π« The Deobandi Movement: Preserving Islamic Teachings π
Definition and Meaning
Deobandis refer to the followers of an influential Islamic reformist movement centered around the Dar al-Ulum of Deoband, located in India. The school, an epicenter of Islamic learning and revival, was established in 1867 with the aim to safeguard and revive the essence of Islamic teachings during non-Muslim rule.
Etymology
The name “Deobandi” is derived from “Deoband,” a city in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, where the Dar al-Ulum school is situated.
Background and Historical Facts
Founded by scholars, including Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanautawi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, Deobandis sought to provide a comprehensive Islamic education that emphasized Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and the Hanafi legal tradition. They also incorporated elements of βsoberβ Sufism, promoting personal spiritual transformation while shunning excessive mystical experiences.
- 1867: Establishment of Dar al-Ulum in Deoband.
- 1967: Deobandi networks had grown to encompass 8,934 educational institutions across India and Pakistan.
- 1920s: Formation of the Tablighi Jamaat, a transnational Deobandi movement emphasizing apolitical Islamic proselytism.
Deobandi scholars played a significant role during the colonial era, resisting British rule and aiming to educate Muslims in “correct practice” and belief to navigate the challenges of modernity without compromising Islamic principles.
Cultural Differences and Similarities
- Cultural Differences: Compared to other Islamic movements such as the Barelwi school, which focuses on the importance of saints and shrine worship, Deobandis advocate for an Islam stripped of such intercessions.
- Similarities: Both Deobandis and Barelwis value the Hanafi madhab (legal school) and ascribe enormous importance to the practices and teachings originating from the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Synonyms
- Dar al-Ulum Deoband
- Deobandi School
- Deobandi Ulama
Antonyms
- Barelwi Movement
- Saints-focused Islam
Related Terms
- Barelwi: Followers who emphasize devotion to saints and the celebration of Islamic customs and shrines.
- Tablighi Jamaat: A Deobandi-founded transnational movement aiming to bring Muslims back to fundamental Islamic principles without a political agenda.
- Hanafi: One of the four schools of Sunni Islamic law, which the Deobandis follow.
- Sober Sufism: Spiritual practices that emphasize personal piety and abstain from mystical excesses.
Exciting Facts
- The largest number of Deobandi madrassas outside India and Pakistan can be found in Bangladesh and South Africa.
- Deobandis’ neutral religious stance in politics shifted in different directions, including institutions like Jamiatul Ulama-i Islam in Pakistan and political movements like the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Quotations from Notable Writers
“Deoband gave the Muslims of the subcontinent a new linguistic, religious, and cultural identity that still echoes across generations.” β Rahim Qureshi
Suggested Literature and Other Sources for Further Studies
- Deoband and the Reformation of Islamic Education by Barbara D. Metcalf
- Islamic Revival in British India: Deoband, 1860-1900 by Barbara D. Metcalf
- Muslim Societies in South Asia edited by Surinder Singh Jodhka
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell
“Understanding the journey of the Deobandi movement allows us to appreciate the richness and dynamism of Islamic thought in resisting colonization and adapting to modern challenges” - Rahim Qureshi
