FERAZEE AND WAHABI MOVEMENTS 43 where for 20 years his teacher and spiritual guide was Tahir Sombal, chief of the Shafi sect. Shariat-ullah returned as the apostle of a reformed Muslim creed. The deviation from the true tenets of the Koran by two generations of Bengali Muslims moved him to promulgate new i ules for the guidance of his followers,, insisting on a return to the observance of the five cardinal principles of Islam. The Ferazee movement thus had its beginnings in the self-purification urge of the Muslims of Bengal.'3 Mere belief in monotheism without any outward observance of the same, was not enough. Besides,, the customs and rituals authorized by neither the Koran nor the Prophet would have to be forsaken. Thus, the chief objective of the movement was to preserve the purity of Islam, shorn of all subsequently interpolated observances, and establish monotheism as envisaged by the Koran.4 Shariat-ullah, in the name of religion roused the peasantry from a slough of apathy and indifference. His success prepared the way for Syed Ahmed, leading light of the Wahabis. Encounter with /^amindars In order to save the Muslim peasant population from the tyranny of Hindu landlords, Shariat-ullah advocated non-payment of levies during the Kali and the Durga festivals (which perpetuated Hindu idolatry) and cow-slaughter during the Muslim festivals regardless of all prohibitions. Over and above the financial loss involved, these were a direct affront to the religious sentiments of the Hindu zamindars. Conflicts ensued, as it was impossible to isolate the reform movement from economic and communal problems. Still it retained the basically religious character.as Shariat-ullah in the distinct style of a true reformer directed it with skill and insight, and was cautious enough to maintain his reputation untarnished.5 'Shariat-ullah's son Dudu Mia (1819-62) made a pilgrimage to Mecca early in his career, and on return devoted himself to the propagation of his father's tenets, besides introducing some new ones. From 1837 his talent for organization was placed at the disposal of the movement whose leader he became on Shariat-ullah's death in 1840. A petty landowner himself6 Dudu Mia was also known as Mahomed Mohsin Aldin Ahmed.7 With Bahadurpur as headquarters, he divided Eastern Bengal into zones, and appointed a khaHfa to collect contributions from members for promoting the objectives of the Central Association. Dudu Mia rallied the Ferazees around two objectives: protection from the oppression of landlords and indigo planters; and social. equality within the sect through liquidation of differences between higher and lower orders. He also laid special stress on equal opportunity for every individual. The Ferazees were determined to forbid all ceremonies in conneection with marriages, births and deaths, considering it sinful to waste money for this purpose.8