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Wahhabi-Sikh War
Date 21 December, 1826 - 8 May, 1831 (4 years, 4 months, and 17 days) Location Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, modern day Pakistan Result Sikh victory
Belligerents
Sikh Empire	Mujahideen Kingdom of Amb Peshawari Sardars Pashtun tribes Supported by: Tonk State
Commanders and leaders
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Sher Singh Hari Singh Nalwa Budh Singh Sandhanwalia Ilahi Bakhsh Akali Hanuman Singh Gulab Singh Yar Muhammad  †	Syed Ahmad Barelvi † Baqar Ali † Allahbakhsh Khan † Shah Ismail Dehlvi † Mirza Hayat Dehlvi † Khadi Khan  † Sayyid Ahmad Ali  † Yar Muhammad (defected) Mir Painda Khan Pashtun chiefs Mir Alam Khan of Bajaur Fatah Khan of Panjtar Sarbuland Khan of Tanawal  † Habibullah Khan of Swat Sultan Zabardast Khan of Muzaffarabad Sultan Najaf Khan of Khatur Abdul Ghafur Khan of Agror Nasir Khan of Nandhar
Strength
33,000 under Budh Singh 20,000 reserves	80,000- 100,000 tribals 20,000 Barakzai chiefs army
Casualties and losses
Light	Heavy

The Wahhabi-Sikh War or Sayyid Ahmad's Holy War against the Sikhs, was fought between the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Wahhabi movement led by Sayyid Ahmad Barelvi. The conflict arose from Sayyid Ahmad's attempts to establish an Islamic state in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent based on the Sharia law.

Following Sayyid Ahmad’s declaration of jihad, he gained support among Pashtun tribes and launched efforts to organize a theocratic state. The movement imposed reforms, including taxation and social restructuring, which often clashed with local traditions such as the Pashtunwali which caused further alieanation of their pashtun allies. The Wahhabi movement experienced desertion from their Pashtun allies as a result of the Sayyid Reforms, despite their early success in consolidating authority in the Khyber area.

The Battle of Balakot in 1831 saw the end of the war. In the battle the Sayyid and many of his important supporters were killed. This put a stop to the Wahhabi movement's plans toward territorial expansion.

Background

Syed Ahmad Barelvi Born in 1786 in Rae Bareilly A religious leader and military figure, he studied under famous scholars in Delhi. He joined the forces of Amir Khan Pindari, became head of bodyguards and remained so until the army of Amir Khan was disbanded in 1819. Then he returned to Delhi and put himself forward as a religious leader. He was mainly driven by the idea of bringing back an Islamic state in India, focusing on Jihad to take on the Sikhs and set up Islamic rule, seeing them as a smaller threat than the British.

In the early nineteenth century, both local and provincial politics in Punjab underwent significant changes. Following Ranjit Singh's conquest of Lahore in 1799 and the subjugation of other Sikh chiefs, he pursued an expansionist policy westward. Due to the Treaty of Amritsar (1809), he was unable to expand eastward beyond the Sutlej. The ongoing Durrani civil war helped the Sikhs consolidate their power in the former territories of the Durrani Empire. By 1825, Ranjit Singh had conquered Attock, Multan, and Kashmir, delivering a devastating blow to the Afghans at the Battle of Nowshera. By the time Sayyid Ahmad arrived, the entire Hazara region had already fallen into Sikh hands.

Migration to the Frontier

Syed Ahmad Khan set off from Bareilly to the Frontier in January 1826, traveling via Dalmau, Fatehpur Sikri, Gwalior, and Tonk. Maharaja Daulat Rao Sindhia welcomed him while he was at Gwalior, where he also met Hindu Rao, Sindhia's brother-in-law. Later, Syed Ahmad sent Hindu Rao from the Frontier an important message. Amir Khan and his son Yaziruddaula, the Nawabs of Tonk, supported his cause and provided him with many forms of assistance. Syed Ahmad proceeded with his expedition, passing through Sindh, Baluchistan, and Rajputana before arriving at Peshawar in November 1826.

During the roughly ten-month expedition, there was both excitement and doubt. While some were moved by Sayyid Ahmad's jihadi principles, others doubted his ill-prepared army could beat the Sikhs. Sayyid Ahmad made significant trips in Tonk and Gwalior, where he won the local leaders' support. While Nawab Amir Khan and his son backed him in Tonk with money and military supplies, Hindu Rao and the Sindhia family hosted him and gave him presents in Gwalior.

