برصغیر میں اہل سنت والجماعت کے اندرونی اختلافات اور گروہ بندی: تاریخی اور تجزیاتی مطالعہ

SECTARIANISM AND INTERNAL DIFFERENCES WITHIN AHL-E-SUNNAT WAL JAMAAT IN THE SUBCONTINENT: A HISTORICAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDY

الملخص

Islam instructs its followers to hold firmly to the rope of Allah and not fall into division. In the best of times (the era of the Prophet and the subsequent era of the Companions), every individual was guided by the teachings of the Prophet or the trained Companions. However, as time passed, differences in the interpretation and understanding of Islamic rulings began to emerge, leading to division and discord within the ummah. The primary reason for this division was the tendency to fall into extremes on either side of any matter. Yet, throughout history, there has always been a group that, in contrast to the other factions of the ummah, remained on a balanced path between extremism and laxity, adhering to the actions and rulings of the Companions. This group is known as Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah, which has always represented the majority of the ummah. In the Indian subcontinent, the differences within Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah, specifically between the Barelvi and Deobandi schools of thought, are rooted in jurisprudential issues, Sufism, social and cultural practices, and allegedly doctrinal differences. The background of these differences can be traced to the 19th century, a period marked by colonial influences, reformist movements, and the social and religious conditions of Muslims. After the 1857 War of Independence, Muslims in the Indian subcontinent faced significant political, economic, and social challenges under British rule. During this period, several reformist movements emerged to strengthen the religious condition of Muslims, with the Deobandi and Barelvi schools being prominent among them. These differences arose due to various religious interpretations, the nature of religious practices, and the methods of social and cultural rituals, which later gave rise to sectarian strife. Given the great objective of unity within the ummah, despite the existence of ideological differences, sectarian tolerance and harmony remain a vital need of the time. To achieve this goal, it is essential to analyze the differences so that, in light of this understanding, sectarian discord and fragmentation can be prevented.