Islamic Revivalism: Faraizi and Wahhabi Movements

Islamic revivalism refers to movements and efforts aimed at revitalizing and reasserting Islamic principles and practices in response to perceived deviations or challenges. Two notable Islamic revivalist movements in South Asia are the Faraizi Movement and the Wahhabi Movement. Read here to learn about the movements.

Islamic revivalism in the 18th and 19th centuries, often referred to as the Islamic Enlightenment or Islamic Reform, was a significant intellectual and social movement within the Muslim world.

It sought to reinvigorate Islamic thought, practices, and institutions in response to the perceived decline of Muslim societies and the challenges posed by European colonialism, modernity, and Western ideas.

Two notable Islamic revivalist movements in South Asia are the Faraizi Movement and the Wahhabi Movement.

Islamic revivalism

By the 18th century, many Muslim-majority regions had experienced centuries of political fragmentation, economic decline, and cultural stagnation.

European colonial powers, such as the British, French, and Dutch, had expanded their influence in many parts of the Muslim world.

Prominent Islamic scholars and thinkers emerged as leaders of the revivalist movement. They sought to reconcile Islamic tradition with modernity and to address the challenges facing Muslim societies.

• Shah Waliullah: An influential scholar from the Indian subcontinent, Shah Waliullah emphasized the need for Muslims to return to the original teachings of Islam (Salafism) and advocated for Islamic unity and reform.
• Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab: The founder of Wahhabism, which influenced the religious practices of Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. His teachings emphasized strict adherence to the Quran and Hadith, rejecting some traditional practices.
• Jamal al-Din al-Afghani: A pan-Islamic thinker and political activist who advocated for Islamic unity and modernization to counter Western imperialism.
• Muhammad Abduh: An Egyptian scholar and reformist who promoted the idea of “Islamic modernism” by reconciling Islamic principles with rationality and modern science. He served as the Grand Mufti of Egypt.

The Islamic revivalist movement had a profound impact on Islamic thought and societies. It laid the intellectual foundations for various subsequent movements and ideologies, including political Islam and Islamist movements.

It influenced educational reforms, the development of Islamic institutions, and the modernization of Muslim-majority countries.

Revivalist ideas also contributed to the rise of nationalism and anti-colonial movements in the Muslim world.

Also read: Arrival of Islam in India

Wahhabi movement

The Wahhabi movement, also spelled as Wahhabism, is a conservative and puritanical Islamic reform movement that emerged in the 18th century in what is now Saudi Arabia.

It is named after its founder, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703-1792), and has had a significant impact on the religious and political landscape of the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.

• He sought to return to what he considered the original, pure form of Islam based on a strict interpretation of the Quran and Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad).

Wahhabism emphasizes monotheism (Tawhid) and the rejection of practices that it sees as deviating from the pure monotheistic faith, including the veneration of saints and holy shrines.

• It advocates a literal interpretation of Islamic scriptures and a strict adherence to Islamic law (Sharia). This includes a conservative approach to issues such as dress code, music, and gender segregation.
• Wahhabism is known for its iconoclastic tendencies, leading to the destruction of various Islamic heritage sites and shrines that it considers as promoting “shirk” (associating partners with Allah).
• The spread of Wahhabism was significantly influenced by an alliance between Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and Muhammad ibn Saud, the ruler of the region that later became Saudi Arabia.
• This alliance provided religious legitimacy to the House of Saud, which established the first Saudi state in the 18th century.

Today, Saudi Arabia is often associated with the promotion of Wahhabi Islam.

• Wahhabism has played a central role in shaping the religious and cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia. It is the dominant form of Sunni Islam in the country and serves as the basis for the legal and educational systems.
• Saudi Arabia has been a major exporter of Wahhabi ideology through funding of mosques, madrasas, and cultural centers in various parts of the world. This has led to concerns about its influence on global Islamic thought.
• Wahhabism has played a central role in shaping the religious and cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia. It is the dominant form of Sunni Islam in the country and serves as the basis for the legal and educational systems.
• Saudi Arabia has been a major exporter of Wahhabi ideology through funding of mosques, madrasas, and cultural centers in various parts of the world. This has led to concerns about its influence on global Islamic thought.

Faraizi movement

The Faraizi Movement was a religious reform and revivalist movement that emerged in Bengal (now in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal) during the early 19th century.

Led by Haji Shariatullah and later his son, Dudu Miyan, the movement aimed to address what its followers perceived as religious and social deviations among the Muslim population of Bengal.

• The Faraizis sought to reform what they perceived as un-Islamic practices that had crept into the daily lives of Muslims in Bengal. They aimed to revive and propagate orthodox Islamic beliefs and practices.
• Shirk, the sin of associating partners with God in worship, was a major concern for the Faraizis.
• They emphasized strict monotheism (Tawhid) and condemned any practices that they saw as compromising it, such as the worship of saints and the use of amulets.
• The Faraizi Movement stressed the importance of leading a simple and pure life according to Islamic principles. They discouraged ostentatious rituals and practices.

The movement advocated for social equality among Muslims.

• They opposed the social hierarchies that had developed within the Muslim community, where some segments considered themselves superior to others.
• The Faraizis believed that all Muslims, regardless of their social status, were equal before God.
• The Faraizi Movement rejected religious innovations (Bid’ah) that had been incorporated into Islamic practices over time.
• They aimed to return to what they considered the pure and original form of Islam, as practiced during the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
• The Faraizis discouraged practices and customs that they believed were influenced by non-Muslim cultures. They sought to establish a distinct Muslim identity.

The movement spread its message through preaching and sermons, known as waaz. Preachers traveled to various parts of Bengal to disseminate their teachings.

The Faraizi Movement also expressed a degree of dissatisfaction with British colonial rule. Some followers believed that the British government was not adequately protecting their religious and social rights.

The Faraizi Movement had a significant impact on the religious and social landscape of Bengal during the 19th century.

• While it remained primarily a regional movement, it contributed to a revival of orthodox Islamic beliefs and practices among certain segments of the Muslim population in Bengal.
• Additionally, it influenced subsequent religious and social reform movements in the Indian subcontinent.
• The Faraizi movement even though focused on Islamic revivalism, had most importantly invoked a new awareness among peasants against the exploitations by zamindars.

Conclusion

Both the Faraizi and Wahhabi Movements were responses to perceived deviations from what their followers believed to be the authentic practice of Islam.

They played roles in shaping religious thought and practice in their respective regions and eras, contributing to the broader landscape of Islamic revivalism in South Asia.

In the Indian subcontinent, the Wahhabi Movement influenced various Islamic reformist movements and scholars. It contributed to debates on religious practices and the role of Sufism within the broader Islamic tradition. Wahhabi-inspired ideas and reformist approaches continue to shape Islamic discourse in the region.

The Faraizi Movement had a significant impact on the social and religious life of the Bengal region. It laid the groundwork for subsequent Islamic reform movements and played a role in shaping the religious consciousness of the local population.

Also read: Madrasa Education system in India

-Article by Swathi Satish