Syed Ahmad's presence generated admiration and mistrust as he traveled across Sind and Baluchistan. While some in Sindh swore loyalty, others saw him and his supporters as British agents. Although the leaders of Sind and Bahawalpur did not accept invitations to join the jihad, Sibgatullah Shah, the Pir of Pagara, joined it in hope for military success. Syed Ahmad went to Baluchistan, where he sought the backing of Mehrab Khan, the governing Mehran, after leaving his family in the hands of the Hurs. Mehrab Khan, however, refused to join the jihad, claiming that Abdullah Khan Durrani's men posed a threat.

Syed Ahmad came to Peshawar, which was governed by Yar Muhammad Khan, on behalf of the Sikh Darbar in November 1826. Unsupported by Yar Muhammad, Syed Ahmad relocated to Charsadda, where his presence sparked enthusiasm among residents fed up with Sikh domination. Said Muhammad Khan and other Barakzai elders promised loyalty and extended hospitality, but they chose to put their own political goals before of providing tangible assistance. During his stay in Charsadda, Sayyid Ahmad organized supporters, acquired supplies, and planned his offensive against the Sikhs.

Preperation for War

Syed Ahmad established a base in the Khudu Khel Hills and then made a proclamation to Maharaja Ranjit Singh threatening to go to war if he did not comply with certain Islamic Shariat requirements. Ranjit Singh shrugged the command away. In order to mobilize support and resources for the jihad against the Sikhs, Syed Ahmad turned to his loyal lieutenants, Muhammad Ismail Khan, Baqar Ali, and Maulvis Abdul Hai, who gave passionate speeches and the Syed himself states his reasons in full, for commencing battle against the forces of Ranjit Singh at Panjtar in a Speech:

“I have been thinking of a place of peace in India where I should take the Muslims and organise a Jihad. Although Hindustan is a sprawling country with an expanse of hundreds of miles I could not find a suitable place to which I could migrate. … Some of your brothers…told me that their country was the most suitable place for the purpose. They also told me that if I were to migrate to their country, hundreds of thousands of Muslims would join me, particularly because Ranjit Singh was perpetrating great excesses in their land, putting the local population to severe torture and humiliating and bringing disgrace upon them. Ranjit Singh’s men, I was told, burnt the mosques, destroyed the crops relieved the local population of all they had and even took away women and children to be sold as serfs…Believing what your brothers told me to be correct. I considered it advisable to emigrate to your country to unite and call the Muslims to arms for launching a jihad against the infidels in order to rescue our brethren from their clutches.”

When Budh Singh's Sikh army reached Khairabad, Sayyid Ahmad sensed a chance to take action. In addition to local rivalry amongst tribal chiefs like Khawas Khan and Amir Khan, Amir Khan Khattak of Akora Khattak encouraged Syed Ahmad to begin his campaign from his region.

First campaign

Sardar Budh Singh Sandhanwalia was a collateral cousin of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, as were his brothers, Atar Singh and Lahna Singh. After being sent to Hazara to serve under Hari Singh Nalwa, Budh Singh was assigned to Akora, a strategically important site across the Indus River approximately 18 kilometers from Attock. Khattak Afghans, under the leadership of Najaf Khan, populated the majority of Akora. They retreated to the hills after the Sikhs took Peshawar.

Battle of Akora Khattak

In December 1826, Sardar Budh Singh Sandhanwalia lay at Akora with a force of about 4,000 men. Syed Ahmad Barelvi, at the head of an allied army of Hindustanis, Kandharis, Yusafzais, and Khataks, planned a suprise attack against the Sikh troops. The attack, led by Allahbakhsh Khan, was launched in the early hours of 21 December 1826, catching the Sikhs off guard as they slept in the cold.

The first attack led to considerable losses among the Sikhs. However, Budh Singh quickly rallied his men and launched a counterattack which forced the enemy to retreat. The Ghazis retreated from the field and the hills. While the Sikhs held their ground, they had suffered about 500 casualties. The army of the Syed lost 36 Hindustanis and 46 Kandharis, including Maulvi Baqar Ali of Patna, and their commander, Allahbakhsh Khan. The outcome of the battle remains disputed. Some sources describe it as a victory for Syed Ahmad Barelvi, while others claim it was a victory for the Sikhs.

After this encounter, Syed Ahmad Barelvi shifted his base to Sitana, situated at the foot of the Mahaban mountains on the west bank of the Indus River, in the territory of the Yusafzais. While Budh Singh retreated to Hazro.

