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Discussion Criticism and Allegation on Tablighi Jamaat on Internet [Issues,Rational & Neutral Analysis]

Assalam o Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Brakatuhu,
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين , والعاقبة للمتقين , ولا عدوان إلا على الظالمين , والصلاة والسلام على خاتم الأنبياء والمرسلين محمد سيد بني آدم أجمعين . وآله الطاهرين , وصحابته , ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين
All praises be to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Who created man, so He may lavishly spend (on man) His bounties that do not exhaust with passage of time, which are from such treasures that never deplete by spending and that are beyond human comprehension. In human beings, Allah has hidden such jewels of inherent capabilities that, if found and applied, will entitle him to benefit from the treasures of Ar-Rahman (the Most Beneficent). And by means of which he can attain such success as to dwell eternally in Paradise.
Allah's salutations be upon Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wasallam, the Chief of all Prophets and Apostles, the one bestowed with the distinction of interceding for the sinful, and the one sent as a mercy and blessing to mankind. Allah had chosen him, before the creation of the Pen and the Preserved Tablet, to lead all Prophets and Apostles. And selected him for conveying His message to mankind. He was selected to describe His bounties and boundless treasures that were beyond human comprehension.

Before coming to the topic I would like to make following point very clear.
1.       This article is being written as personal capacity of Blogger and does not reflect the approach of elders of Markaz Nizamuddin or any elder of Tablighi Jmaat on the issues of allegation and criticism. Their approach is to look on all advices/suggestion seriously even from ordinary person. I have personal experience of this.
2.       As far as responding to criticism and allegation is concerned they have a written policy. Maulana Inamul Hasan (R.A.)(died 1995) the former Amir of Tableeghi Jamaat has said."It is better that in case the objections and criticism if they are correct, rectify them .{No one is free from shortcomings} Whereas if they are wrong ,have patience (leave the matter to Allah)."Book Insight into dawah and its understanding & cognition Page No 181 translation of urdu book Dawat ki Faham o baseerat or uska Idrak). Furthermore once a great Aalim from India asked permission from Maulana Inamul Hasan to reply a very biased book from ………………………………group. Maulana said it is not a solution at all as you will write a reply they will give a rejoinder and it will go on from both side.
3.       Internet is a jungle and Markaz Nizamuddin cannot stop everyone so there are brothers busy in criticism Similarly Many brothers busy in responding. For a general Muslim it is a very confusing situation
4.    There is nothing wrong if a muslim (as per his wisdom and understanding) is pointing any shortcoming of a fellow muslim with sincerity of intention for the purpose of correction. But I am sad to say a fact that so much false propaganda and misinformation is being spreaded in a planned manner against Dawat o Tabligh for Groupism.
Double Loss of Ummat e Muslima due to False Accusation
Take an Example (One side of Coin)
………One brother alleged that Tablighi Jamaat is calling people towards Maulana Ilyas …………What??????????
Brother you can agree/not agree with Tabligh methodology ……it is another matter ………..But even the most biased person who will see Tabligh work from close  will not find it that it is calling to Maulana Ilyas/any other…………
It is one of the biggest lie on the face of earth……….
Making of this lie is one loss of Muslim Ummah………..
2ND Loss of Ummat
There are many who are not actively involved in Tabligh but are sympathesiser of Tabligh work. When they respond on forums they cross the limit. For all practical purpose it becomes a group war. Some Brothers while replying Allegations have used the same language of allegation maker following the principles of Tit for Tat.................... It is double loss of Ummat
It is not Justified
e.g If any person ………………… Sb ,……………group is abusing the work of Dawat o tabligh/ Hanafi Fiqh /any Scholars of Islam ........It does not give justification that other should also abuse …………………….Sb/ his group. This is not Islam..... Abusing anyone is Haram.............One should respond with humbleness in a scholary manner to the point raised (if any) and should leave the abuse in the Quota of the abuser doing dua for him.

Why not to go into the deep of Issues Involved…………..
If you will search on google on discussion/criticism of Tablighi Jamaat on internet we can divide these topics into three broad headings.
1.First Category of Discussion Issues
(This category comprise Nearly 10% of all discussion on Tabligh on internet)
1.     Allegations /discussion that are baseless and 100% lies. No answer should be given. Only Sabr should be done and matter should be left for the day of Qiyamah.

