This study investigates the cause and the effect of the edicts (Fatāwa) of Imām Ahmed Raza Khān Barēlwī (d. 1921), which labelled Wahhābīs as heretics and blasphemers. I shall investigate how he came to such conclusions and why he thought it was important to take such steps as a religious figure as he was one of the most respected and honoured theologians of his era.
The edicts of blasphemy form a small part of his renowned collection of his edicts (Fatāwa) is comprising of 30 volumes known as ‘Al-Attāya-al-Nabawiyyah-fil-Fatāwa-al-Razawiyyah’ which are diverse and cover many different areas, responding to questions from as far as Africa. It is said that Imām Raza always gave preference to his job as a Muftī, rather than spending time travelling, orating, and even writing books. His religious edicts would eventually become compiled as books.
I have examined the Wahhābī movement in South Asia from its founder, Shah Ismaīl Dehlawī, from 1820 to 1945, covering the beginning of the Deobandi, Ahlē Hadīth and the Barēlwī schools to their successors.
I looked at the primary data to deal with the edicts of Imām Raza and the differences sources as well as the historical works detailing the occurrences during that era. I not only looked at the verdicts of Imām Ahmed Raza but also the works and rebuttals of his contemporaries so to get a better picture and understanding of the heresies of the founding fathers of the Deobandi and the Ahlē Hadīth schools. This also involved also looking at the Deobandi claims of Imām Ahmed Raza misinterpreting the original texts of the works in question.
I have attempted to show the bigger picture of the heresy disputes between the Deobandī, Barēlwī and the Ahlē Hadīth schools, providing historical data and the perspectives of these different schools, the confusion, misunderstandings and the possibility of dialogue and unity.
Future research could include an in-depth study of the religious ideas of the like of Shah Abdul Haq Muhadith Dehlawī and the famous Shah Wali Ullah Dehlawī belonging to the Dehlawī family, as the Deobandī, Barēlwī and Ahlē Hadīth schools trace their tutelage back to this scholarly family.
