Sir Syed Ahmed Khan | Aligarh Movement with Explanation?

SIR SYED AHMED KHAN AND ALIGARH MOVEMENT 

Introduction 

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was one in all the lofty and significant personalities of Muslim of South Asia. He was endued with the question of head and heart, pen and mind. He was a flexible, genius and an excellent Muslim, scholar , social reformer, educationist, leader and ideologist who rendered priceless work for the reconstruction of Muslim in sub-continent. Sir syed's works and ideas resulted as Aligarh movement. 

Challenges after War of Independence 1857

The effectiveness of his temperament can solely be measured in relevancy of his age and time and also the challenges he faced and his reactions to those challenges. After 1857 the Muslim of British India had faced miserable situation. British had held responsible Muslim for muting and that they tried to debilitate Muslims in such a way that they never raised themselves once more. British consistently vanquished Muslim and this reality was acknowledged additionally by Nehru. Nehru said, "the heavy hand of British fell more heavily upon Muslims than Hindus." Khalid bin Saeed opines, " Muslims were not only defeated in their outlook but also sulky. 

Sir Syed had swished against two forces; one was British who were the chief opponents of Muslims and were able to masticate Muslims. Alternative part he had to swish against was his co-religionists. Muslims were underneath the impact of orthodox spiritual leaders. These Ulemas were terribly conservative and that they doubted each effort of British to be against themselves. Sir Syed had to seize power from ulemas and to influence Muslims to find out English to maneuver forward in recently introduced system of presidency. 

His Strategy 

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan created education as his strategy as corner stone. He constructed the entire structure of education. As his writer Graham said, "Educate, educate, Educate" 

Objective

His objective was education and education was to be created through reciprocal action. Following were the objectives articulated by sir Syed: 

1. To exclude misunderstanding between British and Muslims. 

2. To stay Muslims away from perturbation politics. 

3. To keep aloof from politics. 

4. Preservation of Muslim's rights and interests. 

Services of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Political Services

Rapprochement between British and Muslims

By taking these measures into consideration, Sir Syed brought reconciliation between British and Muslims of South Asia. In "Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind" ( Causes of Indian Revolt), Sir Syed bravely and courageously curst country for the mutiny (War of Independence). He tried to obstruct the impression that Muslims were insurgents. He wrote the book "Loyal Muhammadans of India" within which he enlightened the services and works for those Muslims who remained faithful to British. 

Sir Syed additionally wrote "Tareekh-e-Srkashi-e-Bajnor". He got revealed 502 copies of "cause of Indian revolt"  to give a way British members of House of Commons and Parliament. Sir Syed was aware of the facts that the reconcilation wasn't potential till the spiritual bad blood wasn't reduced between crescent and cross. He tried to get rid of the harshness between two religions. He wrote, "Tabeen-ul-kalam" that was tafseer of Holy bible. In this book, he wrote that Bible was divine book and tried to bring same things between Bible and Quran. Sir Syed additionally wrote, "Risala-e-Ahkam-e-Tam-e-Ala-e-Kitab", within which he established that christians were individuals of Book and it absolutely was allowed religiously to marry and dine with christians. 

Sir Syed engaged country in his instructional front e.g. he created Duke of Argile a patron of scientific society. Lord Edward George Earle Bulwer-Lytton inaugurated Aligarh College. Early principles of Aligarh school and college were all English. Sir Syed established "British Indian Association" with British. Aligarh College received huge grants from British government. 

Advice to the Muslims 

Because Sir Syed could believe that unless Muslims desisted from politics British can still vanquished them and that they could sustain British indignation. He perceived that British had returned to remain in India and it had been impossible for Muslims to overthrow British. Therefore, Sir Syed was not in favour of any perturbation politics. He opposed Central Muhammadan Association of Syed Ameer Ali. He alternatively tried to redirect Muslim energy towards the accession of education. 

Preservation of Muslim Identity 

For the preservation of Muslim identity, Sir Syed took following steps: 

a. Opposition of Indian National Congress

Sir Syed opposed congress as a result of it had been Associate in nursing exclusive Hindi party. Congress volunteered the state of one nation theory and asked for jobs on merit, however Muslims disagreed on each fronts. Muslims believed that they're a separate nation and were totally different from Hindus in faith, culture, tradition, language and customs. The congress demand of jobs on advantages was unacknowledged by Sir Syed. He opined that Muslims were less in range and were additionally backward in education and social outlook, thus jobs should run to Muslims in proportion of their population. 

b. Establishment of Separate Platform for Muslims

Sir Syed advised Muslims not to took part in the politics but he provided Muslims with different forums to raise their demands and grievances e.g. Muhammadan Educational Conference, British-Indian Association, Indian Patriotic Association. 

c. Expanded on Ideology for Muslim Bourgeoisie 

Sir Syed expounded separatist ideology for Muslims bourgeoisie. This became the fountainhead of new awakening in Muslim salariat and middle class. 

