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Pakistan Studies May/June 2012SHAH WALIULLAH
(1703-62)
Birth & Education: -
Qutub-ud-Din popularly known as Shah Wali Ullah was born in Delhi in 1703. He belonged to a
respected family. His father Shah Abdul Rahim founded Madrassa Rahimya and also helped to compiled
Fatawa-I-Alamgiri a book of Islamic legal text under the direct supervision of Emperor Auragzeb Alamgir. Shah
Walliullah received his education from Madrassa Rahimya and also taught there for twelve years. In 1724 he
went to Arabia, he was greatly influenced by the teaching of Abu Tahir bin Ibrahim a well-known scholar of his
time. He returned to Delhi in 1732.
Political & Social Conditions of India during Shah Waliullah’s Time: -
The social & political condition of India during Shah Waliullah’s time was extremely bad there was
political instability & insecurity of life, property & hanor were not secure as there were a number of disruptive
forces at work in the muslim society. Disintegration of the Mughal empire had set in & the Muslims were split
up among themselves. Taking advantage of this situation of the division of the Indian muslims the neighboring
non-Muslim communities like the Marathas, jats & skins were now threatening to overwhelm Dehli & finish the
once mighty mughal Empire. Ignorance about quran and sunnah. B/C Hindus and muslim live togetter.
Social Conditions: -
As far as the social condition of the Indian Muslims was concerned, they were divided among different
religious groups & there was a constant trouble between the Shia & Sunni sects, which was a serious threat to
Muslim society. More over after the death of Aurangzeb the Mughal Empire began to crack and crumble
because of the incapable successors.
In 1793 Nadir Shah attacked Delhi. The result of this plunder was that the Muslims suffered the most,
the infidels gained strength & as the attack has weakened the power to Delhi the neighboring non-Muslim
attacked one by one. After Nadir Shah’s attack, Delhi was attacked, by Jats, who not only plundered Delhi but
took away whatever they could lay their hands on. After sometime the Marathas & Sikhs also attacked Delhi &
thus the conditions of Muslims in Delhi became worse Loss of power also caused economic suppression,
sectarian differences and social degradation among the Muslims.
Shah Wali Ullah appeared in his crucial period & exerted to make the Islamic regima independent of
all these props. His services in the religious, political & economic fields for the above cause are discussed
below: -
Educational Services: -
Shah Waliullah believed that many of the problems Muslims faced was due to their ignorance about
islam & the Holy Quran. He felt that an emphasis on Quranic teachings would not only improve their
knowledge, but it would also reduce the sectarian differences & create a feeling of unity. Shah Wali Ullah
worked hard to ensure that he was a role model for other Muslims His deep understanding of the Holy Quran,
Hadith, Fiqah and Tasawuf made him highly knowledgeable scholar at an early age.
As Arabic was not widely understood by the Indian Muslims, thus the average Muslims derived his
knowledge from the teaching of Muslim Jurists.
A. Translation of Holy Quran Shah Wali Ullah recognized that the principles of Islam could not be
followed properly unless the Holy Quran itself was understood. As the Indian Muslims did not
understand the Holy Quran in Arabic since it was not their language thus Shah Waliullah translated the
Holy Quran into Persian, which was the main language of the Indian Muslims of that time. The Ulema
criticized Shah Wali Ullah, but his work proved very popular Later his two sons, Shah Abdul Qadir
and Shah Rafi translated the Holy Quran into Urdu, which meant that many more people could study it.
B. Hijatul-Balighah in this book, Shah Waliullah discussed at length the principle & fundamentals of
Islam. In this he explained the methods of changing the muslim society into a real Muslim society. He
advises the Indian Muslims to act upon the teachings of Holy Quran & asked them to forget their
differences & unite.
Written and Compiled by Sir Hamza Mohammad Ali
03452833634
, Pakistan Studies May/June 2012
C. Izalat-al-Akhfa is another renowned book of Shah Waliullah in which he has written the explanation
of the Holy Quran. Shah Waliullah wrote extensively on hadis & Fiqah. He altogether wrote 51 books,
out of which 23 are in Arabic & 28 are in Persian.
D. End of the Shia-Sunni Rivalry: - Shah Waliullah very firmly rejected the belief of some Sunnis that the
Shias were not Muslims. He tried to bridge this difference opionion by writing an account of the first
four Khalifas of Islam in a way that should acceptable to both the sects.
His Political Services: -
The political conditions of the Mughal Empire were in a bad state. The Mughal rulers had become lazy
& ease loving & the officers had become totally corrupt.
A. His Letters to the Kings & Nawabs For the Protection Of Indian Muslims:
The Marhatas were a permanent threat for the Mughals. They had killed many Muslims & had destroyed
their lands & fields. The Muslim Kings, Nawabs & Knights were leading lives of ease & did not care for
their people. The Mughal rule was shaking & was on the verge of decline. Shah Waliullah wanted to save
the Muslims from these loot & plunder. He wanted that the Muslims should lead peaceful lives & for this
purpose he wrote letters to the kings & Nawabs but in vain.
B. His invitation to Ahmed Shah Abduli to Attack Indian: when his efforts of writing to the Muslim
kings & Nawab resulted in nothing their finally. Shah Waliullah invited Ahmed Shah Abdali to attack
India. In his letter Shah Waliullah encouraged Ahmed Shah & pleased him to launch an attack, as it was the
only way left to save the Muslims of India.
In his letter to Ahmed Shah, he explained the geographical situation of India & the economic condition of
the people & also the military strength of the enemies.
Due to his effort, Ahmed Shah Abdali the ruler of Kabul combined his forces with Najib-ud-Dullah the
leader of Rohillas & attacked India in 1761. This battle, which was also known as 3rd Battle of Panipat.
Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Marhatas & crushed their power. But due to the lazy & ease-loving
attitude of the Mughal rulers, the Muslims could not avail this golden opportunity of the conditions created
by Shah Waliullah. However he was able to arouse the consciousness of the Muslims of India.
His Economic Services: -
Shah Waliullah was very concerned about the economic conditions of the Indian Muslims. He
requested the workers to work for more hours & spend less. He laid great stress on Adi & Tawazen that is
Justice & Equilibrium. He stressed labour; peasants & craftsmen should be justly rewarded. He also urged the
traders & businessmen to adopt a fair system of trading & making money.
His Death: -
Shah Waliullah was laid to rest in 1762, happy to saw the defeats of the Marhatas by Ahmed Shah
Abdali but disappointed that Ahmed Shah did not stay back in India. His sons & followers ably continued his
work. Under his successors the Madrassa-I-Rahimya also continued to flourish.
Written and Compiled by Sir Hamza Mohammad Ali
03452833634
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