Shah Waliullah
Introduction:
Dr. Iqbal, the poet of the East, has characterized the celebrated Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as tarkashi maa raa khudangi akhareen (the last arrow in the quiver of Muslim power in India). The anti-Islamic forces which had raised their head during the reign of the irreligious Emperor Akbar and later found their champions in Jahangir and Dara Shikoh, were, to a great extent, checked by Aurangzeb, the most honest, conscientious and able Muslim monarch that ascended the throne of Delhi.
With his passing away in 1707 started the political chaos which later culminated in the disintegration of the Muslim power in the subcontinent. This political disintegration which was the result of spiritual confusion encompassed the socio-economic spheres also. Aurangzeb's successors were too weak and incapable of facing the rebellious forces emerging on all hands. At such a critical period of Muslim history was born Shah Waliullah, one of the greatest religious thinkers produced by Muslim India who contributed immensely to the reintegration of the structure of Islam.
Brief Life Sketch:
Shah Waliullah was born in 1703 AD four years before the death of Aurangzeb on 14 Shawwal 1114 H.E. in the town of Phulat in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. Shah Waliullah received his early education from his illustrious father, who was his teacher as well as his spiritual guide. Being a precocious child with a retentive memory he committed the Holy Quran to memory at an early age of 7 years. On the death of his father in 1131 AH when he was hardly 17 years old, he started teaching in his father's `Madrassa-i-Rahimiya' and carried on the work for 12 years when he left for Arabia for higher studies. He was a brilliant scholar; during fourteen months' stay in Makkah and Madina, he came into contact with the outstanding teachers of Hejaz. His favourite teacher was Sheikh Abu Tahir bin Ibrahim of Madina, from whom he obtained his Sanad (Degree) in Hadith. On 29 Muharram 1176 H.E. (20 August, 1762) he left this world and buried in the famous graveyard “Munhadiyan” beside his father Shah Abdur Raheem.
Revolutionary Efforts:
Shah Waliullah set upon the mission of reforming the religious, social and political order of his day. Shah Wali Ullah was a prolific writer and wrote extensively on Fiqh and Hadith. He was first to translate the Holy Quran in a Persian language, a practice which was later usefully followed by others. He wrote “Al-Insaf-fi-Bayan Sahab al Ikhtalaf,” in order to create a balance between the four schools of thought. But the most popular book of “Hujatul Baligdh”. This book explains how Islam was found suitable for all races, cultures and people of the world and how successfully it solves social, moral, economic and political problems of human beings. Apart from these, Shah Waliullah also wrote authentic books on Hadith, the principles of Hadith, Tafseer and on mystical subjects; he also made a lasting contribution and produced more than 50 works of outstanding merit, both in Arabic and Persian Languages. Some of these are still unsurpassed in the whole domain of Islamic literature. On the other hand, he urged the Muslims for Jihad and tried his best to reduce the Sunni - Shia conflicts to some extent.
Socially, he diagnosed the ills which had entered into the body politic of Muslim society and suggested remedies. He criticised the un-Islamic customs which had crept into Muslim society due to its contact with Hinduism. He was particularly against excessive extravagance in marriages, festivals and other ceremonies. He advocated the remarriage of widows. As a reformer and as a propounder of theories dealing with socialism, he may be considered as the forerunner of Karl Marx.In an illuminating chapter of "Hujjat-Ullah-il-Baaligah", he outlined the evils of capitalism which brought about the fall of the Roman and Sassanid Empires. He is highly critical of the economic exploitation of the poor, he pointed out that the working and poor class was being exploited but the noble, ulema and rulers were being fed on the public treasury without performing their corresponding duties.In this respect, Shah Wali Ullah solely raised his voice for:
• Economic equilibrium
• Removal of inequalities
• Equitable distribution of resources
He even criticised the Mughal rulers and nobility for their indolence and luxury and appealed to the classes concerned responsible to realize their responsibilities and duties towards the people.
Shah Waliullah was of the opinion that intellectual revolution should precede political change. He did not contemplate a change in the political or social set-up through a bloody revolution. He wanted to bring a revolutionary change in the society through peaceful means. In his well-known book, "Izaalat-ul-Khifaa", he discusses the ideology of the political revolution which he envisaged.
Politically, Shah Wali Ullah also made efforts for the uplift of Muslims of India. He wrote to Ahmad Shah Abdali to help the Muslims of India in crushing the Marhattas, who were a constant threat to the crumbling Mughal Empire. In 1761, Ahmad Shah Abdali, in response to Shah Wali Ullah’s call, inflicted a crushing defeat on the Marhattas at Panipat. Shah Wali Ullah was responsible for awakening in the community the desire to regain its moral fervour and maintain its purity.
Conclusion:
Shah Waliullah possessed a many-sided and versatile personality. His real greatness lies in the cumulative effect produced by his writings, by the contribution of persons trained by him and by the achievements of the school of thought founded by him. In religious matters, he struck a mean between extremes; in social affairs he strove to introduce in the Muslim society the simplicity and purity of early Islam; in the sphere of economics he advocated the revolutionary Islamic socialism and in the political field he forged a united Muslim front against the non-Muslim forces which were threatening to storm Muslim India. Consequently, the efforts of Shah Wali Ullah for the integration of whole Islamic structure would never be forgotten.
• He can be called “The founder of Neo-Islamization” of the Muslim society in the Sub-Continent.
• It was because of the effects of Shah Wali Ullah's reforms that the other religious movements, such as Tehreek-e-Mujahideen of Syed Ahmad Shaheed and Tehreek-e-Faraizi of Haji Shariat Ullah and his son Dadu Mian flourished after him.