ERRORS OF THE TABLIGHI JAMAAT
A Brother who has attended the Tabligh Jamaat Ijtima in Bangladesh, writes:
“I came across, an article related to the Tablighi Jamaat written by The Majlis.
I recently attended the Bangladesh Ijtema, in which elders of the Nizamuddin side gave their arguments, which I wanted to share with you.
Ever the since the split between the elders of Tabligh, I came across multiple Muhaqqiq Ulama and Mashaikh receiving information from third party sources, including distorted audio clips from WhatsApp and YouTube designed to fester doubt or articles written by third party individuals with an agenda to destroy and instigate fighting amongst the people of Haq.
By policy, Nizamuddin does not defend itself by using any modern means of technology. It either sends a messenger in the form of a Jamaat or dictates hand written letters as a secondary mode of communication. They believe this is closest to the Sunnah, rather than using internet or other forms of technology.
From the speeches conducted by Mawlānā Saad in Bhopal and Mufti Yaqoob in Tongi Ijtema. The elders of Nizamuddin were very clear about Qitāl being the ultimate sacrifice in Jihād. They never argued against Qitāl but did argue about it’s implementation in the present era.
As a first hand witness, they clearly stated, Jihād with Qitāl is not the only type of Jihād, rather military action is not warranted at all times. They also argue that the ultimate objective of Jihad is to uphold the Kalimah and propagate the Deen, if Qitāl is needed to carry out this objective then this will be Wajib upon those who have the ability to carry it out.
They gave references of different types of Jihād, the stages of eradicating Munkar and various levels of martyrdom while quoting Hadhrat Thanvī, Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah, Imam Nawawi, Ibn Hajr and other authorities amongst the Salaf.
The first argument presented by Hadhrat Thanvī is mentioned in his Tafsir Bayanul Quran, for Aale-Imran verse number 169.
Those Auliya and pious people engaged in Jihād of the nafs are in Jihād and will be resurrected amongst martyrs.
He then mentions all who are killed in the battlefield are not martyrs, even though their burial will be conducted as a martyr. If the body of a person killed in battle, ends up decomposing, that person will not be considered a Shaheed/martyr in the Hereafter.
The second argument was presented by Imam Ibn Qayyim in his book Zād Al-Ma’ad in the chapter of Jihād and Battles. Ibn Qayyim argues Jihād is four levels and each level has sub levels, totalling 13 levels of Jihād.
Jihād of the nafs
Jihād against Shaitaan
Jihād against disbelievers and hypocrites
Jihād against evil deeds & innovations
After elaborating on all 13 levels of Jihād, Ibn Qayyim states that Jihād is not complete without Hijrah and both Hijrah and Jihād is incomplete without Imaan. And those who want to enter the mercy of Allah must engage in Jihād, Hijrah and Imaan while quoting As-Sajdah verse 24.
The other argument presented by Nizamuddin was how to eradicate Munkar within the masses of the Ummah. If Qitāl is the best approach, and yes at the time of Sahabah it may have been, then in the present era, who should be attacked and how many should be killed? Qitāl is highly rewarding, yet greatly sensitive in implementation.
In the present era, one man has many evil deeds, a person will consume alcohol, rape and commit many evil actions, because Munkiraat is ingrained and widespread in the Muslim community.
So how do we stop widespread evil, the solution from elders in Nizamuddin is to first physically remove people from “places of Munkar” including their homes and force them in the Masajid. In the Masajid, the Ulama and Mashaikh should engage with these individuals and conduct Halaqah of Iman & Ilm on a 24/7 basis. Overtime reformation will eventually take place.
For the laymen, elders of Nizamuddin do not encourage to go after each evil deed due to their ignorance, instead of reforming Munkar, the laymen will propagate Munkar through their discussions and constant reminders. For the laymen, the change in environment of Munkar and heedlessness is necessary and creating environments of Iman & Ilm conducted in the Masajid.
