Need advice on Jamaa'at al-Tableegh

[Warren]

I would like some help and opinions.
I'm so torn over this.

Last Sunday, I was at the masjid and met 5 brothers from Jamaa'at al-Tableegh.
I found them very fascinating and learned much from their discussions. I stayed for about 10 hours, and had lunch, tea and dinner with them. Throughout the evening, they and the imam urged me to travel with them for several weeks. They were leaving that night for a 6 week trip visiting mosques in several states in the south. They were so insistent, saying that it was a great opportunity for me to increase my deen, learn the Qur'an, etc.
I explained that my wife is infirm and I had some pressing legal concerns from closing my business that I had to take care of on Monday. They were adamant that their work was more important. I explained that my wife needed my care, but was able enough to fend for a few days, but the legal matters would not wait. Checks needed to be signed by me personally, papers needed to be delivered. Still they were unmoved and became more nagging. They made me feel that I was a disapointment to the imam, and to Allah(swt) who was calling me to this "jihad". They went so far as to suggest a brother accompany me home to pack and to convince my wife that this was important. They told me that they too were leaving important matters, one had a new baby, another had closed his shop and had a wife and 5 children the others mentioned their pressing commentments , which they too left. I found this completely irresponsible and was quite perplexed. Why would they leave their families when the Prophet (saws) was so concerned with the welfare of children. Also their work, although exciting, was only reaching those that regularly go to the masjid.

I'm so upset about this, I found it difficult to face the imam, having felt I disapointed him.

What are your opinions on this?

[faqir]

Asalamu alaykum Akhi,

I suggest you visit www.sunniforum.com (http://www.sunniforum.com) and post this question there.

There are more likely to be members of the Tablighi Jamaat on that forum who can discuss this issue with you, inshaAllah.

Alternatively, if you like I can post this there for you?

I totally agree with you, however, that their request seems unreasonable.

Despite their faults I think there is immense good in this Jamaat and I hope that this incident has not put you off.

I have family involved in Tablighi Jamaat. One of my cousins went off for four months once. I have attended some meetings as well. I remember once my bro and I were put in the spotlight to go to South America (and yeah, I felt the pressure!). We politely declined, despite acknowledging how important their da'wa was. MashaAllah, I understand that some of the brothers actually went out there on this important duty - may Allah ta'ala reward them immensely!

Wasalam.

[faqir]

see also from www.sunnipath.com :

Q. My husband and I have been married 8 months. He is involved with Tabligh, which I like, but I have some reservations as well. He is only home for a little bit each day and when he is, he is extremely tired and doesn’t even have the energy to be intimate with me. He says it is very important to give 2 and a half hours in the path of Allah every day, but here I am, a convert Muslim who doesn’t even know Arabic, and I sit at home and wait for him. I am depressed about this and I am afraid it will only feel worse if we have children inshaAllah. What can I do to help our marriage?




A.


Assalamu alaykum

In the name of Allah the Inspirer of truth.

Your husband needs to give sufficient time to you as this is your right. You may speak to him about this, and discuss the consequences of his action, i.e. your frustration, estrangement, possible break up, etc, and mention to him the following hadith.

"Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As relates:

Allah's Apostle said to me, "O 'Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast during the day and offer prayers all the night." 'Abdullah replied, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet said, "Don't do that; fast for few days and then give it up for few days, offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you. And it is sufficient for you to fast three days in a month, as the reward of a good deed is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting throughout the year." I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have power." The Prophet said, "Fast like the fasting of the Prophet David and do not fast more than that." I said, "How was the fasting of the Prophet of Allah, David?" He said, "Half of the year," (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day).

Afterwards when 'Abdullah became old, he used to say, "It would have been better for me if I had accepted the permission of the Prophet (which he gave me i.e. to fast only three days a month)."

If this is not sufficient then you may want to speak with the amir of the tablighi jamaat in your area about this problem. He should be able to talk with your husband and solve the problem for you, insha Allah.

Wassalam

Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

[faqir]

And, from www.daruliftaa.co.uk



http://www.daruliftaa.com/question.asp?txt_QuestionID=q-23350053

Question # q-23350053 Date Posted: 04/02/2004 http://www.daruliftaa.com/iftaa%20images/A.gif In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,



Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil is a collective responsibility of the Muslims (Fardh al-Kifaya). Allah Most High says:

“You are the best of Nations, involved for mankind, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is evil.” (Surah Ali Imran, V:110).

This collective responsibility of the Muslims requires an organized effort, and this is exactly what the Jama’ah of Tabligh is doing. How can someone be condemned for carrying out the responsibility which Allah Almighty has ordained upon him?

It should be noted that although the method which the Jama’ah of Tabligh use for their Da’wah was not prevalent in its full context during the time of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace), yet it will not be considered to be an innovation (bid’a).

Shariah has not prescribed a special method for the Da’wah work. The responsibility of Da’wah will be discharged by using any method, whether this is by teaching religious knowledge to thirsty students, writing books, inviting people to Islam, going to peoples homes and calling them to the Masjid’s (as the Jama’ah Tabligh does) or any other means.

Those from Saudi Arabia who criticize this group usually are unaware of the reality of the Jama’ah Tabligh. It should be said to them : if this work is wrong, then you should close down the Islamic universities in Makkah and Madinah and all the other types of Da’wah work, as the methods of many were not prevalent in the time of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace).

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with the work of Jama’ah Tabligh in general. People should be encouraged to join and participate in this auspicious work. The forces of evil are very active and the work of this Jama’ah has assumed special importance and al-Hamdulillah this Jama’ah is (overall) discharging the responsibility of Da’wah very well.

If there are any mistakes made by people involved in this work (as indeed some do), it should be corrected by the scholars with wisdom, insight, gentleness and politeness.

And Allah knows best


Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK