Shah Waliullah Dehlawi

2021-07-07T12:22:06Z

2400:ADC5:136:8300:A035:4DC2:3970:27D1: /* Early life */

{{short description|Indian muslim scholar}}
{{Redirect|Shah Waliullah}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| honorific_prefix = [[Shaykh al-Islām]], [[Imam]] of [[Indian subcontinent|Hind]], [[Mujaddid]]
| title = Shadow of Leadership
| image = Shah Waliullah Name.svg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1703|02|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Phulat, [[Mughal Empire]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1762|08|20|1703|02|21|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Delhi]], [[Mughal Empire]]
| resting_place = [[Munhadiyan]]<ref name="encyclopedia.com">{{cite web |title=Shah Waliullah Dehlavi |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2506300051.html |website=Encyclopedia of World Biography |publisher=[[Encyclopedia.com]]}}</ref>
| religion = [[Islam]]
| nationality = Indian
| denomination = [[Sunni]]
| jurisprudence = [[Hanafi]]<ref>Siddiqa, Ayesha. "Peace in Afghanistan." (2019): 703-710. "The first significant name is Shah Waliullah (1703–62), a Hanafi
scholar,"</ref><ref>Shahid, Amir Khan. "DISPLACEMENT OF SHAH WALIULLAH’S Shah MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON NORTHERN INDIAN MUSLIM REVIVALIST THOUGHTS. Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan 51.2 (2014). "It would not be out of context to cite a reference of Shah Abdul Aziz (1746-1824) which is provided by Manazar Ahsan Gilanithat someone enquired from Shah Waliullah whether the Shias were kafir. He maintained the different viewpoints among the Hanafi School of thought on the subject. The man was not satisfied and urged Shah Waliullah to give his own opinion. While getting the same answer he went away filled with rage..."</ref>
<ref name="Mohammad Sharif Khan, Mohammad Anwar Saleem 1994 25">{{cite book|author=Mohammad Sharif Khan, Mohammad Anwar Saleem|title=Muslim Philosophy and Philosophers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kmk_Y83yO8cC|date=1994|publisher=Ashish Publishing House - APH Publishing|isbn=9788170246237|page=25}}</ref>
| creed = [[Ash'ari]]<ref name="Mohammad Sharif Khan, Mohammad Anwar Saleem 1994 25">{{cite book|author=Mohammad Sharif Khan, Mohammad Anwar Saleem|title=Muslim Philosophy and Philosophers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kmk_Y83yO8cC|date=1994|publisher=Ashish Publishing House - APH Publishing|isbn=9788170246237|page=25}}</ref>
| Sufi_order = [[Naqshbandi]]<ref>Geaves, Ron. "A Comparison of the Ideas of Maulana Mawdudi (1903-1980) and Shah Wali-Allah (1703-1762): A Pure Islam or Cultural Heritage." Islamic Quarterly 41.3 (1997): 169.</ref>
| occupation = [[Tafsir|Mufassir]], [[Hadith studies|Muhaddtih]], [[Historiographer]], [[Bibliographer]], [[Theologian]], [[Philosopher]], [[Academic]], [[Linguist]], [[Sufi]]
| movement = [[Renaissance]] in [[Indian people|Indian]] [[Muslim]] [[Community]]
| main_interests = [[Quran]],
[[Hadith studies|Hadith]], [[Tafsir]], [[History]], [[Bibliography]], [[Revolution]], [[Fiqh]], [[Military strategy]], [[Sufism]]
| notable_works = Translation of the [[Quran]] into [[Persian Language]] Hujjatullah-il-Baligha Al-Fauzul Kabeer [[Izalatul Khafa'an Khilafatul Khulafa]] Al-Akidatul Hasanah Majmua Rasail Imam Shah Wali Ullah
| influences = [[Abu Hanifa]], [[Al-Shafi‘i]], [[Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari]], [[Baha' al-Din Naqshband]]
| influenced = [[Shah Abdul Aziz]], [[Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandhlawi]]
}}
{{Sufism|Notable early}}
'''Quṭb-ud-Dīn Aḥmad Walīullāh Ibn ʿAbd-ur-Raḥīm Ibn Wajīh-ud-Dīn Ibn Muʿaẓẓam Ibn Manṣūr Al-ʿUmarī Ad-Dehlawī''' ({{lang-ar|{{Nastaliq|قطب الدين أحمد ولي الله بن عبد الرحيم العمري الدهلوي}}}}&lrm;; 1703–1762), commonly known as '''Shāh Walīullāh Dehlawī''' (also '''Shah Wali Allah'''), was an [[Islamic scholar]], [[muhaddith]], [[Mujaddid|renewer]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kunju|first1=Saifudheen|title=Shah Waliullah al-Dehlawi: Thoughts and Contributions|date=2012|page=1|url=https://www.academia.edu/592790|access-date=5 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> [[historiographer]], [[bibliographer]], [[theologian]], and [[philosopher]].

