This is a translation of a book by Hazrat Allama Mufti Mahmood Sahib (May Allah have mercy on him) who was the Grand Mufti of Darul Uloom Karachi. In this book he has compiled the insights of Mufti Mahmud Hasan Gangohi regarding Tablighi Jamaat.
InshaAllah, this translation is a work in progress and will be updated over time. We will translate by parts and update this document accordingly.
Full Table of Contents
1 – Preface
4 – Speech by Hazrat Sheikh ul Hadith Maulana Saleemullah Khan Sahib (May Allah Preserve Him)
5 – Handwritten Text of Hazrat Sheikh ul Hadith Maulana Saleemullah Khan Sahib (May Allah Preserve Him)
6 – Speech by Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Ludhianvi Sahib (May Allah Preserve Him)
8 – Introduction by Mufti Arif Mahmood Sahib (Professor, Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi)
17 – Life Events of Mufti Aâzam Darul Uloom Deoband
(Hazrat Maulana Mufti Mahmud Hasan Gangohi Sahib, May Allah have Mercy on Him)
19 – Name and Lineage
20 – Birth and Early Life
20 – Education
22 – Initiation (Bayâat)
23 – Selection of Sheikh
23 – Request for Bayâat and the Test by the Sheikh
25 – Permission and Succession
27 – Demise
27 – Invitation and Preaching, and the Path of Moderation
32 – Anecdotes
37 – Invitation and Preaching
37 – Mufti Sahibâs (May Allah have Mercy on Him) Statements on Preaching
38 – Journey to the Mountains with Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Sahib (May Allah have Mercy on Him)
38 – Travels with Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Sahib (May Allah have Mercy on Him)
39 – A Sermon Incident with Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Sahib
40 – A Few Selected Quotes
40 – Quotations from the Sermons of Hazrat
42 – A Quotation from One of Hazratâs Sermons
45 – Participation of Hazrat Mufti Sahib (May Allah have Mercy on Him) in Jamaat Gatherings, Staying in Jamaat for Three Days, and Encouraging His Followers to Join
46 – The Organizational Approach of the Tablighi Jamaat and the Consultation of Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi Sahib
52 – The Name of the Reform Movement of Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Yusuf (May Allah have Mercy on Him)
52 – Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Yusuf (May Allah have Mercy on Him) and Maulana Inam-ul-Hasanâs Focus on Preaching
53 – The Nature of the Tablighi Jamaatâs Preaching
55 – A Dream About the Jamaatâs Acceptance
55 – A Dream of Hazrat Mufti Sahib
56 – A Dream of Mufti Aâzam of Palestine
57 – The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) Being with the Arab Tablighi Jamaat
58 – The Dream of Imam Karam Rasul Being with the Tablighi Jamaat
59 – Some Statements by Prominent Scholars
59 – (1) The Wisdom of Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (May Allah have Mercy on Him)
60 – After Freeing Oneself, One Should Engage in Dawah and Preaching
62 – Opinions of Hazrat Thanvi Regarding Tablighi Jamaat
62 – Shaykh-ul-Islam Hazrat Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani (May Allah Have Mercy on Him)
Selected Statements:
63 – Shaykh-ul-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariya Sahib Writes
63 – Hazrat Maulana Abu Al-Hasan Ali Nadwi (May Allah Have Mercy on Him) Writes
Objections on Tablighi Jamaat
64 – Objections on the Books of Tablighi Jamaat and Their Responses
68 – Objections on Tablighi Jamaat and Their Responses
70 – Has the Tablighi Jamaat Spread the Innovations of Ahl-e-Bidâah? A Response to This Accusation
74 – Has the Religion Spread Through Some Special Medical Treatments?
79 – What Is the Purpose of Preaching?
82 – What Is the Reward for Those Who Engage in Tablighi Jamaat?
85 – Objections on Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Sahibâs Statements
85 – The Difference of Jihad Between Maulana Inam-ul-Hasan Sahib and Tablighi Jamaatâs System
91 – Explanation of âFi Sabeelillahâ (In the Path of Allah)
101 – Can One Go for Preaching with Tablighi Jamaat?
102 – Objection on Scholars Participating in Dawah and Preaching
103 – Is Leaving Daily Education Against Hadith?
104 – A Preaching Speech
107 – The Meaning of a Permanent Nation
110 – The Necessity of Education and Preaching
116 – The Essence of Tablighi Jamaat
122 – Is Preaching Superior to Education?
122 – Madrasas and Preaching Work
126 – Sending Teachers with Tablighi Jamaat
126 – The Connection of Tablighi Jamaat with the Teachers of Darul Uloom Deoband and Contemporary Scholars
130 – The Objections on Tablighi Jamaat and Their Responses
134 – The Concept of Tablighi Journeys, Iâtikaf in Non-Mosques, and Eating Outside
140 – The Real Solution for These Issues is the Tablighi Journey
141 – Hindus, Converts, and Preaching
142 – The Benefits and Necessity of Preaching Journeys
145 – The Rulings on Tablighi Journeys
146 – Is Preaching an Individual Obligation?
150 – The Islamic Evidence for Preaching
153 – The Proof of Preaching Among Muslims
154 – Is Preaching Recommended or Obligatory?
155 – Is Preaching an Obligation?
157 – Islamic Hadith Regarding Tablighi Jamaat
159 – Up to What Extent Is Preaching Obligatory?
159 – Is It Obligatory to Go Out with Tablighi Jamaat?
160 – The Obligation of Preaching
162 – The Companionsâ (May Allah Be Pleased with Them) Efforts in Preaching
163 – Encouraging People to Pray During Tablighi Efforts, Even Those Wearing Shorts
167 – The Obligation of Enforcing Prayer
169 – Preaching as a Means to Protect the Religion
174 – Preaching Should Start at Home First, Then Outside
175 – Preaching and Knowledge
177 – Preaching After Prayers
179 – Methods of Preaching
180 – The Reward of Preaching
181 – The Reward of Calling Someone to Prayer is Seven Hundred Thousand
183 – The Reward of Calling Someone to Faith is Seven Hundred Thousand
183 – The Reward of Taking One Step for Preaching is Seven Hundred Thousand
184 – How to Engage in Religion Within Tablighi Jamaat
185 – Going Out for Preaching Without the Organization of Ahl-ul-Wasl
186 – A Hadith on the Speech of Tablighi Jamaat
187 – Making Excuses in Front of Preachers
188 – Delaying Preaching Programs Due to Dinner Invitations
190 – Leaving Children and Family to Go for Preaching, Claiming It as an Obligation
191 – Going for Preaching Without a Fatherâs Permission and Considering It an Obligation
194 – The Effect on Those Who Start Learning Religion Late and Face Difficulties in Prayers
196 – Reading a Book Before Performing Qadha (Missed) Prayers
197 – Encouraging Others for Preaching Instead of Oneâs Own Practice
196 – Going for Preaching Without Parental Permission
199 – Leaving Without Proper Financial Arrangements for Children
200 – Preaching Based on Personal Desires
201 – Keeping Consideration for Lessons in Religious Studies
203 – Studying a Book on Hadith Before Going Out in Jamaat
204 – Reading a Book in the Mosque Before and After Friday Prayers
205 – What Should Be Done When a Disagreement Arises in a Gathering?
206 – Fixing Prices for Meals During Tablighi Gatherings
206 – Holding Religious Gatherings for Personal Benefits
207 – Maintaining a Tablighi Jamaat Record
208 – Balancing Studies and Preaching Activities
209 – Engaging in Other Work While in Jamaat
210 – Discussion on Womenâs Preaching
213 – Preaching Journeys for Women
214 – Preaching by Women
215 – Womenâs Participation in Gatherings
217 – Preaching Gatherings for Women
220 – Womenâs Gatherings and Speeches
219 – Women Preaching and Reading from Religious Books
221 – Instead of Solely Preaching to Women in Gatherings, Proper Religious Education Is More Suitable
224 – The Importance of Dawah and Preaching
290 – The Importance of Preaching
315 – The Purpose and Method of Preaching
339 – The Benefits of Preaching Efforts
[PAGE 37] Da’wah and Tabligh
(Page 37) The entire life of Hazrat was dedicated to teaching, preaching, purification of the soul, moral training, advice, and guidance. His focus remained on inviting and preaching to the entire Ummah. He considered it extremely important and often encouraged and emphasized its significance. He advised many newcomers to dedicate a year to preaching and saw it as necessary for developing a deeper understanding of the purpose of life. (Reference: Hayat-e-Mahmood, Vol. 2, Page 157)
Mufti Sahibâs Preaching Journeys
Hazrat (May Allah have mercy on him) embarked on many journeys, especially to Mewat, and he also described the conditions of those journeys in a delightful manner. (Reference: Islahi Mawaiz, Page 195/3)
Hazrat Maulana Ilyas (RAH) and the Mountain JourneyThe Mountain Journey with Hazrat Moulana Ilyas (Rahmatullah Alaih)
(Page 38) Once Upon a Time Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyas Sahib (Rahmatullah Alaih) went on a journey to the mountains. As he was climbing the mountain, there was a Moulana with him. Hazrat Moulana, while climbing, asked the Moulana accompanying him, âNow that we are climbing, where should we stop for tea?â
Hazrat Moulana Ilyas Sahib (Rahmatullah Alaih) placed his hand on his shoulder and said, âDear brother, have you ever thought about how many mountains the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) climbed to spread the Deen? Today, for the first time, you have had the opportunity to climb a mountain. This is indeed a great favor from Allah, and we should turn our hearts towards Him with gratitude.â
The Journey to Mewat with Hazrat Moulana Ilyas (Rahmatullah Alaih)
During one of the hottest summer days, Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyas (Rahmatullah Alaih) was traveling to Mewat, a region where he was engaged in spreading Islamic teachings. The journey was difficult, involving mountainous terrain.
During the journey, they stopped at a small stone house where there was a simple shelter. Moulana Ilyas lay down on one of the traditional woven beds (charpai) to rest, while three other people rested on another charpai.
As soon as he arrived, a large number of people gathered to meet him. Seeing this, Moulana Ilyas immediately instructed them to leave, saying, âThe Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) endured great hardships for the sake of spreading Islam. Right now, these people are tired and resting, so do not disturb them.â
Later, as Moulana Ilyasâ condition worsened due to exhaustion and heat, he changed his instruction and told his companions, âDo not force people away. Do not make things difficult for them. Let them come as they wish.â
Finally, he turned to one of his students, Molvi Mahmood, and gave him a deep piece of advice:
âA true seeker of knowledge must develop such depth in his heart that he truly understands the struggles and hardships of the people. Until he does so, he does not deserve to guide them.â
A Journey with Maulana Ilyas and a Sermon in Bhinga
(Page 39) During a journey, a Friday arrived. On the way to the Friday prayer, there was a small mosque where only the Friday prayer was offered. The local people did not usually offer daily prayers there, but before they reached the main mosque, a few people (likely locals) were present there. Upon seeing them, Maulana Ilyas started giving a sermon.
People became noisy, and some said, âMaulana Sahib, letâs go to the mosque first; we will talk later.â Maulana did not stop and continued his sermon. Someone said, âIf we do not pray in the mosque, it will disrespect it.â
After the Friday prayer at the main mosque, Maulana Ilyas started another sermon. When he finished, people raised concerns, saying, âMaulana, why do you keep delivering sermons? Why is it necessary to speak so much?â
At this, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas addressed the people with a strong message.
His Response:
âIs our only job to deliver sermons? I never said that! We do not give sermons just for the sake of talking. Our duty is not only to preach; if that were the case, we wouldnât do it. We only say what is necessary and what is important.â
He continued explaining the importance of the message, repeating the key points. The crowd remained silent, listening carefully. Even the police officers present were paying attention.
After finishing his sermon, Maulana Ilyas remarked, âThat is all I have to say. We are leaving now. Peace be upon you.â
(Source: Aina-e-Qudrat, Page 152)
[PAGE 53] Advice to the Tablighi Jamaat
The groups that would visit Hazrat for his service and request advice, Hazrat would provide them with guidance. These pieces of advice also serve as principles of leadership. To one such group, he advised:
âObserve discipline in principles! Do not be careless with time! Wasting time is a loss. Rather, if you engage in unproductive activities, it will lead to a change in your mission. Work is like a glass gobletâjust as glass is clear, it is also fragile. If it gets stained, it loses its purity. Keeping it intact requires caution.â
âLook, if a person is busy, do not disturb them. For instance, if someone is writing, do not interrupt them in conversation until they are finished. This is because a distracted person is like a mother with a childâif she throws her child in one direction and then asks where the baby is, what would you say? You would say she threw the child herself!â
âSimilarly, a preoccupied person should not be interrupted unnecessarily. Scholars especially must be mindful of their time. If they waste time, what will happen? If you have scholars in your gathering, respect them, because they have spent ten years studying the teachings of Allah! Why should you disrespect them?â
âA permanent Muslim is one who adheres to Islamic principles. If you act against respect, you go against Islamic values. If you respect a Muslim, they will remain a Muslim. Similarly, honor those who sit in religious gatherings and respect the scholars present.â
âRemain engaged in your work and always focus on self-improvement rather than concerning yourself with correcting others.â
[PAGE 55] A Dream of Hazrat Mufti Sahib
Hazrat Mufti Sahib wrote a letter to his teacher, Sheikh-ul-Hadith Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Zakariya Sahib, in which he mentioned:
âI saw a dream in which I was blessed with the visitation of the Holy Prophet . The Prophet  said: âRemain engaged in your workâteaching and preaching. My companionship will be with you in paradise.ââ
âAt a nearby mosque, the practice of praying after Fajr and engaging in Tabligh has been started. The people have also become accustomed to offering their prayers, and preaching activities have commenced from Thursday.â
Response from Sheikh-ul-Hadith Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Zakariya Sahib
Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Hadith replied to this letter, stating:
âThis is a blessed dream, may Allah make it auspicious. The two tasks mentioned in the dream are extremely important. As for Tabligh, my constant wish has been that the complete responsibility of this preaching movement falls upon you. However, it should only be as much as is necessary for this causeânot beyond that.â
(Source: Sawaneh Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Sahib from Maulana Muhammad Shahid Sahib, Baharanpuri, vol. 3, p. 35)
[PAGE 56] A Dream of the Grand Mufti of Palestine
A Jamaat traveled to Palestine, where the Grand Mufti was present. They saw him weeping. When they asked him why, he replied:
âI saw a dream in which I was blessed with the visitation of the Holy Prophet . The Prophet  extended his hand toward me and said, âMy guest is coming, and he is my special guest.â At that moment, I saw a man approaching the Prophet . When I looked closely, I realized that this man was from your Jamaat. I immediately recognized him because I had seen him before in that dream. The Holy Prophet  welcomed him as his guest and instructed him to purify himself before meeting the prophet.â
The Jamaat then traveled to China, where most people were non-Muslims. They stood with a Muslim congregation and asked for permission to join the prayers. The congregation allowed them to join.
Then the Mufti said, âMy soul tells me that the first part of this journey is a test. If you pass it, you will receive divine strength. Tell me, what do you have with you?â
They replied, âWe have some gold and silver.â
The Mufti asked, âWhat have you done with it?â
They replied, âWe have not spent it yet.â
The Mufti continued:
âWhen a person recites SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, they gain great strength. Each word brings forth a light that reaches up to the heavens.â
Hearing this, the people joined the prayer.
This was a sign of divine help, showing that Allahâs support is always there. However, one must follow discipline and principles in both spiritual and daily life. The heart must be kept pure, allowing only the remembrance of Allah inside.
âWe used to build houses with three walls, but now we build them with fourâit is unnecessary. We should only seek what is needed for Allahâs faith. Whatever Allah has given us is enough.â
(Source: Khutbat, vol. 10, p. 322)
[Page 57] The Holy Prophet  Being with the Tablighi Jamaat
(Response to a Letter)
Respected and Honorable,
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The presence of the Holy Prophet  with the Tablighi Jamaat is a sign of its acceptance in the sight of Allah. This also implies that true success lies in serving the religion and spreading its message, rather than seeking comfort at home. One should not celebrate happiness in isolation; rather, they should strive to serve the faith and convey its teachings to others.
In the Hadith, it is mentioned that a time will come when remaining steadfast in religion will be as difficult as holding burning embers in oneâs hand. The challenges of faith will increase, making it difficult to practice.
May Allah accept all your services and efforts for the faith. May He bless you and your companions with honor, guidance, and well-being.
(Signed by: Allama Al-Haj Mahmood Ghaznavi, Reference: Khutbat, Vol. 3, p. 1124)
[PAGE 79] Is the Work of Tabligh (Preaching) an Innovated Act?
Question:
You must be aware that a new group called âTablighi Jamaatâ is working on preaching in India and beyond. It has now spread quite far by the grace of Allah. Perhaps no other effort in the world has expanded as much as this one. By the grace of Allah, the chain of this effort continues, and it might continue further. Some people who have been associated with the Tablighi Jamaat for 20, 25, or 30 years have emphasized that the most important act of worship is to develop humility and devotion in prayer. They discuss these matters extensively among themselves, but only verbally. They remind people of these religious principles frequently, but practically, their implementation remains limited.
A special concern arises regarding why people say that this work is an innovation (Bidâah). Is this method of preaching similar to what the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and other Prophets (peace be upon them) adopted? If it is indeed like that, then why do our respected scholars and jurists (may Allah have mercy upon them) not recognize it as the correct method of preaching in Islam? The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) also preached, and the idea that an alternate method exists after his time is difficult to understand.
Therefore, kindly provide a detailed responseâdoes this work truly fall into the category of innovation?
