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Coordinates: 34°00′12″N 71°22′43″E / 34.0034°N 71.3786°E / 34.0034; 71.3786
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{{Short description|Military conflict in Pakistan in 1831}}
{{Short description|1831 conflict between the Sikhs and Mujahideen}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{infobox military conflict
{{infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Balakot
| conflict = Battle of Balakot
| partof = [[Afghan-Sikh Wars]]
| partof = [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi#Jihad movement and Islamic State|Jihad movement]] of Ahmad Barelvi
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
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| status =
| status =
| combatant1 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|32px]] [[Sikh Empire]]
| combatant1 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|32px]] [[Sikh Empire]]
| strength1 = 5,000<ref name=gupta/>
⚫
| combatant2 = [[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|32px]] [[Mujahideen]]
| strength2 = 700<ref name=altaf>{{Cite book |author=Altaf Qadir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRlBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT62 |title=Sayyid Ahmad Barailvi: His Movement and Legacy from the Pukhtun Perspective |date=2014 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-5150-486-3 |language=en|page=144}} [[iarchive:sayyidahmadbarailvihismovementandlagacyfromthepukhtunperspectivebydr.altafqadir/page/n87/mode/2up|Archived]]</ref>–3,000<ref name=gupta/> irregular tribesmen
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = 500<ref name=gupta/>
⚫
| combatant2 = [[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|32px]] [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi#Jihad movement and Islamic State|Mujahideen]]
| commander1 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|29px]] [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]
⚫
[[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|29px]] [[Sher Singh]]<br/>[[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|29px]] [[Ilahi Bakhsh]]<br/>[[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|29px]] [[Akali Hanuman Singh]]
⚫
| commander2 = {{Nowrap|[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|29px]] [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi]]{{KIA}}}} <br/> [[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|29px]] [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi]]{{KIA}} <br/> [[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|29px]] Mirza Hayat Dehlvi{{KIA}}}}


⚫
The '''Battle of Balakot''' was fought between the forces of [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] and [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi]] in [[Balakot]] on 6 May 1831. Barelvi had declared ''[[jihad]]'' against the [[Sikhs]] and established a camp in Balakot along with [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi]] and his tribesmen. Kanwar Sher Singh besieged the valley and attacked his camp at night. The battle lasted all day. The Sikh soldiers eventually killed Syed Ahmad Barelvi, along with hundreds of his followers.<ref>Ahmad, M. (1975). Saiyid Ahmad Shahid: His Life and Mission (No. 93). Lucknow: Academy of Islamic Research and Publications. Page 27.</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Adamec |first=Ludwig W. |title=Historical Dictionary of Islam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_nPfLOj6MUC&pg=PA54 |year=2009 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6303-3}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Jalal |first=Ayesha |chapter=The Martyrs of Balakot |title=Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y7VVWhi9jGIC&pg=PA58 |year=2009 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-03907-0 |pages=58–113}}</ref><ref name=gupta>{{Cite book |author=Hari Ram Gupta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-1huAAAAMAAJ |title=History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Lion of Lahore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1799-1839 |date=1978 |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal |isbn=978-81-215-0515-4 |pages=166 |language=en}}[https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfTheSikhsVol.VTheSikhLionOfLahoremaharajaRanjitSingh/page/n177/mode/2up?view=theater&q=Balakot] </ref>
''Supported by'':
* [[Tonk State]]
* [[Hyderabad State]]
* [[Sindh]]
⚫
| commander1 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|29px]] [[Sher Singh]]<br/>[[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|29px]] [[Ilahi Bakhsh]]<br/>[[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|29px]] [[Akali Hanuman Singh]]
⚫
| commander2 = {{Nowrap|[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|29px]] [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi]]{{Executed}}}} <br/> [[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|29px]] [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi]]{{KIA}} <br/> [[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|29px]] Mirza Hayat Dehlvi{{KIA}} <br/>[[File:Sardar-e-Alha Khankhail Flag.jpg|29px]] Sardar-e-Ahla Khan Habibullah Khankhail}}

