While the Revivalist were not supported by the Great Powers, the Jihadist were called in to do the hard and messy job in the 20th century.

However, the call to duty should have been principled, with introspective accountability. Given most of the volunteers are either illiterates or petty criminals, great work is ahead of us now.

A greater Jihad should have followed the lesser one. The ‘god-fearing’ elite turned their backs on these passionate, mostly illiterate, men. Education remains the key, and creating institutions can be remedial.

Takfiri

Both Sunnis and Shi’a are co-partners in this crime. The unhinged Salafi teaching is a particular concern. The Shi’a, with their faith in Ghayba, are not worth more time here; they are fighting an existential battle due to modernity’s arrival.

However, Salafis must be held to account, for ignoring the Maqaasid al-Shari’ah in their pursuit of ‘purity of Islam’. Only because of their methodology, the Muslim world has seen so many loose cannons since the times of the Qaramatis.

A Takfiri may go out and create mayhem. Other may sit on their couches and pass judgments. As a society, we must condemn the former and challenge the latter.

Udwaani

Read this.

Erosion and decay in the Taqleedi-Shari’ah, as much as Salafi zeal, is responsible for such behaviour among these motivated young men. They believe they are doing the job that has been expected of them by God’s command, given others are so unconcerned. However, they have transgressed beyond doubt.

So today we have a band of two people forming a ‘Shura‘, and taking steps to preserve their religion as they see fit. There is no respect for rule of law, nor ethics of politics or punishment. It is not an individual failure but marks a rot in the system.

In the 11th century, the fall of Fatimi dynasty brought out these disparate men. We can do better today: by giving these motivated people concepts and ability to be able to find solutions, rather than spend a lifetime searching for a master who will likely turn out to be equally well-meaning and misguided.

‘Ihyaee/Revivalist

Most are educated, many at tertiary level, and are keen to see the glory of Islam in their lifetimes. That is an inspiring vision, and competing to change the world is equally commendable.

Having failed repeatedly following the Taqleedi-Shari’ah (and ruthlessly hoodwinked by their nationalistic or socialist unscrupulous rivals) and inspiring Udwaani tendencies amongst their members, the ‘Ihyaee Movements have failed as a movement to achieve that glory.

The call to Maqaasid-e-Shari’ah (Aims of Shari’ah) has been addressed in the 10-11th century by scholars of the Usul al-Fiqh. Today, coherent details, at the grass-root level, in plain language can be helpful but is sorely missing from their mission.

Tablighi

Born in rural northern India catering to the needs of local poor Rajputs, a group began calling for the renewal of Muslims in the British India. After independence, and division of India, they spread out to work for the spiritual upliftment of the Muslim community. Today, they have a presence in almost every non-Arab Muslim community.

However, unlike any other organisation in the world:

♦ They do not ask for tax-exemptions from governments; nor do they collect money from lay Muslims. Each person funds his/her own activity.

♦ Neither have they any interest in politics; they don’t even own a formal organisation.

♦ They follow the principle of Taqleed, and avoid getting into conflicts over Fiqhi issues. But that is changing.

Sandwiched and Boxed

Like the Salafis, they preach the virtues of Sunnah. One can argue, due to their zeal in non-Arab lands, ahadeeth are now considered as equal to the Qur’an. However, unlike the Salafis, they have stayed loyal to their respective Maslak.

The Sufis are pleased that the Tabligh follows a Madhhab, but still considers them as soft-Salafis. With Tablighis increasingly asking for evidence/rationale for a Sufi practice, the Sufis have become naturally agitated.

For their apolitical behaviour, the Revivalist are palpably unhappy with the Tabligh, who are considered as soft-Sufis: uninterested in material change or improvement of Ummah.

Today, the Tablighis run their own masaajid, and have begun to school their own Ulema. Soon they may have their own way of deriving rules. That is how a thousand sects evolve, if they are not careful.

If the Tablighis disagree with the others’ views, they need to develop consistent methods to challenge them. And not just walk away, shy of a robust fight. But it is up to them to be a part of an important conversation ahead in the 21st century.

Maslaki 

In the 11th century, the intellectual opposition to Fatimid/Shi’a rule began in the elite institutes called the Nizamiyah, patronised by the Seljuq tribes.

Heydays

It was from these institutes that the narrative of the Shi’a Takfiris was corrected, the esotericism of Sufis was incorporated into Islam, and more importantly, the Shari’ah was made independent of the whims of the rotating politicians, be it Khaalifs or Sultans.

Patronised by the sultans, they made peace in the lands and dispensed justice. To them is due, and under their watch, Islam avoided human catastrophes like man-made famines, genocides and holocausts.

Decline

The Mongol invasions heralded Taqleed into these institutions, mostly to preserve the knowledge.

As Colonization took root, this preservation led to stagnation. Post-colonisation, socialist ideas led to perversions of good-meaning laws of Islam that gave a great meaning to people’s lives.

The way out for the Maslaki Ulema is self-sufficient careers (having principally eschewed politics centuries back). Else, they will follow the Ummah, as has been the case for the last 100 years at least.