22 August, 2006

The Editor,

The Hindustan Times,

Dear Sir,

Apropos Shri Vijay Dutt’s write-up on the linkage of suspected terrorist with the Tablighi Jamaat, I would like to correct his impression. The Tablighi Jamaat is NOT a sect. They are largely Sunnis of the Hanafi School. All the Jamaat does is to organize ‘chillas’ for a fixed number of days for a group to visit Muslim communities in villages and towns to call upon them to live their lives according to basic principles of Islam, to be good Muslims in their relation with the neighbours, with their families and friends. For example they tell Muslim labour to work honestly for the contracted time; Muslim shopkeepers not to under-weigh or over price or profiteer, Muslim employees to pay wages immediately on completion of work. Of course, they also tell the Muslims to pray regularly in the mosques or at home. They strictly avoid political issues.

The Tablighi Jamaat has no membership; no records, no registration, no subscription. Everyone is supposed to take care of his own expenses.

It has made phenomenal progress over the last 50 years. Groups from one country visit other countries. Hundreds and thousands of people attend their regional, national and international congregations. Many attend them as an act of piety, like listening to a religious discourse.

Tablighi Jamaat avoids political subjects in its Ijtimas which are open to all. Indeed wherever they hold Ijtimas, they invite the local authorities and seek their help. Nowhere has any violence preceded or followed the Ijtima.

I have myself been critical of the Tablighi Jamaat for wasting valuable human energy in religious journeys and for depoliticising the people and for diverting their attention from more useful social activities.

However, Tablighi Jamaat has an obvious appeal for people who wish to perform pious deeds and propagate Islam.

Their audience is largely Muslims and I doubt if the Jamaat has any proselysation to its credit.

Yours faithfully,

(SYED SHAHABUDDIN)