Some of these include
          (First set of Allegation)
v Tablighi Jamaat are grave worshipper. They are calling to grave worship
v Tablighi Jamaat is calling not to Allah but for Maulana Ilyas.
v Tablighi Jamaat is spreading shirk and Bidah
v Tablighi Jamaat cares only about Aaaml e Saliha (Good deeds) and it does not care about Faith (Aqeedah).
v Some brothers claimes that their Faith (Aqeedah) is weak and Trust in the oneness of Allah (Tawheed) is weak.
(Second Set of Allegation)
*    Tablighi Jamaat is Wahabi/They are calling to Wahabism.
*    Tablighi jamaat is Gustakh e Rasool (Disrespects the Prophet)
Allah knows everything and he is supreme. We should be fearful from Allah for his Anger and should seek his pleasure rather pleasure of any group/personality.
All these accusation are being done by some brothers for expected wordly gain of Fame/ strengthen groupism/making some followers on the basis of hatred /some orators do it for money also.
But it is a fact that only people will low intelligence or have become blind in groupism accept these allegation. May Allah guide all of us.
أن النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏خرج يوما فصلى على أهل ‏ ‏أحد ‏ ‏صلاته على الميت ثم انصرف إلى المنبر فقال ‏ ‏إني ‏ ‏فرط ‏ ‏لكم وأنا شهيد عليكم وإني والله لأنظر إلى حوضي الآن وإني أعطيت مفاتيح خزائن الأرض ‏ ‏أو مفاتيح الأرض ‏ ‏وإني والله ما أخاف عليكم أن تشركوا بعدي ولكن أخاف عليكم أن تنافسوا فيها ‏
Translation: Narrated 'Uqba bin 'Amir: One day the Prophet went out and offered the funeral prayers of the martyrs of Uhud and then went up the pulpit and said,
"I will pave the way for you as your predecessor and will be a witness on you. By Allah! I see my Fount (Kauthar) just now and I have been given the keys of all the treasures of the earth (or the keys of the earth) ”BY ALLAH! I AM NOT AFRAID THAT YOU WILL WORSHIP OTHERS ALONG WITH ALLAH AFTER MY DEATH, BUT I AM AFRAID THAT YOU WILL FIGHT WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR THE WORLDLY THINGS”
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 428: (Sahih Bukhari)
Prophet Muhammad (Salalaho alehe wasalam) said :
Any person who calls his brother: O Unbeliever! would return to one of them. If it is true, (then it is) as he asserted, (but if it is not true), then it returns to him (and thus the person who made the accusation is an Unbeliever).
[Sahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0117:]
2.Second Category of Discussion
(This category comprise Nearly 15 % of all discussion on Tabligh on internet)
Discussion that are by and large academic/Scholarly in nature. These all come in the scope of healthy and scholary discussion. Alhamdulillah many scholars have put
   Some of these include
        
v Dawah is only for Non Muslims or for both Muslim and Non-Muslims?

v Whether it is proved from Sahaba that they left their home for peaceful Dawah other than for War in Jihad.
v What is the definition and minimum requirement of knowledge for giving Dawah?
v What is this 3 days, 40 days and 4 Month.? What is Islamic Legal Status of developing a system for seeking knowledge and for Dawah work.
v What was the methodology of Prophet Dawah?
v How the effort of Tablighi Jamaat is coherent with an effective Dawah Movement ?


Discussion on Point No.2 

Whether it is proved from Sahaba that they left their home for peaceful Dawah other than for War in Jihad.?


It is fairly obvious that there is nothing wrong with visiting Muslims as a group to teach them their Deen .

وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا كَافَّةً فَلَوْلاَ نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ (التوبة: 122
It is not (necessary) for all the believers to go forth; So, why should it not be that a group from every section of them goes forth, so that they may acquire perfect understanding of the Faith, and so that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may take due care (of the rules of Shaniah).

The following Narrations gives Example of Prophet time and of Sahaba time. After Hadith there is a long account of Khilafat Period of Hazrat Umar Raziallahu Anhu. When Islam spreaded in his period to new areas for teaching of Muslims He sent Jamaat of Shaba to Hims Damscuss and Palestine. He also instructed the working plan for teaching there.

