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The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
The Indo-Pak Subcontinent
Al-Sayyid Ahmad ibn Irfaan al-Bareli (1201-1246 A.H.) was
from Rae Bareli and originally of the Naqshabandi Sufi order.
However, later he became an active salafi worker. He was active in
seeking knowledge and calling others to the path of Allah. In 1219,
after studying in Lucknow, which was ruled by a Shiite leader, he
moved to Delhi. In Delhi, he studied under Shah Abdul-Azeez, the
eldest son of Shah Waliullah. The Indian scholars at that time were
very fond of using philosophy in their religious discussions. It was the
school of Shah Waliullah that impressed upon them the study of the
Quran, hadith and fiqh to understand their religion. It is said that Al-
Sayyid Ahmad performed the pilgrimage in 1236 A.H. (1822 C.E.)
and was influenced by the scholars there. He returned and established
his own state ruling Kabul and Peshawar, ruling by the Shareeah. In
1826, he declared jihad against the Sikhs and later also fought the
British. After more than four years of fighting, he became a martyr
(Allah willing) when slain by Sher Singh at Balakot in 1831. His
followers remained for some time, setting up authority in Sattana. The
British in the Umbeyla War of 1863 C.E finally defeated them. 1 His
state then came to an end, although the influence of his movement
continued for some time, playing a strong role in the later
independence movement.
Al-Bareli’s teachings were very close to those of ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab, stressing tauheed and insisting that the state be ruled by the
Shareeah. However, there is a difference of opinion as to whether he
was truly influenced by ibn Abdul-Wahhaab’s teachings. Although
there is some difference between the teachings of the two leaders, the
amount of similarity between them is still great. Hence, many authors,
such as Ahmad Ameen, Muhammad Abdullah Maadhi, Abbaas
Mahmood al-Aqaad, Abdullah al-Ruwaishid, Muhammad al-Shayaal,
Brockelmann and Margoliouth are of the opinion that this movement
in India was definitely influenced by ibn Abdul-Wahhaab’s teachings.
On the other hand, there are many who deny any influence. Thus,
Abdul-Kareem Uthmaan concludes that this movement was called
“Wahhabis” by the British only to try to defeat any renaissance
1 Cf., T. P. Hughes,Dictionary of Islam (Lahore: Premier Book House, n.d.),p. 661.
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