The 6 Points of Tabligh

The 6 points of Tablighi Jamat were introduced in a Mashwara (meeting) that took place in August 1934. Maulana Ilyas (the founder of Tabligh) and Shaykhul Hadith Maulana Zakariyya were part of that Mashwara.

The purpose of the six points is to simplify some of the best qualities of the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet SAW) so that with these qualities, it is easy to set oneself on track to bring complete Deen (Islam) into one’s life.

The majority of the people in this world are simple-minded and know little about Islam. While giving Da’wah (inviting others), it is best to teach them something very simple i.e. essential qualities which they can hold on to. With these qualities, we put them on track to bring complete Deen into their lives.

The Six Points of Tabligh is Simple and Straight forward

The six points of Tabligh itself are simple. There is nothing deep or hidden in the 6 points. Each point can best be described in one or two words. They are:

1. Kalimah (Declaration of Faith)
2. Salat (Prayers)
3. Ilm and Zikr (Knowledge and remembrance)
4. Ikramul Muslimeen (Respect to Muslims)
5. Ikhlas (Sincerity)
6. Da’wah & Tabligh (Inviting and Propagating)

It is important to point out that 6 points is not complete Islam. It is also not an innovation supplementing the 5 pillars of Islam or the 6 pillars of Imaan. The purpose is to inculcate people with the qualities that would make it easy to practice and bring complete Islam into their lives.

There is no set definition for each point

There is also no set and elaborated definition for each point. As mentioned previously, the 6 points are simple. A definition or deeper meaning of the 6 points may have been propagated through word of mouth, however, it is not official and only serves to help people understand and elaborate the 6 points.

The most common definition or elaboration of the 6 points is the letter in which Maulana Yusuf (the second Ameer of Tabligh) wrote to a Jamaat going to Saudi Arabia. This letter has set most of the propagated definitions but Maulana Yusuf was careful not to say that this is the official definition. He mentions general remarks about each point. Here we present them:

#1 – Kalimah

Allah has kept the secret to the total success of human beings within ourselves. Dignity and dishonour, happiness and problems, tranquillity and anxiety, and health and disease, are human beings’ internal conditions. The improvement and deterioration of these conditions are not related to external factors.

Allah can bring disgrace even in the presence of kingdom and wealth, and he can bring honour even in the state of dire poverty. A human’s most valuable internal treasure is his Yaqeen (conviction), and his A’mal (actions). If his actions are good then Allah will create a state of inner success, even without material possessions. Allah is the creator and owner of everything and every being in this universe. He made
everything with His power. Everything has been created by Allah. He is the creator and He is not created. Whoever is created is incapable of creating. Whatever is made by Allah is under Allah’s control. He owns everything. He uses everything and Allah can change the shapes of everything by His power and He can change their qualities without changing their forms. He can change a stick into a snake and a snake into a stick. Similarly, He controls everything and uses these things as He likes. He can bring about destruction from the means of creation and He can show creation from the means of destruction.

He runs the system of sustenance. If He wishes He can sustain somebody in a barren desert without any source of material and He can destroy life even in the midst of abundant materials. The prophet Muhammad (SAW) brought many Sunnahs by which one can gain closeness to Allah and derive benefit directly from the power of Allah. When these ways are adopted in our lives, Allah will grant success in every form and condition.

The Kalimah ‘Lailaha-Ila-Allah’ demands a change in our Iman (Faith), thoughts and actions. Just by changing our Yaqeen (conviction), Allah has promised paradise many times the size of this universe. To acquire this Yaqeen in our life:

1. We have to invite (give Da’wah on) others for this Yaqeen. Explain the greatness and power of Allah. To describe His Rububiyat (Allah’s power to sustain and control) we have to relate incidents from the lives of the prophets and the Sahaba.
2. We have to think about it in solitude and get this Yaqeen to enter our hearts.
3. We must cry and beg Allah to grant us the reality of this Yaqeen.

#2 – Salat

We have been given the gift of Salat (prayers) so that we can derive benefit directly from Allah SWT. We use every part of the body from head to foot with great humility according to a specified way that pleases Allah SWT. In Salat, we make proper use of the eye, ears, hands, feet, tongue, etc and our thoughts and hearts are filled with the fear of Allah SWT. We should believe that if our body parts in my Salat are following the order of Allah, Allah will enable us to receive rewards more valuable than the entire universe. If we stretch out our hands to supplicate with this Yaqeen (conviction), then Allah will fulfil all our needs from his unlimited power. With such salaat Allah will forgive our sins. He will grant abundance in our sustenance and ability to obey him. To learn such salaat:

1. Invite others to perform salaat with such concentration and devotion. Explain to them the benefits of performing such a Salat in this life and the hereafter. Mention examples of the Salat of the prophet SAW and his companions.
2. Practise and improve our own Salat. Perform Wudhu (ablution) with great care. Maintain concentration in standing, sitting and in Rukoo and sajdah.
3. After Salat we should humble ourselves, thinking that our Salaat was not befitting to be presented to the kings of all the kings. We should cry and reflect upon this and ask Allah to grant us the true reality of Salat.