Prophet Era Examples
حدثنا أبو بكر بن أبي شيبة حدثنا وكيع عن شعبة عن سعيد بن أبي بردة عن أبيه عن جده أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بعثه ومعاذا إلى اليمن فقال يسرا ولا تعسرا وبشرا ولا تنفرا وتطاوعا ولا تختلفا 
1.    It has also been narrated by Sa'd b. Abu Burda through his father through his grandfather that the Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him) sent him and Mu'adh (on a mission) to the Yemen, and said (by way of advising them): Show leniency (to the people) ; don't be hard upon them; give them glad tidings (of Divine favours in this world and the Hereafter) ; and do not create aversion. Work in collaboration and don't be divided. [Muslim]
Then afterwards Abu Musa Asharee Raziallahu Anhu was also sent to assist them.

حدثني عبد الأعلى بن حماد حدثنا يزيد بن زريع حدثنا سعيد عن قتادة عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه أن رعلا وذكوان وعصية وبني لحيان استمدوا [ ص: 1501 ] رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على عدو فأمدهم بسبعين من الأنصار كنا نسميهم القراء في زمانهم كانوا يحتطبون بالنهار ويصلون بالليل حتى كانوا ببئر معونة قتلوهم وغدروا بهم فبلغ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقنت شهرا يدعو في الصبح على أحياء من أحياء العرب على رعل وذكوان وعصية وبني لحيان 
2.    Narrated Anas:  The people of the tribes of Ril, Dhakwan, 'Usiya and Bani Lihyan came to the Prophet and claimed that they had embraced Islam, and they requested him to support them with some men to fight their own people. The Prophet supported them with seventy men from the Ansar whom we used to call Al-Qurra' who (out of piety) used to cut wood during the day and pray all the night. So, those people took the (seventy) men till they reached a place called Bi'r-Ma'ana where they betrayed and martyred them. So, the Prophet invoked evil on the tribe of Ril, Dhakwan and Bani Lihyan for one month in the prayer. [Bukhari]

For more Ahadith and Example click here

At the time of Sahabah




There is a long account of Khilafat Period of Hazrat Umar Raziallahu Anhu. When Islam spreaded in his period to new areas for teaching of Muslims He sent Jamaat of Shaba to Hims Damscuss and Palestine. He also instructed the working plan for teaching there.




To be continued................We will discuss in detail all the above issue  ………..Insha Allah one by one ……………..

3.Third Category of Discussion/Criticism
(This category comprise Nearly 70-75 % of all discussion on Tabligh on internet)
Discussion that are very broad among Muslims. And these are broad topics among the scholars of Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat.
I found one writing on the criticism of Tablighi Jamat as
“…………..follow the ways of the Soofiyyah and they are deviated in aqeedah so it is a newly invented innovation found in this land. And it depends on these matters that have been established by its founders for this way. And they (the founders) are deviated in their aqeedah and in their methodology as well. They have with them aspects of Soofiyyah and aspects of Ashariyyah, those who are not upon the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaah. Not in their aqeedah and not in their behavior.”
(Shaykh Abdul Muhsin al-Abbaad on Jamaat at-Tableegh Author: Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin al-’Abbaad Source: Jama’at at-Tableegh – Pages 448 and 449)
If we look into these lines the Shaykh objections is revolving around following. He has Problem with Tablighi Jamaat as
1.       …..the ways of the Soofiyyah
(Means author is actually finding fault with Tasawwuf/Sufism)
2.      ……deviated in aqeedah…. aspects of Ashariyyah
(Means he is telling that Scholars who endorse the Ashariya school in Aqeedah is wrong)
Some other brothers have criticized with sentences ………
3.      They are Hanafi ………..
(Means they have problem with Hanafi Jurisprudence/ Jurisprudence of the four Imam)

So if we summarise we find that the actual Problem is very Broad between scholars and on these three issues. That is

  • 1.        Aqeedah Related
  • 2.    Following of one of Four Imam of Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat Related
  • 3.   Tasawwuf/ Soofism Related
These issues are very broad among Scholars and involve almost all the great scholars including Imam Ahmad Ibne Hanbal, Iman Abul Hasan Asharee Imam Shafaee, Imam Nawwi, Imam Suyuti,, Ibne Kathir, Ibne Taimmiya, Ibne Qayyim, Shah Waliullah, Sheikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi, Nawab Siddique Hasan Khan Rahimullah Alaihi Ajmaeen etc.
One can name here also all the seat of learning of contemprory Islamic world/ Contemprory Islamic Scholars in the same list 
Those who are Presenting it as an issue of Tablighi Jamaat/ Maulana Ilyas/Maulana Ilyas Hanafi Fiqh...........they have either very little Knowledge / if knowledge then doing for Groupism / Secterianism. 
 Those who are making it isolated case of Tablighi Jamaat they are cheating themselves and other Muslims.They are concealing truth and telling lie knowingly or unknowingly.

Now we will discuss in detail these three topics Insha Allah………….Write now a very brief introduction is being given that will be expanded…..Insha Allah

1.Aqeedah Discussion of Ashari-Maturidi Vs Salafi
(95 % of the scholars of Islam are suporting or identifying themselves as Ashari-Maturidi school in Kalam 5 % are opposing them)
As Aqeedah is most important part of Islam and of a muslim life, Allah has kept it very easy and simple so that all persons can understand it easily. Islamic Aqeedah. is very clear without any confusion and well described in Quran and Ahadith
and has been well explained by salfussalehin Scholars
 This difference is not related with Aqeedah per se Islamic Aqeedah is very clear and well described in Quran and Hadith.
And All scholars of Ahle sunnat wal Jamaat is agreed that Aqeedah has to be derived only from Quran and Hadith.
In Aqeedah they derive it from Quran and Hadith on the understanding of Sahaba Tabaee salafus salehin Imams of Ahle sunnat wal jamaat. 

If needed and dilactic has to be used by Scholars in Aqeedah to dispel any Fitnah/deviated thought …………Ashari-Maturidi scholars follow the Kalam of Imam Abul Hasan Ashari Rahimullah, and Abu Mansoor Maturidi Rahimullah………This use of kalam was done by Imam abul hasan ashari out of necessity due to Fitnah of Muatazillah and not out of fun………………
There are 3-4 points of debate on this issue. But before going into the issue first we will discuss in brief aqeedah itself.

 What is Aqeedah?
The Linguistic Meaning of Aqeedah: 
Literally, the word `aqidah is derived from the triconsonantal root"`A-Q-D", which means to tie or knot. al-Aqad, which is to 'tie something (firmly). 
Importance of Aqeedah: 
Correct Aqeeda is the most important thing in islam. It is the core and base of all action. It is the belief (Yaqeen) that gives the capability of good deeds. l It is what a person takes as a religion . It is said, if someone is having a good Aqeedah' meaning, have right beliefs. Aqeedah is an action of the heart, which is to believe and affirm something in the heart. It is also called as Iman or articles of Iman or Article of faith. and it has been called as article of faith.
Some Other Terms Emaan/Imaan  (Faith) is Synonymous to Aqeedah.Yaqeen   (Faith) is also sometimes used as synonymous.

Six Articles of Islamic Aqeedah
There are six basic Aqeeda or article of faith (Iman) and these are to believe in
1.    Allah,
2.    His angels,
3.    His Books,
4.    His Messengers,
5.   In coming to life after death (resurrection) the Day of Judgment,
6.    And in that the fate good and bad is predetermined by Allah
(Some books have separated life after death and Day of Judgment as separate number and it makes total number to seven)

These six articles of belief has been described in clear words in Quranic Ayats and has been sum up in the Hadith of Jibraeel that is in Bukhari and Muslim shareef both.
حدثنا مسدد،‏‏‏‏ قال حدثنا إسماعيل بن إبراهيم،‏‏‏‏ أخبرنا أبو حيان التيمي،‏‏‏‏ عن أبي زرعة،‏‏‏‏ عن أبي هريرة،‏‏‏‏ قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بارزا يوما للناس،‏‏‏‏ فأتاه جبريل فقال ما الإيمان قال ‏"‏ الإيمان أن تؤمن بالله وملائكته وبلقائه ورسله،‏‏‏‏ وتؤمن بالبعث ‏"‏‏.‏ قال ما الإسلام قال ‏"‏ الإسلام أن تعبد الله ولا تشرك به،‏‏‏‏ وتقيم الصلاة،‏‏‏‏ وتؤدي الزكاة المفروضة،‏‏‏‏ وتصوم رمضان ‏"‏‏.‏ قال ما الإحسان قال ‏"‏ أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه،‏‏‏‏ فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك ‏"‏‏.‏ قال متى الساعة قال ‏"‏ ما المسئول عنها بأعلم من السائل،‏‏‏‏ وسأخبرك عن أشراطها إذا ولدت الأمة ربها،‏‏‏‏ وإذا تطاول رعاة الإبل البهم في البنيان،‏‏‏‏ في خمس لا يعلمهن إلا الله ‏"‏‏.‏ ثم تلا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ {‏ إن الله عنده علم الساعة‏}‏ الآية‏.‏ ثم أدبر فقال ‏"‏ ردوه ‏"‏‏.‏ فلم يروا شيئا‏.‏ فقال ‏"‏ هذا جبريل جاء يعلم الناس دينهم ‏"‏‏.‏ قال أبو عبد الله جعل ذلك كله من الإيمان‏.

Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2, Number 48

Narrated Abu Huraira:
One day while the Prophet was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "What is faith?" Allah's Apostle replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." Then he further asked, "What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allah's Apostle replied, "The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents.
1. When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.
2. When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah.
The Prophet then recited: "Verily, with Allah (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour--." (31. 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion." Abu 'Abdullah said: He (the Prophet) considered all that as a part of faith.


All the Six Articles of Aqeeda has been further detailed by other Verses of the Holy Quran and Ahadith. 


(Discussion ………..To be continued Insha Allah )


2.Following of one of Four Imam
(97% of Muslims follow one of the four Imam with follower of Hanafi comprising nearly 50% of total Muslims)
Famous Jurist Shaykh Khatib Al-Baghdadi writes:
"As far as the Islamic rules are concerned, there are of two types. The first are those which are known by necessity to be part of the Deen of the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam like the five prayers, Zakaat, fasting in Ramadhan, Hajj; the prohibition of adultery, wine and so on. Taqleed is not allowed in these issues since they are such that everyone should know and understand. The second type are those rules which need to be understood and extrapolated such as the details of the rituals of worship, transactions and weddings, for example, Taqleed is allowed    in     these        issues since        Allah       says:"So ask the people of remembrance if you know not." (Surah Al-Nahl: 43)Al-Faqih wal Mutafaqqihah - page 67, vol.2 printed by Darul Iftaa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Imam Abu Haneefah about Fiqh/Jurisprudence
"Ours is no more than an opinion. We do not oblige or coerce anyone into accepting it. Whoever has a better judgment, let him advance it." [ Al Intiqaa', 140.]

Imam Ibne Qadama Muqdasee in book Lamatul Etaqad (page 83)
…….to connect oneself in peripheral issues with an Imam like four school of Jurisprudence, and to attach with them is not condemnable as differences in peripheral issue is Rahmat, and Mujtahedin are to be prised even in differences and to get reward for Ijtahad.
There difference on any issue among them is indication of (from Allah side) wasee (broad) Rahmat.
 And their (four Imas) Ittefaq o Ijma (unanimity) on any issue is itself a final and final (Qataee Qataee 2 times) argument.
Imam Ibne Qadama Muqdasee in book Lamatul Etaqad (Last page 83) translated from urdu translation  published from Saudi Ministry department of Dawat Ifta Wal  Irshad department Saudi Arabia  1419 Hijri.


Imam Shafaee about Imam Abu Haneefah
"All are children of Imam Abu Haneefa in matter of Jurisprudence"



Faisal Award winner Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi ( Ali Miyan) R.A. in his book Tareekh e dawat o Azeemat   (The saviors of Islamic sprit in English)
 “Islam has expanded  to a vast and fertile areas of Syria, Iraq, Egypt and other African countries,Iran and central Asia. Administration of country, Maashrat, business, has reached to a complex situation. And it was urgent need to extraction and ISTANBAT and interpretation of the fine details of these principles. For this important job a very deep knowledge and understanding of Quran and sunnat and its practical application to the current situation were required.”

“It was bounty from Allah and pinnacle of destiny (IQBAL MANDI) of ummate muslima that muslims got people of special qualities for this important job.
Tareekh e dawat o Azeemat vol 1(page 80-81) {its English translation The saviors of Islamic sprit Vol1 .}

“………Taqled of four Imams Is based on Sound Principles of Islam, Safer and Rational and obvious choice. It is Closest To Quran And Sunnah as It Is Based On Deep Research By Scholars Of Undisputed Integrity And Has Been Rigorously Scrutinized By Scholars Throughout Its Development And Evolution that’s why Hadith Scholars like Ibne Hajar Asqalani, Imam Nawwi, Imam Tahawi and Ibne Kathir chose  to  do Taqleed one     of four Imams………………..”

These are some initial discussion ………..Will be Continued in detail Insha Allah……………

3.Tasawwuf/ Soofism
(A science for attaining Ihsan , a quality described in Hadith of Jibraeel in Bukhari)
A very special branch of the Faith, through which it is carried to perfection, is Ehsan, as the Prophet's (Peace be upon him) Tradition describe it, or Tasawwuf, as it is known in common parlance. In plain words, it means the creation of a real, living consciousness of God a consciousness so strong and vivid as if one had actually seen him, sweeping aside every trace of doubt and uncertainty…………………………….
Islamic Scholars on Tassawuff
The following quotations of the scholars of Shariah regarding the precedence of the knowledge and science of Tasawwuf (Purification of the Self).
Imam Abu Hanifa (85 H. - 150 H)
"If it were not for two years, I would have perished." He said, "for two years I accompanied Sayyidina Ja'far as-Sadiq and I acquired the spiritual knowledge that made me a gnostic in the Way." [Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar, vol 1. p. 43]
Imam Malik (95 H. - 179 H.)
"whoever studies Jurisprudence [tafaqaha] and didn't study Sufism [tasawwaf] will be corrupted; and whoever studied Sufism and didn't study Jurisprudence will become a heretic; and whoever combined both will reach the Truth." ['Ali al-Adawi , vol. 2, p 195.]
Imam Shafi'i (150 - 205 AH.)
"I accompanied the Sufi people and I received from them three knowledges: ...how to speak; how to treat people with leniency and a soft heart... and they... guided me in the ways of Sufism." [Kashf al-Khafa, 'Ajluni, vol. 1, p 341.]
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (164 - 241 AH.)
"O my son, you have to sit with the People of Sufism, because they are like a fountain of knowledge and they keep the Remembrance of Allah in their hearts. they are the ascetics and they have the most spiritual power." [Tanwir al-Qulub p. 405]
Imam Ghazzali (450 - 505 AH.)
"I knew verily that Sufis are the seekers in Allah's Way, and their conduct is the best conduct, and their way is the best way, and their manners are the most sanctified. They have cleaned their hearts from other than Allah and they have made them as pathways for rivers to run receiving knowledge of the Divine Presence." [al-Munqidh, p. 131].
Fakhr ad-Din ar-Razi (544 - 606 AH)
"The way of Sufis for seeking Knowledge, is to disconnect themselves from this worldly life, and they keep themselves constantly busy with Dhikrullah, in all their actions and behaviors." ['Itiqadaat Furaq al-Muslimeen, p. 72, 73]
Imam Nawawi (620 - 676 AH.)
"The specifications of the Way of the Sufis are ... to keep the Presence of Allah in your heart in public and in private; to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (s) ... to be happy with what Allah gave you..." [in his Letters, (Maqasid at-tawhid), p. 20]
Ibn Taymiyya (661 - 728 AH)
"Tasawwuf has realities and states of experience which they talk about in their science. Some of it is that the Sufi is that one who purifies himself from anything which distracts him from the remembrance of Allah and who will be so filled up with knowledge of the heart and knowledge of the mind to the point that the value of gold and stones will be the same to him. And Tasawwuf is safeguarding the precious meanings and leaving behind the call to fame and vanity in order to reach the state of Truthfulness, because the best of humans after the prophets are the Siddiqeen, as Allah mentioned them in the verse:
"(And all who obey Allah and the Apostle) are in the company of those on whom is the grace of Allah: of the prophets, the sincere lovers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous; Ah! what a beautiful fellowship." (an-Nisa', 69,70)
"...some people criticised Sufiyya and Tasawwuf and they said they were innovators, out of the Sunnah, but the truth is they are striving in Allah's obedience [mujtahidin fi ta'at-illahi], as others of Allah's People strove in Allah's obedience. So from them you will find the Foremost in Nearness by virtue of his striving [as-saabiq ul-muqarrab bi hasab ijtihadihi]. And some of them are from the People of the Right hand [Ahl al-Yameen mentioned in Qur'an in Sura Waqi'ah], but slower in their progress.... And this is the origin of Tasawwuf. And after that origin, it has been spread and [tasha'abat wa tanawa'at] has its main line and its branches.  [Majmu'a Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya al-Kubra, Vol. 11, Book of Tasawwuf, p. 497].
