The emergence of Tablighi Jamaat represented the intensification of individual reformation aspects of the original Deobandi movement. It was also a continuation of the broader trend of Islamic revival in India in the wake of the collapse of Muslim political power and the consolidation of the British rule. The emergence of Tablighi Jamaat also coincided closely with the rise of various Hindu proselytising movements which launched massive efforts in the early twentieth century to reconvert Hindus who had converted to Islam and Christianity.[10] Notable among these Hindu revivalist movements were Shuddhi (purification) and Sanghatan (consolidation) movements. The Tabligh movement aimed to reaffirm Muslim religio-cultural identity of borderline Muslims who still practised customs and religious rites connected with Hinduism. Unlike common proselytising movements, TJ never strove to convert non-Muslims to Islam, rather it exclusively focused on making Muslims better and purer.[11][12] Origin Main article: Tabligh movement in Mewat The Tablighi Jamaat was formed in 1926 in Mewat, in north India, which was inhabited by the Meos, a Rajput ethnic group. At the time, some Muslim Indian leaders feared that Muslims were losing their religious identity to the majority Hindu culture. The movement was never given any name officially, but Ilyas used to call it Tahrik-i Imaan.[13][14] There is evidence that several Meos converted to Islam, followed by re-conversion to Hinduism when Muslim political power declined in the region. The Meos were generally benighted Muslims before the emergence of Tabligh Jamaat, and lacked the necessary acumen required to resist the cultural and religious influence of Hindus.[10] Muhammad Ilyas, the founder of Tabligh Jamaat, wanted to set forth a movement that would exemplify the Quranic decree of enjoining good and forbidding evil.[15][16] The inspiration for devoting his life to Islam came to Ilyas during his second pilgrimage to Mecca in 1926.[17] He initially tried to establish a network of mosque-based religious schools to educate the Mewati Muslims about Islamic beliefs and practices. Shortly afterwards, he was disappointed with the reality that these institutions were producing religious functionaries but not preachers.[18] Ilyas abandoned his teaching post at Madrasah Mazahir Uloom in Saharanpur and became a missionary. He relocated to Nizamuddin near Delhi, where this movement was formally launched in 1926.[18] When setting the guidelines for the movement, he sought inspiration from the practices adopted by Muhammad at the dawn of Islam.[16] Muhammad Ilyas put forward the slogan, Urdu: !اﮮ مسلمانو! مسلمان بنو, O Muslims! Become Muslims. This expressed the central focus of Tablighi Jamat: their aim to renew Muslims socially by uniting them in embracing the lifestyle of Muhammad. The movement gained a phenomenal following in a relatively short period and nearly 25,000 people attended the annual conference in November 1941.[18]
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 06:30:12 +0000
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