Syed Ahmad Barelvi and the Jihad movement

O Level Pakistan Studies History · Cultural and historical background to the Pakistan Movement: Mughal decline and the religious thinkers. A short explanation of the idea, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid, a worked example and practice questions with answers.

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The idea

Syed Ahmad Barelvi was born at Rae Bareli in 1786. He studied in Delhi under Shah Abdul Aziz, the son of Shah Waliullah, so he carried on that tradition. His reform movement called Muslims back to pure Islamic practice.

He believed that Muslims in the Punjab could not practise their religion freely under the Sikh rule of Ranjit Singh. He therefore gathered volunteers, the Mujahideen, and made his base in the north-west, where the Pathan tribes could support him and Sikh territory was close.

The movement won some early success and held Peshawar for a short time in 1830. It ended when Syed Ahmad was killed at Balakot in 1831.

Rules to remember

Common mistake

The jihad was fought against the Sikhs, not against the British. Do not confuse Balakot (1831) with the battles of the East India Company.

Worked example

A question asks why trying to collect ushr from the tribes weakened Syed Ahmad's movement. How do you reason?

  1. Ushr is an Islamic tax on farm produce. Collecting it meant a new authority over the tribes.
  2. The local chiefs had held that power and income themselves.
  3. Some chiefs resented the loss and withdrew their support, so the Mujahideen lost allies they needed against the Sikhs.

Answer: It turned some tribal chiefs against him, because they lost power and income, and they deserted the movement.

Practice questions

Try each one, then open the answer.

1. What was the Tariqa-i-Muhammadiya of Syed Ahmad Barelvi?

  1. A
    a school set up to teach English and modern science
  2. B
    a movement calling Muslims back to pure Islamic practice
  3. C
    a political party formed to contest council elections
  4. D
    a Sufi order that kept completely out of political action
Show answer

Answer: B. His movement preached against un-Islamic customs and later took up armed struggle, so it was far from avoiding politics.

2. Under which teacher did Syed Ahmad Barelvi study in Delhi, linking him to Shah Waliullah's tradition?

  1. A
    Haji Shariatullah
  2. B
    Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
  3. C
    Shah Ismail
  4. D
    Shah Abdul Aziz
Show answer

Answer: D. Shah Abdul Aziz was Shah Waliullah's son. Shah Ismail, Shah Waliullah's grandson, became Syed Ahmad's follower and died with him at Balakot.

3. Why is Syed Ahmad Barelvi's movement remembered despite its military failure?

  1. A
    it won separate electorates for Muslims from the British
  2. B
    it founded the first Muslim university in the subcontinent
  3. C
    it inspired later Muslims to struggle to revive Islam
  4. D
    it restored the Mughal emperor to real power in Delhi
Show answer

Answer: C. The sacrifice at Balakot became a lasting example for later Muslim movements, even though no territory was held.

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