THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS ELITE IN THE KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA: FROM TRIBAL ELDERS TO MODERN ULEMA

Abstract

This paper aims at analyzing the transformation of the religious elite in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the traditional tribal elders to the contemporary ulema. Pashtun society in the past was patrilineal and tribal, the heads of tribes being both political and religious figures. However, in recent decades, the growth of formal religious education, especially in the madrasahs inspired by the Deobandi movement, has led to the emergence of a new class of ulema who gain religious power through education and increasing political influence. This social change has profound consequences on Pashtun culture, politics, and social setting. The contemporary ulema who are well educated in Islamic theology have gradually emerged as the religious and political leaders who do not only set the religious agenda but also the political one in the region. Although they have played a positive role of fostering peace and societal cohesiveness through solving commoner’s disputes, some parts of the religious elite have been associated with radicalism, which is a hindrance to peace and development. The paper analyzes the influence of the external factors including British colonialism, state centralization and the global Islamic movements influencing the course of the religious leadership in the region. It also looks at the problem of the religious elite in today’s society, such as the role of women and children within a religion. The paper explores the prospects for reformist voices within the ulema who wants to solve modern problems including education, women’s rights, and governance, based on Islam. In conclusion, the author underlines the necessity of future investigations into the more complex role of the ulema in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the face of modernization and globalization processes. This knowledge is important in order to understand the general socio-political trends of the region and the possible future role of the religious authorities in the formation of peace, government, and development.

Keywords: Religious Elites, Ulema, Tribal Elders, Pashtun Society, Pashtunwali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa