Shah Wali Ullah’s Reform Movement [1707-1762]
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Grandeur of a Mughal emperor's darbar |
In the eighteenth century, Islam in the sub-continent was faced with menacing problems, such as sectarian conflict, the low moral tone of society, poor understanding of the Holy Quran, and general ignorance of Islam. These were valid grounds for fearing that political disintegration would be accompanied by religious collapse. This did not happen, rather an era of religious regeneration was inaugurated, which was due more than anything else, to the activities of one man, Shah Wali Ullah.
Shah Wali Ullah was born on February 21, 1703 at Delhi. His father, Shah Abdul Rahim was a sufi and theologian of great repute. Shah Wali Ullah received his academic and spiritual education at the hands of his father, and later he taught at his father’s Madrassah-i-Rahimiyah for twelve years. He left for Arabia in 1730 for higher studies where he obtained his Sanad in Hadith. At that time, Muslims in India were divided into Hanafi, Sufi, Shia, Sunni and Mullah sects. While in Hijaz he decided to:
(a) reinterpret Islam,
(b) popularize Islamic values amongst the Muslims,
(c) present Islam in a rational manner.
Shah Wali Ullah’s single most important act was his translation of the Holy Quran into simple Persian, language of the land, to be understood by the people in the sub-continent. He studied writings of all schools of thought to understand their viewpoint, then wrote comprehensive volumes about what is fair and just and worked out a system of thought, belief and values on which all but the extremists could agree. Thus providing a spiritual basis for national cohesion.
Shah Wali Ullah trained students in different branches of Islamic knowledge and entrusted them with the teaching of students. He recommended the application of Ijtihad against blind Taqlid. He also interpreted Quran and Hadith in the context of times.
Shah Wali Ullah directed his teachings towards reorienting the Muslim society on the basis of social justice and removing inequalities and iniquitous distribution of wealth. He established several branches of his school at Delhi for effective dissemination of his ideas. In his book, "Hujjat-ullah-il-Balighah" pinpointed the causes of chaos and disintegration of the Muslim society. These were:
(a) Pressure on Public treasury, the emoluments given to various people without doing any service to the State.
(b) Heavy taxation on peasants, merchants, workers and as a result tax evasion was rampant. According to Shah Wali Ullah, a state can prosper only if there were light and reasonable taxes.
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Ahmad Shah Abdali, urged by Shah Wali Ullah to give up life of ease |
He wrote open letters to:
(a) Mughal rulers to give up their corrupt and inefficient practices.
(b) Soldiers for forgetting to inculcate within themselves the spirit of Jihad.
(c) Artisans, workers and peasants and reminded them that on their labors the economic prosperity of the state depends.
(d) The Emperor to teach a lesson to the Jats threatening the Mughal empire and also wrote to him not to give jagirs to mansabdars who were not loyal to the state.
(e) Masses to be conscious of their duties and not to indulge in the accumulation of wealth.
Shah Wali Ullah tried to reconcile the basic differences amongst the different sections of the Muslims and considered the government as an essential means and agency for the regeneration of his community. He wrote to Ahmad Shah Abdali "to give up the life of ease and draw the sword and not to sheath it till the distinction is established between true faith and infidelity...". His efforts resulted in Maratha debacle at the hands of Ahmad Shah Abdali and Najibud Daula in the third battle of Panipat in 1761.
Shah Wali Ullah’s teachings created a new awareness of the present dangers and what the future had in store for the Muslims of the sub-continent. This was a psychological preparation for the revolution of 1857-58, a revolution which in some ways was perhaps the most fortunate thing to have happened from the Muslim point of view, because in spite of their great sufferings, it turned their mind to new remedies.
