Navigating Difference: Nadwat al-‘ulama, Pluralism, and Articulating Muslim Identity in Colonial India

Abstract

This dissertation examines the early years of Nadwat al-‘ulama (1894-1915)–an ecumenical Muslim organization and religious school in north India–shedding light on its role in the larger context of Muslim identity formation in late 19th and early 20th-century South Asia. Often overlooked in historiography, the Nadwa sought to unite diverse Muslim communities amidst growing political, social, and theological divisions, promoting a pluralist vision of Islam. Through an analysis of meeting minutes, newspapers, tracts, fatwas (Islamic legal rulings), speeches, and correspondence, this work explores how different north Indian Muslim groups, such as the Barelwis, Ahl-i Hadith, and Ahmadis, navigated disagreements amongst themselves over the boundaries of “Muslim” identity. It suggests that the period following the 1857 uprisings was not merely one of polemics and division, but also of ecumenism and pluralism, where some Muslim groups initially sought collaboration despite theological differences. However, over time, divergent theological priorities contributed to greater separation and opposition among groups. The dissertation raises concerns relevant to scholars of religion, scholars of Islam, and scholars of South Asia, such as navigating differences within and between religious traditions, shifting notions of religious authority, and the role of religion as a marker of identity, among other topics. The Nadwa's history offers a nuanced understanding of Muslim identity in a period of transition and reflects the fluidity of intra-Muslim relationships over time.