THE GHULU’ OF THE TABLIGH JAMAAT
Ghulu’is such extremism which is the product of bigotry and arrogance. It is this evil which has ruined the Tabligh Jamaat. It has culminated in the development of the two mutually hostile factions out for each other’s blood. In the Name of Allah Ta’ala and the Deen they are now directing their haraam bigotry to those who were all along their brothers. Both haraam factions are equal in this evil sin of Ghulu’.
Several persons have posed the following questions:
Q. According to the leaders of the Tabligh Jamaat their kind of tabligh is Fardh on every Muslim. Is this correct?
A. This is about their worst act of ghulu’. The Qur’aan Majeed states:
“Do not commit ghulu’ in your Deen.” This Aayat is in the first instance directed to the Christians who committed the ghulu’ of elevating Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam) to godhood. The Tabligh Jamaat is guilty of committing similar ghulu’ as the Christians.
In claiming that their specific methodology of tabligh is fardh, they are by implication attributing a brazen lie to Allah Azza Wa Jal. Everyone is aware that Salaat, Saum, Zakaat and Hajj are Fardh on all Muslims when the sharaa-it (the imperative conditions) are found. These acts of Ibaadat have been decreed Fardh by Allah Ta’ala.
The specific tabligh methodology of the Tabligh Jamaat is a very late development in the Ummah. It is about a century old. There is no basis in the Sunnah for this method. Nevertheless, we say that the method of the Tabligh Jamaat is Mubah (Permissible), and it will remain permissible as long as it is maintained within the confines of permissibility.
If this method is elevated to Fardh, then most certainly, it will be bid’ah, and necessary to abstain. Now with the evil factionalism, it has become even more necessary to abstain.
Q. What is the status of Tabligh in Islam?
A. Firstly understand well that by Tabligh is not meant the specific kind of tabligh of the Tabligh Jamaat. It is a massive lie which tablighis are trading by claiming that their peculiar method is fardh. It is slander against Allah Ta’ala.
There are many branches of Tabligh, e.g. teaching the Deen in Madrasahs or from any other venue, teaching children in Maktabs, delivering bayaans, writing articles, publishing books, speaking individually to non-Muslims, practising Amr Bil Ma’roof Nahy Anil Munkar, Khaanqas, parents teaching their children, etc., etc. All these are forms of Tabligh.
Q. Tablighi molvis claim that Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak (Rahmatullah alayh) would take jamaats out for tabligh six months of the year. Please comment.
A. They are dishonest and extremely deceptive. This claim is a gross deception. Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak (Rahmatullah alayh) never did as the tablighi molvis claim. He used to participate 6 month in active Jihad (Qitaal). He would join the Islamic army to wage Jihad against the kuffaar. He never took jamaats in Tablighi Jamaat style knocking at the doors of people in emulation of the current style of the Tablighi Jamaat. They must beware of such deception which is tantamount to slander. Such lies may not be traded regardless of how good the intention may be.
Q. The Tablighi also claim that: 1) Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had even during his Last Illness repeatedly instructed that Usama (Radhiyallahu anhu) should go out with a jamaat. 2) Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) during his lifetime had sent out 150 jamaats while he himself had participated in 20.
A. This is another deception of the ghulu’ class perpetrated by the Tablighi molvis. The ‘jamaat’ of Usama (Radhiyallahu anhu) and the ‘jamaats’ of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) were for Jihad (Qitaal). They carried weapons and issued into the world to raise the glory of Islam with their swords. These jamaats were not Tablighi Jamaat style groups which knocked at the doors of Muslims. Whilst this is permissible if retained within the confines of permissibility, there is no resemblance between the ‘jamaats’ of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the jamaats of the Tablighi Jamaat.
Q. What is the status of a person who claims that the method of the Tabligh Jamaat is fard/waajib?
A. He is a faasiq, bid’ati.
Q. What is the status of the Tabligh Jamaat? They preach so much of deception and extremism.
A. We hesitate at this stage of branding the whole Jamaat as being a baatil sect although it appears that it is heading this way. May Allah Ta’ala save the Jamaat from self-destruction. We are viewing the Jamaat with caution in view of the great work and goodness which its elders have accomplished. However, if tablighis are going to continue their downward slide into bigotry and factionalism, then there will be no alternative but to label them as a baatil sect just as most of the sufi tariqas of today are baatil sects despite claiming to be Chishtiyyah, Naqshbandiyyah, etc.
Q. Some Ulama are of the opinion that the Tabligh Jamaat is intransigently persisting in its transgression of the limits of the Shariah, therefore, it should be branded as a sect of bid’ah. Please comment.
A. Those Ulama should publicly state their argument and proceed with their labelling.
27 Rajab 1439 (14 April 2024)