A Critical Analysis of Shah Waliullah Dehlawi’s Sufi Influences in the Indian Subcontinent

Year 2023, Issue: 15, 23 - 62, 31.12.2023

Dr. Saeyd Rashed Hasan Chowdury , Harun Alkan , Murat İsmaıloğlu

https://doi.org/10.46231/sufiyye.1382950

Abstract

This article examines the pivotal role of Shah Waliullah Dehlawi (1703-1762) in the revival of Islam in the Indian subcontinent through Sufism following the decline of the Mughal Empire. Shah Waliullah, a Sufi affiliated with the Naqshbandi Order, also distinguished himself as an Ash'ari theologian and a Hanafi jurist. Shah Waliullah's distinctive interpretation, which underscores the significance of the Quran and the Sunnah in Islamic sciences and Sufism, has played an essential role in reforming Islamic thought in the region from theoretical and practical perspectives. His works in the fields of fiqh (jurisprudence), theology, and Sufism have profoundly influenced Muslim thought on the Indian subcontinent. Shah Waliullah, a proponent of the idea that Sufism could serve as a powerful tool in the moral and spiritual development of society, not only emphasised the potential risks posed by distorted Sufism but also cautioned against deviating from the path of the Quran and the Sunnah. His understanding of Sufism is based on rejecting any activity beyond the Quran and Sunnah. He made valuable contributions to the Aqidah (Islamic creed) reform, the promotion of hadith scholarship, and the reconciliation of fiqh (jurisprudence) and Sufism. Shah Waliullah also emphasised the importance of Islamic values and culture. In this article, an attempt has been made to offer a perspective for contemporary Muslims striving to reconcile their beliefs with the demands of modern life by analysing the views of Shah Waliullah on the interpretation of Islamic sciences and Sufism.

Keywords

Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, Sufism, Indian Subcontinent, Reform, The Islamic Awakening, The Impact of Colonialism, Transformation of Muslim Society

Şah Veliyyullah Dihlevî’nin Hint Alt Kıtası’ndaki Tasavvufî Etkilerinin Eleştirel Bir Analizi

Abstract

Bu makalede, Şah Veliyyullah Dihlevî'nin (1703-1762) Babür İmparatorluğu'nun çöküşü sonrası Hint alt kıtasında tasavvuf aracılığıyla İslam'ın yeniden canlandırılmasındaki rolü incelenecektir. Nakşibendî Tarikatı'na müntesip bir sûfî olan Şah Veliyyullah aynı zamanda bir Eş'arî kelamcısı ve Hanefî fakihidir. Şah Veliyyullah'ın İslami ilimlere ve tasavvuf'a yönelik Kur'an ve Sünnet'in önemini vurgulayan kendine özgü yorumu, nazarî ve amelî açıdan bölgedeki İslam düşüncesinin ıslahatında önemli bir rol oynamıştır. Onun, fıkıh, kelam ve tasavvuf alanında yazdığı eserler, Hint alt kıtasındaki Müslüman düşüncesini derinden etkilemiştir. Toplumun ahlakî ve manevî gelişiminde tasavvufun güçlü bir araç olabileceğini düşünen Şah Veliyyullah, Kur'an ve Sünnet çizgisinden uzaklaşarak tahrif olmuş tasavvufun tehlikelerine karşı da uyarılarda bulunmuştur. Onun tasavvuf anlayışı, Kur'an ve sünnet'in dışına çıkan her türlü faaliyetin reddini temel almıştır. O, İslam akidesinin ıslahına, hadis çalışmalarının teşvik edilmesine ve fıkıh ile tasavvufun uzlaştırılmasına katkıda bulunmuştur. Şah Veliyyullah ayrıca İslami değerlerin ve kültürün önemini de vurgulamıştır. Bu makalede, İslamî ilimleri ve tasavvufu yorumlama konusunda, Şah Veliyyullah'ın görüşleri analiz edilerek modern hayatın gereksinimleriyle inançlarını uzlaştırmaya çalışan günümüz Müslümanları için bir bakış açısı sunulmaya çalışılmıştır.

Keywords

Şah Veliyyullah Dihlevî, Tasavvuf, Hint Alt Kıtası, Islahat, İslamî Uyanış, Sömürgecilik Etkisi, Müslüman Toplumun Dönüşümü

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