Recap of the Talk on Why Do We Call Ourselves Deobandi?
Is it sectarian to call ourselves Deobandi? And is it correct to attach and associate yourself with the Deoband School of Thought?
Hopefully, these questions will be answered in this lecture.
Deoband is a town in northern India, home to the Islamic University Dar Uloom Deoband.
The Dar Uloom Deoband is an Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah educational institution. Meaning it adheres to a strict interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) – (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and The Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum).
The Islamic University of Dar Uloom Deoband seeks to promote intellectual, spiritual, and moral advancement grounded in Sharia principles by integrating traditional Islamic knowledge with modern techniques.
The deen of Dar Uloom Deoband is the deen that has been passed on to us, generation by generation, from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) – (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum).
Therefore, associating oneself with Deoband is, in fact, associating oneself with the early Salaf us-Saliheen (Pious Predecessors), which refers to the first three generations of Muslims.
Therefore, can you proudly say, “I am a Deobandi”?
Because the Deoband way, the Deoband creed, and the Deoband methodology are all Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah.
In fact, by associating oneself with scholars of Deoband, one can distinguish oneself from the Ahle Bidah, the followers of Raza Khan and his Barelvi movement.
Deoband is, in essence, a reaction to the Barelvi movement and the bid’ah and shirk associated with this movement. Deoband is a movement that seeks to purify Islamic practice by eliminating what they see as deviations and innovations.
When you are a Deobandi, you are, in fact, the
the fightinh force, the Hezbollah, the army of ALLAH Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, fighting Shirk, Kufar & the Innovators, the Bidati of our times…the grave worshippers, the fake peers, the multi-million peers…the Deobani, are the ones who cleaned the path in the indian sub-continent, and preached the straight path, the righteous path, the Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaah path.
The Barelvi Movement holds several incorrect Aqeeda (creed) beliefs and engages in Bid’ah (innovation) and/or Shirk (polytheism).
The majority of Ahle Sunnah scholars contend that the Barelvi movement of Raza Khan has introduced and maintained ideas that diverge from mainstream Sunni orthodoxy, particularly regarding the characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) – (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the essence of Bidah, Shirk (polytheism), and the roles of saints.
Misguided Aqeedah Beliefs;
The Shaykh points out 5 Aqeeda that the Barelvi movement has concocted.
1) – Ilm al-Ghayb – Exaggeration of Prophetic Status: The Barelvi Movement believes that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) – (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has authority over the entire universe and possesses Ilm al-Ghayb, or knowledge of the unseen, thereby elevating Muhammad (ﷺ) to a position close to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala – (Nauzubillah” (نعوذ بالله)). (Read More – Detailed Explanation – Ilm e Ghaib)
2) – Hadir-o-Nazir (Present and Witnessing): Another important element of Barelvi belief is that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is present and seeing all the time (Nauzubillah” (نعوذ بالله)), which goes against the mainstream Ahl-e Sunnah wal Jamaah. See the complete article on Hadir-o-Nazir.
3) – Noor (light) Bashar (human being) – (Nauzubillah” (نعوذ بالله)) – The Brewalis belief is our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is NOT a human being, i.e., a BASHAR (Nauzubillah” (نعوذ بالله)), this is an insult to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). If Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was not a human being, a BASHAR, who did Hazrat Aisha, Khadija marry? Read the more complete article at Noor Bashar.
4) – Muktar e Qul – (Nauzubillah” (نعوذ بالله)) – The Brewalis have the belief that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has authority over all matters (Nauzubillah” (نعوذ بالله)), this is a deviant belief; this authority is only with the (Al-Khaliq) alone, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. See the complete article on Muktar e Qul.
5) – Eid Milad un Nabi (ﷺ): The Barelvi movement comes out in force on the 12th of Rabi ul Awaal, with marches and cake-cutting events. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) – (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum), and the great scholars of hadith and Fiqh never celebrated this date and birthday, as the Barelvis do. This is pure bid’ah.
When you call yourself Deobandi, you are distinguishing yourself from the Barelvi Movement and their bidah (innovations) in Islam.
When there were Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum), they were called Muslims or Sahabi.
When the Shia Fitna emerged, those who also called themselves Muslims, to distinguish themselves from the Shia, adopted the term ‘Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaah ‘.
Meaning, those who follow the Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum) are Muslims and Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaah.
And those who curse the Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum) are Shia.