Al-I‘tidal by Maulana Zakariyya Kandhlawi: Ulama and Politics in 1938 Part 1
Al-I‘tidal by Maulana Zakariyya Kandhlawi: Ulama and Politics in 1938 *Introduction* The year 1938 was a turning point in the history of British India. Political parties were becoming stronger, Muslims were worried about their future, and the atmosphere was full of tension. In this critical period, a short but impactful booklet was written by one of the greatest scholars of Deoband, Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi RA. The name of that booklet was *"Al-I‘tidal "*. The word "I‘tidal" means moderation, balance, and adopting the middle path. In "Al-I‘tidal", Maulana Zakariyya RA gave very important advice to the Ulama about how they should behave in politics. His message was not to completely stay away from politics, nor to become fully involved in it. Instead, he advised the middle way. Even today in 2026, the message of "Al-I‘tidal" is very relevant for scholars, students, and every Muslim who wants to understand the right role of Ulama in ...