The Rise of Deobandis
Revivalism has plagued Islam since its inception. The earliest attempts towards Revivalism in Islam can be traced back to the succession feuds that took place between the forces of Ali and Ayesha, and according to some authors, even before that. While there were many recorded such events in the succeeding decades, a few worth noting were the stories around Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn Abdul Wahab.
As more and more Mawali’s (Non-Arabs) converted to Islam, the power center of Islam shifted away Arabia. This was formalized with the transition of authority from Umayyads to Abbasids and the shift of Capital from Damascus to Baghdad, which was the outskirt of the Persian corridor. A historical recurrence, today, nearly half of the Muslim live in South Asia. Therefore, many of the Islamic trends around the world mirrors the orientation of Islam in South Asia.
Islam started its ingress into the Indian Subcontinent as early as 8th century CE, initially through the Arab traders, later from Central Asian steppes through the medium of conquests. With the threat of Mongol hordes in the 13th century, large-scale migration occurred from the Abbasid Caliphate, into the India Subcontinent. This mass migration into Indian safe sanctuary was the single most significant impetus for the spread of Islam. It is important to understand that Islamic doctrine in South Asia was primarily inspired and spread by the enigmatical Sufis. Barelvi movement was chartered in the early 20th century in response to the establishment of Deobandi Darul Uloom, and to preserve the mystical traditions of Indian Islam, previously inspired by the Sufi’s. In the following decades, the majority of the Muslims residing in South Asia followed the Barelvy Islam. It is believed that 60% Muslims residing in South Asia, still, adhere to the more magical Barelvi sect. It is only in the recent decades, with the Socio-political influences from its western border and across the Persian Gulf, the Islamic tectonic plates have drifted peaceful Deobandis.
Mughal empire was largely secular throughout its existence, except briefly during the time the last free Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb patronized the Ulema, and in this process, they eventually became his bureaucratic machine, exerting control over the working of his empire. The Ulemas were mostly concentrated in the Capital Delhi. The Ulema of Dehli were instrumental in orchestrating the failed war of independence from British Raj in 1857. After the failed coup, Ulemas were the main subject of revenge by the British Raj, therefore, many Ulemas flee Delhi and took refuge in the Northern city of Deoband, which was loosely controlled British Raj.
In 1867, ten years after the failed revolt against the British Raj, the Ulemas formed the Deobandi Darul Uloom. Deoband city, located on the Northern outskirts of Uttar Pradesh remains a small, despite its now global importance. It was originally a Hindu majority city, however, due to discernable reasons, city now has 60% Muslims. There is somewhat of a connection between the failed coup of 1857, Ulemas of Delhi, and the fact that the Hindus funded Darul Uloom in its early days.
Since its inception, Darul Uloom, has radicalized and patronized many Muslims from across the globe. However, the institution remained favorite among the Pashtun, while the rest of South Asia largely remains Barelvi. This was further sanctioned by Bacha Khan’s patronage of its madrasas in the Pashtun belt.
After independence from British Raj and division of Indian Subcontinent along the hazy religious lines, the Deobandis who migrated to Pakistan maintained a low-level profile, in all provinces except NWFP. Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and American-Saudi sponsorship of the jihad breathed a new life into an otherwise anemic Deobandi movement. Furthermore, Pakistani military Dictator Zia Ul Haq encouraged the Deobandis to Islamize Pakistan. While Saudis were able to successfully steer the Pakistani Deobandi movement in line with Wahabism, the Original Deoband, Darul Uloom remains somewhat libertarian in its understanding of Sharia Law, and on many occasions have condemned the act of terrorism and suicide bombings.
In recent years, the original institution at Deoband has also restricted the enrollment of students from Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has led to unrestricted Saudi influence over Pakistani Deobandis and hence further radicalization and Wahabisation of the Deobandi diaspora.
Another factors worth mentioning here is the Tablighi Jamaat, an offshoots of Deobandi movement. Tablighi Jamaat came into existence in 1927 as yet another Revivalist movement, to rid the followers of their impious practices. It is the largest organized force in any religion, with its center in Raiwind, Dhaka, and Bhopal, which is another clear testimony of Shift of Islamic landscape to South Asia. Despite its claims of “apolitical stance,” peaceful preaching, and away from the eyes of media, this organization is displaying its increasing influence in the political, social and sports scene. Even a prominent member of Pakistani Intelligence was an adherent of Tablighi Jamaat. Despite its seemingly not threatening posture, it preaches the same principles to its follower, new and old as the Wahabis and Deobandi’s, including entrapment of women, rejection of modernity and religious jurisprudence, while maintaining of total media silence regarding its activities, its hierarchy, and its funding. A French Tablighi expert Marc Gaborieau, describes its ultimate objective is nothing short of a “planned conquest of the world” in the spirit of jihad.
Since 1979, Wahabis and Tablighis are conducting joint faith spreading mission. The Tablighi headquarters in Dewsbury, England was erected with the help of Saudis is another testimony of Wahabi permeance into its ranks.
There is the elephant in the room…In the process of their path to self crucifixion, sacrificing other, spreading fear among the masses, most of these deluded self-righteous individuals have at some point crossed their path with these ultra right wing grass root organization, and influenced by their creed. We will continue to see mass destruction unless we collectively condemn these groups, not only the individuals committing the act of terror.
Pakistan Liberal Party
