You seem to avoid many specifics in your answers to questions such as is Sufism right or wrong or what did scholars say about Ibn Taymiyyah and what about going out with Jamatul-Tableegh. Perhaps you are trying to be tactful or avoid controversy but when giving fataawa your concern should bethe truth and upholding the responsibility of guiding those who ask you and those who read your words.
Respected Brother-in-Islam
Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakaatuhu
Jazaakumullah for your advise. Hereunder are our beliefs on:
Sufism
Sufism is a process of spiritual upliftment. It is a way of reforming
oneself and attaining closeness to Allah Ta’ala. Spiritual upliftment,
reformation and attaining closeness to Allah are orders replete in the
Qur’aan.
If it is possible for any individual to reform himself, he should do so.
However, it is generally noticed that individuals experience difficulties in
reforming themselves and seek assistance of a spiritual guide who is pious
and adhere to Shari’ah in reforming themselves. The practise of taking
allegiance (Bay’at) and following the guidance of one’s spiritual mentor is
called Sufism.
Ibn Taymiya
Shaykh Taqi-u-ddin Ahmad ibn Taymiyah was a prominent Aalim (scholar) of
Deen. Shaykh Taqi-u-ddin had his independent views on many matters based on
his vast knowledge and research. It is incorrect for non-scholars and
non-academics to pass a judgment especially on such learned people. They
should fear Allah and abstain from engaging themselves in such discussions.
Differences of opinion is a salient feature among the Ulama-e-Haqq (true
scholars).
Tabligh
Allah Taãla states that one reason for this Ummah being titled as the best
of Ummah, is the practice of commanding good and preventing evil’.
Nabi (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) states, ‘Whosoever from among you
witnesses evil, he should change it with his hands. And if he is unable to
do so then he should change it with his tongue. And if he is unable to do so
with his tongue, then he should at least consider it to be wrong. And this
is the weakest stage of Imaan. (Mishkãt)
Hadhrat Nuúmaan bin Basheer (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) says that Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) gave an example of people sailing on a boat
having an upper deck and a lower deck. The people from the lower deck
require water and request water from the people of the upper deck. The
people from the upper deck refuse water so the people from the lower deck
decide to make a hole on the floor of the ship and get water from the sea.
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, ‘If the people from the upper
deck don’t stop the people at the bottom from making a hole, the ship will
sink and all the people travelling will drown. (Mishkãt vol. 2 p. 436)
Similarly, if people do not prohibit evil and sin in the society, the entire
society – innocent and evil – will equally suffer.
Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) states that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
Álayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Command good and prohibit evil or else Allah will
send such a punishment that will destroy everyone’. (Ibid).
The above quotations of the Qurãn and Ahaadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
Álayhi Wasallam) are clear that commanding good and prohibiting evil is an
emphasised injunction of Allah and His Rasul. Every person must carry out
this injunction. All the Prophets (Álayhimus salaam) followed the footsteps
of their respective Prophets and after the demise of their Prophet, they
carried out the same mission. The Sahaaba of Rasulullah (Radhiallaahu Ánhum)
spent their entire lives in commanding good and prohibiting evil. Since
there is no Prophet to come, every Ummati of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi
Wasallam) is the deputy of the Prophet and he has to carry on the mission of
the Prophet. The people of Tabligh Jamaat sacrifice their time, wealth and
comforts to undergo difficulty and hardships to go in the path of Allah – to
carry out this Sunnah of the Prophets – commanding good and prohibiting
evil.
As far as the Tabligh Jamaat is concerned, it is our humble view that they
are acting upon this injunction of Allah Taãla and are fulfilling this
obligation of Shariáh. the Jamaat advocates strict adherence to the Sunnah
and confirnes itself within the ambit of the Shariáh. The purpose of any
individual taking part in the Noble work of Tabligh is firstly to reform
oneself and dutifully save mankind from the fire of hell. The overwhelming
success of the Jamaat is mainly because of the manifestation of the six
points which involves the purification of the Naffs and the entity of
Tawheed.
The word, ‘Tashkeel’, literally means to form. In the terminology of
Tabligh, it means to urge the people to give time, to come out in the path
of Allah for self reformation and propagating good for a number of days 3,
7, 40, 4 months, 1 year, etc. The number of days is also not compulsory, it
is only recommended just as it is recommended that a person studying first
aid, for example, serves one month as practicals. While he will not be an
expert in medicine, he will know the basic things to do during an emergency.
Similarly, a person going out for 3 days, 40 days, 4 months, etc. does not
become an expert on Shariáh, but he will learn the basic requirements of
Shariáh. The more time he gives, the more he will learn and perfect himself.
The time frame is not a criteria according to Shariáh.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.