Barelvi (, , ) is a term used for the movement following the
Sunni Hanafi school of
jurisprudence, originating in
Bareilly with over 200 million followers in
South Asia. The name derives from the
north Indian town of
Bareilly, the hometown of its founder and main leader
Ahmed Raza Khan (1856–1921). Although Barelvi is the commonly used term in the media and academia, the followers of the movement often prefer to be known by the title of
Ahle Sunnat wal Jama'at, or as
Sunnis, a reference to their perception as forming an international majority movement.