I would appreciate if someone is able to present a summary of Barelvi, deobandi, wahabi, schools of thoughts without going into technical terms or philosophical expressions for people like me who have no idea what such schools represent.
It would be nice if it is explained as if the reader is a child.
Disclaimer: Although a Muslim by birth, I don’t even know which ‘school’ I belong to!
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
What is known as Barelvi is what was the unified religion of the SunniS of the Indian Subcontinent. Everyone sunni was what would be recognized as Barelvi. It is based on The Jamaah [community] and its heavily influenced by The accepted Mujadids of previous centuries [Meaning the Scholars].
Deobandis are a group who started to differ with Ahlus Sunnah, and wanted to reform the ummah, and have an admiration for Ibn Abdul Wahab Najdi, the guy who started the wahabi movement. The wahabi movement is khawarij according to Imam Ibn Abideen whose work known as Shammi or Dur Al Mukhtar is what the mufti use to find Hanafi fatwas. Yet according to deobandis ibn Abdul wahab has excellent beliefs, and they apply 'raziAllah Ta'ala anhu for him'
A man named shah ismail appeared. He is regarded as the first wahabi in our region. Deobandis take him as an imam, Sunnis either make takfir of him or do not stop others of making takfir of him.
Re: various ‘schools’ of thought in Islam
shah ismail Was a man who wrote many things against RasoolAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Ahlihi wa Sallam, and supported ideas such ‘imkan e khadib’ (possibility of lying for Allah - astagfirullah [bad belief but there is no takfir on this issue])
One of his ibarats has been admitted as kufr by one of the groups which take him as imam - the ahle hadith. The deobandis are still in deffence of him because he is their imam too. So the ahle hadith as represented by talib ur rehman in the following munazra is closer to sunnis then deobandis
One of the ibarats has been discussed in the above Munazra, talib ur rehman eventually admitted it was kufr. it should be known that online i have heard the books of shah ismail are taken second to ibn abdul wahab najdi in terms of importance to ahle hadith! and the sentiments are kufri
It may take the non shariah person a few watches of the above video to know that Moulana Hanif Qureshi brought home the heads of two batil groups
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
Deobandis and Barelvis are part of the group called Sunni (followers of Imam Abu Hanifah). There are a few acts committed by Barelvis which the Deobandis dont agree with. However during the past four decades I feel that due to the war in Afghanistan and close collaboration of Taliban (Deobandis) and AQ (Salafi's) I think there has been influence of salafism on modern Deobandis. I believe Ahl e Hadith also fall in this category but they are more orthodox. Salafis and Wahabbis are present in Saudia and they consider following Imams to be biddah/kufr etc.
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
I would appreciate if someone is able to present a summary of Barelvi, deobandi, wahabi, schools of thoughts without going into technical terms or philosophical expressions for people like me who have no idea what such schools represent.
It would be nice if it is explained as if the reader is a child.
Disclaimer: Although a Muslim by birth, I don't even know which 'school' I belong to!
All three are part of Ahle-Sunnah.
Re: various ‘schools’ of thought in Islam
I replied with the comment of ‘‘Rubbish’’ to Psyah’s insinuation that Barelvi is a new school like deobandis and salafis. The reason for that is Barelvi is what remains of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah in the Indian subcontinent. Truly they are the representatives of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah
The CV of Barelvi is read out in the following video. It is impressive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RyK23qN9y8
The Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah list of Imams is given above. Their works and Beliefs can be used against us if anyone doubts who is Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah. Sometimes the imams did disagree among themselves, here Ahlus Sunnah [Barelvi] take one of the accepted positions
Re: various ‘schools’ of thought in Islam
So besides Brelvis from Indo_pak…who else is Ahle-Sunnah according to you?
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
So besides Brelvis from Indo_pak...who else is Ahle-Sunnah according to you?
This is the biggest dilemma we face. We are Sunnis (deobandis, barelvis and ahl e hadith) and Salafis etc. But who are Muslims? Will we be asked our sects in the grave? Mullahs have got people fighting over petty things.
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
This is the biggest dilemma we face. We are Sunnis (deobandis, barelvis and ahl e hadith) and Salafis etc. But who are Muslims? Will we be asked our sects in the grave? Mullahs have got people fighting over petty things.
I think one should be very clear about his/her beliefs and I don't see the harm in categorizing yourself as sunni or shia or salafi etc..problems start when people start focusing on each other's faults only. Unity must be the biggest focus of muslims, not minor differences. That's why according to Imam Malik (or Imam Abu Hanifa not sure) debate on religious issues between people is haram.
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
I think one should be very clear about his/her beliefs and I don't see the harm in categorizing yourself as sunni or shia or salafi etc..problems start when people start focusing on each other's faults only. Unity must be the biggest focus of muslims, not minor differences. That's why according to Imam Malik (or Imam Abu Hanifa not sure) debate on religious issues between people is haram.
I think in recent times the whole focus has shifted to aqaid, biddat, shirq, murtad and kafir etc...we have got so much embroiled in these issues that and made the religion very complex, the faraiz have somehow got lost in the whole debate.
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
So besides Brelvis from Indo_pak...who else is Ahle-Sunnah according to you?