Proclamation as Imam

In the course of this period, many Pashtun tribes joined the movement of Syed Ahmad Barelvi and pledged their allegiance (Bay'ah) to his call for jihad. Among these were the Khadi Khan, the eminent chief of the Mandanr tribe from Hund, who became one of the prominent lieutenants of Syed Ahmad. He was later joined by Ashraf Khan of Zaida, who continued to be one of the closest associates of Syed Ahmad till his death.

On 11 January 1827, a gathering was held at Akora, which was attended by top leaders of the Ghazi forces and leading members of the local people. It was decided that Muslims from both banks of the Indus would be gathered, and Syed Ahmad was declared an Imam by his followers. From then onwards, the Hindustani Mujahideen started to call him Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful).

The jihad movement planned to attack Hazro, a significant trading center in Sikh territory, during Syed Ahmad's stay at Bazar, Hund. Despite a small garrison and single cannon, supporters argued that capturing Hazro was crucial for achieving the movement's goals, despite the small defenses.

Battle of Hazro (1827)

Forty Kandaharis and a group of local Pashtuns stormed Hazro, taking the fortified building and sacking the mandi. Massive losses resulted from the Sikh troops' counterattack. The majority of Pashtuns escaped, and many were slain in the process. Syed Ahmad ensured the escape of the surviving Mujahideen by sending soldiers to rescue them. Sardar Budh Singh Sandhanwalia was able to maintain his position in spite of difficulties, and just two Hindustani Mujahideen were slain. Eventually, the Ghazis retreated to their hiding spots.

Battle of Shaidu

Pashtun tribes from various areas began to gather under the command of Syed Ahmad Barelvi, and in two months, their number reached 100,000 men. The Barakzai chiefs of Peshawar joined the movement, and their army consisted of 20,000 men and 8 guns.

In response, a Sikh force under Sardar Budh Singh Sandhanwalia concentrated at the village of Pirpai, 32 km south of Peshawar and 30 km from Akora. The Sikh army, comprising about 10,000 troops and 12 cannon, was reinforced by Raja Gulab Singh, Raja Suchet Singh, and Atariwala Sardars. Budh Singh was able to obtain the neutrality of the Barakzai chief of Peshawar through diplomatic negotiations which the Mujahideens saw as betrayal.

The Sikhs held their ground even though the Ghazis pressed them heavily for a long time. When their supplies began to run low, Budh Singh made a sally. The Sikh artillery inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, forcing them to retreat. It is estimated that nearly 6,000 Mujahideen were killed or wounded in the battle. Historian Murray affirms that the Sikh cavalry followed the fleeing Ghazis, and every horseman is said to have slain fifteen to twenty of the retreating warriors. Syed Ahmad Barelvi himself took shelter in the Swat hills the jihad movement suffered a crushing defeat. In recognition of the Sikh triumph, Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent congratulatory presents to Budh Singh Sandhanwalia and the other leaders.

Recovery

The first, fast wave of the jihad movement in the Frontier ended with the loss at Shaidu. The steadfast commitment of his followers from Bengal, Bihar, Hindustan, and Kandahar allowed the movement to continue even though the loss and Syed Ahmad's declining health threatened to put an end to it. A more restrained and measured phase of the jihad movement in the area emerged as a result of this difficult period.

Consolidation of Power

After the defeat at Shaidu, Syed Ahmad Barelvi took refuge with Fatah Khan of Panjtar, a staunch opponent of Sikh rule. With the support of Fatah Khan, Syed Ahmad began consolidating his power in the area by forcing the neighboring tribal chiefs to unconditionally support his jihad against the Sikhs. This campaign included the coercion or subjugation of leaders like Mir Babu Khan of Sadhum and Ahmad Khan of Hoti, the latter being killed for his insufficient commitment. Syed Ahmad's influence was extended over the Yusafzai Valley and tribes such as the Afridis, Mohmands, and Khalils were won over to his cause against the Sikhs.

Missionary tours

Syed Ahmad also undertook long missionary tours of Buner and Swat, persuading the local people to unite, give up social and religious practices he deemed un-Islamic, and support his cause. Letters were dispatched to neighboring rulers, including those of Chitral, Kashmir, and Bukhara, seeking alliances and cooperation. More importantly, he gained the support of discontented leaders in Hazara, where resentment against the heavy-handed rule of Hari Singh Nalwa, the Sikh general and governor, was growing.

