Shah Waliullah & The Invitation to Jihad (18th Century)

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary

Shah Waliullah: The Man Who Changed Islam in India

The Sufi Problem

What was happening:

• Islam was struggling to spread in India
• No hook, no entertainment = very dry theology
• Dry theology = not attractive to people

The Sufi solution (new derivative/twist):

• Started dancing and having music
• More entertaining presentation
• ⌠Message was NOT different
• But the way you present it = more entertaining
• Dancing, playing music, performances

The strategic marketing:

• Present as "another form of Hinduism"
• In Hinduism: can adopt different practices
• More easy to convert people this way

What Sufism actually was:

• Nonetheless, the idea was same as Islam
• Just packaged differently
• "We're not here to convert anybody"
• "Just going town to town, having fun, dancing, gathering people"

Shah Waliullah's Background

Growing Up Sufi

His father:

• Was a Sufi
• Had established a school (madrasa)
• Shah Waliullah became a teacher there at age 60

His early exposure:

• Grew up under Sufi tutelage
• Connected with father's school
• Only knew about Sufi Islam (milder form)
• Not as hardcore

The Transformation: Trip to Saudi Arabia

Learning Jihadi Islam

What changed him:

• Went to Arvastam (Saudi Arabia)
• Learned about jihadi Islam
• Fundamentalist Muslim Islam
• Much harsher version

The conversion:

• From Sufi Islam → Extremist
• Became radicalized
• Changed his entire worldview

Sufi vs. Jihadi Islam

The Philosophical Difference

Sufi Islam:

• Tries to be all things to all people
• Basic elements same
• But wants to attract people
• That's why the music, dancing, etc.

Jihadi Islam:

• ⌠No room for such "stupidities"
• ⌠No music
• ⌠No art
• ⌠No singing, no dancing
• Extremely dry
• Extremely sharp
• No flexibility

Shah Waliullah's Mission: Bring Jihadi Islam to India

The Problem He Saw

So far in India:

• Sufi Islam was spreading
• Converting people
• But people would say: "Okay fine, I'm Muslim"
• Then keep their Hindu traditions anyway
• Wouldn't actually change
• Just wanted to enjoy life
• Made someone happy by saying they converted

His solution:

• ⌠"No no no!"
• ⌠"If you're Muslim, you have to do X, Y, Z"
• ⌠"Reject everything else"
• Wanted to bring this new jihadi Islam to India

The Mughal Empire Fragmenting

The Unified Empire is Gone

Under Aurangzeb:

• Mughal power was homogeneous and uniform
• Centralized control

After Aurangzeb's death:

• Started splitting apart
• "Shakla" = plural = getting divided into pieces
• Being destroyed from within

How It Split: The Independence Movements

Awadh Breaks Away

Before Aurangzeb's death:

• Very closely aligned with Mughal Empire
• Tight relationship

After:

• "I'm independent"
• Safdar Jang: "I'll give you some money"
• "But I'm going to defend myself"
• "I'm going to be for my own interests"

Nizam in Hyderabad

Similar story:

• "I may help you when you come to Deccan"
• "But otherwise I'm going to do my own thing"

Why they did this:

• Felt Mughals couldn't rule effectively anymore
• "Why not take advantage?"
• If Aurangzeb was there: ⌠could never do this (would be crushed)
• But now: opportunity

Punjab: The Militant Hindu Problem

The Jats

Who they were:

• Kind of militant Hindu
• Warrior community

The Sikhs Become Important

Sikhism at the time:

• Basically a reform of Hinduism
• Guru Nanak's innovation:
  • Said: "One God" (don't do multiple gods)
  • Made Brahmins less important
  • Brahmins = priests who interpreted Hinduism
  • Guru Nanak: ⌠"Nothing doing with Brahmins"

But the philosophy was exactly the same:

• Still fundamentally Hinduism
• Just presented differently
• Portrayed in a different way

Hindu Polytheism vs. Monotheism Explained

The Flexibility in Hinduism

The traditional Hindu concept:

• Polytheistic = many gods
• BUT the idea: God is ONE
• Just appears in different forms

Why different gods for different people:

• If you're a soldier/warrior → emotionally closer to Kali
  • Kali = goddess, militant, has weapons, slaying demons
• If you're a scholarly person → worship Ganpati (Ganesh)
  • Appeals to intellectual types

The flexibility:

• Kali is NOT different than Ganesh
• It's the same God
• Just appears to people in different ways based on who they are
• People are different → God appears differently

