Answer
(Fatwa: 131/H-17/TH=1434)
(1) The elder Ulama of Deoband (رحمهم الله تعالى رحمة واسعة) and their followers are true Ahl Sunnah Wal Jamah. If someone practices as per the holy Quran, Hadith Sharif, and his beliefs are correct as per it while he avoids bid’ah and nonsense then he is true Muslim. There is no harm if it is not known whether he is a Deobandi or not.
(2) Ahmad Raza Khan grew up in Bareilly and he was buried there. The Barailavi sect is attributed to him. Barailavi also call him Ala Hadhrat. There is a book ‘Nuzhah al-Khawatir’ written by Hadhrat Maulana Abdul Hai al-Hasani Lucknowi (رحمة الله). The details provided in the book establish that Ahmad Raza Khan cannot be included in the lists of true believer and Auliya. If you want to see more details buy the complete set of ‘Elmi Muhazarah’ by Hadhrat Maulana Mufti Muhammad Amin, Palanpuri from Maktaba Darul Uloom Deoband, and study it thoroughly.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband