Haji Shariatullah: The Revivalist Who Awakened Bengal’s Muslim Spirit

Introduction: Bengal in Darkness, A Voice from Makkah

In the early 19th century, Bengal’s Muslims were scattered, impoverished, and spiritually adrift. British colonialism had crushed their rulers, Hindu landlords dominated the agrarian economy, and Islamic practices were rapidly mixed with local innovations and superstitions.

It was into this atmosphere of spiritual decay and political paralysis that Haji Shariatullah returned — not as a warrior, not as a scholar in royal courts, but as a revivalist from the soil, a reformer with one mission:

“Bring Islam back to its pure form. Awaken the Muslims. Free their souls — and then their land.”

He launched the Faraizi Movement, one of the earliest Islamic reform movements in British India. It was not just about prayer and ritual; it was about dignity, self-respect, and identity.

Early Life: From a Peasant’s Home to the Kaaba’s Shadow

Haji Shariatullah was born in 1781 in the village of Shibchar in Faridpur district (present-day Bangladesh). His family was poor, but spiritually rooted. His father, a humble farmer, ensured his young son was taught the Quran and basics of Islam.

But young Shariatullah wasn’t content. At just 18 years old, he left for Makkah, determined to seek real Islamic knowledge. There, under renowned scholars of the Haramayn, he studied Hadith, Fiqh, and Tafsir for almost 20 years.

It was in Makkah where he saw what pure Islam looked like — not the distorted, syncretic version back home. This vision haunted him and empowered him. He returned in 1818 as “Haji Shariatullah”, ready to reignite the flame of Tawheed in Bengal.

The Birth of the Faraizi Movement

Upon his return, Shariatullah was shocked at what he saw:

Muslims praying at shrines seeking favors from the dead

Mixing of Islamic rituals with Hindu customs

Lack of education and understanding of the Quran

British and Hindu landlords exploiting Muslim peasants

Islamic obligations like salah, zakat, fasting being ignored

He called it “A state of Jahiliyya (ignorance)”, and he couldn’t stay silent.

Thus began the Faraizi Movement — named after “Faraiz”, the obligatory duties in Islam. Its core message:

“A Muslim must fulfill all that Allah made obligatory — and abandon all that corrupts the faith.”

Reforming the Masses: Islam, Clean and Strong

Haji Shariatullah didn’t go to kings or courts — he went to villages, mosques, fields, and bazaars. He preached in Bengali and Arabic, addressing the farmers, weavers, and villagers — the soul of Bengal.

He taught them:

Salah is the key to dignity — Pray regularly.

Zakat is purification — Share your wealth.

Tawheed is non-negotiable — Worship only Allah.

No Sufi innovations — No grave worship, no shirk.

Live by the Quran and Sunnah — Nothing else.

He appointed “Muallims” (teachers) across the region to spread the message. His message spread like wildfire through Faridpur, Dhaka, Comilla, Jessore, and Barisal.

For the first time in years, Muslim farmers stood tall, refusing to bow before anyone but Allah.

Social Reform: Fighting Exploitation

The Faraizi Movement was not just religious — it was politically subversive. Haji Shariatullah empowered the oppressed Muslim peasants, many of whom were tenants under Hindu zamindars backed by the British.

He told them:

You are not born to be slaves.

No rent on Eid or Friday — these are holy days.

Refuse to participate in un-Islamic rituals imposed by landlords.

This defiance angered zamindars and British officials, who began branding the movement as rebellious. But the poor masses saw him as a liberator, a man of God who taught them how to live again.

Opposition and Persecution

Haji Shariatullah faced intense opposition:

Local ulema who had grown used to compromises branded him a rebel.

Hindu landlords called him a “troublemaker” and demanded his arrest.

The British accused him of “political sedition in the name of religion.”

He was arrested multiple times, yet released — for they found no law he had broken. His movement was peaceful, but its ideological power shook the colonial foundation.

Despite the threats, he never backed down. He wrote treatises in Arabic and Bengali, trained his followers to debate using evidence, and maintained that true Islam was not a private act — it was a public revolution.

Legacy: More than Just a Religious Reformer

Haji Shariatullah died in 1840, but the Faraizi Movement didn’t end. It was taken forward by his son, Dudu Miyan, who made it even more political — calling for economic justice, land rights, and freedom from British rule.

Through their combined efforts, the Faraizi Movement became:

One of the earliest organized resistance efforts in British India.

A model for later reformers and independence activists.

A legacy of grassroots Islamic revivalism rooted in Tawheed and justice.

Teachings That Still Resonate

Haji Shariatullah’s message, though 200 years old, feels painfully relevant today. His teachings included:

Islam is a complete way of life, not just rituals.

Religious reform must begin with personal purification.

Oppression, whether political or spiritual, must be opposed.

Educate the common man — don’t just preach to the elite.

Faith must be tied to freedom.

His idea of Islamic revival through obligation (Faraiz) remains one of the most organized and successful grassroots reform movements in Muslim South Asia.

Conclusion: The Revivalist of Bengal’s Spirit

Haji Shariatullah didn’t wear a crown, lead an army, or hold an office. But he revived a nation’s soul, reawakened its religious conscience, and reminded a broken people that Allah’s law is greater than any empire.

He was a farmer’s son who walked through the villages with no wealth, only words — and those words changed history. Today, his movement is seen as the first step toward the eventual Muslim awakening in East Bengal, which would shape politics, identity, and resistance for the next 150 years.