Your Shaykh and Psyah's Shaykh are both Sunni from Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah in their beliefs. I know more about Psyah's Shaykh then yours. With an issue which requires a bit of backbone i only trust indopak Sunni Barelvi Ulema. I know them better
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
Deobandis and Barelvis are part of the group called Sunni (followers of Imam Abu Hanifah). There are a few acts committed by Barelvis which the Deobandis dont agree with. However during the past four decades I feel that due to the war in Afghanistan and close collaboration of Taliban (Deobandis) and AQ (Salafi's) I think there has been influence of salafism on modern Deobandis. I believe Ahl e Hadith also fall in this category but they are more orthodox. Salafis and Wahabbis are present in Saudia and they consider following Imams to be biddah/kufr etc.
Okay, we have Salafism as well!
Could you explain to me like a child, what are the fundamental differences between them all? For example, what kind of acts by Barelvis that Deobandis do not agree with?
Why do Wahabis consider following an Imam as Kufr?
Also, are these sub-divisions relevant in South Asia only? I mean, for example, Muslims in Indonesia... do they have similar sub-sects?
Re: various ‘schools’ of thought in Islam
Main difference between Deobandis and Barelvis, basically going to mazars and the durood o salam that they barelvis say after the prayers etc which the former consider as biddats. Both follow Imam Abu Hanifah. The Wahhabis on the other hand are against Imams, and consider following them as biddah as there were no Imams during the Prophet’s 
time. The sub sects in Sunnis are only prevalent in the subcontinent.
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
What is the difference between ahle sunnah and ahle hadis? [again, please try to explain neutrally as if i am a child]
Re: various ‘schools’ of thought in Islam
Thx. Essentially, there are no differences in beliefs about human-to-human interactions?
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
What is the difference between ahle sunnah and ahle hadis? [again, please try to explain neutrally as if i am a child]
Not really sure about Ahl e Hadith, but I have found them to be very orthodox, they see everything in black and white. Everything which was not in the Prophet's time is biddat/innovation. In my university the Ahl e hadith guys did used to pray in the mosque separately which amply showed that they did not consider rest as Muslims or maybe deviant/weak Muslims.
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
Thx. Essentially, there are no differences in beliefs about human-to-human interactions?
These days human to human interactions also get marred by these religious differences.
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
The ahle hadith are also known as wahabis, salafis, najdis. They came about after ibn abdul wahab's killing spree against Sunnis about 200 years ago. Outside the subcontinent they also refer to themselves ahl As Sunnah
A person seen saying Quran and Sunnah, Quran and Sunnah would belong to this group, unless they were laymen just saying what people say
They follow zahiri reading of the Quran and hadith. In this regard they are similar to the protestant movement within christianity
The saudis have funded the growth of this group and its ideology, its unlikely that any of you here is not atleast a bit influenced by them. They have spent heavily and there is no shortage of people willing to forward the ideology
isis, and many terrorists groups belong to this sect. The reason for that is they are given freedom to interpret Quran and Hadith by reading translations.
They do not follow any particular scholar but are influenced heavily by the beliefs of ibn abdul wahab.
They do not follow All Quran and Sunnah. Some things they allow to pass by, or refuse to look into a wider range of opinion. This allows them to stay upon the beliefs of ibn Abdul Wahab Najdi
With regard to traditional Sunnis they despise all traditional sunnis and shias. Prefering to focus attacks on the sunnis (aka sufis) and shias of their locality. So in and around pakistan they would be against all the old groups
Ahlus Sunnah had constructed Mazaars over the Graves of Sahaba and Ahlebayt. However in the last century the british gave palestine to jews and Arabia to wahabis. The wahabis have knocked down the Mazaarat in Medina, and knocked other sites and Mosques. Old pictures are available on the net
They see themselves as Ahlu Tawheed, where as tradition understanding they see as mushrikeen, meaning non muslims. Deobandis are with them on some issues
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
The ahle hadith are also known as wahabis, salafis, najdis. They came about after ibn abdul wahab's killing spree against Sunnis about 200 years ago. Outside the subcontinent they also refer to themselves ahl As Sunnah
A person seen saying Quran and Sunnah, Quran and Sunnah would belong to this group, unless they were laymen just saying what people say
They follow zahiri reading of the Quran and hadith. In this regard they are similar to the protestant movement within christianity
The saudis have funded the growth of this group and its ideology, its unlikely that any of you here is not atleast a bit influenced by them. They have spent heavily and there is no shortage of people willing to forward the ideology
isis, and many terrorists groups belong to this sect. The reason for that is they are given freedom to interpret Quran and Hadith by reading translations.
They do not follow any particular scholar but are influenced heavily by the beliefs of ibn abdul wahab.
They do not follow All Quran and Sunnah. Some things they allow to pass by, or refuse to look into a wider range of opinion. This allows them to stay upon the beliefs of ibn Abdul Wahab Najdi
With regard to traditional Sunnis they despise all traditional sunnis and shias. Prefering to focus attacks on the sunnis (aka sufis) and shias of their locality. So in and around pakistan they would be against all the old groups
Ahlus Sunnah had constructed Mazaars over the Graves of Sahaba and Ahlebayt. However in the last century the british gave palestine to jews and Arabia to wahabis. The wahabis have knocked down the Mazaarat in Medina, and knocked other sites and Mosques. Old pictures are available on the net
They see themselves as Ahlu Tawheed, where as tradition understanding they see as mushrikeen, meaning non muslims. Deobandis are with them on some issues
I think you're trying to say that Brelvis are the orthodox sunnis....others are just sunnis. If so, then I might agree with you on this.
Re: various 'schools' of thought in Islam
barelvi and orthodex is oxymoron