Mujahideen Kingdom of Amb Peshawari Sardars Pashtun tribes Supported by: The Sikh–Wahhabi War was fought between the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Wahhabi movement led by Sayyid Ahmad Barelvi.

Following Sayyid Ahmad’s declaration of jihad, he gained support among Pashtun tribes and launched efforts to organize a theocratic state.

The movement imposed reforms, including taxation and social restructuring, which often clashed with local traditions such as the Pashtunwali which caused further alienation of their Pashtun allies.

The Wahhabi movement experienced desertion from their Pashtun allies as a result of the Sayyid Reforms, despite their early success in consolidating authority in the Khyber area.

[14] While Nawab Amir Khan and his son backed him in Tonk with money and military supplies, Hindu Rao and the Sindhia family hosted him and gave him presents in Gwalior.

[16] Unsupported by Yar Muhammad, Syed Ahmad relocated to Charsadda, where his presence sparked enthusiasm among residents fed up with Sikh domination.

[17] Said Muhammad Khan and other Barakzai elders promised loyalty and extended hospitality, but they chose to put their own political goals before of providing tangible assistance.

[18] Syed Ahmad established a base in the Khudu Khel Hills and then made a proclamation to Maharaja Ranjit Singh threatening to go to war if he did not comply with certain Islamic Shariat requirements.

[7] In order to mobilize support and resources for the jihad against the Sikhs, Syed Ahmad turned to his loyal lieutenants, Muhammad Ismail Khan, Baqar Ali, and Maulvis Abdul Hai, who gave passionate speeches and the Syed himself states his reasons in full, for commencing battle against the forces of Ranjit Singh at Panjtar in a speech: I have been thinking of a place of peace in India where I should take the Muslims and organise a Jihad.

They also told me that if I were to migrate to their country, hundreds of thousands of Muslims would join me, particularly because Ranjit Singh was perpetrating great excesses in their land, putting the local population to severe torture and humiliating and bringing disgrace upon them.

I considered it advisable to emigrate to your country to unite and call the Muslims to arms for launching a jihad against the infidels in order to rescue our brethren from their clutches.

[20] Syed Ahmad Barelvi, at the head of an allied army of Hindustanis, Kandharis, Yusafzais, and Khataks, planned a surprise attack against the Sikh troops.

[15][20][24][25][26] After this encounter, Syed Ahmad Barelvi shifted his base to Sitana, situated at the foot of the Mahaban mountains on the west bank of the Indus River, in the territory of the Yusafzais.

[27] The jihad movement planned to attack Hazro, a significant trading center in Sikh territory, during Syed Ahmad's stay at Bazar, Hund.

[27][32] Historian Murray affirms that the Sikh cavalry followed the fleeing Ghazis, and every horseman is said to have slain fifteen to twenty of the retreating warriors.

The steadfast commitment of his followers from Bengal, Bihar, Hindustan, and Kandahar allowed the movement to continue even though the loss and Syed Ahmad's declining health threatened to put an end to it.

[39][40] Syed Ahmad also undertook long missionary tours of Buner and Swat, persuading the local people to unite, give up social and religious practices he deemed un-Islamic, and support his cause.

[41] More importantly, he gained the support of discontented leaders in Hazara, where resentment against the harsh rule of Hari Singh Nalwa, the Sikh general and governor, was growing.

[42] Syed Ahmad had earlier stated his intention to move toward Kashmir once his position in Peshawar was fully secured, the ruler of Chitral and several other local chiefs promising cooperation to that end.

[44] Sayyid Ahmad's intention to deal with the dangers posed by Barakzai leaders, who were impeding the passage of Mujahidin caravans from India and mobilizing local tribes against him, might be one explanation.

[45] In order to overcome the Barakzai chiefs of Peshawar, Syed Ahmad Barelvi gathered money through Hindu moneylenders and looked for tribal backing.

Syed Ahmad faced several obstacles in his attempts to form coalitions and oppose the Barakzai leaders, including betrayals and shifting allegiances.

[46][47] The Battle of Utmanzai, in which Yar Muhammad Khan stopped Sayyid Ahmad's army close to the Kabul River, around 30 kilometers from Peshawar, was the result of this disunity.

Despite initial attempts at peace, a surprise night attack by the Mujahideen resulted in the death of hundreds of Barakzai soldiers and the capture of significant military supplies.

However, a surprise Sikh attack started a battle that killed the lives of several Mujahidin, including Mir Faiz Ali of Gorakhpur.

With the help of his father-in-law, Fatah Khan, Sayyid Ahmad managed to escape with a few followers, seeking refuge in the mountains of Pakhli and Dhamtaur after crossing the Indus River.

[62] After the Balakot Disaster, the Mujahideen lacked a central base, leadership, or a clear course of action, leading to numerous relocations and becoming pawns of local leaders.

After receiving of the triumph at Balakot, Maharaja Ranjit Singh gave the messenger a turban, two shawls, and two gold bracelets worth Rs.

In celebration of the victory against Syed Ahmad, Faqir Imam-ud-din, the governor of Gobindgarh Fort, was also ordered to light up the city of Amritsar and fire an 11-gun salute.

[62] The Government of India directed their Political Assistant to congratulate His Highness on the "final extinction of the commotion excited by that individual (Syed Ahmad)" on behalf of the Governor-General.