A brief introduction of Fazail e Amal:
As the name itself indicate it is book related to virtues and benefits of good deeds.It is used by Tablighi jamaat for collective taleem Fazail e Amaal is a collection of 8 books and It is in two volumes.
Volume1 comprise of Six books
1.Stories of Sahaba (Hav 11 chaptors on sahabas quality of sacrifice of deen,love for Rasulullah,The Islamic qualities of women and children of that age etc.)
2. Virtues of Namaz (The Rewards Of Salaat, Warning And Reproach On Discard Of Salaat, The Reward Of Jamaat , Warning And Reproach On Discarding Of Jamaat Importance Of Sincerity And Devotion In Salaat )
3. Virtues of Rememberance of Allah (Qur'anic Verses relating to Zikr, Section 2 Ahaadith on Zikr , VIRTUES OF KALIMAH TAYYABAH etc.)
4.Virtues of Quran E pak (Ahadith explaining the Importance of Quran E Pak and Reminder to muslim to inculcate and encourage its reading and teaching in personal and collective life)
5. Virtues of Tabligh and Dawah (Calling towards Allah) (Quranic Ayats and Ahadith stressing the duty of muslims of Dawat and Tabligh and Rectification on ummate muhammadia, Ahadith explaining the consequences of not doing the work of Dawat etc.)
6.Virtues of Ramzan (Having chaptors on importance and purpose of Ramzan and special topic about Lailatul Qadr)
7. Virtues of Dar ood Shareef.Having chaptors on Importance of Darrod Shareef.And stories of Aulia Allah.Most of the allegation of salafi brothers are related to this chaptor of fazail e amal.
7.The sixth book of Fazaile Amaal has been written by Maulana Ehtashamul Hasan and its title is “Muslim Degeneration And Its Only Remedy” in which in very scholary manner he has discuused the present day downfall of muslims all over the world, has went into deep to search the causes in the light of Quran and Ahadith and accordingly has suggedted ways to rectify mistakes and way forward. From start to end it is based on Quranic ayats and Ahadith and it is an important book for all muslims irrespective of any Jammat and organization.
The Second Volume of Fazaile Amaal comprise of two large books
- Virtues of Charity (Having units on Spending in the path of Allah, Huquuqul Ibad with special refrence to parents,relatives and neighbours,and stories of pious persons like Malik bin Deenar (R.A) and Son of Harun Rasheed and others in this connection )
- Virtues of Hajj ( Having Units on virtues and warning of not doing it despite having resources, and stories of pious persons from past about doing Hajj.
Writer of Fazail e Amal position in the field of Hadith
Fazail e Amal was compiled by ShaikhulHadith Hazrath Muhammad Zakariya (Rahimahullah).He was a very high ranking Aalim and Muhaddith (Scholar of Hdith) and Musleh, who has written many books including one of the most markable commentary of Mauta Imam Malik with title of Ojazul Masalik which is Alhamdulillah in six volume,and shaikh zakaria has taught Bukhari Shareef for nearly 25 years in India and in Madeena Munawwara and commonly referred as Shaikhul Hadith.
Some of his Hadith works include.
- Awjaz al-Masalik ila Muwatta’ Imam Malik: One of the most comprehensive commentaries on the Muwatta of Imam Malik in terms of the science of hadith, jurisprudence, and hadith explication.
- Al-Abwab wa ‘l-Tarajim li ‘l-Bukhari: An explanation of the chapter headings of Imam Bukhari’s Sahih al-Bukhari. Assigning chapter headings in a hadith collection is a science in itself, known among the scholars as al-abwab wa ‘l-tarajim [chapters and explanations].
- Juz’ Hajjat al-Wida’ wa ‘Umrat al-Nabi : A comprehensive Arabic commentary on the detailed accounts of the pilgrimage [hajj] of Allah’s Messenger.
- Khasa’il Nabawi Sharh Shama’il al-Tirmidhi: Composed in urdu, a commentary on Imam Tirmidhi’s renowned work al-Shama’il al-Muhammadiyya, a collection of hadiths detailing the characteristics of the Messenger. This commentary explains the various aspects related to the different characteristics and practices of Allah’s Messenger. It has been translated into English and is widely available.
He was a prominent figure of scholary and spiritual personality of last century. He died in Madeena Munawwara on Monday Sha’ban 1, 1402 AH (May 24, 1982 CE) and was buried in Jannat al-Baqi
.
Brief Objective of Tablighi jamaat and its relation to Fazail E Amaal
Tablighi jamaat is a movement meant whose objective can be summarized as
- Rejuvenate the 'love for Deen' ie love and desire for Islamic way of life in the heart ,the noble way of hazrat Muhammad sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
- Strenthing the belief that success in this world and hereafter is only in obeying deen the command of allah and following of hazrat Muhammad sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in 24 hour of our life and in all walks of our life,
- Increasing the value and acceptability of practical Sunnah of prophet.
In simple words you can say that its object is to increase thirst among muslim to be a practicing muslim. To fill the muslim heart with the truth that his success and success of all human being is in following Quran and Hadith ie Deen.
Fazail-e-amaal is simply the related extracts from the Quran and Ahadith collections to help in meeting these specific objective. The object of the book is to encourage the Muslims.It is a book to increase thirst of knowledge/knowledge seeking behavior so that we could seek it from proper sources of quran and Ahadith.
With this objective, Fazail-e-amaal was written. It was not meant to be set of rulings on Islam. Pattern of Fazail e Amaal.
The writer tarts topic with a specific pattern. He has divided each unit into topics and topic consists of related Aayaats of the Quran, Related Ahadith, Stories of the Sahabah and stories of the pious predecessors that explain the virtues of good deeds. And as the stories of Sahaba and of pious muslims (buzurgane deen) from past are inspirational example. So that stories are also there but not more than 5 -10 % of total content
The role and status of Fazail-e-A’mal in Tableegh Jama’at
It is a total misconception that Fazail-e-A’mal is the guide book of Tableegh Jama’at. The concept of Tableegh Jama’at was not derived from this book, nor is the jama’at dependant on this book to do the work of tableegh. They thought it necessary to stipulate such a book that would encourage people towards good deeds, and this book served the purpose; therefore, the people who join this work are advised to stipulate a specific time for the reading of this book. But its role is of facilitator only. However, it is not compulsory upon each an every person who joins this effort to read this book. Many of the Arabs who are doing this effort chose to read Riyadu-s-Saliheen instead, and they are allowed to carry on with this work. Similarly for non Arabs Muntakhib Ahadith is there.(collection of Quranic Ayah and Ahadith on Iman, Salat, Ilm O Zikr, Ikram E Muslim, Ikhlas E niyah,Dawat E Ilallah,and Tark e Layani. Therefore, it is totally incorrect to regard this book as the guide book of Tableegh Jama’at.
The Quran is a comprehensive book covering a very wide objective. Tabligh has a lot more specific objective..
What fazail e amal is not.
It is not a book of.
- It is not not to explain any ruling of Shari’ah.(Masail).It doesn't contain Masa'il why because tabligh jamaat has people from all four Madhab (from different school of thoughts), so they might indulge in arguing with each other and it will not create a conductive situation. So for Masail they are advised to seek guidance from Muftis/Alims or authentic books of Alims on the subject.
- It is not a book of Aqeeda
- It is not a guide book for Tableeghi Jamaat.
- Tableeghi jamaat is not dependent on it. Even to meet its above mentioned objective it also has other books on virtues of good deeds ie MUNTAKHAB AHADITH, RIYAZUSSALIHIN,HAYATUS SAHABA.One is free to use these books if he has any objection with Fazail E Amaal.
Why not Bukhari Shareef instead of Fazail e Amaal for collective Taleem
The specific context for using fazail e amaal should not be forgotten that it is book of virtues of Amaal only. Some ill hearted brothers allege that tablighi people keep fazail e amaal above Bukhari Shareef. It is a baseless allegation and use of Fazail-e-amaal is not meant to discourage the reading of the Holy Quran or any other Ahadith book .(NAUZUBILLAH).We should be fearful from allah before alleging against any muslim fellow.(May Allah save us from sins).Whole ummate muslima is unanimous on the fact that Bukhari shareef is most authentic book of Hadith.In jamaat for collective taleem Bukhari shareef, is not used for simple reason that Bukhari shareef covers hadith related to a wide range of topics and not only about virtues of deed.
As the stories of Sahaba and of pious buzurgane deen from past are inspirational example. So that stories are also there but not more than 5 -10 % of total content.And it has been clarified in Fazail E Amaal that stories are only of historical importance and not anything compulsary to be followed and to keep our attitude as modest in our lavish lives.
JAZAKALLAH