Supporter of Two Nation Theory 

Sir Syed was the primary one that explained the two nation theory in unambiguous terms. He was the primary one that for the primary time self addressed the Muslims of India as a "Qaum" Association in Nursing Urdu word which might be paraphrased as "Nation". By explaining the two nation theory, Sir Syed led the muse of Muslim separatism in India. 

Saviour of Urdu Language 

Aligarh Movement saved Urdu from disappearance and not with standing the backing of Brits, Hindi did not replace Urdu chiefly attributable to the efforts of Sir Syed Ahmed and his teammates. 

Educational Services 

i. Patronized the Muslims towards modern education

Sir Syed believed that if the Muslims failed to get education, they'll lose social status and advancement. It absolutely was solely through conveyance education to Muslims that they'll restrain from agitation and political theory, solely vehicle for development was education. In the start, Sir Syed was in favour of formal language education however in later years, he believed that every Muslim ought to receive English and Occidental education. 

ii. Opening of Educational Institutions 

Sir Syed Ahmed Provided a number of Institutions for the purpose of education: 

• Madrassah Muradabad (1859)
• Ghazipur Madrassah (1862) 
• MAO Aligarh School (1875)
• MAO College (1877) 
• Muhammadan Educational Conference (1886) 

Moreover, Sir Syed employed his journals and magazines for this purpose. 

iii. Establishment of Muhammadan Educational Conference

This conference was established in 1886 "to extend the scope of Aligarh's activities." Sir Syed believed that solely education couldn't be enough for the wants of Muslims. This instructional conference was created with immense perspective. 

Muhammadan instructional conference verified to be a national platform for Muslims of Asian nation and acted as a forerunner of Muslim League. 

iv. Translation of books through scientific Society 

Scientific society was a tool and agency of education of the Muslims of India. More than 800 books on different subjects were translated by this society in Urdu. 

Religious Services 

Sir Syed Ahmed khan was a devout Muslim. He tried to bring Muslim unity through religious unity and harmony. He wrote famous book, "Khutbat-e-Ahmdia" in rebuttal to allegations of William Muir's book "The life of Muhammad"  

Other Notable works are as follow, 

• AhkamTu'amAhl-Kitab, Kanpur, 1868.
• Al-Du'aWa'llstajaba, Agra, 1892.
• Al-Nazar Fi Ba'zMasa'il Imran Al-Ghazzali, Agra.
• Izalatul-Chain as Zi'alQarnain, Agra, 1889. 
• Zila al-QulubbaZikr al-Mahbub, Delhi, 1843. 
• Khulq al-Insanala ma fi al-Quran, Agra, 1892. 
• Kimiya-i-Sa'dat, 2 fasl, 1883. 
• Mazummbanisbattanazzululum-i-diniyawa Arabiya wafalsafa-i-Yunaniya, Agra, 1857. 
• Namiqa fi Bayan Mas'alaTasawwur al-Shaikh, Aligarh, 1883. 
• Tarjamafawa'id al-afkar fi amal al-farjar, Delhi 1846. 
• Tarqim fi qisaashab al-kahfwal-Raqim, Agra, 1889. 
• Tasfiyadal'Aquid (Being the correspondence between Syed Ahmad Khan and Maulana Muhammad Qasim of Deobund). 
• Rah-i-sunnatdar rad-i-bid'at, Aligarh, 1883. 
• RisalaIbtal-i-Ghulami, Agra, 1893. 
• Risala ho walMojud, 1880. 
• RisalaTahqiqLafzi-i-Nassara, 1860. 
• Risala Tehzeeb-ul-Ikhlaq 
• Risala Asbab-e-baqhawat-e-Hind
• Tarikh-e-SarakashiBinjaur 
• Tabyin-ul-Kalam fi Tafsir-al-turat-wa'llnjilalaMullat-al-Islam (The Mohomedan commentary on the Holy Bible)
• Tafsir-ul-Qura'n(7 volumes) 
• Tafsir al-Jinn Wa'l Jan ala ma fi al-Qur'an, (Agra, 1891). 
• Tafsir-a-Samawat, Agra. 
• Tahrir fi Usul al-Tafsir, Agra, 1892. 

Impact 

Sir Syed played invaluable services and contributions for the Muslims in the subcontinent. This movement had great consequences upon the coming generations of the Indians. 

A. Political Impacts 

• To bridge the gulf between British and Muslims 
• Promotion of Muslim's Rights 
• Aligarh as Nursery of Leaders.
• Provided basis for Muslims Organizations. 
• Forerunner of Pakistan Movement 
• Successful in controlling the tide of decline. 
• Saved Urdu language

B. Educational Impacts 

• Muslim Institutional basis 
• Doors of martial prosperity 
• Provided core of Educated Class 

C. Social Impacts 

• Reform of Muslim Society 
• Transformation of social outlook 

D. Religious Impacts 

• Adjustment of Islamic Values with modern requirements 
• Transition between medieval and modern period

E. Cultural Impacts 

• Introduction of western culture to Muslims 
• Tradition of bilingualism 
• Urdu as medium of instruction 

Conclusion 

The enormity of Sir Syed's contribution cannot be denied. Aligarh movement stood also a movement of ideas and change Muslim's social, political and cultural outlook.