Salaam
It is the mark of a higher mind to hold two contrasting thoughts at the same time.
So i was looking into the workings of the Tableeghi Jamaat (TJ). Hailing from a home of Jamaat e Islami (JI), I was always taught to understand the difference between the two. I took that lesson to look down upon TJ. It’s also true that i’ve seen mostly JI associated rather JI ispired or not even that, since inspiration pushes you to seek something good. I;ve seen JI influenced people taking a dig at TJ. and the points they raise do seem to be valid apparently.
- TJ doesn’t have an ultimate purpose/long term goals or evolving goals.
- They are impractical (rely on dua too much)
- They have apocryphal material (texts)
- Their methods are inauthentic
- TJ has a superiority complex and critices others who do not agree with their methodology
- They dont consider da’wah
- They dont teach the Quran
- The produce that churns out of the TJ mills is pious only in appearance and not in spirit
So yeah after sliming TJ with all that memory could summon, I’d like to try and prove that TJ isn’t all that bad after all. In fact, it’s really good. It’s not a mathematical proff, so you are freer than a bird to disagree,
Ya rab wo samjhe hain na samjhenge meri baat
De aur dil unko jo na de mujhko zubaan aur
Ghalib
I’d like start by emphasizing the importance of management gurus and motivational speakers and psychotherapy in our daily lives. I once read in a book, The Road less traveled, that “Life is difficult, and discipline is the tool to make it easy and achieve one’s goals.”
The last 50 years have seen a surge in the “Self-help” category with authors like Stephen Covey, Anthony Robbins, Norman Peale and Daniel Goleman to name a few. These names are people who have encouraged and entooled (if that’s a word) individuals scientifically, managerially, didactically and in the case of Mr. Peale, just by helping everybody realise the power of positivity. These gurus have written best selling books and they go around the world conducting workshops to help normal people become extraordinary by squeezing the most out of themselves. of course there’s also the one on one psychotherapy, the shrink that is getting fashionable.
What I’m trying to say is that knowledge alone doesn't seem to be sufficient. I know smoking is harmful, cigarette packs have visual warnings on packets, yet there are Tobacco cessation clinic to help you quit. And at one point, in some moment of weakness over not being able to achieve one’s goals, we do exclaim, I need help.
That is how TJ fits into the world of Islam. With their workshops, of 3 days, 40 days (chilla) and 4 months, they have been able to achieve and effect change on a global scale. The exile routine, leaving behind the dunia with spiritual guides is very effective. It appears to similar to college campuses that are built out of town for a harmonious environment. It helps one to take the time and reflect. Your guide helps you to achieve your haqeeqi goals. (Salah, Ikhlaq, Sunnah). and then you’re put back into society as a highly aware and functioning individual.
They might not encourage reading the Quran (with meaning) much and rely on the teacher-student relationship, but their syllabus of motivational ahadith highlighting the importance of the 5 pillars of Islam does seem to make sense. Once you’ve strengthened your pillars, without relapse (the 3 day once a month) with everybody helping each other as a team, you one day be able to take this trainees forward. Despite the sometimes harsh criticism by other teams, this global islamic training program is nothing short of awesome. An estimated 10 lakh people congregate for the Bhopal Ijtima. that’s a large number my friend.
Hate the player, not the game it’s said. Individual mistakes of some company men shouldn’t reflect on the company at large. yet it does. and that is what we need to see past. TJ is a big asset to Islam and when we will all work together inshallah, The parent company- the Deen would prosper. There’s a hadith where the noble Prophet instructed us to make ties not cut them.
In the end I wouldn’t say that this is the only way to Islam. But it is absolutely indispensable for the company to get listed (if you know what i mean).
