The need for the reform was felt by the Muslims only in the early 19th century AD. The reformists felt that Islam in India had degenerated. They took upon themselves the task of purifying and strengthening Islam. Shariatullah, the leader of the Faraizi Movement, condemned the influence of the caste system among the Muslims.
Modern education spread first among the Hindus and the n among the Muslims. In the early part of the century, only a few Muslims of Delhi and Calcutta had taken to English education. The resentment of the British towards the Muslims increased greatly after the Revolt of 1857, since the Muslims had actively taken part in it. Now, the Muslims felt the need for a cooperative attitude towards the British to improve the community’s social condition. Movements were started to fight the purdah system and polygamy. The Mohammedan Literary Society was started by Nawab Abdul Latif in AD 1863. It worked for the spread of education in Bengal, especially among the Muslims. It also worked for Hindu-Muslim unity.