Name of group: Braylwiyyah
Adherent to group: Braylwee, plural – Braylwiyyoon
The Braylwiyyah are a Soofee sect which was born in India at the time of the British rule there.
It’s followers concern themselves in exceeding in their love and honour for the Prophets and the “saints” in general, and the Prophet ﷺ specifically.
It’s founder was a man by the name of Ahmad Ridhaa Khaan ibn Taqee ‘Alee Khaan who was born in 1272 A.H. (1851 C.E.) and called himself Abdul-Mustafaa (slave/servant of Mustafaa, i.e. Muhammad ﷺ).
He was born in the city of Braylee in the province of Uttar Pradesh and was a student of al-Mirza Ghulaam Qaadir Begg who was the older (blood) brother of Mirza Ghulaam Ahmad al-Qaadiyaanee (founder of the Qaadiyaaniyyah sect).
He was of a slim build and known to be shrewd and clever, whilst also being ill-tempered and foul-mouthed. He used to suffer from chronic illnesses, and used to consistently complain of headaches and back pains.
He visited Makkah and studied under some of the scholars there in 1295 A.H. (1874 C.E.).
Amongst his “notable” books are: ((Anbaa. al-Mustafaa)) and ((Khaalis al-I’tiqaad)).
From the beliefs of this sect is that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ has the ability/power to control the creation and all that occurs, and that the “saints” have the ability/power to influence the creation and all that occurs.
And they have exceeded in their belief with respect to the Prophet ﷺ such that they have ascended him to a rank close to that of worshiping him. And they have exceeded in their belief with respect to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ such that they believe he has knowledge of the unseen, and they deny that he was a human being, rather that he was the light (noor) of Allaah. And they also permit calling for assistance from the “saints” and the Prophets and other than them from the false beliefs.
Further reading
al-Braylwiyyah: ‘Aqaa.id wa Taareekh – Ihsaan Elahe Zaheer;
al-Braylwiyyah – Masters degree thesis presented at the Faculty of Usool ad-Deen at the Islaamic University of Imaam Muhammad ibn Sa’ood in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
