A new dispensation in Islam : the Ahmadiyya and the law in Colonial India, 1872 to 1939
This thesis makes the Ahmadiyya a case for examining how colonial law in India defined Muslims, from the late nineteenth century through the 1930s. Contrary to the mainstream discourse on Muslim in India, which examines sectarian Muslim identity but discounts social stratification among Muslims, this thesis shows that there was a material basis for how the law differentiated Muslims that contributed to the creation of sectarian difference. First, it examines structures of landownership and social relations in personal law in colonial India. In the Punjab, customary law created a legal distinction between urban and rural Muslims, while blurring the legal distinction between rural Hindus and Muslims. Second, it examines the emergence of the Ahmadiyya among Muslim landowners in central Punjab within this legal context. Third, it looks at the Ahmadiyya's inclusion within Punjab's structure of political representation, which maintained the rural and urban distinction, privileged rural Muslims, and marginalized urban Muslims. Fourth, it looks at an all-India structure of political representation, which subverted the legal distinction among urban and rural Muslims in the Punjab and delegitimized the Ahmadiyya as
Ahmad, Shazia
A new dispensation in Islam : the Ahmadiyya and the law in Colonial India, 1872 to 1939. This thesis makes the Ahmadiyya a case for examining how colonial law in India defined Muslims, from the late nineteenth century through the 1930s. Contrary to the mainstream discourse on Muslim in India, which examines sectarian Muslim identity but discounts social stratification among Muslims, this thesis shows that there was a material basis for how the law differentiated Muslims that contributed to the creation of sectarian difference. First, it examines structures of landownership and social relations in personal law in colonial India. In the Punjab, customary law created a legal distinction between urban and rural Muslims, while blurring the legal distinction between rural Hindus and Muslims. Second, it examines the emergence of the Ahmadiyya among Muslim landowners in central Punjab within this legal context. Third, it looks at the Ahmadiyya's inclusion within Punjab's structure of political representation, which maintained the rural and urban distinction, privileged rural Muslims, and marginalized urban Muslims. Fourth, it looks at an all-India structure of political representation, which subverted the legal distinction among urban and rural Muslims in the Punjab and delegitimized the Ahmadiyya as
new dispensation islam law colonial india make case examine colonial law india define muslims contrary mainstream discourse muslim india examine sectarian muslim_identity discount social stratification among muslims show material basis law differentiate muslims contribute_creation sectarian difference first examines structure landownership social_relation personal law colonial india punjab customary law create legal distinction urban_rural muslims blur legal distinction rural hindus muslims second examine emergence among muslim landowner central punjab within legal context third_look inclusion within punjab structure political representation maintain rural_urban distinction privilege rural muslims marginalize urban muslims fourth look all india structure political representation legal distinction among urban_rural muslims punjab