⚫
The '''Battle of Balakot''' was fought between the forces of [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] and [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi]] in [[Balakot]], [[Mansehra District]] on 6 May 1831. Barelvi declared ''[[jihad]]'' against the [[Sikhs]] and established a camp in Balakot. Along with [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi]] and his tribesmen, he attacked the Sikhs at dawn. The battle lasted all day. The Sikh soldiers eventually killed Syed Ahmad Barelvi, and hundreds of his followers were killed.<ref>Ahmad, M. (1975). Saiyid Ahmad Shahid: His Life and Mission (No. 93). Lucknow: Academy of Islamic Research and Publications. Page 27.</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Adamec |first=Ludwig W. |title=Historical Dictionary of Islam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_nPfLOj6MUC&pg=PA54 |year=2009 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6303-3}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Jalal |first=Ayesha |chapter=The Martyrs of Balakot |title=Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y7VVWhi9jGIC&pg=PA58 |year=2009 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-03907-0 |pages=58–113}}</ref>


== Battle ==
== Battle ==
On 6 May 1831, [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi]]'s [[Mujahideen]] forces prepared for the final battle at [[Balakot]] in the mountainous valley of [[Mansehra District|Mansehra]]. Sikh troops started landing at Balakot from Metikot Hill while Syed Ahmad and most of the Mujahideen forces were staying in and around the Masjid-E-Bala. The Mujahideen force was encamped far along the Satban waterfall. The Sikhs had warned Syed Ahmed that they would execute him and his followers if they didn't retreat, to which Syed Ahmed refused to surrender. Syed Ahmad suddenly left Masjid-E-Bala to ambush the Sikhs and reached Masjid-E-Yarin. Then he marched towards the foot of Metikot Hill with the Mujahideen forces. Every inch of Tiller in Metikot Hill was quickly filled by Sikh troops.{{cn|date=February 2023}}
After facing opposition from Pashtun tribes, Sayyid Ahmed Barelvi shifted to Balakot in 1831.<ref name=gupta/> On 6 May 1831, [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi]]'s [[Syed Ahmad Barelvi#Jihad movement and Islamic State|Mujahideen]] forces prepared for the final battle at [[Balakot]] in the mountainous valley of [[Mansehra District|Mansehra]]. Sikh troops under Sher Singh started landing at Balakot. The Sikh forces were superior in number and training to the Mujahideen. They had warned Syed Ahmed that they would execute him and his followers if they didn't retreat, to which Syed Ahmed refused to surrender. Sikhs quickly besieged the valley on all sides.<ref name=gupta/>


During the fight, Barelvi was killed and beheaded by the Sikhs.<ref name=gupta/> A large group of Mujahideen fighters did not realize that Syed Ahmad had been killed and went in search of him. Besides, small groups of Mujahideen were killed while fighting in different places.
Syed Ahmad was at the forefront of the Mujahideen forces but he turned back after some Islamic warriors were left behind. Suddenly, he was killed in the fountain of Metikot Hill and was beheaded by the Nihangs who took his head as a trophy which was a common practice done by soldiers in the [[Indian subcontinent]] at that time.{{cn|date=February 2023}}


⚫
In the battle, [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi]] was also killed by the Sikh soldiers.<ref name=britannica>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ranjit-Singh-Sikh-maharaja Profile of Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh on Encyclopedia Britannica] Retrieved 16 August 2018</ref> Thus, the battle was a victory for the Sikhs who had now added Balakot to their empire and extended the western border of the [[Sikh Empire]] which included Balakot and the whole of [[Mansehra District]]. After this major victory, the Sikhs turned towards capturing [[Peshawar]] from the [[Afghans]].<ref name="sarsa">{{cite book|url=http://m.friendfeed-media.com/6e9ec7f58014456d2d5fd015cc8af9d2974509c0|title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges|page=419|author=Jacques, Tony|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33536-5|access-date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626120848/http://m.friendfeed-media.com/6e9ec7f58014456d2d5fd015cc8af9d2974509c0|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
A large group of Mujahideen fighters did not realize that Syed Ahmad had been killed and went in search of him. Besides, small groups of Mujahideen were killed while fighting in different places. This battle lasted at least two hours. Then the Mujahideens started shouting loudly to different groups that Syed Ahmad had been taken to the top of the hill and told them all to come to the top of the hill. As a result, the Mujahideen moved towards the mountains to the north. When they reached the top of the mountains, they realized that they were surrounded. They tried to escape but were massacred and slain by Sikh soldiers coming from all sides of the hills and mountains. Thus, the deadly battle had come to an end. {{cn|date=February 2023}}


==See also==
⚫
Another rumor about the death of Syed Ahmad is that he was at their vanguard and had infiltrated a group of Sikh soldiers. The peaks surrounded him which his followers did not notice. Thus he was killed but his body could not be identified by the Mujahideen. For this reason, even after a long time, the remaining Mujahideen could not believe that Syed Ahmad was dead. In the battle, [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi]] was also slain by the Sikh soldiers. Thus, the battle was a victory for the Sikhs who had now added Balakot to their empire and extended the western border of the [[Sikh Empire]] deep into [[Afghans|Afghan]] territory which included Balakot and the whole of Mansehra District. After this major victory, the Sikhs turned their ambitions towards conquering [[Peshawar]] from the [[Afghans]].<ref name="sarsa">{{cite book|url=http://m.friendfeed-media.com/6e9ec7f58014456d2d5fd015cc8af9d2974509c0|title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges|page=419|author=Jacques, Tony|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33536-5|access-date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626120848/http://m.friendfeed-media.com/6e9ec7f58014456d2d5fd015cc8af9d2974509c0|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Battle of Akora Khattak]]
* [[Battle of Shaidu]]
* [[Battle of Haidru (1828)]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Battles involving the Sikhs]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Sikh Empire]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1831]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1831]]
[[Category:Syed Ahmad Barelvi]]
[[Category:Syed Ahmad Barelvi]]
[[Category:Military history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
[[Category:Mansehra District]]
[[Category:1831 in India]]

Latest revision as of 16:08, 6 December 2024

Battle of Balakot
Part of Jihad movement of Ahmad Barelvi
Date6 May 1831
Location
Balakot
34°00′12″N 71°22′43″E / 34.0034°N 71.3786°E / 34.0034; 71.3786
Result Sikh victory
Belligerents
Sikh Empire Mujahideen
Commanders and leaders

Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Sher Singh
Ilahi Bakhsh
Akali Hanuman Singh		 Syed Ahmad Barelvi †
Shah Ismail Dehlvi †
Mirza Hayat Dehlvi †
Strength
5,000[1] 700[2]–3,000[1] irregular tribesmen
Casualties and losses
Unknown 500[1]

The Battle of Balakot was fought between the forces of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Syed Ahmad Barelvi in Balakot on 6 May 1831. Barelvi had declared jihad against the Sikhs and established a camp in Balakot along with Shah Ismail Dehlvi and his tribesmen. Kanwar Sher Singh besieged the valley and attacked his camp at night. The battle lasted all day. The Sikh soldiers eventually killed Syed Ahmad Barelvi, along with hundreds of his followers.[3][4][5][1]

Battle

[edit]

After facing opposition from Pashtun tribes, Sayyid Ahmed Barelvi shifted to Balakot in 1831.[1] On 6 May 1831, Syed Ahmad Barelvi's Mujahideen forces prepared for the final battle at Balakot in the mountainous valley of Mansehra. Sikh troops under Sher Singh started landing at Balakot. The Sikh forces were superior in number and training to the Mujahideen. They had warned Syed Ahmed that they would execute him and his followers if they didn't retreat, to which Syed Ahmed refused to surrender. Sikhs quickly besieged the valley on all sides.[1]

During the fight, Barelvi was killed and beheaded by the Sikhs.[1] A large group of Mujahideen fighters did not realize that Syed Ahmad had been killed and went in search of him. Besides, small groups of Mujahideen were killed while fighting in different places.

In the battle, Shah Ismail Dehlvi was also killed by the Sikh soldiers.[6] Thus, the battle was a victory for the Sikhs who had now added Balakot to their empire and extended the western border of the Sikh Empire which included Balakot and the whole of Mansehra District. After this major victory, the Sikhs turned towards capturing Peshawar from the Afghans.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hari Ram Gupta (1978). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Lion of Lahore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1799-1839. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 166. ISBN 978-81-215-0515-4.[1]
  2. ^ Altaf Qadir (2014). Sayyid Ahmad Barailvi: His Movement and Legacy from the Pukhtun Perspective. SAGE Publishing India. p. 144. ISBN 978-93-5150-486-3. Archived
  3. ^ Ahmad, M. (1975). Saiyid Ahmad Shahid: His Life and Mission (No. 93). Lucknow: Academy of Islamic Research and Publications. Page 27.
  4. ^ Adamec, Ludwig W. (2009), Historical Dictionary of Islam, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 978-0-8108-6303-3
  5. ^ Jalal, Ayesha (2009), "The Martyrs of Balakot", Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia, Harvard University Press, pp. 58–113, ISBN 978-0-674-03907-0
  6. ^ Profile of Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh on Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved 16 August 2018
  7. ^ Jacques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood Press. p. 419. ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
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