Fatwa ID: 02315

Answered by Ustaadha Bint Salih

Question:

Asalamualaikum.

I hope you'll take some time to answer this question, and I apologise, if I have asked you this before.
 

Alhamdulillah, TablighiJamat is quite successful in my city, Leeds. For 30 years this effort has been ongoing, and by the Allah's blessing the environment in many years is very "deeni".
 

The people involved in the work can be very determined to invites others, and, unfortunately they resort to unique tactics to get people to at least consider going for 3 days, and eventually for 4 months by using this Hadith:
 

"The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'Whoever dies without having gone out for jihaad or having thought of doing so, dies on a branch of hypocrisy.'" (_Saheeh Muslim_, 3533).
 

When you point out to these saathis, Allah is referring to jihad not going to a local mosque for x-number of days knocking on people's doors, and extending an invitation to join them in the mosque, they make out as wajib upon every Muslim who has the means, and is healthy to make intention otherwise he will die in a stateas mentioned in the hadith.

My questions:

        * Is their understanding of the Hadith correct?
        * Is it fardh, wajib, or sunnah to at least considering going out in the path if Allah, personally I have no interest, or desire in doing so.

Jazak'Allah.

Answer:

Bismillah

A brief commentary of the aforementioned hadith is as follows:

‘This narration refers to one who has never contemplated the issue of jihad in his mind or has contemplated it but resolved not to fulfil the responsibility if it ever arose. It is a degree of “hypocrisy” because it resembles the practice of the hypocrites during the time of the Messenger of either trailing behind the Muslim army (Mirqat al Mafatih7:377) or departing with them, but deserting them at a critical moment in the battle in order to weaken them.’
(Provisions for the Seekers, Page 98).

Using this hadith to encourage brothers to come out in jamatetc would not be wrong but one must understand that this is not the primary interpretation of the hadith.

It is not fardh, wajib or sunnah to go out in jamat or go on ghast etc. However to do so with the intention of pleasing Allah will be rewarding and beneficial.

Only Allah knows best.

Ustaadha Bint Salih.  

DarulIfta Birmingham.

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah