Sunni Barelvi Doctrine
In brief: Sunni Barelvi doctrine at the Islamic Institute of Advanced Research: the Ahl al-Sunnah creed, love of the Prophet, reverence for the saints, and the writings of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan.
The Barelvi movement — also called Ahl-e-Sunnat wa Jama’at in South Asia — takes its name from Bareilly, the home of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan. It is Sunni, Hanafi in law, Maturidi in creed and associated with the Sufi orders.
Themes taught
- Love, respect and devotion towards the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a matter of faith
- Salawat and na’t as expressions of that love
- Remembrance of the Prophet’s birth (Mawlid) as a devotional practice
- Respect for the awliya (saints) and the practice of tawassul (seeking means), as understood by the tradition
- Adherence to a school of law (taqlid) and to the Sufi path under qualified guidance
Different Muslim communities differ on several of these practices. The Institute presents the Barelvi position as taught by its own scholars and encourages students to know the arguments of other schools of thought respectfully and accurately.
Related: Sunni theology specialisation, Hanafi school.