Islamic Revival in British India

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. (December 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (December 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Islamic Revival in British India: Deoband, 1860-1900

English cover
Author	Barbara D. Metcalf
Language	English
Subject	Deobandi movement
Genre	Thesis
Publisher	Princeton University Press
Publication date	1982
Publication place	United States
Pages	402
ISBN	9781400856107
OCLC	889252131
Website	princeton.edu

Islamic Revival in British India: Deoband, 1860-1900 is a book authored by Barbara D. Metcalf, a professor at the University of California. Originally, this book emerged as a revised edition of her doctoral dissertation and was published in 1982 by Princeton University Press.^[1] At its core, the book focused on the Deobandi movement formative phase. It is the first major monograph dedicated to the institutional and intellectual history of this movement.^[2]Moreover, it sought to clarify the transformative journey undertaken by Islamic scholars, commencing in the 18th century. This journey was catalyzed by the challenges faced by Indian Islam in the aftermath of the 1857 Mutiny, prompting a diverse array of approaches for a resolution.^[3] Throughout her research, the author gathered pertinent materials in Urdu to present a precise depiction of Deoband's organizational structure.

The book opens with a detailed examination of the landscape of 18th-century Islamic reform movements. Subsequently, it reserves four detailed chapters to present an account of the establishment, administration, financial intricacies, and the education and training of young scholars at the Deoband seminary. The work engaged in a critical examination of various styles of religious leadership, delving into the multifaceted roles of muftis, shaikhs, writers, and debaters, often with an unwavering focus on details. A chapter is set aside for an analysis of the social milieu within which the Deobandi ulama operated. Furthermore, the book examines through alternative trends within Sunni Islam, including the Ahl-i Hadith, the Barelwis, the Nadwatul Ulama, and Deoband's rival, Aligarh. It seeks to position Deoband within a historical context and accentuate its unique attributes when compared to other institutions of Indian Muslim erudition and the tapestry of various religious movements.^[4]