Guru Nanak's approach:

• Removed this flexibility
• Just: "One God"
• Reduced Brahmin importance (who had monopoly on interpretation)

Why Sikhs Became Militant (18th Century)

The Persecution

The cause:

• Sikhs were being prosecuted by Muslims in Punjab
• Had to defend themselves
• Became militant out of necessity

The result:

• Two Hindu sects became very prominent in Punjab:
  1. Jats
  2. Sikhs

Why Muslims were bothered:

• These groups presented a challenge
• Threat to Muslim dominance in the region

The Weak Mughal Emperor

The Central Power Collapses

The Mughal king had:

• Completely into merrymaking
• Enjoying alcohol, women
• ⌠Not doing any leadership

The consequence:

• Central power weakening
• Provinces taking advantage
• Different sects of Hinduism coming to the fore

The players gaining independence:

• Sikhs in Punjab
• Jats rising
• Marathas in the Deccan
• Rajputs having their own ideas about independence

⌠No central power because Mughal king was enjoying poetry, not worried about fighting. Letting it all fray at the edges.

Shah Waliullah's Panic: Who Will Save Islam?

The Crisis

What he saw:

• Marathas attacking Delhi willy-nilly
• Coming and attacking anytime they wanted
• ⌠"Where is my protector?"
• ⌠"Who will protect Islam?"

Who it should be:

• Typically: Mughal Emperor
• But he was so weak
• Dependent on Marathas (the very people threatening Islam)
• Couldn't do anything

Shah Waliullah's state:

• Very disturbed and worried
• Upset
• Searching for a protector of Islam

The Search for a Protector

The Rohillas

Who are Rohillas:

• Originally from Afghanistan
• Soldiers of fortune who came to India
• Been coming for several centuries
• No way to make money or live good life in Afghanistan
• Settled in an area called Rohilkhand

Where is Rohilkhand:

• About 100 miles from Delhi
• Named after these Rohilla Afghans

Can you still find them:

• ✅ Yes, in India today
• Now they look like any other Indian (intermarriage)
• Some evidence remains
• Near Bareilly (town in India, former capital of Rohilkhand)
• May speak Afghani or have some cultural remnants

The Afghan-Indian Connection

Why Afghans Came to India

The economics:

• Only two professions: farmer or soldier
• Maybe merchant (but limited)
• Farming can't be done 12 months/year
• Being a soldier = way to make money

The employment:

• Stick with your Peshwa or whoever
• They'll pay you as you go
• Good employment
• Sometimes: loot areas and keep what you get = your salary

Genetics: Afghanistan to India

The Same People

Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India:

• Genetically IDENTICAL
• Same people, same race
• Not different

The physical differences:

• Height, weight, complexion may differ
• But genetically: no difference

Why Afghans are tall/strong:

• ⌠NOT genetics
• Air: no pollution whatsoever
• Colder climate
• Eat meat (eating meat for long time = protein)
• Beautiful lifestyle (provided you have something)
• ⌠No jobs though
• Exercise a lot by walking
• Eating well, nice weather, no stress
• No huge cities

But: Genetics are exactly identical - same race across all these regions.

Najibullah Khan: The Rohilla Leader

Who He Is

Background:

• Rohilla commander
• Ancestry: father (or earlier ancestors) came to Delhi to serve Mughal army
• Afghan originally

The connection Shah Waliullah made:

• Searching for protector of Islam
• Search took him to Najibullah Khan
• Then ultimately to Abdali

The Holkar Connection: The Fatal Mistake

Najibullah and Holkar's Relationship

The bond:

• Holkar considered Najibullah like his son
• Not biological, but "Manasputra" (son in mind/heart)
• Loved him as such
• They had a relationship

The Missed Opportunity

What happened:

• Marathas campaigning in north for 1.5 years
• There was a chance to capture and kill Najibullah
• Najibullah was a prankster and troublesome
• He was actually captured

Holkar's intervention:

• Marathas wanted to kill him
• Holkar got in the way
• Said: ⌠"No, don't do that"
• ⌠"He is my son" / "He is innocent"
• Because of their relationship

Holkar lets him go = BIG HUGE MISTAKE

Why This Matters: The Cause of Panipat

Najibullah's Role

What he does:

• Sends invite to Abdali
• "Visit India and take on the route"
• "Get rid of Maratha Empire for months"
• Shit scared of Marathas
• Doesn't want them there

The consequence:

