Close Encounter of the Tablighi Jamaat: Part 2 - Sect or Group?

The idea of joining any so-called Islamic groups or sects had never appeased me at all. I do not like the branding of Islam. I tried as much as possible to distant myself away from those people who, I believe, more concern of calling people towards their leaders, parties or organizations. It's bad enough that people are using Islam to hide behind the evil and corrupted self-benefits, when all the real intent and purpose is to fulfill their own desires. Shouldn't a Muslim only concern towards calling people to Allaah Ta'ala and His Rasul sallalaahu alayhi wassalam instead?

Alhamdulillah, I did not see those undesirable and distasteful attributes among the many people that I had met and mixed around at Markaz Masjid Jame', Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, throughout the years. Though it used to bother me a lot that the people who are attached to the effort of dakwah and tabligh are regarded by many as belonging to a separate grouping or sect by giving the 'brandname' of Tablighi Jamaat. However, I told myself that perhaps people are used to the notion of branding others by what is being perceived. I mean, is it not true that people tend to call a man delivering newspapers to houses 'newspaper man', and those who sell ice-cream are called 'ice-cream men'? I suppose 'Tablighi Jamaat' got its name when people see them travelling or visiting from house to house, alley to alley, street to street, town to town or city to city in groups in the course of conveying the message of Islam. The word 'tabligh' itself literally means to convey, and 'jamaat' means a group of people. Alhamdulillah, I have yet to hear people call the muazzeins or the callers for prayers as Muazzein Jamaat!

The reviver of dakwah and tabligh in this specific form, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas rahmatullahi alayhi is reported to have said, "If I have to give this effort a name, I would have given it a name 'Tahrikul Imaan' (the reviver of imaan). Maulana Muhammad Ilyas rahmatullahi alayhi expressing his concern for the Ummat and the objective of this work states, "The object of this work is to create zeal and thirst in the hearts of those who have no zeal and thirst for Deen and its practices.When this is created in them, they will rush to the fountains of ilm (knowledge) i.e. to the Ulama." He also states, "The actual aim of this work is to teach the Ummat everything with which Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam came with i.e. to get the Ummat attached to a complete system of thought and practice of Islam." His predecessor, Maulana Muhammad Yusuf rahmatullahi alahi states, "The aim of this work is to achieve the level where Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wasallam had left for this Ummat." What is the level? 100% of this Ummat, men and women, are dai'e of Allah Ta'ala, 100% of this Ummat, men and women, safeguard the solah, tilawah, zikir, du'a etc.

In the meantime, although I had managed to come out with some lame and silly excuses, still numerous tasykeel had been asked for me to spend my time for 3 days in the path of Allah again and again. For each tasykeel that had been made upon me, I began to think harder what harm could it be done against me? Until one day I ran out of excuses.