Maulana Ibrahim Dewla (also known as Maulana Ibrahim Devla / Ibrahim Sahab Devla) (Biodata here) is considered the highest authority in the current Aalami Shura of Tabligh, after the demise of Haji Abdul Wahab. A very soft person in nature, he dedicated his entire life to the work of Da’wah and was a resident of Nizamuddin Markaz, India. Maulana Ibrahim was born on the 25th of April 1933. In January 2023 he was 89 years old.
The following letter was written in August 2016 after he officially left Nizamuddin Markaz. He was known to be the last of the Aalami Shura members to have left the Markaz, as his extremely soft nature finally had its limits.
His talks were always oriented toward the purification of the soul and the life hereafter.
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Bismillahirrahmanirrahiim
All kinds of rumors are going around regarding my return from Banglawali Masjid, Nizamuddin to Gujrat on the evening of August 12, 2016. All these rumors are entirely baseless and contrary to the truth. Therefore, I think it is appropriate that I describe the truth myself.
The good image of this effort has been badly damaged and the sanctity that this effort enjoyed over the years is being shattered due to all that has happened in Bangley wali Masjid, Nizamuddin from the month of Ramadan of this year, 2016, until now.
A few days back, I witnessed an ugly incident myself. All this has saddened and troubled brothers all over the world, the renowned Ulema and the spiritual elders. The current situation has affected the collectiveness of the effort badly.
On the other hand, in Banglewali Masjid, Nizamuddin, such a group has taken control and is trying to push even the wrong things as right, thus proving to be an obstacle in any worthy effort of setting things right. This is a very serious and dangerous situation for the effort.
There is a dire need to solve this intense problem with all seriousness. All those who think that there is no problem in Markaz at all and everything is going on normally are grossly mistaken, as this is contrary to the existing conditions and facts.
Despite feeling suffocated, I decided to go to Banglawali Masjid, Nizamuddin after Eid-ul-Fitr this year. Before going, I had a feeling that the problems would be solved amicably soon, Inshaa-Allah. So, while I was there, I talked to Molvi Saad Sahab many times directly with reference to the current scenario.
But, sadly, no useful result came out. Instead, due to my stay in Nizamuddin and my participation in Mashwara daily, it started getting propagated that I am in agreement with the current methodology (Tarteeb) and doctrine (Manhaj) of the effort. Not expressing my perspective and viewpoint on the current scenario of the effort would be taken as sycophancy in Deen.
Therefore, in the following, I express my viewpoint in clear words for the benefit of brothers all over the world.
This Mubarak effort of Dawah has widened its circle across the world. Millions of people are participating in the effort. People of different temperaments and different views are attached to this effort.
It is obvious that to take up the burden of such a vast and extensive effort, an authentic group is required which has learned from the elders well. All the brothers must have no doubts about that Jamat at all regarding their quality of fearing Allah, trustworthiness, sincerity and striving for Deen.
This group must carry the effort on with mutual consultation and collectivism. Without this, it is very difficult to keep the effort from disorientation and to keep the brothers united. That is why, in the lifetime of Maulana Zubair ul Hasan Sahab R.A. itself, when some important matters arose, I had suggested many times that more persons from across the world be added to the Shura made by Maulana Inamul Hasan Sahab R.A. I had presented the view that the solution to the emerging problems lies only in this expansion of the Shura.
In the last years of his life, Hazrat Marhoom Maulana Zubair ul Hasan Sahab R.A. had also got ready for that. But, suddenly his last time came, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى grant him forgiveness and enter him into Jannah. After the passing away of Hazrat Marhoom, with the Mashwara of old brothers, we sent a detailed letter to Maulana Saad Sahab, in which we had expressed our apprehensions about the current Tarteeb (methodology) and Nahaj (doctrine) of the effort, thereby requesting that the Shura be given shape as a step towards solving the problems. But, alas, nothing consequential came forth and the condition of the effort kept deteriorating.
Then, last year in November 2015, after the formation of the new Shura in the congregation of old workers from across the world, I requested Maulana Saad Sahab to accept this Shura. All the problems will be solved In-Shaa-Allah. But, he refused to accept, and because of this the effort was disturbed throughout the world and the situation became very alarming.
Even now, in my view, the solution to the problem is to accept this Shura and then to complete all the requirements of the effort with the collective wisdom of this Shura. As regards the Nahaj (doctrine) and Tarteeb (methodology) of the Effort, they should be maintained in accordance with the previous three tenures. If there is a need for any addition or modification to them, it should be effected only after a collective decision of the Shoora. At this time, the collectiveness is being hampered only because new things and formats are being introduced without the Mashwara and confidence of the old brothers.
This Jamat of Tableegh is bound by the Maslak of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah (Muslims at large with Sunnah and Deen in their life) with regard to the explanation and interpretation of the matters of Deen and Shariah. Similarly, they are bound by the Legendary (Jamhoor) Mufassirin in pronouncing the Tafseer of any Ayah of Quran-e-Kareem, Legendary (Jamhoor) Muhaddisin in pronouncing the explanation (Tashreeh) of any Hadeeth and the opinion of Legendary (Jamhoor) Fuqaha in derivations from the lives of Rasool (saw) and Sahabah رضي الله عنهم.
Our elders in the previous three periods remained bound to this principle because, without this, the doors to alterations in Deen will open up. From the very beginning of the effort, extreme care has been taken in all the discourses. All efforts had been made to stay away from the non-authentic anecdotes and undue derivations and innovations.
For this reason only, we have been ordained to confine ourselves within the six qualities during our discourse, and to follow the authentic Ulama in pronouncing the explanation of any Ayah or Hadith. Our elders had been abstaining from contradictions, criticism, comparisons or judgments, and discussions on Aqaaed, Masa’il (Islamic Jurisprudence), and current affairs.
It is one of the basic principles of this effort to abstain from criticizing or passing judgment on any religious organization or person. However, nowadays, many of the elders are crossing these limits in their discourses, particularly in making wrongful derivations from the lives of Sahabah, in excessive criticism, and in passing judgments on other religious organizations.
I had not been agreeing with this before and had even been trying to draw attention to this. In my talks also, I had been trying to warn about it all, in a positive way though.
However, when the limits were exceeded and people started wrongly interpreting my stay in Nizamuddin as meaning that I approve of the current state and Tarteeb (methodology) of the effort, thereby creating a feeling of suffocation for me in the current environment of Banglawali Masjid, then after many days of Istikhara, I have decided to open my heart before the brothers in clear words.
When the situation improves, I shall not have the slightest hesitation in coming back. My return to Gujrat should not be taken as siding with anyone; rather, it is to protect the effort and to save myself from sycophancy. I am also answerable in the courts of Allah. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى save the effort and its brothers, Ameen.
Banda Ibrahim Dewla
Currently at Dewla, Gujrat
Monday August 15th, 2016
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