Islamic Revival in British India: Deoband, 1860-1900

by Barbara D. Metcalf

In a study of the vitality of Islam in late nineteenth-century north India, Barbara Metcalf explains the response of Islamic religious scholars ( ulama) to the colonial dominance of the British and the collapse of Muslim political power. Focussing on Deoband, the most important Islamic
seminary of the period, she discusses the ways in which the ulama enhanced a sense of cultural continuity in a period of alien rule. Deprived of a Muslim state, the leaders of Deoband sought to renew Islamic spiritual life by teaching early Islamic principles. To this end, they concerned themselves
with popular behaviour and the education of both elite and non-elite Muslims through the spoken language, Urdu.

Genres: History, Islam, India, Religion, Nonfiction, Social Science

386 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1982

About the author

Barbara Daly Metcalf is a Professor Emeritus of History at the University of California, Davis. She is a specialist in the history of South Asia, especially the colonial period, and the history of the Muslim population of India and Pakistan. She previously served as the Dean of the College of Letters and Science at the University of California, Davis, and as the Alice Freeman Palmer Professor of History at the University of Michigan (2003-2009). She was the president of the Association for Asian Studies in 1994 and the president of the American Historical Association in 2010-11.

Reviews

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history of the Deoband Madrassa in northern India complicates our notions of Islam as a monolithic force.

[Muhammed Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

To examine history, you need to be able to contextualize the many nuances affecting the object of it study both at the micro and the macro level as well as their relation.

Although Metcalf succeeds at this partly, she still doesn't fully capture the nuances represented of the native. Nevertheless, this text mostly utilizes the sources of natives themselves in establishing a picture of Islamic reformism that was characteristic of 19th Century Ulema, particularly the Deoband, that was led from 18th century reform.

In particular, it was Shah Walliullah, the scholarly work at Farangi Mahal, the many Saintly Orders in the Punjab region, Haji Shariuttllah and his progeny, Syed Ahmed Shah Barelwi and others that had a major influence on the system and organizational approach of the ulema.

My biggest takeaway from the work was how it managed to explain the current sectarian conflict existent within the subcontinent, particularly centered around the Deoband school.

[sidnawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction if you're looking for something to trace the historical progression of islamic trends in india from late mughals -> pre WWI. Did a good job in tying the personalities and ideas involved together.

[Razi Shaikh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent primer on the Deoband movement.

[Noman Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good experience

[Mohammed Saleem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a greate book on the scholars of deoband , their contribution in preserving Islam under alien rule. Outstanding and must read one !!!