==Early life==
Shah Waliyullah was born on 21 February 1703 to [[Shah Abdul Rahim]], a prominent Islamic scholar of Delhi. He was known as Shah Walliullah because of his piety. He memorized the Qur'an by the age of seven. Soon thereafter, he mastered Arabic and Persian letters.<ref name="jacb2">{{cite book|last1 = A.C. Brown|first1 = Jonathan|author-link = Jonathan A.C. Brown|title = Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenge and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet's Legacy|date = 2014|publisher = [[Oneworld Publications]]|isbn = 978-1780744209|page = [https://archive.org/details/misquotingmuhamm0000brow/page/28 28]|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/misquotingmuhamm0000brow/page/28}}</ref> He was married at fourteen.<ref name="jacb2"/> By sixteen he had completed the standard curriculum of [[Hanafi]] law, theology, geometry, arithmetic and logic.<ref name="jacb2"/>

His father, [[Shah Abdul Rahim]] was the founder of the [[Madrasah-i Rahimiyah]]. He was on the committee appointed by [[Aurangzeb]] for compilation of the code of law, [[Fatawa-e-Alamgiri]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=APLmIxRyEjEC&pg=PA44 |title=Two Nations: The Philosophy of Muslim Nationalism |author=Anil Chandra Banerjee |page=44 |website=Books.google.co.in |year=1981 |access-date=2016-01-21}}</ref> His grandfather, Sheikh Wajihuddin, was an important officer in the army of [[Shah Jahan]].

He had a son who was also a famous religious scholar, [[Shah Abdul Aziz]].

==Death==
He died on Friday the 29th of Muharram 1176 AH/ 10 August 1762 at [[Zuhr prayer]] in [[Old Delhi]], aged 59.<ref>Al-Khateeb Al-Tabrezi (2013). Mishkaat Al-Masaabih (Manifestations of Truth). Nawab Qutbuddin Khan Dehlavi (trans.), vol. 1, p. 40. Darul-Ishaat.</ref>

== Ideas ==
* On importance of Islamic jurisprudence, he states:

<blockquote>"''Some people think that there is no usefulness involved in the injunct of Islamic law and that in actions and rewards as prescribed by God there is no beneficial purpose. They think that the commandments of Islamic law are similar to a master ordering his servant to lift a stone or touch a tree in order to test his obedience and that in this there is no purpose except to impose a test so that if the servant obeys, he is rewarded, and if he disobeys, he is punished. This view is completely incorrect. The traditions of the [[Muhammad|Prophet]] and consensus of opinion of those ages, contradict this view''".<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=Biography : Shah Waliullah (RA)|url=http://www.darulihsan.com/index.php/downloads/articles/articles-2/biographies/item/3330-biography-shah-waliullah-ra|website=Darul Ihsan Islamic Services Centre|publisher=Darul Ihsan Islamic Services Centre|access-date=5 April 2015}} {{Dead link|date=October 2020}}</ref></blockquote>
* His dislike of [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] is expressed in one of his dreams that he narrated in “Fuyooz-ul Haramain”:

