**Direct Translation:**
Tablighi Jamaat
Among the influential movements among Muslims, Tablighi Jamaat holds the foremost position. Can we join that Jamaat? Are the principles and doctrines of that Jamaat based on Islamic foundations?
Many questions arise among Muslims, such as: Is it right to invite people from place to place for forty days or a year to call them to prayer?
Therefore, it has become necessary for us to examine this in detail.
Traveling out of town for forty days or a year for religious work or personal work is not a sin in religion.
Religion does not prohibit, but permits, undertaking journeys for the purpose of learning religion, teaching others, engaging in righteous struggle, earning a livelihood in a lawful manner, and for other needs.
God mentions the journey undertaken by Moses (peace be upon him) to meet Khidr (peace be upon him) to learn certain matters, as commanded by God. (Holy Quran 18:60 – 18:82)
There have also been companions who traveled from Mecca to Medina to learn just one religious ruling.
Bukhari: 88, 2640
These serve as evidence that one can travel for good deeds. There are numerous other evidences regarding this.
Therefore, it is not right to approach this from the perspective of whether traveling is right or wrong. It is only on the basis of why this journey is undertaken that a conclusion can be reached as to whether this Jamaat is a righteous Jamaat or not.
If asked, 'Why are you calling people?' they say, 'We are recruiting people to call them to prayer.'
It is true that they call people to the very important duty of prayer; and for this, they undertake journeys spending their own money. It cannot be denied that many proud and arrogant individuals have become humble through Tablighi Jamaat.
Even great wealthy individuals are willing to cook when they go to this Jamaat.
They diligently observe prayers like Tahajjud and Duha.
They give up watching movies.
There can be no doubt that these are welcome changes. Those who deny such good aspects within that Jamaat cannot be lovers of truth.
However, we cannot support Tablighi Jamaat entirely.
We are also obligated to examine if there are any trends that are contrary to religion.
Let us consider what is taught to the people who are taken from place to place. In their 'Ta'lim' classes, the exegesis of the Holy Quran, its Tamil translation, or authentic Tamil translations of Hadith are not read.
Not only are they not read, but there is an open prohibition against reading them. Can one travel with a group that prohibits reading the Holy Quran and the way of the Prophet (peace be upon him)?
A practice has been established where only the book of a person who lived in this century is to be read, after prohibiting the book of Allah and the teachings of the Prophet. We feel there is justification in the criticism by those who are knowledgeable that the 'father-in-law, son-in-law' relationship between that author and Hazratji is the reason for this decision.
Is that compilation of books based on Islamic principles? No, it is not. That book contains many things that undermine the Holy Quran! There is no shortage of fabricated stories in the name of the Messenger of God! There are plenty of fairy tales in the name of 'saints'! Can one undertake a journey to learn such stories?
Islam teaches us to work for our sustenance and our families, and to fulfill our family obligations.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard about a companion named Abdullah bin Amr, who fasted all day and prayed all night without looking after his wife, he went to him. He advised him, 'Do not do this! Fast and do not fast! Pray and sleep! For you have obligations to your body, obligations to your eyes, and obligations to your guests.'
Book: Bukhari 1975, 6134
The Prophet (peace be upon him) made Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) and Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) brothers. When Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) went to meet Abu Dhar, he saw Umm Dhar, Abu Dhar's wife, wearing dirty clothes. Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) asked her, 'What has happened to you?' She replied, 'My brother Abu Dhar has no need for this world.' (After a while) Abu Dhar came and prepared food for Salman. Salman said to Abu Dhar, 'Eat!' Abu Dhar said, 'I am fasting.' Salman said, 'I will not eat without you eating,' and Abu Dhar ate. When night fell, Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) prepared to stand for prayer. Then Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) said, 'Sleep!' and he slept. Then he prepared to stand for prayer again. Salman again said, 'Sleep!' When the last part of the night came, Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) said, 'Now get up!' Both prayed. Then he said to Abu Dhar, 'You have obligations to your Lord, obligations to yourself, and obligations to your family. Fulfill the obligations of each.' Then Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and told him about this matter. To which the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, 'Salman has spoken the truth!'
Narrated by: Abu Juhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him)
Book: Bukhari: 1968, 6139
When calling for 'Chilla', these obligations are neglected. This 'Chilla' is preached with such fervor that all obligations are neglected, saying, 'Allah will take care.' If 'Allah will take care' means what they understand, they do not consider whether He would have imposed obligations towards our families upon us. Think about whether this journey that incites the neglect of many obligations is right!
Are they truthful even in their belief that 'Allah will take care'? They are the ones with the weakest faith in this matter. No movement or person carries cooking utensils and pots and pans during their travels. But they carry all their cooking equipment with them. This means their belief is such that Allah will not take care of their food.
Furthermore, the feelings and bravery of Muslims in this Jamaat are being dulled to the extent that their minds are being brainwashed.
They have the audacity to teach that the heroic journeys of the companions who went for righteous struggle to sacrifice their lives, and the Hadith that inspired interest in this matter, are about their journeys carrying lunch packets.
