Alhamdulillahi Rabil Alameen. Maliki Yaum Id’deen. Was’Salatu Was’Salamu Ala Sayee’dil Mursa’leen. A’uzbillahi Manishayta Nir’Rajeem. Bismillah Ir’Rahma Nir’Raheem.
Many of the readers belonging to the Subcontinent who have interest in religious literature will be familiar with the names Barelvi and Deobandi. They also will be familiar with the fact that both of these two groups oppose each other vehemently, but not many of the readers will be aware of the reasons which lead to this opposition among these two groups.I the humble servent of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat {Barelwi} have been authorised by spiritual guide to write about the issues which lead to the devision and opposition. Many more have attempted to write about this controversial vast subject especially on internet, but have not been able to do justice to the issue at hand, for myrids of reasons, bais being major cause of it. First systemetic, comprehensive analysis of the dispute in English language between the two groups has been carried out by Seikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller. He attempted to wrestle with these hotly contested issues, but has failed to deal with them subject, making grave mistake on few instances. His mistakes were more then likely for two reasons being misinformed, not having access to actual disputed sources and the language barrier, language being the main. Had he command of the Urdu language he would have been the ideal person to deal with this issue in a sober, calm, refflective and unbaised manner. The noble Seikh has made a great effort with sincere heart, pious intentions, and as done a remarkable job, but his unability to understand the Urdu language has caused him to err in few places, and I beseech Allah subhana wa tallah from the depth of my heart: “O Allah grant the Noble Seikh a place in Jannah with Prophet {SAW} and his companions, Ameen.” Broadly categorising the reasons of IKHTILAAF they would come under the fallowing catgories:
* Insulting Statements Written About Prophet {SAW}
* Aqahid
* Fiqhi Ikhtilaaf
The intensity of the Ikhtilaaf is around those statements which are DIRECTLY ATTACKING PROPHET {saw}. Weather these statements were written intentionally or un-intentionally, regardless of the circumstances, context, they are the major cause. Then comes the issue of AQAHID, QASIM NANOTAVI’S STATEMENTS IN WHICH FINALITY OF PROPHET {saw} HAS BEEN DENIED, RASHEED . A . GANGOHI’S TALIFAT E RASHIDIYAH, Fatawah e Rasheediyah, Ismail Dehalvi’s Yaq Rozi, and other books which approve that ALLAH COULD POSSIABILY LIE WHICH IS A INNOVATION OF WORST KIND. Author of Talifat e Rasheediyah transgressed as far as proving WAQIYAH E QIZB {Lieing Taking Place}. These were the hot issues in the second category, the remaining are, Ilm Al Ghayb For RasoolAllah {SAW}, Status Of Shahid Of Prophet {SAW}, Prophet {SAW} Being Noor In Body, Saying “Ya RasoolAllah {SAW}!”, Knowledge Of Ghayb Of Prophet {SAW} Comprimising Al Lawh Al Mafooz etc. Fiqhi Ikhtilaaf is something which I do not consider serious enough to even disscuss it in here.
Ismail Dehalvi wrote Taqwiyatul Imaan, Siratum Mustaqeem, in which he wrote statements which were of offensive nature. First statement in which focusing on Prophet {SAW} while performing Salah was stated to be worse then thinking of donkies, ox, even worse then thinking about have sexual relation ship with wife while one is in prayers. In Taqwiyatul Imaan numerous statements were written in which the aim of the author was to encourage its readers to show less respect to PROPHET {saw}, one such statement was that Prophet {SAW} is like a village elder, we should respect him accordily, but even less then this. In another statement Prophet {SAW} was stated to be like a elder brother and one should only respect him as one respects his elder brother.
Note that by todays standard what ISMAIL DEHALVI wrote was nothing short of encouraging people to insult Prophet {SAW}. But we should not forget the context which such statements were written, late 18th century, and early 19th century at that time the social values of INDIAN SUBCONTINENT were intact. And younger brother respected his elder brother as a father figure, and the village heads were respected due to their financial status and education. It would be great injustice to look at the modern social chaos and try to understand Ismail Dehalvi’s statements. But one should understand these statements keeping the historical context in mind … otherwise IF ONE LOOKS AT THE MODERN SOCIAL CHAOS and ponders over statement of ISMAIL DEHALVI one would come to realise that these statement would be openly inviting people to insult Prophet {SAW}. But even in the context of late 18th, century such statements are shocking, because PROPHET {saw} has been given the highiest of status, a status so high that if your voice raises over the voice of PROPHET {SAW} Allah will void your good deeds. Taking Prophet {SAW} as elder brother, and as Village Head and respecting him accordingly without doubt will remove from the heart of beleiver the love effection for Rasoolallah {SAW} which Allah as bound a beleiver by.
But the worst is that those who read these statements in present era are interpreting them in the modern context, where a elder brother is no longer the father figure, its ok to mock him, redicule him. Where the Village Head is accused of corruption, disrespected, discrdited by making mockery. Making likeness and encouraging its readers to respect Prophet {SAW} as these two figures are respected is now an open invitation to mock Prophet {SAW}. And the author has manage to indoctrinate a entire generation to saying things like: “Had Muhammed known Ghayb, he would have known whats behind wall.” “How can Muhammed now ghayb when he didnt even know the dog was under his bed?” The mentality encouraged by Ismail Dehalvi has firmed its roots in the hearts of Deobandi, and Wahabis, and such insulting mannerism is being used widely among these two groups adherents.