Kashmir had a central place in Syed Ahmad's strategic plans. Capture of this region would give him a secure and resource-rich base with its natural defenses and majority Muslim population. Syed Ahmad had earlier stated his intention to move toward Kashmir once his position in Peshawar was fully secured, the ruler of Chitral and several other local chiefs promising cooperation to that end. In preparation for this campaign, he positioned himself in Panjtar, while simultaneously dispatching Shah Ismail on a reconnaissance and preaching mission to the Pakhli area. Shah Ismail's endeavors in Amb and Sittana effectively enhanced support for the movement.

Second campaign

Aftermath

References

Citations

1. ^ Jalal 2009, p. 86.
2. ^ Khan 1968, p. 330.
3. Ahmad 1966, p. 49.
4. ^ Khan 1968, p. 329.
5. Gupta 1978, p. 159.
6. Qadir 2019, p. 30.
7. Ansari 1976, p. 233.
8. ^ Gupta 1978, p. 160.
9. Qadir 2019, p. 14.
10. Khan 1968, p. 320.
11. ^ Ahmad 1966, p. 43.
12. ^ Jalal 2009, p. 87.
13. Qadir 2019, p. 61.
14. ^ Qadir 2019, p. 62.
15. Husain 2018, p. 37.
16. ^ Gupta 1978, p. 161.
17. ^ Khan 1968, p. 328.
18. Dani 1995, p. 130.
19. ^ Qadir 2019, p. 64.
20. Singh 1964, p. 273.
21. Hasrat 1977, p. 123.
22. Ahmad 1966, p. 47.
23. ^ Gupta 1978, p. 162.
24. ^ Qadir 2019, p. 65.
25. Ram 1977, p. 129.
26. Khan 1968, p. 331.
27. Qadir 2019, p. 69.
28. Ram 1977, p. 130.
29. Khan 1968, p. 332.
30. ^ Qadir 2019, p. 70.
31. Khan 1968, p. 333.
32. ^ Jalal 2009, p. 91.
33. Qadir 2019, p. 81.
34. Qadir 2019, p. 85.
35. ^ Gupta 1978, p. 163.
36. Hasrat 1977, p. 124.
37. ^ Qadir 2019, p. 88.
38. ^ Ahmad 1966, p. 50.
39. Jalal 2009, p. 92.

Works cited

• Ansari, A. S. Bazmee (1976). "Sayyid Ahmad Shahid in the Light of His Letters". Islamic Studies. 15 (4). Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University Islamabad: 231–245. JSTOR 20847014.
• Khan, Mu'īn-ud-Dīn Aḥmad (1968). "Sayyid Aḥmad Shahīd's Campaign Against the Sikhs". Islamic Studies. 7 (4). Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad: 317–338. JSTOR 20832929.
• Gupta, Hari Ram (1978). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Lion of Lahore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1799-1839. Vol. 5 (3rd, illustrated ed.). Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 9788121505154.
• Jalal, Ayesha (2009). Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674039070.
• Qadir, Altaf (2019). Sayyid Ahmad Barailvi: His Movement and Legacy from the Pukhtun Perspective. SAGE Publications. ISBN 9789351500728.
• Ahmad, Qeyamuddin (1966). The Wahabi Movement in India. Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay.
• Gupta, Hari Ram (1987). Panjab, Central Asia, and the First Afghan War: Based on Mohan Lal's Observations (2nd, reprint ed.). Publication Bureau, Panjab University.
• Dani, Ahmad Hasan (1995). Peshawar: Historic City of the Frontier (2nd, illustrated, reprint ed.). Sang-e-Meel Publications. ISBN 9789693505542.
• Singh, Fauja (1964). Military System of the Sikhs: During the Period 1799-1849. Motilal Banarsidass.
• Ram, Kirpa (1977). Gulabnama of Diwan Kirpa Ram: A History of Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu & Kashmir. Translated by Sukh Dev Singh Charak. Light & Life Publishers.
• Chopra, Gulshan Lall (1977). The Punjab as a Sovereign State, 1799-1839 (reprint ed.). al-Biruni.
• Sethi, R. R. (1950). The Lahore Darbar (in the Light of the Correspondence of Sir C. M. Wade, 1823-1840). Keeper of Records, Government of Punjab.
• Hasrat, Bikrama Jit (1977). Life and Times of Ranjit Singh: A Saga of Benevolent Despotism. V.V. Research Institute Book Agency.
• Husain, Farrukh (2018). Afghanistan in the Age of Empires: The Great Game for South and Central Asia (illustrated ed.). Silk Road Books. ISBN 9781527216334.