Religio-Political Movements in the North West Frontier Province: A Case Study of Jamiat-Ul-Ulama-I-Sarhad (1920-1947)

Abstract

Jam’iat-ul-ulama-i-Sarhad established in 1920s in the British North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) soon spread in all parts of the province. The study is analyzing the role played by ulama for the social reforms and political awakening of Muslims in the British India in general and particularly in Frontier region during the decisive period of freedom movement (1920-1947). The legacy of Shah Waliullah’s thoughts and its impact on the socio-religious mobilization of the Mujahedin movement and the Pakhtun resistance towards foreign powers during the 19th century, created multiple individualities of the people of NWFP as Pakhtun, Muslims and Indians. The Frontier province had 93% Muslim population during the time under review and thus had a special position among the eleven provinces of the British India. The study focuses on the questions of the contributions of Jam’iat-ul-ulama-i-Sarhad in the political development of NWFP; the nature of its struggle for the sharia laws in the colonial era; its success and failure in seeking help and cooperation of other organizations in the preservation and promulgation of sharia; its responses to the British policies in the region and the internal differences on the question of creation of Pakistan. It was found that Jam’iat-ul-ulama-i-Sarhad played a vital role in mobilizing the people during the Khilafat and Hijrat movements against the British. The ulama were also helpful in connecting the people of NWFP with other parts of Indo-Pak Sub-continent by organizing different conferences in the province. The ulama contributed in organizing Pakhtun against the British imperial policies during the inter wars period. The religio-political leadership also responded to different parliamentary Acts/regulations and actively engaged in Islamic legislation in the province. They motivated members of legislative council and successful in getting a sharia bill passed from the provincial legislative council in 1936. They also cooperated with other political parties in the socio-economic development as well as electoral politics in the province. However, after the Pakistan Resolution of 1940, differences emerged between different ulama over the question of Pakistan. This continued until the referendum of 1947 and the partition of Indian subcontinent. The study, in the light of document analysis techniques, employing descriptive, historical methods and analyzing archival materials and documents available inside and outside Pakistan, concludes that the ulama in NWFP were very instrumental in the socio-political awakening of the common masses in the region in the light of which the subsequent waves of religiosity can be understood academically.