Critical review of Jamaah Tabligh

[Usman]

My criticism comes from months of experience of being in their Jamaat, I noticed a couple of things-

A) They only accept knowledge of Islam coming from their own group. If a Sheikh who is not a TJ makes a sermon, they take it with a pinch of salt. They need to be more open-minded and rigorous in their acquiring of knowledge. Because as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: the supremacy of an aalim (learned man) over an aabid (worshipper) is like that of sun over stars. And supremacy of a worshipper over others is like that of moon over stars.

I know their idea is that their message is made simple for all, but a Muslim needs to be constant in his acquiring of beneficial knowledge. Like a man never quenches his thirst for water, the same should be the same for knowledge.

B) They need to be open-minded, I used to go to their weekly gathering and sit with them whenever I could, but they always expected more commitment like sleeping 3 days, 40 days (but I cannot due to my mom needing me at home). Then when I would tell them my situation, I felt a sense of guilt or that they were ashamed of me - more like I was a hypocrite.

But I do not see the point in this, if I can only cultivate iman in my heart at the Masjid and not at home or outside shouln't I be trying to rectify this on my own?

Why travel to a foreign country if I do not know the language and only for a short period of time to Da'wah? Shouldn't I try to change the people around me first like my family, friends and people I come in contact with?

Again, these are personal experiences and not the jama'at's work. They do push, it's their job to do so. I'm writing this and about an hour ago I had to apologize to a brother because I won't be able to make to an ijtimah. I never felt the guilt, in beginning I did, yes, but it's my own feeling, if Im feelign a guilt, doesn't necessarily mean the other brothers are "Ashamed" of me, they're out for the sake of Allah, and if Im not there, their work will continue, because it's for Allah, so nothing to be ashamed of.

As for going out where you don't speak the language; my brother, my life changed because of my first encounter with a tableeghi was a brother from Algeria who went to US, and came to Pakistan for da'wah, and his words were wise and full of Ikhlaas. Otherwise, I'd still be going out with Dawat-e-Islami eating Halwa.

A) Yes, they DO take it from the ulama joining or at least supporting the work of Tableegh, but not always. I mean, I know a brother who actually gave me the cassettes and booklets of Mufti Rasheed Ahmed Ludhyanvi Rahimahullah, and that brother was a tableeghi. Mufti Rasheed Ahmed sahib Rahimahullah wrote about the 390 million thawaab thing of Tableeghis, but that brother still gave me his lectures.

Until or Unless we understand that Tableegh/Dawah, Tazkiyah/Tasawwuf, Jihad/Qital, Dars/Tadress, Radd/Tahqeeq , are all parts of the effort of deen, we will keep pointing fingers at each other. That's the reason why I love Maulana Yousuf Ludhyanvi Shaheed Rahimahullah, he gave khilafah to the Ulama from all the Aspects of Deen i.e. Jihad, Tableegh, Radd, Ta'leem. Tableeghi Jama'ah is doing Tableegh/Da'wah, and if we leave the brothers saying " oh ! they don't do Jihad, or OH! they don't have much knowledge of Islam", then we are adding to the problem. It's good to see that Ulama are now going with the jama'ah more and more, and now many things are being changed, walHamdulillah.

[rowhan]

Salaam!

Alhamdulillah TJ has come to the Philippines because it has really helped a lot of muslims here to be back to ALLAH. I pray more people would understand this noble work. Ameen. And no matter what "not-so-good" statements other people may say about TJ, I think it still is the most effective means of da'wah today. By the way, this is just my personal opinion..

[Abu Zakariya Yahya]

Actually the most effective way of dawah is boyfriend girlfriend relationships. Sad but true.

[BakrSulayman]

Again, these are personal experiences and not the jama'at's work. They do push, it's their job to do so. I'm writing this and about an hour ago I had to apologize to a brother because I won't be able to make to an ijtimah. I never felt the guilt, in beginning I did, yes, but it's my own feeling, if Im feelign a guilt, doesn't necessarily mean the other brothers are "Ashamed" of me, they're out for the sake of Allah, and if Im not there, their work will continue, because it's for Allah, so nothing to be ashamed of.

