Font Size:     

The Roshnites (Illuminati) also called “Rokhanian” in Pashto, a sixteenth century religiopolitical movement in the Pashtun dominated regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, effected social mobilization on an unprecedented scale. The movement aimed at doctrinal reforms but soon it turned out to be a political movement. The leader of the Movement, Bayazid Ansari (also called “Pir Rokhan” by his devotees and “Pir Tareek” by his opponents), a mystic practitioner believing in mystic doctrine of Wahdatul Wajud (pantheism) urged people to acknowledge him as “Pir-e-Tamam” (ultimate spiritual guide) and as “Imam-eZaman” (contemporary world leader), seeking unquestioned allegiance and obedience. His teachings generated a controversy which resulted in wars and fighting. The paper aims at examining the controversy as to whether it was dogmatic, revolving around mystical experiences or politically motivated as believed by some people. The dogmas and doctrines as expressed by the leader of the movement are embodied chiefly in his book called Khairul Bayan, believed to be divinely inspired and revealed, and the same has been benefited from. The assertions of Bayazid Ansari and the contesting arguments of the chief rival called Akhund Darveza have been examined in the light of comparative mystical expressions given by other Sufi practitioners of pre and post periods. Relying on internal evidence from Khairul Bayan, it has been established that the dispute was embedded more in religion than in politics