Ulama of Farangi Mahall and Islamic Culture in South Asia

A treatment of the learned and holy men of Farangi Mahall, who were the consolidators in India of the rationalist traditions of Islamic scholarship derived from Iran. Based largely on their writings, records and private papers, it addresses the nature of their scholarly and spiritual traditions.

The learned and holy men of Farangi Mahall were the consolidators in India of the rationalist traditions of Islamic scholarship derived from Iran. These were encapsulated in a renowned and widely-used syllabus, which they created and which became the dominant system of Indian Islamic education from the 18th century. By the 20th century these scholarly traditions, which represented a confident and flexible Islamic understanding, had been overcome by the twin forces of reform and Western education. This volume, written over a 20-year period, is a treatment of this important body of Muslim scholars, teachers and leaders. Based largely on their writings, records and private papers, it addresses, among other issues, the nature of their scholarly and spiritual traditions, their responses to the West, and their place in an Islamic world system based on shared systems of formal and spiritual knowledge.