Deobandi the Sufism side of Taliban

Abdul Hadi Rabai

The Deobandi is one of the groups of Muslims, founded in Deoband municipality in India, with regard to basic tenets of belief, its member follow Abu Mansoor al-Maatreedi.

They also follow Imam Abu Haneefah with regard to fiqh and minor issues. They follow the Sufi orders of Naqshbandiyyah, Chishtiyyah, Qaadiriyyah and Saharwardiyyah with regard to spiritual development.

This group is connected to the Islamic University of Deoband, “Dar al-Uloom” in India. The University of Deoband was founded in 1283 AH by Shaykh Muhammad Qaasim al-Nanatuwi, and Rasheed Ahmad al-Kankoohi.

The University of Deoband was founded by a group of Indian scholars after the British had put a stop to the Islamic revolution in India in 1857 CE.

Its establishment was a strong reaction against western advancement and its materialistic civilization in the Indian Subcontinent, aimed at saving the Muslims from the dangers of these circumstances.

The thoughts and principles of the Deobandi School may be summed up as follows: Preserving the teachings of Islam and its strength and rituals.        Spreading Islam and resisting destructive schools of thought and missionary activity. Spreading Islamic culture and resisting the invading British culture. Paying attention to spreading the Arabic language because it is the means of benefiting from the sources of Islamic sharia.      Combining reason and emotion, and knowledge and spirituality.

Presence and influence

Deobandiis is centered in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, has spread to the United Kingdom, and has a presence in South Africa. One of the graduates of this university founded the “Madrasah as-Sawlatiyah” in Mecca. Sheikh Hussein Ahmed Al Madani, the former head of the faculty’s staff in the university, founded the Sharia school in Madinah. This order influenced several religious groups around the world. The founder of the Tabligh and Da’wa group and Sheikh Mohammed Elias are graduates of the University of Dar al-Uloom.

Khalid Okasha, on page 15 of his book “Blood Princes: The Terror Industry of Mawdudi and al-Baghdadi” asserts that Al-Mawdudi, who revived the term “governance” was affiliated with the Islamic University of India, after joining the Association of Scholars of India, then became the editor of “Muslim” newspaper in (1921-1924).

Deobandi and Taliban and bin Laden

Okasha adds that the Deobandi style appeared on the Afghan and Pakistani scene when it supported the establishment of an Islamic state in the Indian subcontinent. The sheiks of the order played a pivotal role in its establishment in 1947. A large number of Afghans, led by Mullah Mohammad Omar, and all the leaders of the Taliban belonged to the Deobandi.

Assakina Research Center notes that after September 11, 2001, the Deobandis become in the top of the anti-American movements in Afghanistan with Taliban.

The former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (who was killed in 2011) approved the Deobandi. He also said on April 9, 2001 in Peshawar, it represent “the true Islam”.