23 Facts About Barelvi

Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi who was a Sunni Sufi scholar and reformer in north India wrote extensively in defense of Muhammad and popular Sufi practices and became the leader of a movement called "Ahl-i Sunnat wa Jamaat".

Barelvi wrote that the movement refer to themselves as 'Sunnis' in their literature and prefer to be known by the title of Ahle Sunnat wa Jama'at a reference to their perception as forming an international majority movement, although Barelvi is the term used by section of media.

Main leaders of Ahle Sunnat movement Imam Ahmad Raza Khan and other scholars never used the term 'Barelvi' to identify themselves or their movement; they saw themselves as Sunni Muslims defending traditional Sunni beliefs from deviations.

Only later was the term 'Barelvi' used by the section of media and by opposition groups on the basis of the hometown Bareilly, of its main leader Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Qadri.

The Barelvi movement formed as a defense of the traditional mystic practices of South Asia, which it sought to prove and support.

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Several Sufi Barelvi scholars supported the All-India Muslim League and Pakistan's demand claiming that Congress aimed at establishing Hindu state and arguing, that Muslims need to have their own country.

Sunni Muslims of the Barelvi movement believe that any ability that Muhammad has to help others is from God, who helps through Muhammad.

Barelvi stood before Him in servanthood, by the lote tree of the Ultimate Boundary [53:14], this being a tree at which the knowledge of every person reaches its limit.

Fundamental Sunni Barelvi belief is that Prophet Muhammad has knowledge of the unseen, which is granted him by Allah and is not equal to God's knowledge.

Barelvi is called "unlettered" [Ummi] because with him writing and wisdom were innate, not taught.

Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi was part of the Qadri tariqa and pledged bay'ah to Sayyid Shah Al ur-Rasul Marehrawi.

Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi instructed his followers in Sufi beliefs and practices.

Barelvi published his judicial verdict and circulated it all over the India giving a sigh of relief to Muslims but a tension to Indian Govt.

The Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement has originated from South Asian Sufism itself.

In 1950, scholars of Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement initiated a sub-movement named, 'Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat' the history of which can be traced back to the 1880s when Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian proclaimed himself to be a prophet in Islam.

Suicide attacks, vandalism and destruction of sites considered holy to those in the Sunni Barelvi movement have been perpetrated by Deobandi extremist groups.

The murder of various Barelvi leaders have been committed by Deobandi terrorists.

In Manchester, by 2014, Ahle Sunnat Barelvi was the largest denomination in terms of the number of mosques and population.

Ahle Sunnat Barelvi movement formed British Muslim Forum and the Sufi Muslim Council in 2005 and 2006, respectively to represent themselves at the national level.

Barelvi worked in the United Kingdom to strengthen the movement of Ahle Sunna wal Jam'aat.

Barelvi is president of Muslim Charity and British Muslim Forum.

The Sunni Barelvi community celebrates Mawlid un Nabi and observes anniversaries of Sufis in association with various Sufi orders.

In India, the Sunni Barelvi community has issued of a fatwa against terrorism, with concerns expressed over activities of Wahabis in New Delhi at All India Sunni Conference in Feb 2016.