How to Pronounce Deoband

Meaning and Context

Deoband is a historic town in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, whose name has become synonymous with one of the most influential Islamic intellectual movements of the modern era. Founded in 1866, the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary emerged as a center of Islamic learning and revivalist thought in the aftermath of the 1857 rebellion against British rule. It gave birth to the Deobandi movement, a Sunni Islamic revivalist movement that emphasizes a strict adherence to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, the primacy of the Quran and Hadith, and a rejection of what it perceives as heterodox innovations (bid'ah). The theological framework and curriculum developed at Darul Uloom Deoband have been replicated in thousands of madrasas (Islamic seminaries) across South Asia and beyond, making Deobandi Islam a major religious and social force. The movement's influence extends from religious education and jurisprudence to significant impacts on Islamic politics and culture in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, while also generating a wide spectrum of affiliated groups with varying political stances.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary term "Deoband" is consistently transliterated from its Urdu origin, leading to a generally standardized spelling in English. However, minor variations can occasionally be found, particularly in older texts or non-scholarly publications, such as "Deo Band" (with a space) or the less common "Diyoband." The most frequent errors are typographical in nature, often involving the transposition of vowels, resulting in misspellings like "Doeband" or "Deoban." It is also sometimes mistakenly conflated with or spelled similarly to "Deband," which is unrelated. When referring to the movement or the adherents, the correct adjectives are "Deobandi" (singular or collective) and "Deobandis" (plural). A common error is using "Deoband" as an adjective (e.g., "Deoband movement") where "Deobandi" is more precise, though the former is widely understood in context.

Example Sentences

Scholars traveling from Central Asia often make a pilgrimage to Deoband to study at the revered Darul Uloom.

The Deobandi interpretation of Islamic law has shaped the religious landscape of numerous communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

While the seminary in Deoband remains apolitical, various political parties in the region draw ideological inspiration from the Deobandi movement.

His theological training followed the traditional Deobandi dars-i nizami curriculum.

Analysts note that the global network of Deobandi madrasas plays a complex role in both religious education and contemporary geopolitics.

The town of Deoband itself is a bustling hub, where the rhythms of daily life coexist with its profound historical and religious significance.

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