Fatwa ID: 08234

Answered by: Alimah Humairah Badshah

Question:

Assalamu alaikum. When a jamat enters our masjid, many brothers leave at the sight of them standing up to give the elan and say that they are people of the bidah. How do we refute these claims and what evidence is there. Jazak Allah

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Wa’alaykumussalaam,

The bid’ah which is prohibited is that which opposes what is clearly known from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Though bid’ah linguistically means ‘new’, not everything which is new or developed later on is prohibited. That which is new but beneficial and adhering to the principles of Islam can even be called a ‘good bid’ah’, using the word bid’ah in the literal linguistic sense.

An example of a new but permissible matter is the numbers and other marks in the Qur’an. These notations were added later on in history to benefit the people in reading and understanding the Qur’an. While they were not there originally, since they do not oppose anything in the Qur’an or Sunnah they are not considered a prohibited bid’ah. In fact, they are widely used and benefited from by all.

The Tablighi Jamaat is a roughly century-old popular movement. Followers of the Tablighi Jamaat methodology gather in masjids and travel to spread Islam to non-Muslims, encourage other Muslims to do good and avoid evil, and share knowledge and encouragement amongst themselves. None of these things in principle are prohibited or against the Qur’an or Sunnah, and in fact are all praiseworthy matters. Therefore, doing them in the standardised way as set out by the Tablighi Jamaat is not a prohibited bid’ah. This permissibility applies as long as one does not believe that the specific habits of the Tablighi Jamaat methodology which are not mentioned in the Qur’an or Sunnah (explicitly or through inference) are fardh or sunnah.

Another example of matters like this is Islamic education. Throughout history there have been many types of educational facilities, curriculums and methodologies which were made to suit the needs and customs of the people of the time. Though each of these methods were new at the time, they did not oppose the Qur’an and Sunnah and served to spread Islamic knowledge. Therefore, they would not be considered a prohibited bid’ah.

However, while there is nothing wrong with the Tablighi Jamaat methodology generally, actions and habits of individuals and groups within the Tablighi Jamaat community can lead to disliked or even prohibited situations. Spreading misinformation regarding Islam out of ignorance is to be avoided at all costs. One should also not disturb others in the masjid with loud talking, even if it is regarding Islam. If one travels to other areas, one should get the appropriate permissions, follow the local laws and not cause harm to the Muslims of that area.

While there are no proofs in the Qur’an and Sunnah for the Tablighi Jamaat specifically, one may use the previously mentioned examples to explain the underlying principles. There are also many Qur’anic verses and Ahadith regarding the benefits of spreading knowledge, calling to good and forbidding evil. These can be used to justify the goals of the Tablighi Jamaat and soften the hearts of those vehemently opposed to it. For example, in Surah Ali ‘Imran, it is said:

“Let there be a group among you who call [others] to goodness, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil—it is they who will be successful.” [3:104]

Keep in mind that there are many reasons, personal and historical, why a person may not wish to participate in the Tablighi Jamaat or even feel negatively about the practice. Many people have related personal anecdotes regarding ignorant people spreading weak or fabricated information during Tablighi Jamaat gatherings. Therefore, one should defend one’s position in a compassionate manner and strive to be understanding of the differences of opinion regarding this practice.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Alimah Humairah Badshah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

(وَمُبْتَدِعٌ)

أَيْ صَاحِبُ بِدْعَةٍ وَهِيَ اعْتِقَادُ خِلَافِ الْمَعْرُوفِ عَنْ الرَّسُول

…

فَيُسَاوِي تَعْرِيفَ الشُّمُنِّيِّ لَهَا بِأَنَّهَا مَا أُحْدِثَ عَلَى خِلَافِ الْحَقِّ الْمُتَلَقَّى عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – مِنْ عِلْمٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ أَوْ حَالٍ

Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.1 p.560

لَا بَأْسَ بِكِتَابَةِ أَسَامِي السُّوَرِ وَعَدَدِ الْآيِ وَهُوَ وَإِنْ كَانَ إحْدَاثًا فَهُوَ بِدْعَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ، وَكَمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ كَانَ إحْدَاثًا وَهُوَ بِدْعَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ، وَكَمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ يَخْتَلِفُ بِاخْتِلَافِ الزَّمَانِ وَالْمَكَانِ، كَذَا فِي جَوَاهِرِ الْأَخْلَاطِيِّ. وَكَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ يَقُولُ لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ مِنْ تَرَاجِمِ السُّوَرِ مَا جَرَتْ بِهِ الْعَادَةُ كَمَا يَكْتُبُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ فِي أَوَائِلِهَا لِلْفَصْلِ، كَذَا فِي السِّرَاجِ الْوَهَّاجِ

Al-Fataawa Al-Hindiyyah (Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.5 p.323

لِأَنَّ الْأَمْرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَكَذَا النَّهْيَ عَنْ الْمُنْكَرِ مِمَّا يَعْنِي كُلَّ مُسْلِمٍ

Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.5 p.106

أَجْمَعَ الْعُلَمَاءُ سَلَفًا وَخَلَفًا عَلَى اسْتِحْبَابِ ذِكْرِ الْجَمَاعَةِ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ وَغَيْرِهَا إلَّا أَنْ يُشَوِّشَ جَهْرُهُمْ عَلَى نَائِمٍ أَوْ مُصَلٍّ أَوْ قَارِئٍ

Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.1 p.66

أَخْرَجَهُ الْمُنْذِرِيُّ ” مَرْفُوعًا «جَنِّبُوا مَسَاجِدَكُمْ صِبْيَانَكُمْ وَمَجَانِينَكُمْ، وَبَيْعَكُمْ وَشِرَاءَكُمْ، وَرَفْعَ أَصْوَاتِكُمْ، وَسَلَّ سُيُوفِكُمْ، وَإِقَامَةَ حُدُودِكُمْ، وَجَمِّرُوهَا فِي الْجُمَعِ، وَاجْعَلُوا عَلَى أَبْوَابِهَا الْمَطَاهِرَ» “

Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.1 p.656

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/8674/jamaat-al-tabligh-pros-and-cons