“''I saw myself in a dream that I am Qaem al-Zaman (master of the age). Which means that when God Almighty wanted to establish a system of goodness and benevolence, then He made me a tool and medium for the fulfillment of this noble cause. And I saw that the king of the infidels took over the land of the Muslims and looted their property. He enslaved their women and children and in the city of Ajmer he declared the rites of disbelief. He eradicated the rites of Islam. Then after that I saw that the Almighty became angry and very angry with the people of the earth. And I witnessed the embodiment of the wrath of the Almighty in the heavens. And then dripping from there, divine wrath descended on me. Then I found myself angry. And this wrath which was filled in me, was blown into me by Almighty. Then I proceeded towards a city, destroying it and killing its inhabitants. other people followed me. Thus, destroying one city after another, we finally reached Ajmer. And there we killed the disbelievers. Then I saw the king of the infidels walking with the king of Islam, surrounded by a group of Muslims. In the meantime, the king of Islam ordered the king of the infidels to be slaughtered. People grabbed him and slaughtered him with knives. When I saw blood gushing out of the veins of his neck, I said: now blessing has descended''”.<ref name=":3">Dr. Mubarak Ali, “[https://todayspointonline.com/role-of-muslim-clergy-in-medieval-society-of-the-indian-subcontinent/ Almiyah-e-Tarikh]”, ch. 9 – 10, pp. 95 – 105, Fiction House, Lahore, (2012).</ref>

* In one of his letters available in manuscripts collection at Rampur, he asks Muslim rulers to put a ban on Hindu and Shia rituals:

<blockquote>"''Strict orders should be issued in all Islamic towns forbidding religious ceremonies publicly practiced by Hindus such as the performance of Holi and ritual bathing in the Ganges. On the tenth of Muharram, the Shias should not be allowed to go beyond the bounds of moderation, neither should they be rude nor repeat stupid things in the streets or bazars''.”<ref>S. Athar Rizvi, “[[iarchive:ShahWaliallahAndHisTimes/page/n237/mode/2up|Shah Waliullah and His Times]]”, p. 227, Ma’rifat Publishing House, Canberra, (1980).</ref></blockquote>

* He strongly advocated the segregation between Hindus and Muslims, and commitment to Arab culture. Shah Waliullah believed that:

''“Muslims, no matter where they live, wherever they spend their youthful days, they should in any case be completely separated from the natives of that country in their culture, traditions and mannerisms. And wherever they are, they must be immersed in their Arabic splendor and Arabic trends”''<ref name=":3" />''.''

* On adherence to Arab culture, he insists:

<blockquote>''“Beware! The rich intend to adopt the ways of strangers and non-Arabs and those who deviate from the right path, and tries to mix and be like them”''.<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>

==Works==
*'' (The Sacred knowledge)'', ed. D. Pendlebury, trans. G. Jalbani, The Sacred Knowledge, London: Octagon, 1982.<ref name=":0" />
*''Al-Khayr al-kathir'' (The Abundant Good), trans. G. Jalbani, Lahore: Ashraf, 1974.<ref name=":0" />
*''[https://archive.org/details/Hujjatullah-il-baligha-UrduTranslation Hujjat Allah al-baligha]'' (The Conclusive Argument of God), Lahore: Shaikh Ghulam Ali and Sons, 1979. Considered his most important work. First published in [[Rae Bareily]], [[India]] in 1286 [[Hijri]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Shah Wali Allah|url=http://www.cis-ca.org/voices/s/shahwaliAllah.htm|website=Center for Islamic Sciences|publisher=Center for Islamic Sciences|access-date=5 April 2015}}</ref> 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.
*''Sata'at'' (Manifestations), trans. into Urdu by S.M. Hashimi, Lahore: Idarah Thaqafat Islamiyya, 1989; trans. into English by G. Jalbani, Sufism and the Islamic Tradition: the Lamahat and Sata'at of Shah Waliullah, London.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Shah Wali Allah (Qutb al-Din Ahmad al-Rahim) (1703-62)|url=http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ip/rep/H045|website=Muslim Philosophy|access-date=5 April 2015}}</ref>
*''Lamahat'' (Flashes of Lightning), Hyderabad: Shah Wali Allah Academy, 1963; trans. G. Jalbani, Sufism and the Islamic Tradition: the Lamahat and Sata'at of Shah Waliullah, London, 1980. (One of the important writings on Sufism.)<ref name=":0" />
*''[[Fuyud al-haramayn]]'' (Emanations or Spiritual Visions of [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]]).<ref name=":0" />
*''Al-Tafhimat'' (Instructions or Clear Understanding), Dabhail, 1936, 2 vols. (One of the most comprehensive metaphysical works.)
*''Al-Budur al-bazighah'' (The Full Moons Rising in Splendour).
*''Ta’wil al-ahadith fi rumuz qisas al-anbiya'' (Symbolic Interpretation of the Events in the Mysteries of Prophetic Tales) <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Virani|first=Shafique|title=Hierohistory in Qāḍī l-Nuʿmān's Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation (Asās al-Taʾwīl): The Birth of Jesus|url=https://www.academia.edu/41992496|journal=Studies in Islamic Historiography|language=en|doi=10.1163/9789004415294_007}}</ref>

Besides these, he is also credited being the first to [[Translations of the Quran|translate the Quran]] into [[Persian language|Persian]] in the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last1=Abbas|first1=Mohammad|title=Shah Waliullah and Moderation|url=http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_351_400/shah_waliullah_and_moderation.htm|website=Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.|publisher=Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.|access-date=5 April 2015}}</ref>

Shah Walliullah worked hard to ensure that he was a role model for other Muslims. His deep understanding of the Qur'an, Hadith, Fiqah, and Tasawwuf made him a highly knowledgeable scholar at an early age.

Since he believed that an emphasis on the Quranic teachings was made vital to Muslims, he translated Arabic Qur'an into Persian. Few Muslims spoke Arabic and so the Qur'an had not been widely studied previously. Some ''Ulama'' criticized Shah Walliullah, but his work proved very popular. In addition to translating the [[Quran]], Shah Walliullah wrote 51 books in Persian and Arabic. Amongst the most famous were ''Hujjat Allah al-Baligha'' and ''[[Izalatul Khafa'an Khilafatul Khulafa|Izalah al Khifa]]''.

His writings bought him great fame and prestige and enabled him to have influence in other areas too. One of his most important contributions to the Muslim community was his organization of opposition to the [[Maratha Empire]], who had captured large parts of India which were under the control of the [[Mughal Empire]] before and had reduced the Mughal emperor to a mere puppet. It was partly his influence that helped to persuade the invader [[Ahmed Shah Abdali]] of Afghanistan to intervene. He joined forces with local Muslim leaders which resulted in the defeat of the Marathas at The [[Battle of Panipat in 1761]].

He felt a debt to the Sufis for spreading Islam throughout India. He also appreciated Sufi spirituality. Waliullah built a bridge between Sufis and the Ulama (Islamic scholars).<ref>K.J. Ahmed, ''Hundred Great Muslims,'' Library of Islam, 1987.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
* K.J. Ahmed, ''Hundred Great Muslims,'' Library of Islam, 1987.

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}

{{Hanafi scholars}}
{{Maturidi}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Asharis]]
[[Category:Hanafis]]
[[Category:Maturidis]]
[[Category:Mujaddid]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Islamic philosophers]]
[[Category:18th-century Muslim theologians]]
[[Category:Hadith scholars]]
[[Category:Sunni Sufis]]
[[Category:Sunni imams]]
[[Category:Sunni Muslim scholars]]
[[Category:1703 births]]
[[Category:1762 deaths]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian biographers]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian scholars]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian translators]]

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Shah Waliullah Dehlawi