• ✅ Najibullah = CAUSE of the Panipat battle
• He convinces Abdali to come
• Invites him to invade

The irony:

• Holkar spared him out of affection
• Najibullah then engineers the battle that destroys Maratha power
• Holkar's mercy = Maratha disaster

Key Players

Timeline Context

Geographic Context

Key Regions:

• Punjab - Sikhs and Jats gaining power, Muslim concern
• Rohilkhand - Afghan settlers, ~100 miles from Delhi
• Bareilly - Former capital of Rohilkhand
• Delhi - Weak Mughal center, under Maratha pressure
• Awadh - Breaking away under Safdar Jang
• Hyderabad - Nizam going independent
• Deccan - Maratha base
• Rajasthan - Rajputs seeking independence

Critical Insights

The Sufi Marketing Strategy

The approach:

• Can't sell harsh theology
• ✅ Add entertainment (music, dance)
• ✅ Say it's "like Hinduism"
• ✅ Make it attractive
• People convert but keep Hindu traditions

Why it worked:

• Flexibility = accessibility
• People could be "Muslim" without fully changing
• Growth through adaptation

Why Shah Waliullah hated it:

• ⌠Not "real" Islam
• ⌠Compromising the faith
• ⌠Letting people stay Hindu in practice

The Fragmentation Pattern

Why empires fragment:

1. Strong leader dies (Aurangzeb)
2. Weak successor (poetry-lover)
3. Provinces sense weakness
4. Start asserting independence
5. Center can't stop them
6. Cascading collapse

Who took advantage:

• Awadh ("I'm independent now")
• Nizam ("I'll help sometimes")
• Sikhs (militant reform)
• Jats (warrior community)
• Marathas (attacking at will)
• Rajputs (independence ideas)

The Rohilla Wildcard

Who they were:

• Afghan economic migrants
• Soldiers for hire
• Settled near Delhi
• Could go either way (Mughal or Maratha or independent)

Why they mattered:

• Military power near Delhi
• Afghan connection (link to Abdali)
• Najibullah = key figure
• Bridge between India and Afghanistan

The Mercy That Killed an Empire

Holkar's decision:

• Spare Najibullah (like a son to him)
• Emotional, not strategic
• Seemed humane

The consequence:

• Najibullah invites Abdali
• Causes Panipat battle
• Destroys Maratha northern expansion
• One act of mercy = strategic catastrophe

The lesson: In war, personal relationships can doom empires.

The Identity Crisis: Hinduism's Flexibility

The Hindu model:

• One God, many forms
• Whatever appeals to you
• Warrior? Worship Kali
• Scholar? Worship Ganesh
• Flexibility = strength

Guru Nanak's reform:

• Too much flexibility?
• Brahmins have too much power?
• Just: "One God"
• Simplified Hinduism

Why Sikhs became militant:

• ⌠Not by choice
• Prosecuted by Muslims
• Had to fight back
• Reform movement → warrior community

Shah Waliullah: The Ideological Catalyst

His transformation:

• Sufi upbringing (mild)
• Saudi Arabia trip
• Learned jihadi Islam (harsh)
• Came back radicalized

His mission:

• ⌠End "fake" Sufi Islam
• ✅ Bring "real" jihadi Islam
• Make converts actually reject Hindu traditions
• Find military protector for Islam

His search:

• Najibullah (Rohilla near Delhi)
• Abdali (Afghan power)
• Result: invitation to invade

The impact: Ideological radical finds military muscle = invasion.

The Weak Center Problem

Mughal Emperor:

• Poetry, alcohol, women
• ⌠Zero leadership
• Dependent on Marathas for protection
• Can't protect Islam when dependent on "threat" to Islam

The vacuum:

• Everyone taking advantage
• Regional powers rising
• Religious communities militarizing
• Ideologues searching for champions
• Chaos = opportunity for outsiders

Shah Waliullah looked at India and saw a nightmare: Sufi Islam had made Muslims into semi-Hindus, the Mughal Emperor was a joke, Marathas were rampaging through Delhi, and nobody was defending the faith. So he went searching for a champion. He found Najibullah Khan, the Rohilla commander. And Najibullah knew exactly where to find an army: his Afghan cousins under Abdali. One conversation between two men would set in motion the Battle of Panipat. And it all could have been prevented if Holkar had just let the Marathas kill Najibullah when they had the chance. But Holkar saw Najibullah as a son. So he saved him. And in doing so, he doomed the Maratha Empire's northern ambitions.