They have started teaching that Islam is to sit in a corner of the mosque or lean against a pillar, rolling a prayer bead and wearing a jubbah below the knee. How can this Jamaat, which creates a wrong image of Islam and makes Muslims cowardly, be a righteous Jamaat?
Islam has set limits on the extent to which a person can be respected. This limit is being violated in the name of religion.
Just as there is religious leadership among the Shias, a religious leadership has been created in Tablighi Jamaat in the name of 'Hazratji'. Hazratji is shown more respect than even the companions showed to the Messenger of Allah!
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed the Hajj pilgrimage, he came to a water distribution stall. He asked for drinking water. The Prophet's uncle Abbas was in charge of the water stall. He called his younger son Fazl and said, 'Go home and bring drinking water for the Prophet from your mother.' Immediately, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Give me this water.' Abbas said, 'O Messenger of Allah! People have put their hands in this water.' To which the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, 'It's alright! Give me this water to drink.' And he drank that water. Then he came to the sacred Zamzam well. Some people were distributing its water to people and engaged in related tasks. He said to them, 'Continue this work! You are doing excellent work. If I did not fear that you would make way for me because I am also doing this work, I would have descended into the well and carried water on this shoulder to distribute to people.'
Book: Bukhari 1636
The Prophet (peace be upon him) asks for the same water that others are drinking. Even though it would not be considered favoritism for him to get good water from his uncle's house, he insists on drinking the same water that people drink. Even after being given a valid reason that the hands of many people have touched this water, he asks for and drinks that water.
At the Ijtimas of Tablighi Jamaat, special food is provided to Hazratji and other leaders.
A situation has been created where Hazratji is not considered an ordinary human being. A situation has been created where only the heirs of the founder of Tablighi Jamaat can hold that position.
A cushion mattress one cubit high.
High bolsters.
Young boys to massage the body.
Thus, a royal court is in full swing. Those who hold this position are respected like the avatars and acharyas of other religions.
How many people say 'Barakah' before he arrives? How many believe that sins are absolved by touching him?
When people were invited to the Tablighi Jamaat conference in Dindigul (1990) through postcards, mosque boards, and Friday sermons, the main invitation was 'Come for Hazratji's dua.'
**Refined Translation:**
The Tablighi Jamaat
Among the influential movements within the Muslim community, the Tablighi Jamaat stands out as the most prominent. This raises the question: should one join this Jamaat? Are its principles and doctrines fundamentally rooted in Islamic teachings?
Many Muslims grapple with questions like: Is it appropriate to travel extensively, dedicating forty days or even a year, to invite people to perform prayers?
Consequently, a thorough examination of this matter has become essential.
It is not considered a religious offense to travel to other places for religious endeavors or personal matters, whether for a period of forty days or a year.
Islam does not forbid, but rather permits, undertaking journeys for the purpose of acquiring religious knowledge, imparting it to others, engaging in righteous struggle, earning a lawful livelihood, and for various other necessities.
The Almighty God recounts the journey undertaken by Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), as divinely commanded, to meet Prophet Khidr (peace be upon him) for the purpose of gaining certain knowledge. (The Holy Quran, 18:60-82)
There were also companions of the Prophet who traveled from Mecca to Medina solely to learn a single religious ruling.
(Sahih Bukhari: 88, 2640)
These instances serve as evidence that journeys can be undertaken for virtuous purposes. Numerous other proofs also exist on this subject.
Therefore, it is misguided to approach this issue by simply asking whether traveling is right or wrong. The righteousness or otherwise of this Jamaat can only be determined by the underlying purpose for which these journeys are undertaken.
When questioned about their objective, they state, "We are recruiting people to call them towards prayer."
It is indeed true that they are inviting people to the paramount duty of prayer, and they undertake these journeys at their own expense. It is undeniable that many individuals, once characterized by pride and arrogance, have transformed into humble beings through the Tablighi Jamaat.
Even affluent individuals readily participate in cooking when they join this Jamaat.
They diligently observe voluntary prayers such as Tahajjud and Duha.
They abandon the pursuit of cinema.
There is no room for doubt that these are commendable transformations. Those who deny such positive aspects within the Jamaat cannot be considered seekers of truth.
However, this does not imply that we should unconditionally endorse the Tablighi Jamaat in its entirety.
We are also obligated to scrutinize whether any of its practices deviate from Islamic principles.
Let us consider the teachings imparted to those who are taken from place to place. In their 'Ta'lim' sessions, neither the exegesis of the Holy Quran, nor its Tamil translation, nor authentic Tamil translations of the Prophet's sayings are presented.
Not only are these not presented, but there is an explicit prohibition against their study. Is it permissible to associate with a group that forbids the study of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him)?
A practice has been established where only the writings of a particular individual from this era are to be studied, after imposing a ban on the Book of Allah and the teachings of the Prophet. Those who are well-informed criticize this practice, suggesting that the familial relationship ('father-in-law and son-in-law') between that author and Hazratji is the basis for this decision, and this criticism appears to hold merit.
