A brief biography of Jamaah At-Tableegh
Taken from al-Fataawaa al-Jaliyyah 'an al-Manaahij ad-Da'wiyyah
Translated by Abuz-Zubayr 'Abdur-Rahmaan Harrison
Written by/Said by Ash-Shaykh Ahmad ibn Yahyaa an-Najmee
Edited by Editorial Staff at tazkiyah.org (now known as http://masjiduthaymeen.org and more recently http://www.icosd.org/)
Jamaah At-Tableegh
They are the followers of Muhammad Ilyaas, the founder of this group.
Biography of the Founder: Muhammad Ilyaas was born in the year 1302 Hijrah. He memorized the Qur'aan and studied the six books of Hadeeth according to the Deobandee Hanafee manhaj which is an Ash'aree and Maatureedee madhhab pertaining to 'Aqeedah and a Soofee madhhab. The different "paths" of Soofism within them are four:
Naqshbandiyyah
Suhoorudiyyah
Qaadiriyyah
Jashtiyyah
The founder, Shaykh Muhammad Ilyaas, made a pledge of Soofism at the hand of Shaykh Rasheed al-Kankoohee and then revived this pledge after Shaykh Rasheed al-Kankoohee at the hand of Shaykh Ahmad as-Sahaaranghooree who was the one who permitted him to be able to take pledges of allegiance to this well-known Soofee manhaj. Muhammad Ilyaas used to sit in privacy at the grave of Shaykh Noor Muhammad al-Badaayoonee. He also used to be the Jashtiyyah watchperson over the grave of 'Abdul-Quddoos al-Kankoohee who was completely overwhelmed by the idea of Wahdah al-Wujood (That Allaah is everywhere and one with His creation). He was raised and studied in Delhi and died there in the year 1363 Hijrah.
Circumstances That Caused the Emergence of This Group:
Shaykh Aboo al-Hasan an-Nadwee holds that Muhammad Ilyaas resorted to this path of giving dawah when the ways of blind following for the rectification of the people in his region were exhausted. Shaykh Mayaan Muhammad Aslam reports from some of the statements of Ilyaas that this path was inspired to him by a "new Tafseer", presented to his soul in a dream, of the Aayah:
"You are the best nation sent out (produced) for mankind. You enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allaah." [Aali Imraan : 110]
This new Tafseer necessitates that the realization and actualization of being sent out for calling to Allaah is not achieved by remaining in one place based upon the proof in Allaah's statement:
"sent out"
and that one's Eemaan increases with this Khurooj based upon the proof that Allaah said:
"you believe in Allaah."
only after He mentioned:
"sent out"
So there are a number of issues of consideration with what has preceded:
1. The Qur'aan is not explained by inspirations and Soofee dreams which most of, rather all of them, are revelations of Shaytaan.
2. It is apparent from what has preceded that the founder of this group was completely immersed in Soofism and he made two pledges of allegiance to it (Soofism) and he was tested by the heads of Soofism. He also spent his time sitting at graves.
3. The founder of this group was superstitious and one who frequents graves innovatively which is apparent because he "used to sit in privacy at the grave of Shaykh Noor..." and it was mentioned about the second (Shaykh's grave that he used to visit) that he "was completely overwhelmed by the idea of Wahdah al-Wujood." Indeed, his devotion and seclusion at the grave of someone who was overcome with this ideology is a clear proof because he also used to promote it.
4. The people who believe in Wahdah al-Wujood claim that Allaah takes the form of a beautiful woman - and we seek Allaah's refuge. This is something of the highest level of evil. May Allaah give them to what they deserve of curses and anger.
The manhaj of the Tableegh dawah is summarized in six matters, or principles, or six characteristics:
1. The Realization of the Shahaadah: "Laa ilaaha illa Allaah."
2. Praying with submissiveness and humbleness.
3. Knowledge of the virtues, not issues, along with Dhikr.
4. Honoring the Muslim.
5. Correction of one's intention.
6. Calling to Allaah and making Khurooj in the path of Allaah according to the Tableegh manhaj.
For each one of these principles or characteristics, there is an intended objective behind it. So the objective behind "Laa ilaaha illa Allaah", for example, is: Removing the corrupt Yaqeen (certain faith) from one's heart and replacing it with the correct Yaqeen pertaining to the essence of Allaah. By this, they mean Wahdah al-Wujood.
The Points of Criticism Against Jamaah At-Tableegh:
1. The founder of this group was raised in Soofism and gave two pledges of allegiance to it.
2. He used to remain for long periods of time at graves, waiting for inspirations and ideologies from their occupants.
3. He used to be the Jashtiyyah watchperson over the grave of 'Abdul-Quddoos al-Kankoohee who used to believe in the ideology of Wahdah al-Wujood.
4. The Jashtiyyah watchperson is someone who sits at a grave for half an hour every week with his head covered, making Dhikr with the phrase "Oh Allaah Who is present with me, Oh Allaah my guardian watcher." This phrase, or this action, if it were done for the sake of Allaah then it is a bid'ah. If it were done out of humbleness to the occupant of the grave, then it is committing Shirk with Allaah, and it is apparent that the second one is more likely.
5. The masjid, from which their da'wah began, has within it four of their graves.
6. The founder of this group believed in (the legitimacy of) inspirations (in legislative matters).
7. The founder of this group was superstitious and one who frequents graves innovatively.
8. The Tableeghee followers worship with an innovated principle in the manner of Soofism which is the splitting up of the meaning of the testimony of Tawheed: "Laa ilaaha illa Allaah."
9. Whoever breaks off the negation from the confirmation purposely, in that he says "Laa illaaha" (There is no god), then this amounts to disbelief. Shaykh Hamood at-Tuwayjiree mentioned that based upon statements of the scholars.
10. They allow the wearing of amulets that contain talismans and unintelligible names - perhaps the names of Shayaateen - and this is forbidden.
referenced via westlondondawah archive message #451