Humbly,
Servant of the Scholars,
Mawlana Muâasis Ashfaqur Rahman
Answer:
Praise and Salutations
Reminding people verbally and encouraging them to do good is indeed a great thing, but the purpose of Tabligh (preaching) should not be limited to just verbal reminders. It is essential to cultivate sincerity in actions because sincerity is the essence of all righteous deeds. It is also necessary to ensure that good actions remain genuinely good, and that sincerity is adhered to.
Striving for sincerity is crucial. Many people, by the grace of Allah, are granted this blessing, but their efforts remain confined to a limited circle. They also remain steadfast in their religious commitments. Allah willing, they will not be deprived of their reward. However, along with their efforts in verbal preaching, they must also focus on other aspects. It is necessary to pay attention to sincerity, humility, and devotion.
If someone is engaged in preaching, you should encourage them, but you should also focus on sincerity in other aspects of religion. Efforts made with sincerity and attention yield greater results. If God wills, your reward will be multiplied. If sincerity, humility, and devotion are your priorities, your deeds will be recorded in the register of righteous actions.
If efforts are made to remind the Ameer (leader) of the Jamaat about this, then positive results are expected.
The Method of the Prophets (peace be upon them) and Our General Obligation
1. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was specifically appointed as a teacher to educate and guide others, making it everyoneâs responsibility to teach and learn religion.
2. Different methods emerged over timeâthis practice did not begin as formal institutions or preaching organizations as seen today.
3. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to teach in informal ways without establishing official assemblies or study circles. They taught and learned in various places, such as gatherings in the mosque, and wherever people were present.
For instance, Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him), Abdullah ibn Masood (may Allah be pleased with him), and others used to teach in similar informal ways.
Hazrat Saâd bin Abi Waqqas (RA) and the Request to Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA)
(1) Narration from Abdullah bin Amr (RA):
Abdullah bin Amr (RA) narrated: One day, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went out and entered the mosque. He saw two separate groupsâone was engaged in the recitation of the Qurâan and calling upon Allah, while the other was engaged in learning and teaching. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
âBoth are upon goodness. One group is reciting the Qurâan and supplicating to Allah, and if Allah wills, He will grant them what they ask for. The other group is learning and teaching; I have been sent as a teacher.â Then, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) joined the gathering of those who were learning and teaching.
(Sunan Ibn Majah: Book of Knowledge, Chapter on the Virtue of Scholars and Encouragement for Seeking Knowledge, Hadith No. 229)
(2) Narration from Abdullah bin Masood (RA):
Abdullah bin Masood (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
âLearn knowledge and teach it to people. Learn the Qurâan and teach it to people. Learn the obligatory commandments of Islam, for they are your duty. Soon, a time will come when differences will arise, and trials will appear to the extent that two people will differ regarding a religious obligation, and there will be no one to decide between them.â
(Reported by Al-Darimi and Al-Tabarani in Al-Muâjam Al-Kabir, and also in Mishkat Al-Masabih, Book of Knowledge, Chapter 3, Hadith No. 238)
(3) Narration from Ubadah bin Samit (RA):
Ubadah bin Samit (RA) said:
âI have learned people from among the scribes and those who memorized the Qurâan.â
(Musnad Ahmad: Hadith No. 22928, Dar Ihya Al-Turath Al-Arabi)
(4) Narration from Abu Saâid Al-Khudri (RA):
Abu Saâid Al-Khudri (RA) said:
âA person came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and complained about his weakness in reciting the Qurâan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised him to learn and improve his recitation.â
(Hilyat Al-Awliya, Mention of Knowledge Seekers, Volume 1, Page 461, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Arabi, Beirut)
The Efforts of Abdullah bin Masood (RA) in Teaching Religion
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) took great efforts in gathering thousands of people together and establishing a system for teaching religion. Later, books of hadith were compiled, and then institutions were established to teach religion. Schools and religious institutions were formed for systematic learning.
The earlier method was more effective and beneficial, but later generations followed different approaches. Teaching religion by gathering people and making efforts for religious education has always existed, but it has never taken the form of a movement like the Tablighi Jamaat. The Tablighi Jamaat has now popularized this method and made it common practice.
It is incorrect to claim that this work is an innovation (Bidâah) or to say that the method is impermissible. Rather, verbal preaching, teaching, and efforts to spread religious awareness should be seen as an extension of the Prophetic tradition. However, if another method is used, it cannot be deemed impermissible, nor is it against the principles of Islamic preaching. Rather, it is obligatory for every Muslim scholar and learned person to serve religion in their capacity.
Conclusion:
May Allah grant us the ability to engage in what is right.
End of the verdict.
Mufti Muhammad Wafi (RA)
