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Bhopal: The three-day 63rd edition
of “Aalami Tablighi Ijtima” (World Preachers’ Congregation) came
to conclusion on Monday afternoon after the mass “Dua” (seeking
blessings from the Almighty) with several lakhs of Muslims
participating in it from all corners of the world.
The venue of the Ijtima on the outskirts of Bhopal at Ghasipura in
Eintkhedi village in the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh,
reverberated with “Ameen” (Amen) continuously during the 40
minutes of the “Dua”. Maulana Sa’ad-ul-Hasan of Nizamuddin Markaz
(headquarters), New Delhi, who conducted the “Dua” in a mixture of
Arabic, Urdu and Hindi languages, repeatedly pleaded to the
Almighty Allah for the Muslim Ummah and humanity at large, which
has gone astray, for forgiveness, mercy and guidance. The Maulana
urged the Almighty Allah to grant peace and tranquility to
humanity in this world and Hereafter. He sought divine blessings
for peace, progress and unity of Muslim Ummah and mankind at
large.
Squatting on the ground many of the devotees were seen sobbing
inconsolably while tears rolled down the cheeks of others during
the “Dua” as they chanted “Ameen” in unison after Maulana Sa’ad’s
each pleadings while remembering the sins they had committed in
their lives by violating His Commandments.
An aura of spirituality prevailed all along the three day Ijtima
which reached its peak with mass “Dua” and thereafter devout
Muslims in about 750 Jama’ats (groups of 10-15 people) fanned out
to the length and breadth of the whole world to spread the message
of Islam and the way of life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to their
co-religionist and exhort them to follow the tenets of Islam in
letter and spirit. The devotees were urged to mend their own ways
in order to lead by example when they ask their co-religionist to
join them in their task of spreading the message of Islam. Out of
750 Jama’ats people in 110 Jama’ats enrolled their names in the
path of Allah for three “Chillas” (120 days i.e. four months)
while the rest for one “Chilla” to persuade their Muslim brethren
to strike a perfect balance between materialism and spirituality
in their lives.
It may be pointed out here that a “Chilla” is of 40 days which has
great significance as in the development of a child in a woman’s
womb changes in the embryo takes place every 40 days till the
fully-developed baby is finally born after 9 months of conception.
So, inculcating good habits and discarding vices, a practice of
minimum 40 days or maximum 120, a multiple of 40, helps man to
overcome the shortcomings and become obedient to Almighty Allah.
The Jama’ats would sermonize their co-religionists in cities and
villages to lead a life as ordained by Allah. They would ask them
to follow the five basic tenets of Islam in the true sense of the
word.
A special feature of the Ijtima was special arrangements made for
deaf and dumb people where 200 of them from all over the country
came in Jamaats and are housed separately. The sermons from the
main “pandal” were translated to them in sign language.
The walled city wore a deserted look in the morning as local
people, who could not spare three days for the Ijtima, made a
beeline for Ghasipura in Eintkhedi village to participate in the “Dua”.
A sea of humanity converged from all sides and assembled at the
venue to have their share of blessings.
It will not be out of place to mention here that in the time of
degradation of moral values and all round decay in society the
Tablighi Jama’at movement seems to be the only hope to provide
succour to the beleaguered humanity, which is in the throes of
crisis of all types, to revive the ethos. The movement remains
completely oblivious of the happenings in today’s world and
stresses on the Oneness of the Almighty while striking a perfect
balance between spirituality and materialism with accountability
Hereafter. The over stress on materialism is the main cause of all
ills pervading the society in today’s world.
Meanwhile, the Indian Railways had also opened reservation counter
and arranged extra bogeys in various trains from 27 to 29 December
for the Jama’ats, At the Ijtema site medical camps and fire
brigade have also been established to meet any emergency there.
Police made special security arrangements for providing safety and
security to the Ijtema participants and SAF, RAF and GRP and other
companies of armed forces were deployed at the Ijtema site,
Railway Station and enroute to Ijtema to ensure peace and
security. For security purposes, several watch towers, CCTV
Cameras were also erected at various locations at the venue to
ensure basic facilities and amenities for the participants.
Atiq-ul-Islam, spokesman and member of the organizing committee,
lauded the facilities like water, medical, electricity and
security provided by the Madhya Pradesh government during the
Ijtima. He has thanked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan, all the agencies including M.P. Govt., PHE, Bhopal
Municipal Corporation, MPSRTC, Railways, MP Police, Traffic
Police, Zila Panchayat and villagers around Ghasipura and
Eintkhedi and others for extending their services to make the
Ijtima successful.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned here that Tablighi Jama’at (Society
for spreading faith) is a transnational religious movement which
was founded in 1926 by Muhammad Ilyas in India in the Mewat
province. The movement primarily aims at Islamic spiritual
reformation and awakening to the world Muslims by working at the
grass roots level, reaching out to Muslims across all social and
economic spectra to bring them closer to the practices of Prophet
of Islam Muhammad (PBUH).
Tablighi Jama’at came forth as an offshoot of the Deobandi
movement. Its inception is believed to be a response to Hindu
revivalist movements, which were considered a threat to vulnerable
and non-practicing Muslims. Tabligh Jama’at gradually expanded
from local to national to a transnational movement and now has
followers in over 150 countries.[4]
Professedly apolitical, this movement asks every Muslim to spend
his/her time and money in evangelistic journeys. During these
pilgrimages (Usually for a specified period such as 4 months, 40
(called “Chilla”), 10 or 3 days) members of each pilgrimage group
(called Jama'ats) will learn the basic tenets of Islam from each
other.
Apart from these, a list of desired qualities called “Chhe Number”
(six points) are also studied. These are: 1. Belief in the Oneness
of God: This is expanded to mean that only God can affect you in
good or evil and that material things (Everything other than God)
have no real power over you or the universe. It also has the
adjunct of belief that the way of life shown by the Prophet
Muhammad is the best way to salvation in this world and the
Hereafter. 2. Perfection in Religious observances: Usually meaning
Namaz (Salah or the daily 5 times prayer). Also interpreted to
mean the common religious practices. 3. Acquiring Knowledge and
Remembrance of God. 4. Good Behaviour towards Muslims, and Others.
Includes respecting ones' elders and showing kindness to somebody
younger. 5. Purity of Intention: Meaning that all actions should
be solely for the pleasure of God and lastly, 6. Spending ones
time and money in the "Path of God", supposedly to acquire these
above 5 qualities.
Members of any given Jama'at usually hail from varied backgrounds.
Each Jama'at is usually constituted in a village or town Masjid.
They decide upon a route and time period of the Journey by
Mash'wara or group counselling. Each Jama'at has 5 to 20 members
with one leader or “Ameer” who is usually chosen by the members
themselves before the actual journey. They usually camp in Masjids
(Mosques) along the way, and preach to the people who attend the
Mosque. During the day, members of the Jama'at roam the markets of
the town or village they have camped in and exhort the people to
lead a pure life and to refrain from evils such as alcoholic
drinks.
(pervezbari@eth.net)
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