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Barelvi movement

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Barelwi or Barelvi (Hindi: बरेलवी, Urdu: بریلوی) is a movement of Sunni Sufism in South Asia that was founded by Ahmed Raza Khan of Bareilly, Rohilkhand India (hence the term Barelvi). Barelvis are a sizable portion of the Hanafi Muslim communities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and the United Kingdom, besides having a presence in other places around the world.

Ahmad Raza Khan was the central figure around which the movement was promoted in the Indian subcontinent between the 19th and 20th centuries, earning numerous followers and opponents. The name Barelvi came into use to label the followers of Ahmad Raza Khan. The terms Nuri and Barkati refer to the Sufi Tariqa associated with Ahmed Raza Khan. The term "razavi" refers to those people who have been initiated into the Qadri Sufi Tariqa via the lineage of Ahmed Raza Khan. Followers of Ahmad Raza Khan in India are mainly Hanafi by Madhab (School of jurisprudence), but accept the other three Sunni schools to be valid.

Beliefs

Aqidah

Barelwi follow one of the Ashari or Maturidi schools of Aqidah, the Hanafi school of Fiqh, and one of the Qadiri, Chisti, Naqshbandi or Suhrawardi Sufi orders.

According to Barelvi belief, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had "knowledge of the unseen" and of the deeds of all Muslims, and also had been given knowledge of all creations by Allah. He is also believed to be created from Noor or "light".

Practices

During Mawlid (the birthday of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)) special recitations (Naats) that have been written by scholars such as Ahmed Raza Khan are recited. The salat o salam with Durood and Hamd o Naat is recited after Fajr and Jumuah prayers, and are seen as a differentiating feature from others within Islam. The Miraj, Shaberat or Shab-e-Barat, Laylat al-Qadr and Gyarvi Sharif of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani is celebrated.

The sect also has some shia influences as other sunnis do not follow these practices. Many Barelwi scholars have called for sunni-shia unity.

Missionary activities

Barelvis have expanded their missionary activities in various countries of Asia, Europe, North America and South Africa through the organization Dawat-e-Islami, which was founded by Maulana Ilyas Attar Qadri in 1981. Dawat-e-Islami obtained certification from the Pakistani Defence Ministry as a non terrorist organisation. Their non-political and purely religious activities have contributed to a positive picture of the Barelvi Movement. In England, the movement is considered a moderating force in Islam. [1]

Notable scholars

Early scholars

Present

Controversy and criticism

Accusations

Deobandi and Salafi critics, among others, contend that the teachings of Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi constitute innovation of new religious beliefs. Saudi Arabia's Permanent Committee also issued a statement declaring that Muslims should not pray with Barelvis due to practices which are viewed as disbelief and innovation; however, their practices should be "detested with good manners".[2]

Violence

Between 1992 and 2002, Barelvi organizations, such as the Sunni Tehreek (ST), forcibly took over dozens of Deobandi and Salafi mosques in Pakistan, claiming that the mosques had been usurped earlier by their opponents. These incidents often sparked violence.[3] In May 2001, riots broke out in Pakistan after the assassination of the ST leader Saleem Qadri [4] In April 2007, Sunni Tehreek activists attempted a forcible take-over of a mosque in Karachi owned by the Ahle Hadith movement, first congregating outside and then opening fire on the mosque and those inside, resulting in one death and three injuries. Survivors reported the police to have fled the scene.[5]

It is obvious that many members of the Barelwi movement are takfiri as they can hardly acept anyone else.

References

  1. ^ Hardline takeover of British mosques -Times Online
  2. ^ "The ruling concerning the Braylwiyyah"
  3. ^ " Serious threat to Pakistan's civil society" The Hindu, April 18 2006
  4. ^ The Hindu : Opinion / Leader Page Articles : Serious threat to Pakistan's civil society
  5. ^ "One dead as ST tries to take control of Ahle Hadith mosque" Daily Times (Pakistan), April 11 2007

See also

=Organizations

Famous Madrasas

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