As for going out where you don't speak the language; my brother, my life changed because of my first encounter with a tableeghi was a brother from Algeria who went to US, and came to Pakistan for da'wah, and his words were wise and full of Ikhlaas. Otherwise, I'd still be going out with Dawat-e-Islami eating Halwa.

A) Yes, they DO take it from the ulama joining or at least supporting the work of Tableegh, but not always. I mean, I know a brother who actually gave me the cassettes and booklets of Mufti Rasheed Ahmed Ludhyanvi Rahimahullah, and that brother was a tableeghi. Mufti Rasheed Ahmed sahib Rahimahullah wrote about the 390 million thawaab thing of Tableeghis, but that brother still gave me his lectures.

Until or Unless we understand that Tableegh/Dawah, Tazkiyah/Tasawwuf, Jihad/Qital, Dars/Tadress, Radd/Tahqeeq , are all parts of the effort of deen, we will keep pointing fingers at each other. That's the reason why I love Maulana Yousuf Ludhyanvi Shaheed Rahimahullah, he gave khilafah to the Ulama from all the Aspects of Deen i.e. Jihad, Tableegh, Radd, Ta'leem. Tableeghi Jama'ah is doing Tableegh/Da'wah, and if we leave the brothers saying " oh ! they don't do Jihad, or OH! they don't have much knowledge of Islam", then we are adding to the problem. It's good to see that Ulama are now going with the jama'ah more and more, and now many things are being changed, walHamdulillah.

It's not only my own personal guilt, but they stress khurooj too much like iman will wither without it. They continue to push me despite the fact that it was causing a rift in my relationship with my mother. That's the whole reason I stopped going is because my mother's acceptance is fard and their deeds are not.

It is not finger-pointing, I welcome their efforts and enthusiasm. I find it great that they are really active, but the Muslim must be complete in all aspects including being involved in politics not only the spiritual aspect. You have 2 extremes, spiritual (TJ) and political (like Ikhwan) - there needs to be a balance between the 2 in the Muslim's efforts.

[firaswagner]

It's not only my own personal guilt, but they stress khurooj too much like iman will wither without it. They continue to push me despite the fact that it was causing a rift in my relationship with my mother. That's the whole reason I stopped going is because my mother's acceptance is fard and their deeds are not.

It is not finger-pointing, I welcome their efforts and enthusiasm. I find it great that they are really active, but the Muslim must be complete in all aspects including being involved in politics not only the spiritual aspect. You have 2 extremes, spiritual (TJ) and political (like Ikhwan) - there needs to be a balance between the 2 in the Muslim's efforts.

Name me one movement which is complete in all aspects???

[Sulaiman84]

Salam to all,

My objective with this essay was to analyze critically from academic point of view whether jamaah tabligh does the right or wrong things from the problem statement I found on the internet. It is not my intention to look down on anyone or any group member.

Please give me some time to response.

razor

I just wanted to add brother, in order to critic this work of Da'wah and Tabligh from an academic view you should get your information primarily from those knowledgeable in its field, i.e. the Ulamaa. You shouldn't base academic conclusions primarily on those who are unfamiliar with the work.

As far as getting reading information in English, these Ulamaa have clarified many issues regarding the work of Da'wah and Tabligh:

Maulana Ilyas Kandhlawi

Maulana Yusuf Kandhlawi

Maunala Manzur Nu'mani

Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi

Mufti Muhmudul Hasan Gangohi

Qari Tayyib

Shaikhul-Hadith Maulana Zakariyya Kandhlawi

Maulana Sa'd Kandhlawi

Shaikhul-Hadith Maulana Fadhlur-Rahman Azmi

Mufti Ibrahim Desai

Mufti Taqi Uthmani

Mufti Afzal Husein Ilyas...among many others.

[akabirofdeoband]

Tableegh is a very simple effort in its form. And it's suprising that it's so successful. I don't think materialistic explanations can account for its success.
In theory it should only be working in one or two villages in India.
But it is gushing like a torrent through the oceans of the world, Spreading like light beyond borders, through unimagined places. This kind of qabool is mind boggling and the only explanation I have for it is that it was fertilised by the absolute purity and ikhlaas of the heart of Mawlana Ilyas(alayhi Rahmah).
So it wasn't his brainchild but his heart child, and each atom of its existence is like the fruit that manifested from the spiritual tree that he planted , and was fertilised by the tears that emerged from his eye, when he used to cry for the Ummah during the night. As he said Kuch logo ki raat Sotain guzre Kuch Logo ki Raat Rotain Guzre, lekin ye kesi Raat hain jo na sotain guzre na rotain guzrain. How restless he was with the desire for the absolute guidance of the entire cosmos.Allah Allah Allah
I wish I could jump through my computer screen, or through what the physicists call a "wormhole" that transects time and space iinto Nizamudin Markaz and hug everyone and say Allah ALlah , Make dua for Mawlana Ilyas Make dua, Make dua.

