Barelwī Similarity with Wahhābīs: Mass Unjustified Takfīr

While Barelwīs like to present themselves as polar opposites of Wahhābīs, the reality is they share with Wahhābīs in their most characteristic fault: mass unjustified takfīr.

Muḥammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhāb (1703 – 1792 CE) promoted innovated ideas on how to identify Tawḥīd and violations of Tawḥīd, based on which he carried out mass unjustified takfīr. This then became a characteristic Wahhābī trait.

Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Barelwī (1856 – 1921 CE) promoted innovated ideas on how to venerate the Prophet (ṣallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam), like advocating the belief that the Prophet (ṣallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) has all-encompassing, detailed knowledge of creation and the belief that he has complete power and authority over the whole of creation. The most prominent and influential Sunnī ‘Ulamā’ to oppose such misguidance were the seniors of the Deobandī school. Hence, Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Barelwī took it upon himself to distort and misrepresent texts belonging to four major scholars of this school, and in one case, present a total fabrication, and make takfīr based on the distortions/fabrication. These ‘Ulamā’ are as follows:

1. Maulānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (1829 – 1905 CE)
2. Maulānā Qāsim Nānotwī (1833 – 1880 CE)
3. Maulānā Khalīl Aḥmad Sahāranpūrī (1852 – 1927 CE)
4. Maulānā Ashraf ‘Alī Thānawī (1863 – 1943 CE)

Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Barelwī didn’t stop at this. He said anyone who doubts his slanderous takfīr of them becomes a kāfir, leading to mass unjustified takfīr. His motive? Some who wish to hold to some “romanticised” ideal believe that Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Barelwī made such major blunders because he was “annihilated” in prophetic love. This is not the case. He had promoted false, innovated ideas on Prophetic attributes; and to further his aims and to make himself and his ideas popular, he made unjustified, slanderous and fraudulent takfīr of leading scholars belonging to the most prominent, rival Sunnī school of India: Deobandīs. This is not “annihilation” in prophetic love, but ittibā‘ al-hawā (following desires/being agenda driven) – pure and simple.

The following series of articles exposes in clear and vivid detail how Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Barelwī was guilty of deception and fraud in each one of his allegations:

How Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Barelwī Used a Fabricated Fatwā to Make Takfīr on Maulānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī

How Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Barelwī Manufactured a Quote from Taḥdḥir un Nās to Make Takfīr on Maulānā Qāsim Nānotwī

How Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Barelwī Distorted the Meaning of Barāhīn e Qāṭi‘ah to Make Takfīr on Maulānā Khalīl Aḥmad Sahāranpūrī

How Aḥmad Riḍā Khān Distorted Ḥifẓ al-Īmān to Make Takfīr on Maulānā Ashraf ‘Alī Thānawī

For Aḥmad Riḍā Khān’s Barelwī followers, the takfīr of these four leading Sunnī imāms and the resultant mass takfīr of all who reject the takfīr are fundamental and integral parts of their ideology.