#3 – Ilm and Zikr

The purpose of knowledge is to create within us the love to do good A’maal (action) and know what Allah desires from us at any particular time and condition. Whoever travels to learn the Deen (Islam), his entire journey is counted as an Ibadah (worship). Under the feet of this traveller, 70,000 angels spread their wings. The whole creation of the heavens and earth seeks forgiveness for such a traveller. One scholar is more difficult for satan than thousands of worshippers. To gain Ilm:

1. We should invite others to seek Ilm, by describing its virtues.
2. We should sit in the circles of Ta’leem (teaching and learning) and visit the scholars. We should regard this act as an Ibadah too.
3. We should cry and ask Allah for the reality of Ilm.

Zikr is to create the remembrance of Allah in every action. Whoever remembers Allah, Allah remembers him. Allah remains with the person for as long as his tongue continues to move in the Zikr of Allah. Allah grants him his love and recognition. Allah’s zikr is a fortress for protection from Satan. To obtain the Zikr of Allah:

1. We should encourage others to do the Zikr of Allah.
2. We should remember Allah with deep concentration, thinking that Allah is watching us.
3. We should supplicate to Allah, crying and begging that Allah please grant us the reality of Zikr.

Why are Ilm and Zikr combined?

According to Maulana Yusuf (The second Ameer of Tabligh), Ilm and Zikr are combined because only through the quality of Zikr, A’mal (actions) can be done with the full consciousness and remembrance of Allah SWT.

#4 – Ikramul Muslimeen

We must respect all Muslims because they are the followers of the prophet SAW. We have to lower ourselves in front of them, fulfil their rights and not demand ours.

Whoever covers up the faults of other Muslims, Allah will cover up their faults. Allah will keep helping us as long as we are busy helping others. Whoever forgoes his rights, Allah will grant him a place in the centre of paradise. If anyone tolerates and humbles themselves for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise their honour. For this:

1. We should encourage others to respect fellow Muslims. Describe the value of a Muslim. Mention the incidents of exemplary behaviour of the prophet SAW and his companions.
2. We should practise Ikramul Muslimeen ourselves.
3. We should ask and cry to Allah SWT to grant us the good character, compassion and selfless nature of the prophet SAW.

#5 – Ikhlas

Every action of ours should only be for the pleasure of Allah SWT. We should not do anything for material gain or fame. A minor action with the pure intention to please Allah will attract great rewards. However, an action with wrong intentions, despite how great it is, will be a reason for the punishment of Allah SWT. To improve our Ikhlas:

1. We should invite others towards Ikhlas and raise their interest and concern for the correction of intentions.
2. We should practise Ikhlas by checking our intention before, during and after every action, that we are doing this only to please Allah SWT.
3. After completing an action, we should think that our intentions were faulty and cry to Allah SWT, asking Him to grant us Ikhlas.

#6 Da’wah and Tabligh

As there are no more prophets to come, the responsibility for the effort of Da’wah falls upon the Ummah. We should make an effort so that everybody gets closer to Allah SWT. For this, we have to spend our life and wealth, and not expect anything in return from those whom we are giving Da’wah to. We have to go out in the path of Allah and help others who are in the path of Allah as well.

He, who shows compassion to others, is shown compassion from the creator. Allah will grant the reality of Iman and A’mal to those who make an effort to bring people closer to Him. To go out in His path for a morning or an evening is better than the entire universe and all that it contains (referring to both material wealth and spiritual deeds). Rewards for the money spent and Salat, Zikr etc. are multiplied 700,000 times in the path of Allah. The supplications of those going out in the path of Allah are accepted like the prophets of the Bani Israel. These are the prophets who Allah responds to their Du’a with unseen help which are usually against the apparent means. If the effort of Da’wah is made worldwide, Allah SWT will bring changes in the hearts of all human beings worldwide as a result. To achieve this:

1. We should encourage others to do this effort. Show them its importance and virtues. Mention to them incidents of the prophets and the Sahaba.
2. We should be involved in this effort with Sacrifice, Hijrah (i.e. by going out in the path of Allah) and Nusrah (i.e. by helping those that are in the path of Allah). The Sahaba used to go out in the path of Allah in every condition: At the time of nikah, heat, cold, hunger, poor, health or illness, strong or weak, young or old.
3. We should ask and cry to Allah to accept us for this great effort. To learn this work, every brother is asked to give four months no matter what condition of life he is in. We will thus leave our homes, jobs and businesses to spend time giving Da’wah for these qualities to be practised, going from town to town, state to state, country to country.