A Brother who is a regular Musalli at the Musjid in the Nizaamuddin Musjid, the former Tabligh Jamaat markaz, narrating his experiences regarding the deviation and shenanigans of Sa’d who has usurped the leadership of the Tabligh Jamaat, writes:

AsSalaamu Alayqum

Al-Hamdulillãh, by the grace of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala a few months ago I had  the  opportunity to move to  Delhi.  I live 5 minutes, away by walking distance to Nizaamuddin Markaz. 

Whenever I came for Salaah to the Musjid, I have heard the Hadith of how meritorious and rewarding it is to be in the first saff and that too very close to the Imam. I, like hundreds who come there to attain the Barakat of this once soulful place (i.e. a place of roohaaniyat and piety – The Majlis), come an hour early so that we can be in the first saff just as the Sahaabah would do. But there is now a different scenario at the Nizaamuddin Musjid. 

What happens in reality is, that the khadims of Ml Saad, 10 minutes before the Jamaat Salaat time, come with prayer a musalla specially for Ml Saad. The musalla is specially cleaned in front of all people present, and  spread as if they are laying down a red carpet for a celebrity.  The khadims shove away the musallis in the first saff, about 3 prayer musallas to the right and left behind the imam to give way for Ml Saad’s close confidants/guests and trustees. 

The other thing that baffles me is that the whole Masjid is layered with one single carpet but the 5/6 musallas to right and left behind the imam are to show that these are special spots for special people. The special people could be old or young but whoever they are, they have no right to shove and chase musallis for the sake of  awarding special and specific places in the first saff because of their closeness to Ml Saad or whatever their reasons may be for such selection. This is just as it prevails  in Hindu temples where the wealthy are given preference to be first in line to do puja. 

I saw this happening a few times and I could not hold it back any longer. Therefore I questioned their Bid’ah practice, and reminded them that   this is a Masjid, and that the person who comes first to the spot takes that place on first come first served basis, and that it is not permissible to evict them from  their places. The person then in turn asks me how much time  did I  spend in tabligh. He said: “If you did, you would not be asking such a question. I was dumbfounded!! I told him to explain what the relationship is  between  my question and my going out in tabligh. I told him that he was in conflicy with the adab and rules of the Masjid, and that  this practice is not found in the Sunnah. 

He then tried to justify it by giving me some fatwa on how something which is Haraam is practiced by so-called Alims. I was wondering what is the relevance of what he is saying and  what I’m asking. Then an elderly gentleman cames in and asked me: “What do you want?” I tell him the same thing, he said that I should meet him after Salaah. 

Then the personality himself (i.e.Ml Saad) enters from the door like a king makes  an entrance. Everyone stands up on his arrival. He smiles and gives Salaam or  replies to Salaams. I am flabbergasted at what  I’m seeing. 

What’s happening with these people. I see personality-worship (extreme ghulu) and politics at play. Is it proper to perform Salaah behind Ml Saad or in this Masjid where such Bid’ah practice takes place?

OUR COMMENT

The act of reserving places in the Musjid for anyone even if he happens to the Ameerul Mu’mineen of the Ummah in a valid Khilaafat is haraam. Reserving places in the Musjid for Sa’d and his goondas is an aggravated haraam act. Evicting musallis from their places is a kabeerah sin. 

The manner of entry into the Musjid by Sa’d exhibits his jahaalat, riya and takabbur. He appears to be drunk with self-aggrandizement – ujub and takabbir, hence he acquits himself like a clown performing to the gallery of juhala. 

You have correctly mentioned that he is in emulation of the Hindus who reserve places in their temples to enable the wealthy and the prominent ones to do their idol-puja first. Similar haraam exhibitions are perpetrated in the Haram Shareef by the fussaaq/fujjaar Najdi rulers of Arabia. They shunt and shove and evict all the Guests of Allah Ta’ala to enable fussaaq, fujjaar and zanadaqah celebrities and rulers to make mock tawaafs, etc. in comfort. 

Sa’d is acting like these kuffaar. He lacks shame, and he displays his crass jahaalat by ordering the shunting, shoving and eviction of musallis from their rightful places. No one has such haraam rights in Islam. The one who occupies a spot first in the Musjid is the master of that spot as long as he is there. No one has the right to evict him. 

The Tabligh Jamaat, especially Sa’d’s faction, has degenerated into a deviant sect. The Deen is no longer the objective. They are led on by the nafs and shaitaan who has adorned for them their haraam ghulu’. It appears that Sa’d does not understand thatMaut is hovering over his head. A man who understands the meaning of Maut, Qabr, Aakhirat, Hisaab and Jahannam will not conduct himself like a kaafir. These actions demonstrated by Sa’d and his gang of goondas create the impression that they are totally bereft of Deeni understanding. They were born as Muslim, hence continue proclaiming themselves to be Muslims. But in reality, there is very little of Islam in them. 

When fear for Allah Ta’ala is lacking, then everything haraam becomes ‘halaal’. Then a man acts stupidly like a clown making a fool of himself. This is exactly how Sa’d acquits himself when he shoves his snout into the Musjid from the door to attract maximum attention for finding freeplay for his ujub and riya. 

Regarding Salaat behind this fellow, the mas’alah is that Salaat behind even a faasiq is valid. You will, Insha-Allah, obtain your full thawaab for performing Salaat with Jamaat regardless of the Imaam being a faasiq.

18 Sha’baan 1440 - 24 April 2024