Ideology of the Faraizi Movement of Bengal

Abstract

The Faraizi movement of Bengal was the first organized Islamic revivalist movement in British India. It was not merely a religious movement but its activities also extended to socio-economic, political, cultural, dawah and agrarian spheres. Its genesis could be traced to local factors such as religious, socio-economic and political conditions prevailing at that time in Bengal. But it was also influenced by the general awakening in the Muslim world and the rise of Islamic revivalist movements during the 19th century throughout the Muslim world. This movement was launched by Haji Shariatullah (1781-1840) in the first quarter of nineteen century in British Bengal. The basic aims and objectives of the movement were related to the religious reform and restoration of the true Islamic spirit but gradually its activities were extended to the spheres of politics, economy and culture as without all round upliftment of the Muslims no real change could be expected to take place. Moreover, as Islam does not countenance a division among the various spheres of human society, the Faraizis could not have legitimately looked over these aspects.