Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barelvi conduct a Jihad [Topic 4]

Question 1

Why did Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barelvi (SASB) feel a Jihad was necessary under Sikh rule?

Answer 1

• Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barelvi believed a Jihad was necessary because Muslims were not allowed to practice their religion freely under Sikh rule.
• Ranjit Singh had placed many restrictions on them, such as banning the call to prayer (Azaan) and using the Badshahi Mosque as a stable.

Question 2

How were Muslims treated under Sikh, British, and Hindu dominance according to SASB?

Answer 2

• SASB saw Muslims as being treated like second-rate citizens under Sikh rule, Hindu landlords, and British landowners.
• Muslims faced unfair, heavy taxes, were oppressed, and received no respect in society.
• The fall of the Mughals meant there was no longer any strong support for Muslims, and SASB believed that only an armed struggle could restore their dignity and rightful status in the region.

Question 3

What role did religious decline and social evils play in SASB’s call for Jihad?

Answer 3

• After returning from Arabia, SASB observed that the Muslim community had become spiritually weak and had adopted many social evils due to the growing influence of non-Muslims.
• He feared that Islam was becoming corrupted and believed it was vital to purify the faith.
• His Jihad movement aimed not just to fight against the Sikhs, but also to revive and protect the religious integrity of Islam in India.

Question 4

How did SASB begin the Jihad movement and what support did he receive?

Answer 4

• SASB launched the Jihad movement by gathering mujahideen to take part in an armed struggle against the Sikh rulers.
• Starting from 1825 onwards, he received the support of various Pathan tribal chiefs, which allowed him to successfully begin defeating Sikh forces.
• His movement was both a military campaign and a religious revival effort