"The miracles of saints are absolutely true and correct, by the acceptance of all Muslim scholars. And the Qur'an has pointed to it in different places, and the Hadith of the Prophet (s) has mentioned it, and whoever denies the miraculous power of saints are only people who are innovators and their followers." [al-Mukhtasar al-Fatawa, page 603]. Ibn Taymiyya says, "what is considered as a miracle for a saint is that sometimes the saint might hear something that others do not hear and they might see something that others do not see, while not in a sleeping state, but in a wakened state of vision. And he can know something that others cannot know, through revelation or inspiration." [Majmu'a Fatawi Ibn Taymiyya, Vol. 11, p. 314].
Ibn Khaldun (733 - 808 AH.)
"The way of the Sufis is the way of the Salaf, the preceding Scholars between the Sahaba and Tabi'een of those who followed good guidance..." [Muqaddimat ibn al-Khaldun, p. 328]
Tajuddin as-Subki (727 - 771 AH.)
"May Allah praise them [the Sufis] and greet them and may Allah cause us to be with them in Paradise. Too many things havebeen said about them and too many ignorant people have said things which are not related to them. And the truth is that those people left the world and were busy with worship. ...They are the People of Allah, whose supplications and prayer Allah accepts and by means of whom Allah supports human beings" [Mu'eed an-Na'am p. 190, the chapter entitled Tasawwuf]
Jalaluddin as-Suyuti (849 - 911 AH.)
"At-Tasawwuf in itself is the best and most honorable knowledge. It explains how to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (s) and to put aside innovation." [Ta'yid al-Haqiqat al-'Aliyya,p 57]
Ibn Qayyim (691 - 751 AH.)
"We can witness the greatness of the People of Sufism, in the eyes of the earliest generations of Muslims by what has been mentioned by Sufyan ath-Thawri (d. 161 AH), one of the greatest imams of the second century and one of the foremost legal scholars. He said, "If it had not been for Abu Hisham as-Sufi (d. 115) I would never have perceived the action of the subtlest forms of hypocrisy in the self... Among the best of people is the Sufi learned in jurisprudence." [Manazil as-Sa'ireen.]
Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (1115 - 1201 AH.)
"My father Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab and I do not deny or criticize the science of Sufism, but on the contrary we support it, because it purifies the external and the internal of the hidden sins, which are related to the heart and to the outward form. Even though the individual might externally be on the right way, internally he might be on the wrong way. Sufism is necessary to correct it." [ad-Dia'at mukathaffa did ash-shaykh ibn Abdul Wahhab, p. 85]
Ibn 'Abidin (1198 - 1252 AH.)
"The Seekers in this Sufi Way don't hear except from the Divine Presence and they don't love any but Him. If they remember Him they cry, and if they thank Him they are happy; ... May Allah bless them." [Risa'il Ibn 'Abidin p. 172 & 173]
Muhammad 'Abduh (1265 - 1323 AH.)
"Tasawwuf appeared in the first century of Islam and it received a tremendous honor. It purified the self and straightened the conduct and gave knowledge to people from the Wisdom and Secrets of the Divine Presence." [Majallat al-Muslim, 6th ed. 1378 H, p. 24].
Maulana Abul Hasan 'Ali an-Nadawi (1331 AH b.)
"These Sufis were initiating people on Oneness and sincerity in following the Sunnah of the Prophet (s) and to repent from their sins and to be away from every disobedience of Allah 'Azza wa Jall. Their guides were encouraging them to move in the way of perfect Love to Allah 'Azza wa Jall. "...In Calcutta India, everyday more than 1000 people were taking initiation into Sufism. "...by the influence of these Sufi people, thousands and thousands and hundreds of thousands in India found their Lord and reached a state of Perfection through the Islamic religion." [Muslims in India, p. 140-146]
Maulana Abul 'Ala Maudoodi (1321 - 1399 AH.)
"Sufism is a reality whose signs are the love of Allah and the love of the Prophet (saw), where one absents oneself for their sake, and one is annihilated from anything other than them, and it is to know how to follow the footsteps of the Prophet (s). ..Tasawwuf searched for the sincerity in the heart and the purity in the intention and the trustworthiness in obedience in an individual's actions."
"The Divine Law and Sufism: "Sufism and Shariah: what is the similitude of the two? They are like the body and the soul. The body is the external knowledge, the Divine Law, and the spirit is the internal knowledge." [Mabadi' al-Islam, p. 17]




(ARTICLE TO BE CONTINUED INSHA ALLAH..........................DO DUA AND GIVE YOUR VALUABLE COMMENTS...................)
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