Barelvi (Hindi: बरेलवी, Urdu: بریلوی, /bəreːlviː/) is a movement of Sunni Islam originating in South Asia. The Barelvi movement was started in 1880 to defend contemporary traditionalist Islamic beliefs and practices from the criticisms of reformist movements like the Ahl al-ḥadīth (people of hadith).[1] This included a defence of many traditional practices and rites associated with popular Sufism.[2] The movement in British India was shaped by the writings of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi.
Similarly, the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation gives such estimates for the vast majority of Sunni Muslims in Pakistan.[2]