The Official Deobandi/Barelwi Thread
Assalamu alaykum, I am sure most of us have read the article before but thought I'd post it up on this forum in any case for those who hadn't. I think Shaykh G.F. Haddad couldn't have summed it up any better. Sadly, I still see these petty arguments in our masajid and elsewhere amongst second and third generation Asian Muslims!
No Difference between
Barelwis and Deobandis
Q:
What exactly is the difference between the school
of thought that follows Ala Hadrath Ahmed Rida Khan RA
and those that follow the school of thought of
Rashid Ahmed Gangohi against whom i understand
Ala Hadrath had said that there is inherent kufr
in the nature of thought expressed but did not issue
a fatwa of Kufr, as Maulana Rashid Gangohi had passed on.
(may Allah Ta'laa forgive me if i have made a mistake )
there is a lot of ikhtiflaaf in the Indian subcontinent
on this issue and i do understand that it is extremely volatile
- but, i would request you to kindly spare sometime and answer me
A:
Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim:
There is no difference in the generalities of `Aqida and
Fiqh between Barelwis and Deobandis. They are both Sunni
Hanafis, Sufis, Ash`aris or Maturidis. One stands in need
of the best each school has to offer, as indeed hold many
of the living prestigious teachers known to both sides.
Among the best commentaries on Sahih Muslim and the Sunan of
al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud are works by the Deobandis. The
lives of the Sahaba by al-Kandihlawi is a masterpiece. I`la'
al-Sunan and Aathaar al-Sunan are very valuable. As for Imam
Ahmad Rida Khan and his works, whoever does not recognize
their worth as one of the treasures of this Umma is a blasted
nincompoop who should wear a dunce cap until he learns.
Both sides are strict Hanafis and mainstream Sufis. We do not
endorse the mistakes that anyone might have made, such as
uttering words rightly perceived to lack adab in matters
of `Aqida or contesting the legality of celebrating Mawlid.
Nor do we endorse Takfir. Demonization of the other, saying
they are munafiq is unacceptable. We leave extremism to Najd
and its minions. Come together. Sayyid Muhammad `Alawi al-
Maliki advised you to do so, Sayyid Yusuf al-Rifa`i advised
you, Shaykh `Abd al-Hadi Kharsa advised you, Sayyid Ya`qubi,
Dr. al-Nass, others... Do you think you stand for the honor of
Allah and His Prophet more than such as these? Think again.
When the situation is such that there is mutual avoidance at
mosques, gatherings, etc. then it becomes wajib for every true
and sincere Deobandi should seek out his counterparts among
Barelwis and for every true and sincere Barelwi to seek out
his counterparts among Deobandis, pray together, learn from
one another, give salam, and increase love. Disunity is sin.
Or are you afraid you will lose reputation or funding? Shame.
Here is the resting-place of Shaykh `Abd al-Qadir Gilani and
Imam Abu Hanifa bracing for another Mongoloid onslaught. Will
you Sunnis still be debating and anathematizing one another
because of who said what as the Hour rises? Stressing ikhtilaf
and schism is from Shaytan. If this is what the general public
chooses to follow, it is their loss even as they shout ALLAHU
AKBAR and YA RASULALLAH from God's dawn to the wee hours. Salam.
Hajj Gibril
Shawwal 1423/December 2002
GF Haddad
2002-12-10
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Goldi
Bookmarks