Historical Representation and Religious Intent in Abdul Haleem Sharar’s Tarikh-e-Yahoodiyat

Abstract

This article revisits Tarikh-e-Yahoodiyat (The History of Judaism), a historical work written in Urdu by Abdul Haleem Sharar in the late 19th century. Sharar uses the history of the Jewish people to reflect on the condition of Indian Muslims during British colonial rule. At that time, Muslims in India were experiencing political decline, social instability, and religious confusion. Sharar selected to write about the history of Jews, as according to him the present condition of Muslim living in sub-continent are going through the same condition the Jews have been going through since long, and there are great lessons for the local Muslim community in the history of Jews. Various scholars have discussed Abdul Haleem Sharar's other books. Barbara Metcalf, Christian Troll and Francis Robinson have done research on the condition of Muslim thoughts of the subcontinent in 19^th century, however Sharar's this book remains still unstudied. The book focuses on important events in Jewish history, such as the Maccabean revolt, the brief return of independence, and the fall of Jerusalem under Roman rule. Sharar does not present these events only as historical facts only, rather he uses them to show how disunity, moral weakness, and poor leadership can lead to the downfall of a powerful community. Through this indirect method, he encourages Muslims to learn from Jewish history and to improve their condition through unity, being morally strong, and faithful to their religious values. This article discusses the sources he has used, including Islamic, Western, and historical writings, and examines his writing style and purpose. The article also places Tarikh-e-Yahoodiyat within the wider intellectual and religious reform movements among Indian Muslims in the 19th century. Sharar’s main goal was not to study Judaism in a spiritual sense, but to use it to educate Muslims about their weaknesses and responsibilities. In this way, Tarikh-e-Yahoodiyat works on two levels. It gives readers a clear account of Jewish history and serves as a mirror for Muslims to think about their past and future. Sharar’s book is a historical text and a call for reflection and reform. It shows how history can guide a community during times of crisis and change.