"Barelvi
The word "Bareilvī " explains the true Sunni identity. *In different times, the Noble and wise `Ulamā’ Ikraam have set differentsigns for the true identity of Sunnīs, which has helped Muslims to separate true and false Sunnīs. All these signs were the NISBATS (relationships) of pious personalities.
When the FITNAH of the Mu`tazilite, Khaarijite, Jabria and Qadria sects started, at that time the Khawaarij pretended to be Sunnīs and were misleading the true Sunnīs. When their mischief became prevalent, Allāh`Azzawajal adorned Ḥaḍrat Abul Ḥasan `Alī bin Ismā`eel Ash-`aree with knowledge and Ma`rifah and sent him to help Muslims during this difficult time.**** He destroyed all the deceiving tricks of the Khawaarij and Mu`tazila and informed Muslims that these sects are not on the right path but only pretending to be Sunnīs. Besides this, he also taught the correct beliefs of Islām to the Muslims. At that time, Sunnīs were recognized by the word ‘ Ash-`aree, ’ because of the relationship with this great Imām of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa`ah. Also, in this era, only such a person would be regard as a true Sunnī who was identified as an Ash-`aree, and the one who was not Ash-`aree, would not be considered to be a Sunnī, rather he would be counted amongst the Khaarijees and a liar in the society.**** Then at another time there appeared people with corrupt beliefs who again started deceiving Muslims in the guise of being Sunnīs, subsequently, Imām-e-Ahlus-Sunnah Ḥaḍrat Sheikh Abū Mansoor Maatureedī Samarqandī gathered all Sunnīs together. He destroyed the Fitnah of fake Sunnīs. Due to his teachings, once again, Sunneeyat became strong and alive. At that time the identity of true or false Sunnīs was his NISBAT, and here, Ṣaḥeeḥul `Aqeedah Sunnīwas called ‘Maatureed ī.’ Any Muslim, who would use the NISBAH of ‘Maatureedī’ as his religious identity, would be regarded as a true Sunnī, and the one who hated the word Maatureedī or shied away from this Nisbah would be regarded as BAD-MAZHAB and Gumraah (misguided).****
We learn from the above that whenever there was a conspiracy to destroy the `Aqaa-id (beliefs) of Islām, someone from amongst the servants of Allāh `Azzawajal helped the Muslim Ummah and safeguarded their Īmaan, and NISBAH towards their names or where they come from (city or village) became the identity of true Sunnī Muslims.****
In the sub-continent, the British government sowed the seeds of Najdeeyat and Wahhaabeeyat to weaken the Īmaan of Muslims and to divide them so they may rule India with ease. Wahhaabism with all its branches (Deobandism, Ghair-Muqallids, Jamaate-Islāmī, Ahle-Ḥadīth, Ahle-Qur-aan, Salfees etc.) started attacking the pure and noble status of the Beloved Nab ī Ṣallallaahu’alaihiwasallam and the beautiful garden of Islām becamepolluted with their filthy attacks, yet they still said that, we are Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa`ah! ****
At that difficult moment, Allāh `Azzawajal lit the light in Bareily Shareef, and this light suppressed the darkness of Wahhaabism and guided those Muslims who went astray. This light of Bareily Shareef illuminated the entire world of Sunneeyat with the light of the Beloved Musṭafā Ṣallallaahu’alaihiwasallam.
Truly speaking, we the small ones in the Ahlus-Sunnah have received every bit of knowledge or Ma`rifah from that Door, and thus, our hearts are filled with the love of the Beloved Nabī Ṣallallaahu’alaihiwasallam, due to this king of Bareily Shareef, otherwise, the ignoramuses of Deobandism and the fools of Wahhaabism almost took us dreadfully close to the eternal fire of hell. What an immense favor this great personality had done upon us, therefore, why should we not thank him and sing his praises?****
Alḥamdulillaah `Azzawajal, the NISBAH of this revered personality of Bareily Shareef, Sayyidī Imām-e-Ahlus Sunnat A`lā Ḥaḍrat Imām Aḥmad Raza Khān Muḥaddithe Bareilvī became our identity! To regard yourself as a Bareilvī with regards to `Aqeedah matters is not farḍ, waajib or Sunnah, however, as in the past, to differentiate between the true and false Sunnīs, viz. the NISBAH of Ash-`aree and Maatureedī was necessary, similarly in this time, the NISBAH of Bareilvī is essential for the true Sunnī Muslims, since, in this time, many false people have kept their names as Sunnīs. If we remove the ‘Bareilvī’ NISBAH, how would we recognize who is true and who is false? Thus, in this era there is no other word except ‘ Bareilvī ’ which can be used to separate false Sunnīs from the true Sunnīs. *If there is any other word to make a clear distinction between the deceptive and false Sunn**ī**s and the authentic Sunn**ī**s (Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa`ah), then it must be presented. I look forward to anyone who can present such a word; this is yet to be seen.* The expression ‘Bareilvī,’ is not the name of a Silsilā (spiritual order), neither is it a branch of the Qaadiriyyah Silsilā but it is synonymous with the term ‘Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa`ah.’ Therefore, all Qaadiries; Chishties; lNaqshbandies and Suhrwardies etc. who are proper Sunnies are known as Bareilvies in this age and time.****
One does not necessarily have to be called a Bareilvī to be a true Sunnī, but simply requires to possess the same beliefs. We would consider a person who lives for example in the Middle East (who doesn’t know the difference between Deobandies and Bareilvies), a Bareilvī, only if he has the same belief system and has not gone against Ḍurooreyaat-e-Deen (essentials of religion) or Ḍurooreyaat-e-Mazhabe Ahlus-Sunnah (essentials of the Ahlus-Sunnah). Even if this person doesn’t know where Bareily is or what it represents. Therefore, this is for such a person who doesn’t know anything regarding the word Bareilvī, however, for the one who understands well what Bareilvī means and still says with disgust that I am not a Bareilvī, he will be condemned and questioned.****
We may be Qaadirī or Chishtī, Shaafi`ee or Ḥanafī, but we will always be Bareilvī first, because this pertains to the matter of `Aqeedah whilst the others deal with Fiqh and Taṣawwuf which are dependent upon Īmaan (`Aqaa-id).****
Taleb-e-Maghfirah and Baqi’****
Abdun Nabi Hamidi****"