As someone who has spent time in the dark movements of our time (i.e jamat islami, ht, ikhwan etc) I can taste in it something of an amazing noor that is unknown in our time.
Ajeeb

Most of the tableeghis don't realise the academic and spiritual principles behind its foundations and so are unable to give an ilmi or tahqeeqi defence for it, but that's okay, because not ever layman who uses a medicine needs to be able to give a description of the physiological and pharmacological reasons as to why that medicine works.

Alhamdulillah

[abulayl]

Why travel to a foreign country if I do not know the language

in foreign countries native country people does also live,so people get always to speak. and most of the time people get same local people who helps them to translate.

and only for a short period of time to Da'wah?

for short period people are advised not to go very far from local area or city.

Shouldn't I try to change the people around me first like my family, friends and people I come in contact with?

we dont change people, thats what Allah do. we give dawah to people whereever i can, whenever i can. its not that i cant give dawah till i have give dawah to all those relatives. prophet(sw) gave dawah to relatives and at same time gone to other city and locality to give dawah. he gave dawah to abu lahab, his relative and to bilal(rd), a slave. people do stay with their family nearly same time like he stays outside. so he can give dawah to other people when he is outside, and give dawah to relatives and neighbour when he is in home. a person goes another locality for only 3 days but got 27 days to work in own locality.

[SASLAMS]

Although I may not agree with restricting TJ khurooj to be the only "in path of Allah", I think it was a good advice for you to go out for 40 days.. Although it would be a person to person basis, but in general I would also advise such khurooj for the person to gain some maturity in his thoughts (provided its a proper khurooj and not your walk in the park type which most students here in SA go on).

I am from SA but what mindset would you get from the tabligh here in SA. I mean really you saw the post about the language. I have site with tabligh & I get the same thing over & over. we need to be progresive. I am not a fan of Berelwis too much but I tolerate them- they have there own tv station & the one day they had a group of kids under 13. & they had a complete berelwi style majlis. I dont understan urdu but they were reading a fiqh kitaab & then they had their naats & then they stood up for salwaat. all by themselves, there were no adults on camera. if those are the children of berelwi then what is the youth like. & if they can handle a majlis at that age then they moving foward. the student jamaat dont come close to these kids. our student jamaats are all about having a braai (barbeQ) before its over. I even so boys checking out my cousin when they game nocking at my door.

[SASLAMS]

My criticism comes from months of experience of being in their Jamaat, I noticed a couple of things-

A) They only accept knowledge of Islam coming from their own group. If a Sheikh who is not a TJ makes a sermon, they take it with a pinch of salt. They need to be more open-minded and rigorous in their acquiring of knowledge. Because as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: the supremacy of an aalim (learned man) over an aabid (worshipper) is like that of sun over stars. And supremacy of a worshipper over others is like that of moon over stars.

I know their idea is that their message is made simple for all, but a Muslim needs to be constant in his acquiring of beneficial knowledge. Like a man never quenches his thirst for water, the same should be the same for knowledge.

B) They need to be open-minded, I used to go to their weekly gathering and sit with them whenever I could, but they always expected more commitment like sleeping 3 days, 40 days (but I cannot due to my mom needing me at home). Then when I would tell them my situation, I felt a sense of guilt or that they were ashamed of me - more like I was a hypocrite.

But I do not see the point in this, if I can only cultivate iman in my heart at the Masjid and not at home or outside shouln't I be trying to rectify this on my own?

Why travel to a foreign country if I do not know the language and only for a short period of time to Da'wah? Shouldn't I try to change the people around me first like my family, friends and people I come in contact with?

YOU SOUND LIKE ME. SURE i DIDNT POST THIS