succeed (others); and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He hath approved for them, and will give them in exchange safety after their fear. They serve Me. They ascribe no thing as partner unto Me. Those who disbelieve henceforth, they are the miscreants." Islamist interpreters construe this verse as a warrant for politics and the establishment of a state as the fundamental objective of Islam. [9] Their explication indicates that faith and good deeds are prerequisites for establishing governance, as stipulated in this verse. This denotes that politics and governance are the prime goals of Islam. In response, Ashraf Ali Thanwi posits that this verse actually pledges governance and power as a reward for faith and good works. It is contended that the hallmark of religion is that when Muslims become adherents of the complete religion, power will inevitably be conferred upon them, and they shall ascend to the seat of power. Therefore, it can be inferred that the promise of establishing a state is predicated on the practice of religion. In Quranic verse 5:66, it is asserted, "If only they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto them from their Lord, they would surely have been nourished from above and from beneath their feet. [9] Among them there are people who are moderate, but many of them are of evil conduct." This verse guarantees abundant sustenance as a remuneration for the practice of religion, including the adherence to the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. Nonetheless, this does not entail that the primary purpose of religion is sustenance or wealth. The verse underscores that a religious person is never left deprived of sustenance and raiment. It is demonstrated in the Qur'an, in verse 24:55, that power, strength, and authority are promised in exchange for faith and good deeds. Therefore, this must be perceived as a characteristic of faith and good deeds, and not as the ultimate objective. [10]
Ashraf Ali Thanwi firmly rejected the notion that democracy is taught by Islam or is aligned with Islamic teachings. He raised concerns about democracy and its negative aspects based on his religious beliefs. [11] Thanwi pointed out that a problem exists in modern times where people blindly accept popular opinions without question. He questioned whether this opinion is being influenced by ignorant masses and emphasized the limitations of following the majority opinion. Thanwi argued that the majority of people are often uneducated or lack knowledge, making them unfit to be the standard of truth. [12] To illustrate his point, he cited examples from the Quran and Hadith. Thanwi demonstrated that the majority's opinion is not always the truth by presenting examples from history. He gave an account of the Battle of Uhud where fifty companions were appointed on a hill, and the majority believed they should leave the hill, while a few believed they should stay put. The majority's opinion proved to be incorrect, and the minority's opinion was correct. [13] Thanwi also cited Abu Bakr's approach to governance as evidence that the majority opinion is not necessarily true. After Prophet Muhammad's death, when some tribes refused to pay Zakat (alms) to the new Islamic state, Abu Bakr resolved to wage war against them, while Umar and most other companions disagreed. Abu Bakr remained steadfast in his decision, and later, everyone accepted his decision as true. [14]
The Khilafat movement was launched in the early 20th century with the aim of supporting the Ottoman Empire and preserving the Khalifa's role as the leader of the Muslim world. Following the end of World War I and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the movement sought to safeguard the interests of the Islamic community. In 1919, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar galvanized Hindus and Muslims to join forces against British colonial rule, leading to the establishment of the Khilafat and non-cooperation movements. These efforts were intended to exert pressure on the British government to grant greater political rights to Indians. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi lent his support to the Khilafat movement, emerging as a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement. [15]
While Ashraf Ali Thanwi shared the same goals and objectives as the Khilafat Movement, he differed on the tactics needed to achieve them. Consequently, like Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Muhammad Iqbal, he distanced himself from the movement. But before, in 1913, he actively participated in all the initiatives aimed at assisting the Muslims in the Balkans. At several rallies, he encouraged Indian Muslims to extend full support to their fellow Muslims affected by the Balkan Wars. During a massive rally in Delhi on April 7, 1913, Ashraf Ali Thanwi spoke to everyone, regardless of their religious affiliation, urging them to help the oppressed Turkish Muslim orphans, widows, and those who were helpless. [16]
The Indian National Congress was established in 1885 to advocate for Indian interests under British colonial rule. Initially, Congress leaders had moderate demands and aimed to work within the colonial administration to achieve their goals. However, Syed Ahmad Khan was the first Muslim to publicly oppose Congress. Similarly, Ashraf Ali Thanwi cautioned Muslims against joining Congress due to the predominance of Hindus in the organization and their control of important positions. Thanwi advised Muslims to join the Muslim League, despite its flaws, as Muslims were in the majority and had the potential to correct those flaws. He believed that Congress could not work in the interests of Muslims and that keeping a distance from Congress would be more beneficial. On the other hand, joining the Muslim League would serve the interests of Muslims. [17]
