Jama’at-e-Tabligh Movement; a Study by Two Western Scholars

Jama’at-e-Tabligh is a global movement for propagation of Islam. This group has devoted itself to bring the alienated Muslims back to the bosom of Islam. At the same time the purpose of the Tablighi activists is to strengthen their own faith too. This movement has claimed that it is a non-political movement. 
The founder of this movement -Maulana Ilyas- would prefer to call his group as Mission for Motivating the Faith. Jama’at-e-Tabligh essentially has a global agenda. According to the most comprehensive research work available in English, this movement by early 1970s was operating in 34 countries ranging from Indian subcontinent, to Arab world, Africa, and Southeast Asia. By late 1980s, its activities were extended to approximately 90 countries including Muslim minority countries such as Canada and the US. The presence of this movement in Brittan is highly apparent.
Whatever its attraction could be, the main feature of this movement is that it is a cosmopolitan phenomenon. One of the important impressions this movement has left on me is that the activists of this movement emphasize that they don’t have any prerequisites for membership, and there is also no compulsion for the Muslim to join it. However, their deep and silent thinking on Allah and an ideal Islamic life attract many Muslims to become part of it.
Maulana Ilyas formulated some principles that emphasized upon the following points. 1- The centrality of Tawhid. 2- Observance of prayers which aims to help faithful Muslims in avoiding evil acts. 3- Right behavior toward fellow Muslims even at the cost of one’s own rights. 4- Strong adherence to the idea that all Muslims should do their best for the sake of Allah’ satisfaction.
In his last days, Maulana Ilyas emphasized on the Dhikr (recalling Allah) and knowledge. He believed that knowledge without Dhikr develops evil desires and deviation from the instructions of Allah; and Dhikr without knowledge would lead to darkness and doom. In a sense the method of Tabligh is non-fundamentalist as it deals with religion in the private sphere of life. Even in the Islamic countries Tabligh movement does not get involved in politics. However, they follow traditional version of Islam and adopt new methods without rejecting the past. Flexibility of Islam is something that so many people I have talked to, have emphasize upon it.

Summarized by Neday Islam Magazine