Maulana Saad’s unapproved changes to the work of Da’wa

The main problem with Maulana Saad was the unauthorized changes he made to the Manhaj (method/path/doctrine) of the work of Da’wah. These changes were never approved.

NOTE: Before reading further, please understand that our aim is to preserve the history of Tabligh, no matter how bitter it is. As generations come, this history may be forgotten. We do not promote hate, and certainly not backbiting. See our article ‘Backbiting vs Warning‘. No matter how bad a Muslim is, he is still our Muslim brother. We love and hate only for the sake of Allah.

The biggest change was to take Tablighi Jamaat out of the Maslak of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah, turning it into a new sect.

The biggest change that Maulana Saad tried to do to the Manhaj of Tabligh was to take it out of the Maslak of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Maslak here means ‘Path’ which includes ‘Mazhab’ or School of thought). This will eventually make Tablighi Jamaat a new sect in Islam. We cannot overstate how concerning and dangerous this is!

Tablighi Jamaat has always bound itself to the Maslak of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah. It is just another organization or movement within Sunni Islam. It is not and never was a separate sect in Islam. Darul Uloom Deoband mentioned this in their 2016 Fatwa:

Jamaat-e-Tableegh is a purely Deeni Jamaat, which cannot be left to operate in a manner that is ideologically and practically apart from the majority of the Ummah and the Akaabir. The Ulema-e-Haq can never be unanimous nor can they adopt silence over disrespect to the Ambiyaa’ (AS), deviant ideologies, ‘Tafsir Bir Raay’ and whimsical explanation of the Ahaadeeth and Aathaar, because, these types of ideologies will, later on, cause the entire group to deviate from the path of truth as has happened to some Deeni and Islaahi Jamaats.
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If immediate action is not taken, there is fear that a great portion of the Ummah, which is affiliated with the Tableegh Jamaat will succumb to deviance and take on the form of a Firqah Baatilah

Deoband Fatwa 2016

To our beloved Muslim brothers who are affiliated with Maulana Saad: You may disagree with Deoband, but can you disagree with all the other institutions? As of today (2023), we have collected more than 40+ Fatwas against Maulana Saad complaining about his misguided ideologies. Yet until today, there is not a single counter Fatwa from any prestigious Darul Ulooms defending Maulana Saad.

With millions following his Ideologies worldwide, this will ultimately make his version of Tabligh a new sect in Islam.

Unauthorized changes cause disputes and disruption

Every organization in the world whether it is a business or religious organization has a change process. One cannot simply change processes without proper approvals as doing so will cause disputes and disruption to the organization.

In 1999, during Raiwind Ijtema Pakistan, the World Shura at that time signed an agreement to standardize the pattern of the work and agree upon a change management process. The agreement stipulated that the (World) Shura must unanimously agree on any changes to the pattern of work (aka Usool) before they are put into practice. Maulana Saad was part of the World Shura and signed the agreement as well.

List of changes introduced by Maulana Saad without approval

Below are the changes that M Saad introduced without any Mashwara (Approval from the World Shura).

#1 – Taking the Jamaat out of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaat

This is by far the most concerning and dangerous change done by M Saad. We have covered this in the above topic, but we will repeat it here for those who skim through this article.

Tablighi Jamaat has always bounded itself to Maslak of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah. It is a movement within Sunni Islam. It is not and never was a sect in Islam. By taking the Jamaat outside of the Maslak of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah, Tablighi Jamaat will become a new sect.

As of today (2023), we have collected more than 40+ Fatwas against Maulana Saad complaining about his misguided ideologies. We have also compiled some of his most deviated statements.

Worst, since he is the absolute Ameer and his son is his deemed successor, his version of Tabligh is nothing more than a personality cult! Akin to a dictatorship where one family controls all.

#2 – Muntakhab Ahadith in Ijtimai Taleems

In 2006, M Saad introduced Muntakhab Ahadith in Ijtimai (Group) Taleem and Khuroojs. Anyone who has been in Tabligh will learn that the Jamaat has always been very strict in their Usool (aka rules/procedures). Part of the reason is to prevent the slightest deviation from the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah especially in the matters of the interpretation of Deen. Muntakhab Ahadith is a book of “Hadith Translations” with almost no explanations. Since the majority of people are simple-minded and non-Alims, Muntakhab Ahadith has opened the door for dangerous self-interpretation of hadiths and self-styled ijtihads (See 3 reasons to not read Muntakhab Ahadith). Above all, the use of Muntakhab Hadih was never approved.

#3 – DTI (Da’wah, Taleem, and Istiqbal)

M Saad introduced the practice of DTI (Da’wah, Taleem, Istiqbal). In a DTI session, a minimum of 7 brothers are required. One group will read Ta’leem in the Masjid whilst the other group will go outside the Masjid calling people towards the Ta’leem session. One of M Saad’s twisted ideologies with regards to DTI is to believe that giving Da’wa outside the Masjid (aka in houses) is against Sunnah (See: M Saad wrongly claims that it is against Sunnah to give Da’wa outside the Masjid). This is against the Ijma (Consensus of the scholars).

M Saad has also made DTI the ‘Gold Standard’. Daily home visits (aka the regular 2.5 hours) were deemed as ‘Second Class’. Masjids that do not have the numbers to perform ‘DTI’ but must strive to achieve DTI. By doing so, the heart-to-heart Da’wa of daily home visits slowly vanished.

We have seen that due to the strong emphasis on DTI, some Masjids have abandoned daily home visits. Instead, these Masjid would gather at one big masjid just to achieve the numbers to perform DTI.

Above all, the practice (of DTI) was never approved.

#4 – Long Jamaat Stays

Tablighi Jamaat has always restricted the stay in one Masjid to only 3 days. This has always been the rule. Exceptions do occur (through Mashwara) but these exceptions are not the rule.

M Saad changed this by making it the ‘Gold Standard’ for Jamaats to stay in a Masjid for as long as possible. The exception has now been made the rule. The standard staying for 3 days in a Masjid is seen as ‘pointless’, producing no results. They claim that one must stay in the Masjid until another Jamaat is produced.

One big problem with this is that Jamaats tend to overstay in one Masjid. This has brought a lot of complaints and ultimately Masjids being closed for Jamaat.

Above all, again and again, we cannot stress more that this change was never approved in Mashwara.

#5 – Discouraging Da’wah outside the Masjid

Maulana Saad has discouraged people from giving da’wa at places other than the Masjids (e.g. homes, offices, marketplaces, etc.). Giving da’wa at these places is seen as useless (See: M Saad wrongly claims that it is against Sunnah to give Da’wa outside the Masjid). This is against the Ijma (Consensus of the scholars).

#6 – Abolishing Professional Gatherings

M Saad has abolished Jords (Gatherings) for Professional or specific groups of people e.g. businessmen, Railway Workers, etc. This used to be a good means to synergize Da’wa with certain segments of society. This abolishment was never approved.

#7 – Whole Night Ibaadah

M Saad has encouraged the practice of whole night Ibadah, where a Jamaat will take turns on a shift so there are people staying up in worship the entire night. While this sounds good, this practice was never approved. It causes difficulty for some people who are not accustomed to this making them tired and cranky due to lack of sleep. Since everyone in Jamaat is doing so, such a person out of shyness will be forced to participate. People going to Jamat for the first time may feel burdened and not go anymore. Optional Ibadah needs to come from one’s self, and not be forced upon. Above all, this practice was never approved.

#8 – Changing the Shabguzari Night (aka Shab e Juma)

M Saad has discouraged bringing new people to the Shabguzari Night (aka Shab e Juma). The Shabguzari night has been changed to the night of Fikr (worry and concern). It is strictly for old workers, and not to bring new brothers. This was a big move as the Shabguzari Night was always a means to introduce new brothers to the work of Dawah. Such a change would be devastating to the work. Above all, it was never approved.

#9 – Monthly Ijtema to replace monthly Maswara

Maulana Saad has replaced the monthly Mashwara in place of a monthly Ijtema. The importance of showing numbers has been stressed. Such practice was never approved.

#10 – One-year khurooj requirement for Hayatus Sahaba

Maulana Saad made a requirement for Ulamas to spend 1 year in the path of Allah before they are allowed to read Hayatus Sahaba at Shabguzari Programs (Markaz night programs). This requirement was never approved and ironically M Saad himself has not spent any time in the Path of Allah. Yet, he reads Hayatus Sahaba daily at Nizamuddin Markaz.

#11 – Five(5) months khurooj for Indians

M Saad set a strict requirement for Indians going overseas to spend 5 months instead of the regular 4 months. This massive change was never approved. People who were accustomed to spending 4 months every year stopped their practice as they found the extra month an additional burden.

It is to be noted that in Pakistan, 7 months is required for those going overseas. This, however, was approved during the lifetime of Maulana Yusuf, who was the second Ameer of Tabligh through Mashwara. The 5 months for India, however, was never approved.

#12 – Six(6) months yearly khurooj for active workers

M Saad has started to encourage the ‘Actively Leading’ workers to spend 6 months in Jamaat every year. He cited that 4 months is for normal people, but 6 months is for the ‘Actively Leading’ workers. This change was never approved.

#13 – Five(5) Amaal of Masturat

Maulana Saad introduced the 5 Amaal of Masturat as the new gold standard for home Taleems. The 5 Amaals are Mashwara, Taleem, Tilawah Quran, 6 Sifat Muzaraka, and Tashkeel. One disadvantage of this is the tendency to jam all 5 amaals into a 30-minute Taleem sitting (30 minutes is the standard time for home Taleem which people are accustomed to). The reading of Kitaab, the main source of spiritual upliftment, slowly diminished. Above all, this change was never approved.