During an election in Saharanpur, Congress members spread the message that voting for the Muslim League was unjustified. Muslim League workers sought clarification from Thanwi on whether it was permissible to vote for Congress instead. Thanwi responded by explaining the Sharia position on voting, stating that it would be harmful to Islam and Muslims to vote for Congress candidates. He believed that anyone seeking to become a Legislative member through Congress was not working for the welfare of Muslims. Thanwi suggested that every Indian Muslim should join the Muslim League, and that it was not appropriate for any Muslim to join Congress based on their current situation. The Secretary of the Allahabad Muslim League Committee posed the same question to Thanwi in 1938, to which he gave the same answer. [18]
In 1939, Thanwi was invited to attend a meeting of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, which was in alliance with the Congress party. He declined the invitation and wrote a message on the back of the invitation card expressing his strong opposition to Congress. He stated that it would be destructive for the religious aspect of the Ulama to be associated with Congress and referred to their rule between 1937 and 1939. He believed it would be more appropriate for them to leave Congress and join a suitable Muslim organization since joining Congress was spiritually equivalent to participating in a deadly sin. [18]
Muhammad Iqbal and Thanwi shared the same idea about joining the Congress. Both believed that Muslim participation in the Congress, without any conditions, would be detrimental to both Islam and Muslims. According to B. R. Ambedkar, the author of India's Constitution, the Congress became powerful and widespread due to Muslim participation, not solely because of Hindus. Prior to Muslim involvement, the Congress was merely a paper organization. However, when Muslims began to participate in Congress activities during the Khilafat movement, the public's faith in the organization was rekindled. Thanwi repeatedly explained this situation during his meetings and emphasized that Muslim participation was key to making the Congress acceptable to the general public. Muslims managed to revive the Congress in a very short time, which had been originally created by Hindus over fifty years ago. As long as Muslims refrained from joining the Congress, it remained unknown to the general public. [19]
Thanwi held the belief that Muslims lost their interest in religion and faith after being in contact with the Congress. He compared the Congress to the Bolshevik revolution, which had removed religious consciousness from people's hearts and transformed them into irreligious beings. During a gathering, he cautioned that any Muslim who worked outside the boundaries of Sharia would face severe punishment, and therefore, the Congress was not supported. According to him, the Congress was just a form of atheism and could not be considered a helper of Islam in any way. Thanwi firmly believed that joining the Congress was harmful to religion and the nation, leading to the destruction of Islam and Muslims. He also warned against Muslims working with Hindus or mixing Hindus with Muslims, as it would cause terrible damage to both communities and religions. In his opinion, Hindus and Congress members were not sincere in their desire to separate India from the British Raj, but rather used the British to achieve their own victory in their community and religion. [19]
The All-India Muslim League was founded in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 1906 to give Indian Muslims a political platform to voice their concerns and fight for their rights. The league was initially limited to the elite class, but in 1935, Muhammad Ali Jinnah reorganized it to represent Muslims of all classes and establish an independent Muslim political organization. This expansion raised questions about the compatibility of Sharia with joining the Muslim League, leading religious leaders to seek the opinions of prominent scholars such as Thanwi. Thanwi sent a questionnaire to the Muslim League and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, prepared by Zafar Ahmad Usmani to make decisions based on Sharia guidelines. After Thanwi made some edits to the questions, they were sent to the central offices of the Muslim League and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. [20]
Ashraf Ali Thanwi had several questions for the Muslim League. These are: [21]
Nawab Mohammad Ismail Khan and Syed Hasan Riyaz, representing the Muslim League, crafted responses to the questions posed by Ashraf Ali Thanwi. The letters were dispatched by Syed Zakir Ali to Thanwi on December 25, 1938, via post. [22]
According to Abdul Majid Daryabadi's tome Ḥakīm al-Ummat, it was Ashraf Ali Thanwi who first articulated the concept of a distinct Muslim state. [23]
The Deobandi movement or Deobandism is a revivalist movement within Sunni Islam that adheres to the Hanafi school of law. It was formed in the late 19th century around the Darul Uloom Madrassa in Deoband, India, from which the name derives, by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, Ashraf Ali Thanwi and Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri after the Indian Rebellion of 1857–58. They opposed the influence of non-Muslim cultures on the Muslims living in South Asia. The movement pioneered education in religious sciences through the Dars-i-Nizami associated with the Lucknow-based ulama of Firangi Mahal with the goal of preserving traditional Islamic teachings from the influx of modernist and secular ideas during British colonial rule. The Deobandi movement's Indian clerical wing, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, was founded in 1919 and played a major role in the Indian independence movement through its participation in the Pan-Islamist Khilafat movement and propagation of the doctrine of composite nationalism.
