Frequently Asked Questions About Tablighi Jamaat

Maulana Muhammad Ilyas founded the Tablighi Jamaat in 1925, against the backdrop of the British Empire and a waning Muslim identity in South Asia. Believing that social, political, and economic hardships beset Muslims in India,

The core of the organization is comprised of “full-time” Tablighis who comprise the shura (council) and who are usually the elders of the mosques affiliated with the group.

In addition to this core, there are the traveling Tablighis who undertake proselytizing missions over varying durations. Formed into jamaats of approximately ten people.

These Tablighis’ missions last three days, forty days (chilla), four months, or one year. The jamaat’s destination and desired area of focus generally determines the length of these missions.

Those who go for three days concentrate on a local city, while a jamaat traveling for a month will do so throughout their country. The longer tours of four months to one year generally take the Tablighis abroad.

During these tours, the jamaat—under the leadership of its emir—stays at a local mosque, which serves as its base for the duration.

Four or five members of the group conduct daily ghast, during which they visit neighborhoods (or neighborhoods with large Muslim populations if in a non-Muslim country) and homes, asking the men of the household to attend mosque for Maghrib(sunset) prayers.

Those who attend are offered the dawa (invitation) as the Tablighis outline their six principles and encourage attendees to form their own jamaat. Members voluntarily work for the organization and there is no registration process in the group.

Participants are free to leave the movement at any time. Consequently, Tablighi Jamaat has a loose, informal recruitment process and attracts members of varying commitment. For example, some members only engage in group activities episodically, while others will do so annually. All of these factors contribute to the uncertainty regarding Tablighi Jamaat’s membership numbers.

While much light was shed on the Tablighi Jamaat gradually, many questions still remains amoung the general public.

It’s official secrecy and peripheral links to some extreemist individuals have nullified its choice to remain outside politics. 

1. Be a good example of our Prophet(s.a.w)

2. Respect local Masjids Traditions and Customs while staying in the masjid during the Jamaat period( 3/7/30/40/365 days)

3. Do not start continue the Tahlim Immediately after salam of fard prayers. 

4. Give people time to do sunnah prayers and joing with local Jamaat  in sunnah.

5. Engage current Masjid kuliah Programs instead of negleting the on going kuliah programs and forming a separate Group in the masjid.