The Faraizi Movement: Bengal's Forgotten Islamic Revival

This episode explores the Faraizi movement, a nineteenth-century Islamic reform and peasant resistance movement in Bengal led by Haji Shariatullah and his son Dudu Miyan. We trace its origins in early British colonial rule, when Muslim peasants faced economic exploitation by Hindu zamindars and European indigo planters. Shariatullah, inspired by his studies in Mecca, called for a return to the 'farz' or obligatory duties of Islam, rejecting syncretic practices and challenging the authority of absentee landlords. His son Dudu Miyan transformed the movement into a powerful rural network, organizing peasants to resist illegal taxes and land grabs, often through peaceful defiance and legal action. The movement clashed with both Hindu landlords and Christian missionaries, and faced suppression by the British. We examine the Faraizi emphasis on monotheism, its grassroots legal aid, and its role in shaping Bengali Muslim identity. The episode also touches on parallel movements like the Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya and the Wahabi influence, and reflects on the movement's legacy in the lead-up to the 1947 partition.

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