The Pakistan Movement was a political movement in the first half of the 20th century that aimed for the creation of Pakistan from the Iranic & Western Indo-Aryan Muslim-majority areas of British India. It was connected to the perceived need for self-determination for Muslims under British rule at the time. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a barrister and politician led this movement after the Lahore Resolution was passed by All-India Muslim League on 23 March 1940.
From a historical perspective, Professor Ishtiaq Ahmed of the University of Stockholm and Professor Shamsul Islam of the University of Delhi classified the Muslims of Colonial India into two categories during the era of the Indian independence movement: nationalist Muslims and Muslim nationalists. The All India Azad Muslim Conference represented nationalist Muslims, while the All-India Muslim League represented the Muslim nationalists. One such popular debate was the Madani–Iqbal debate.
Ashraf Ali Thanwi (often referred as Hakimul Ummat and Mujaddidul Millat was a late-nineteenth and twentieth-century Sunni Muslim scholar, jurist, thinker, reformist and the revival of classical Sufi thought from Indian subcontinent during the British Raj, one of the chief proponents of Pakistan Movement. He was a central figure of Islamic spiritual, intellectual and religious life in South Asia and continues to be highly influential today. As a prolific author, he completed over a thousand works including Bayan Ul Quran and Bahishti Zewar. He graduated from Darul Uloom Deoband in 1883 and moved to Kanpur, then Thana Bhawan to direct the Khanqah-i-Imdadiyah, where he resided until the end of his life. His training in Quran, Hadith, Fiqh studies and Sufism qualified him to become a leading Sunni authority among the scholars of Deoband. His teaching mixes Sunni orthodoxy, Islamic elements of belief and the patriarchal structure of the society. He offered a sketch of a Muslim community that is collective, patriarchal, hierarchical and compassion-based.
Mahmud Hasan Deobandi was an Indian Muslim scholar and an activist of the Indian independence movement, who co-founded the Jamia Millia Islamia University and launched the Silk Letter Movement for the freedom of India. He was the first student to study at the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary. His teachers included Muhammad Qasim Nanawtawi and Mahmud Deobandi, and he was authorized in Sufism by Imdadullah Muhajir Makki and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi.
Shabbir Ahmad Usmani Born in 1887 in Bijnor, Usmani was an alumnus of Darul Uloom Deoband. He was the son of Fazlur Rahman Usmani. His brother Azizur Rahman Usmani was the first Grand Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband. Usmani was the first to hoist the Flag of Pakistan at Karachi on 14 August 1947, and led the funeral prayers of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His major work is the Tafseer-e-Usmani, which he co-authored with his teacher Mahmud Hasan Deobandi.
The Nizam-e-Islam Party or simply Nizam-e-Islam, is a religious-political party in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The party was founded in the city of Kishoreganj in 1952, by the Islamic scholars of erstwhile East Bengal, Pakistan as an offshoot of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. It was one of the four political parties belonging to the United Front alliance which defeated the Muslim League in the 1954 elections.
Akhundzada Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi was a Muslim theologian, jurist, and scholar of ahadith in Pakistan. He was active in the Pakistan movement, and served as a member of Council of Islamic Ideology. He was the companion of Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and was active in the independence movement of Pakistan against the British Raj. He was a Sufi of the Chishti Sufi order and the founding member of the religious Barelvi Sunni strain political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP). He became its president in 1948. He was also a political figure in Pakistan and was the first recipient of Nishan-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan. He was also the chairman of Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat, an organisation opposed to the Ahmadiyya Movement that waged a campaign against Mirza Ghulam Ahmed's claim of prophethood.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind or Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is one of the leading organizations of Islamic scholars belonging to the Deobandi school of thought in India. It was founded in November 1919 by a group of Muslim scholars including Abdul Bari Firangi Mahali, Kifayatullah Dehlawi, Muhammad Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti and Sanaullah Amritsari.
Pir Syed Jamaat Ali Shah was a Pakistani author, Islamic scholar and Sufi saint of the Naqshbandi Order. He presided over the All India Sunni Conference and led the Movement for Shaheed Ganj Mosque. He was a contemporary of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, the founder of Barelvi movement.
Ubaidul Haq, also spelt Obaidul Haq, was a Bangladeshi teacher, muhaddith, mufassir and writer. He was the former khatib of the national mosque of Bangladesh.