Furthermore, is the compilation of that book based on Islamic principles? No, it is not. That book contains numerous elements that undermine the Holy Quran! It is also replete with fabricated narrations attributed to the Messenger of God! And there is an abundance of apocryphal tales attributed to revered figures. Is it permissible to undertake a journey for the sake of learning such stories?
Islam instructs us to strive for our sustenance and the welfare of our families, and to fulfill our familial responsibilities.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) once learned about a companion named Abdullah bin Amr, who observed continuous fasting and spent his nights in worship, neglecting his wife. The Prophet (peace be upon him) visited him and advised, "Do not do this! Fast on some days and break your fast on others. Pray, and also sleep. For you have rights over your body, rights over your eyes, and rights over your guests."
(Sahih Bukhari: 1975, 6134)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) established a bond of brotherhood between Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) and Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him). When Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) visited Abu Dhar, he found Umm Dhar, Abu Dhar's wife, wearing worn-out clothes. Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) inquired, "What is the matter with you?" She replied, "Your brother Abu Dhar has no need for worldly matters." Shortly thereafter, Abu Dhar arrived and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman urged Abu Dhar to eat, but Abu Dhar stated he was fasting. Salman insisted, "I will not eat unless you eat," and Abu Dhar then ate. As night fell, Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) prepared to stand for prayer. Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) told him to sleep, and he slept. He then prepared to stand for prayer again. Salman again instructed him to sleep. When the latter part of the night arrived, Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Now, rise." They both prayed. He then advised Abu Dhar, "You have obligations to your Lord, obligations to yourself, and obligations to your family. Fulfill the rights of each." Subsequently, Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) and narrated this incident. The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded, "Salman has spoken the truth!"
Narrated by Abu Juhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him)
(Sahih Bukhari: 1968, 6139)
When inviting people for 'Chilla', these obligations are set aside. There is such an intense emphasis on this 'Chilla' that all responsibilities are neglected with the assurance, "Allah will take care." If their interpretation of "Allah will take care" is what they believe, they fail to consider whether He would have imposed obligations towards our families upon us. Reflect on whether this journey, which encourages the neglect of numerous duties, is indeed justifiable.
Are they even sincere in their belief that "Allah will take care"? They are among those with the weakest faith in this regard. No movement or individual carries cooking utensils and pots and pans during their travels. However, they carry all their cooking equipment with them. This suggests their belief is that Allah will not provide for their food.
Furthermore, the sentiments and spirit of Muslims within this Jamaat are being eroded to the point of mental conditioning.
They have the audacity to teach that the heroic journeys of the companions who embarked on righteous battles to sacrifice their lives, and the prophetic traditions that instilled enthusiasm for such endeavors, are in fact referring to their journeys carrying packed lunches.
They have begun to propagate the notion that Islam is merely about sitting in a corner of the mosque or leaning against a pillar, while twirling prayer beads and wearing a jubbah below the knee. How can this Jamaat, which distorts the image of Islam and renders Muslims cowardly, be considered a righteous Jamaat?
Islam has established boundaries for the extent to which a person can be accorded respect. This boundary is being transgressed in the name of religion.
Similar to the religious hierarchy found among the Shia, a religious leadership has been established within the Tablighi Jamaat under the title of 'Hazratji.' The respect accorded to 'Hazratji' surpasses even that which the companions showed to the Messenger of Allah!
During his Hajj pilgrimage, the Prophet (peace be upon him) visited a stall distributing drinking water. He requested water. Abbas, the Prophet's uncle, was in charge of the stall. He instructed his younger son, Fazl, to go home and fetch drinking water for the Prophet from their mother. The Prophet (peace be upon him) immediately said, "Give me this water." Abbas replied, "O Messenger of Allah! People have dipped their hands into this water." The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded, "It is fine! Give me this water to drink," and he drank it. He then proceeded to the sacred Zamzam well, where some individuals were distributing its water and engaged in related tasks. Addressing them, he said, "Continue this work! You are performing an excellent service. If I did not fear that you would make way for me because I am also involved in this task, I would have descended into the well myself and carried water on this shoulder to distribute to the people."
(Sahih Bukhari: 1636)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) requests the same water that others are drinking. Even though obtaining clean water from his uncle's home would not be perceived as preferential treatment, he insists on drinking the same water consumed by the public. Despite the valid reason that many hands have touched this water, he still requests and drinks it.
At the gatherings of the Tablighi Jamaat, special meals are provided to Hazratji and other prominent leaders.
A status has been created where Hazratji is considered more than an ordinary human being. A system has been established whereby only the descendants of the founder of the Tablighi Jamaat are eligible for this position.
A cushion mattress of one cubit height.
Elevated bolsters.
Young boys to provide massages.
This resembles a royal court. Those who hold this position are revered akin to the divine incarnations and spiritual gurus of other religions.
How many people chant "Barakah" before his arrival? How many believe that sins are absolved by merely touching him?
When people were invited to the Tablighi Jamaat conference in Dindigul (1990) through postcards, mosque announcements, and Friday sermons, the primary appeal was: "Come for Hazratji's supplication."