Deobandis

[muzaffar]

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Imam Sahib, Ala Hazrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi Rehmatullahi ’Alaih declared the deobandi molvi leaders as kafir for various blasphemous and corrupt beliefs. What is the Ahle Sunnat viewpoint for the present deobandi followers of these devious molvis, do we consider them as kafir too ? or as muslims who have deviated ?

I have also read here and in other places that Sunni revert scholars like Shaykh Hamza and Shaykh Nu Ha Mim Keller visit some of the deobandi mosque gatherings or speak alongside deobandi molvis ... what of this ?

Jazakallah for your time.

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


Jazakallah for your question ... I do understand your point, and maybe how it is affecting you. Nevertheless we shall discuss a few points, which will hopefully shed some form of light upon our understanding.


First of all, at the time of Imam Ahmad Rida Barelvi Rehmatullahi ’Alaih, there were many scholars of the Deobandi school of thought, who did not challenge, but supported some of the publications which the Deobandis had made. One example is the 'Taqwiyyat-ul-Iman', in which the so-called fatwa of 'shirk', had been placed upon all those people who went on visitation to graves, who asked for intercession, who commemorated mehfil-e-milad, who believed the Most Beloved Prophet of Allah (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) to be the light, as well has the superior human, issues relating to the knowledge of the unseen, and asking help from the pious predecessors.


These issues already remained with the Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah, in the subcontinent, and had been practiced throughout centuries, yet when the Deobandis arrived in the mid-nineteenth century, there publications brought tremour across the Islamic world, especially in the sub-continent.


It was Imam Ahmad Rida Barelvi (Rehmatullahi ’Alaih), who had single handedly not only challenged, but issued legal rulings (fatwa) upon these people, so that they could not fool the common people of the ahl-as-Sunnah, hence defending the Islamic teachings, principles, rules, authorities, and practices.


All I can say in relation to the present Mawlanas, who consider their founders of the Deobandi school of thought to be innocent, is that they should in effect study 'prima facie', what had been written by their founders, which can be seen in their very old editions of 'tahzir-an-Naas', 'taqwiyyat-al-Imaan', 'baraahin-e-qaati'ah' and other books like 'sirat-e-mustaqim', in which they did make the fullest blasphemous remarks, but at the same time had deducted them from later editions so that they couldnt bare any loss, in terms of convincing people.


Those who still protect, or claim the innocence of their leaders to this day, have still the legal opinion (fatwa) Of Imam Ahmad Rida Barelvi (Rehmatullahi ’Alaih) binding upon them, until they repent in the presence of Allah the Almighty, in relation to the Beloved Prophet of Allah (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam).


Those who are not concerned, should be, as history tells us that in the event of certain people arising, then how to defend Islam, what action to take, and it's resolve, and finally those who are in between, who are unaware of these fundamental (usuli) differences, yet still seem to think that everyone is O.K., cannot be labelled as 'kaafir', as they are innocent, they have not said a word, or done anything to attack the dignity of Allah the Almighty or His Most Beloved (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam), but have the obligation 'fard' of researching history, and finding out through reliable sources, what the implications of these sects are.


As far as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, and Shaykh Nuh are concerned, then they may propogate Islam wherever and whenever they like, as they will be aware of the implications of the Deobandis, thier history, and their origin.


But where they agree with the Deobandis or other sects on fundamental (usuli) issues, like the ones mentioned above, then the Ahl as-Sunnah is already established with its teachings and practices, as there will be no room for any kind of reform amongst the people, nor any room for them among the 'ulama' of the orthodox Ahl-as-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah, which still thrives today and will never cease to thrive Insha'Allah until the Day of Judgement.


May Allah keep us away from the teacings of the deviant sects, and may He keep us firm upon the long established school of the Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah. (Amin).


M. Waseem Ashrafi