Ashraf Ali Thanvi, Khalil Ambethvi, were the other two who had written statements in which Prophet {SAW} insulted, but by far the most serious offender, and one can feel the deliberateness of the insulting statenments were authored by the cursed ISMAIL DEHALVI, one can feel that author planned to write these statements, and these statement were not written in sleep mode. There is a tradition I cant recall the exact refference in which ISMAIL DEHALVI had invited a group of scholars, and explained to them that his book Taqwiyatul Imaan contains strong statements, i require your advice, he was advised not to publish it, but SHAYTAN got best of him and he published it. Its also stated that after his book caused a stir certain individual told him what has his book done, his famous reply was: “People after fighting arguing will sought out the truth from falsehood them selves.” but its been over hundered year the fighting, is becoming reality, and debates arguments had become reality after the book was published. But one thing will neve become the reality is people knowing the truth.
Qasim Nanotavi was also charged with denying the finality of Prophet {SAW}, stating that if another Prophet is born after Prophet {SAW}, Prophet {Saw} will still remain the Last Prophet. He also wrote beleife Prophet {SAW} being the Last Prophet, and him arival at the last era is opinion of the common folk, and its not the opinion of the common folks but IJMAH E UMMAT {AGREEMENT OF UMMAT} Prophet {SAW} is the Last Prophet and he came in the Finale period in which there will be judgement day will come. Its not the opinion of the common, illiterate, backward, people, but understanding of Sahabah, Tabi’een, Muhadditheen, Mujtahideen, Mufassireen, Awliyah e Kamileen, the entire Ummah.
Khalil Ambethvi was guility of writting that Shaytan has more Knowledge then Prophet {SAW}, Ashraf Ali Thanvi was guilty of writting that Prophets Knolwedge is same as animals, mad people, and children.
The details of these matters will be dissucused in seperate articles. In which the original statements, their translation, scanned refferences, the SHARA’EE VERDICT, as well as popular TAWEELAAT will be discussed. This article is just introduction for those who would like to familirise them self with historical events.
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Al Brelvi rahimullah alayhi tallah, wrote numerous letters to these inviduals, asking them to repent and correct their statements, but no effort was made by these people to repent or correct their statements. It was then that Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Brelwi issued the fatwah of kufr, and made Takfir of Ashraf Ali Thanvi, Qasim Nanotavi, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, Khalil Ambethvi. He travelled to Hijaaz e Maqdis on Hajj where he had his Fatwah certified by over thirty eminent scholars of Arab world. Note that Imam Ahmad Raza Khan {rehmatullah alay} did not makde Takfir of Ismail Dehalvi. Due to the reason that it was rumoured that Ismail Dehalvi had repented from his insulting statements before his death.
The oppenants of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat have tried to smear the image of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Bralwi rahimullah alayhi tallah by stating in their numerous books that he was not carefull in his TAKFIR. Infact he is mocked as Takfir Machine Gun. The logic behind it is that anyone whom he opposed he declared them KAFFIR. Yet case of Ismail Dehalvi demonstrates quite another fact that had he been careless TAKFIR MONGER then ISMAIL DEHALVI would have also have been delcared KAFFIR. It was widely speculated that Ismail Dehalvi repented prior to dieing, hence Ala Hazrat Imam of Ahle Sunnah Maulna Shah Ahmad Raza Khan did not declare him as Kaffir. Because there is a Hadith of Prophet {SAW} which states that anyone who delcares a Muslim as Kaffir, either one of the is Kaffir definately. Keeping this in mind Imam Ahmad Raza did not make Takfir, justifying it with the reason that if Ismail Dehalvi as repented prior to dieing then the Takfir made of him will return on him self, and if he has not then Allah will judge him. But he made absolutely apparent that the statements found in the books of Ismail Dehalvi are without doubt KUFFR.
His Fatwah all the statements of those Eminent Scholars was published in a book called Hasam ul Haramayn Ala Maharil Kuffr Wal Mayn. At this juncture the it became a dispute of gigantic propotions. Deobandis rebutted this Fatwah, Al Muhannad was written some 5 years after Hasam ul Haramayn, this was rebutted by a companion of Ala Hazrat Shah Ahmad Raza Khan Bralvi. Maulana Hashmat Ali rahimullah alayhitallah’s Ulamah e Deobandi Ke Mak’kariyan {Deception Of Ulamah of Deoband}. Which since then as continued to evolve into a bigger problem.
The size and the seriousness of this problem is becoming a manace to the unity of “Ummah”. Hence its resolution according to the KITABULLAH & AHADITH is essential, and this does no way imply that one should abandon SHARI’AH for the sake of UNITY.
Our job is to bring this BRAILWI & DEOBANDI dispute into knowledge of PEOPLE and how it can be resolved. Without comprimising injunctions of Quran O Ahadith, without comprimising any part of DEEN. Note that there can no tolerance of WRONG, regardless of who was preaching it. We must adhere to Shariah even it means the out come of our adherance to SHARIAH leads this BRAILVI & DEOBANDI dispute to a greater level. But no tolerance, no peacefull co-existance, if it comes at the cost of abandoning KITABULLAH AND SUNNAH OF RASOOLALLAH {saw}. Rather then abandoning KITABULLAH AND SUNNAH OF RASOOLALLAH {saw} we should cherish, and celebrate, and proudly show our distaste of batil. We should ask Allah subhana wa tallah to grant us paitance, firmness against the heretics, and apostates. Grant us the knowledge with which we can reffute such batil {false} beleives and stand firm in opposition to such HERETICS & APOSTATES.
Wama Alayna Ilal Balaghul Mobeen.
Ali
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