Abdullah Chakralawi [new] May 2026

1. Introduction Abdullah Chakralawi (also spelled Chakralvi or Chakrali) was a prominent, albeit controversial, Islamic scholar, theologian, and jurist from the Indian subcontinent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known as a leading figure within the Ahl-i-Hadith movement and for his distinctive and highly rationalist approach to Islamic jurisprudence. His most notable contribution, which set him apart from mainstream Ahl-i-Hadith scholars, was his rejection of the concept of Ijma (consensus of the scholars) as a binding source of Islamic law, arguing instead for the primacy of the Qur’an and the Sunnah (prophetic traditions) as the sole infallible sources.