Compare and contrast the efforts of shah Walliullah with Syed Ahmed shaheeds jihad movement
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Answer:
Shah Waliullah and Syed Ahmad Barelvi Shaheed were two figures who made
efforts for the revival of Islam in the Sub-Continent. Both had large number of followers.
Shah Waliullah lived during 18th century, While Syed Ahmad Shaheed worked during the
early 19th century.
Shah Waliullah’s main effort and emphasis was on preaching true Islam. He taught and
preached in his father’s Madrasa and produced a large number of followers who spread
his message. He wanted to get rid the Muslim society of un-Islamic ideas and practices
which had crept in them. A great scholar, Shah Waliullah translated the holy Quran into
Persian and wrote a large number of books so that the Muslims could understand true
Islam.
The same was the effort of Syed Ahmad Shaheed. He also wished that Muslims should
come to true Islam and give up superstitious ideas and un-Islamic ways and practices.
Syed Ahmad was not a scholar he did not write any books or letters to the people as Shah
Waliullah did. But Syed Ahmad took practical steps to create a Muslim state where
Islamic law and Islamic way of life should prevail. He was of the opinion that the revival
of Islam was not possible without political power.
Syed Ahmad got the Idea of Jihad from Shah Waliullah. Syed Ahmad organized the Jihad
movement and raised a large contingent of Mujahidin who had great enthusiasm about
the revival of Islam. For fighting against non-Muslims forces Shah Waliullah had invited
Ahmad Shah Abdali but Syed Ahmad himself took up arms defeated the Sikh forces at
Okara and enforced Islamic law in the Peshawar region. His Movement culminated in
pure Jihad in which he was martyred.
Both the movements had similar objectives of glorification of Islam. Apparently both
failed in bringing out the revival of Islam or Muslim power in India. The political power
ultimately went into the hands of the British and the Muslim went on decline. But the
impact of both the movements was long lasting because they developed a sense of
awareness among the Muslims that efforts should be made to achieve this goal.