The elders of Nizamuddin also quoted many traditional Ulama about the levels of martyrdom, the martyr of this world, martyrs of this world & hereafter and martyrs of the hereafter. They argue along with Hadhrat Thanvī, those not dying on the battlefield, but struggling and striving with Imaan and sincerity will be resurrected amongst the Shuhadah.
Compared to those who died on the battlefield, even though the burial will be conducted as a martyr, might not be resurrected amongst the martyrs because of their insincerity, lack of Imaan etc.
One other statement I heard attributed to Mawlānā Yusuf Kandhelvi who gave a talk in Kakrail Markaz of Bangladesh that the effort of Tabligh was created to ultimately fight in the battlefield and those engaged in the effort will eventually have to fight and pay with their blood.
Upon hearing this speech, others asked to stop speaking because this will warrant a ban from Baatil governments and the Jamaats working freely will be jailed and punished.
In conclusion, according to my knowledge the elders of Nizamuddin never stated Jihād not being Qitāl, rather they explicitly say the highest level of Jihād one can wage is Qitāl.
Yes, many people who spent time in Tabligh, say all sorts of nonsense, but this is not being taught from the mimbars of Nizamuddin.
Although when it comes to reward in the Hereafter if a person has Imaan, sincerity and good deeds and constantly struggles, it is possible due to the Fadhl of Allah, he can be resurrected amongst the Shuhadaa, as explained by the traditional pious scholars.” (End of the Brother’s letter)
Our Comment
Despite the elaborate exposition of Jihad by Hadhrat Thanvi, Ibn Qayyim and other Ulama, no one says that they are anti-Qitaal-Jihad. Their tafseel of Jihad is readily accepted by all and sundry.
Our argument against the Tabligh Jamaat is based on:
1) The extension of the specific Mansoos Thawaab for Jihad to their innovated methodology of Tabligh. They have elevated their method to the level of Qitaal (Jihad). While, perhaps Allah Ta’ala may reward another form of Jihad (which is not Qitaal) , even more than Qitaal Jihad, it is not permissible to transfer the Mansoos thawaab to the other form which is not mentioned in the Qur’aan or Hadith.
But Tablighis are extreme in insisting and peddling the lie that their methodology is the exact methodology of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaabah. They apply all the Qur’aanic verses and all the Ahaadith pertaining to Qitaal to their innovated methodology. Some have even said that certain Jihaad (Qitaal) aayats of the Qur’aan do not refer to Qitaal, but refer to ‘khurooj’ tablighi jamaat style. This our contention and objection.
There is no need to misappropriate the Qitaal Ahaadith to bolster their perculiar method of Tabligh. Regarding this method, we say that if it is kept within the confines of the Shariah, it is highly meritorious and there is much thawaab. But to equate it with the thawaab of Qitaal is improper even if someone may get more thawaab for a method other than Qitaal. Mansoos Thawaab is not a subject for Qiyaas, hence it may not be extended to non-Mansoos methods of tabligh.
2) The haraam women’s jamaat. We have published two booklets on this topic.
3) Their haraam fatwa of permissibility for women to travel without mahrams.
4) Their denigration of other forms of Tabligh which is not of their methodology.
5) The mutual hatred between the two Tablighi factions.
6) Their compromise with people of baatil such as Tariq Jameel.
We are not saying that they are wrong for abstaining from active propagation of Qitaal. Today there is no Aalim of the Haqq, who has brains, who propagates Qitaal. We are not saying that the Tabligh Jamaat should propagate Qitaal. They should adhere strictly to their methodology and their six points. There is no objection to this. But they should not say anything which denigrates the Qitaal type of Jihad. On this issue they should adopt complete silence.
It is understood that today Muslims are spineless and sinking in fisq, fujoor, bid’ah and kufr, hence they are wholly unqualified for Qitaal. The Ummah is rotten to the core. Thus, they are incapable of Jihad by Qitaal. Minus Roohanniyat, every Qitaal campaign is doomed to failure and defeat. Palestine is a loud testimony for the impotence of Muslims and the Ummah’s inability to wage Jihad by means of Qitaal.
15 Sha’baan 1445 – 26 February 2024