The All India Azad Muslim Conference, commonly called the Azad Muslim Conference, was an organisation of nationalist Muslims in India. Its purpose was advocacy for composite nationalism and a united India, thus opposing the partition of India as well as its underlying two-nation theory put forward by the pro-separatist All-India Muslim League. The conference included representatives from various political parties and organizations such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam, All India Momin Conference, All India Shia Political Conference, Khudai Khidmatgar, Krishak Praja Party, Anjuman-i-Watan Baluchistan, All India Muslim Majlis, and Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadis. The Canadian orientalist Wilfred Cantwell Smith felt that the attendees at the Delhi session in 1940 represented the "majority of India's Muslims". The Bombay Chronicle documented on 18 April 1946 that "The attendance at the Nationalist meeting was about five times than the attendance at the League meeting."
Zafar Ahmad Usmani, was a 20th Century Sunni Muslim Jurist who became an influential figure of the Hanafi school of Sunni jurisprudence's Deobandi Movement. He also was a prominent Pakistan Movement activist.
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Athar Ali was a Bangladeshi Islamic activist, author, teacher and politician. He participated in the Indian independence movement, and was former president of the Nizam-e-Islam Party. Ali was also a khalifah of Ashraf Ali Thanvi, one of the founders of the Deobandi movement.
Abul Muhasin Muhammad Sajjad was an Indian Islamic scholar who was one of the most influential ulemas of the 20th century. Sajjad was a founder of Anjuman-Ulama-i-Bihar, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, and Imarat-i-Sharia. A leader in the Indian independence movement, Abul Muhasin Muhammad Sajjad participated in the Non-cooperation Movement, Khilafat Movement, and Civil Disobedience Movement; he opposed the partition of India and championed the concept of composite nationalism. He also founded the Muslim Independent Party in 1935 to represent Muslims in Bihar who were disillusioned with Congress and the Muslim League.The Muslim Independent Party formed the government in Bihar in 1937. Yunus, the party president, became the chief minister of Bihar on 1 April 1937.
The Deoband School And The Demand For Pakistan is a book authored by Ziaul Hasan Farooqi, a Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia. Published in 1963 by Asia Publishing House in New Delhi, this work wielded considerable influence over contemporary policies. Originally, it sprang forth from the author's MA thesis, concluded in 1959 at McGill University, it stands as the earliest English exploration of Deobandi thought. Positioned approximately 90 miles away from Delhi, the Deoband School emerged as a seminary primarily focused on training nationalists. From its inception, the Deoband School embraced a religious movement that professed unwavering loyalty to the nation. Throughout the freedom movement, it opposed British rule and consistently rejected the Muslim League's struggle for the establishment of Pakistan. The author contends that this book represents an endeavor to unravel the paradoxical position of the Deoband School and illuminate the roots of its opposition to the demand for Pakistan by Indian Muslims. Furthermore, a critical analysis of the Deoband School's traditional perspectives on culture, religion, and religious studies is also presented.
I'la al-Sunan is a work that aims to clarify the role and importance of hadiths in the Hanafi school of Islamic thought, particularly in response to criticisms from the Ahl-i Hadith movement in India. Zafar Ahmad Usmani, the author, dedicated over twenty years to crafting the book, which includes more than 6,100 hadiths and their sources, along with evaluations of their chain of transmission and text. Ashraf Ali Thanwi, Usmani's teacher, entrusted him with the task of writing the book. In addition to its scholarly value, I'la al-Sunan also addresses contemporary issues and opposes certain movements, such as the Qadiani movement and efforts to make interest halal. The book has received praise for its objective evaluation of the opinions of the schools of Islamic law.
Shah Abd al-Wahhab was a Bangladeshi Deobandi Islamic scholar, educator, jurist, preacher of Islam (tableeghi), and spiritual leader. He served as the second rector of Darul Uloom Hathazari, a former vice president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, and served on the jury of the Chittagong Court for 23 years. He was an alumnus of Darul Uloom Deoband and Mazahir Uloom, and one of the important disciples of Ashraf Ali Thanwi. He is considered the second architect of the Darul Uloom Hathazari. He established several madrasas and mosques in Bangladesh and played various roles in the Bishwa Ijtema, the spread of Tablighi Jamaat across Bangladesh and Myanmar, Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh, the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, and the Islamic University, Bangladesh.
Muhammad Yunus Choudhury, popularly known as Haji Muhammad Yunus, was a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar and educationist. He was the second rector of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, former president of Idarat al-Maʿarif and an active member of the Muslim World League. As the founding president of Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh, Yunus contributed to the establishment and renovation of roughly 1500 madrasas in Bangladesh. He was awarded the title of Shaykh al-ʿArab wa al-ʿAjam by the Imam of Masjid al-Haram.