A Report On Tablighi Jamaat Ijtema in Pakistan 1407H (1986)

THIS IS A TRANSLATED REPORT ON TABLIGHI IJTEMA IN PAKISTAN IN THE YEAR 1407H (1986) BY SYEIKH SALEH BIN ALY ASY-SYUWAIMAN - EXCERPT FROM THE MALAY TRANSLATED BOOKLET ENTITLED "MENYINGKAP TABIR KESALAHFAHAMAN TERHADAP JEMAAH TABLIGH" (LIFTING UP THE VEIL OF MISCONCEPTION AGAINST TABLIGHI JAMAAT)

Bismillahirohmanirrohim

Our respected elder Syeikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, Head of the Board of Fatwa, Dakwah and Islamic Guidance May Allah protect him from all evil and gives him taufeeq in his actions. Ameen.

Assalamu'alaykum warohmatullahi wabarokatuhu

My leave started on 01/03/1407H (04/11/1986) and I began a journey to Pakistan on 03/03/1407H (06/11/1986) together with a delegation of ulama and students from various universities including University Islam, Imam Muhammad bin Saud University, King Saud University, etc. We had really witnessed a miracle. As soon as we reached Lahore (Pakistan), we were met by a group of righteous young men, whom the light if Ilm (knowledge) and Imaan (faith) were visible from their beard and faces. We headed to the airport masjid and performed our sunnah prayer there. Then we sat together with delegations from various other countries. Thus a man from among them delivered wonderful words in a bayaan (speech) that really touched our hearts.

Then we were taken to the Ijtema (gathering) place in Raiwind. A beautiful gathering that caused devotions of hearts, tears flowing down from happiness and fear of Allah. This was a gathering which resembled the gathering of jannatis (people of Paradise). There was no shouting, no repulsive feeling, no vain speeches, no trouble, and no lies.

Very clean indeed! There was no stench and no trash. It was very well organised, without the presence of police or security forces, without police patrols or guards, whereas the gathering attracted more than one million people.

The global and natural living surrounded by zikrullah, ilm, discources, circles of ta'leem (learning), and zikir day and night. By Allah! This was the gathering that revived the hearts, lighted and raised the level of faith. How beautiful and wonderful it was, for it gave us the living examples of the lives of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum, the tabi'ins and tabi'ittabi'ins rahmatullah alayhim - steadfast, ilm, zikr, good speeches, good actions, wonderful Islamic movements, faces lit by the light of imaan and ilm.

You would not hear but the words of tauhid and zikr, tasbih, tahmid, tahlil, takbir, recitation of the Holy Quran, salam, replying to salam, echoes of jazakallahu khairan, etc. You would not see other than what pleases you and inspires your heart, explicitly actions on reviving the sunnah of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam with novelty for you to take pleasure in every second. Truly this was a great gathering, magnificent and sweet!

Comprehensively it was the practical and actions applying the Quran and the Sunnah. How the Sunnah brought about noble life and exhilaration. And how I dearly wish such gathering could be held in Saudi Arabia since the country is appropriate for every goodness, and always surpassing other countries in every goodness since the reign of King Abdul Aziz, may Allah pardon him and sanctified his soul in Jannatun Na'im and gather us all in Jannatul Firdaus.

Individuals and personalities from these jamaat came from all over the world. They have one form, one appeal, one idiom, and one purpose. As if they were offspring from one person, or as if Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala creates one heart and share out amongst them. They have no aspiration except desire to hold fast onto the principles of Deen and making effort of rectification between Muslims, paving guidance for the non-Muslims towards the path of Allah. How could the confused and ignorant people dare to abuse and revile these righteous people?

Syeikh Abdul Majid Az-Zindany's statement about them, "They are the denizens of heaven that walk on the earth."

Which foul hearts that dare cursing and accusing them of things that are not there in them?

I reckon that the object of this jamaat is similar to the desire of the Government of Saudi Arabia in making improvements on people around the world, spreading peace and security in every corners of the country. From which angle could they be assaulted?

On the completion of discourses after Isha', when you direct your eyes to the right and left, you see ilmiyah halqah (wisdom groups) that you may join or follow whichever you prefer. Whichever halqah that you sit, you will get enlightenment of knowledge. When the nightfall is quiet and eyes are sleeping, you notice them standing in qiyam like pillars. At the later part of the night, you hear their weeping sound like beehives, begging and beseeching Allah Ta'ala for forgiveness of their sins and the sins of fellow Muslimeen, to guard and protect them and fellow Muslims against Jahannam, and pleading and praying for hidayah (guidance) to all mankind for the revival of the Sunnah of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam.

In short, verily this gathering is indeed befitting to be attended by scholars and students of knowledge, even every Muslims who fear Allah and hope for happiness in the Aakhirah. May Allah give rewards to its promoters, firm them up, assist them and grant their effort as beneficial to the Muslims. Verily He is All-Hearing and All-Granting of prayers.

Those who serve or doing khidmat are all huffaz of the Quran. Wheat grinders grind with bismillah, takbir, tasbih and tahmid. Bakers work with bismillah, takbir, tasbih and tahmid. We have observed and heard them without them realizing it. All praise to Allah who had opened their hearts, granting them taufeeq to always making zikr to Him and guiding them towards the Right Path, a thing desire by every Muslims.

And in truth, O' noble syeikh, whosoever participate and join them will certainly become da'ie ilallah through pratice and training and long-lasting companionship. Would it be better if I know them since I was a student at the University before, indeed I would have become "allamah" in da'wah work and all knowledge. This is, by Allah, what I declare to Him. And He, the Almighty, will certainly hold me responsible on this on the the Day where no wealth, nor kinship, nor help from anyone is of any use.

It would be nice if all the da'ie under your board could combine and mix in the gatherings and go out with them in jamaah to learn ikhlas, da'wah system, akhlak of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum, tabi'in and tabi'ittabi'in rahmatullah alayhim. May Allah be pleased with them all.

In conclusion, I pray to Allah to show that the haq is haq and give us the strength to follow it. May He revealed to us the righteousness in our affairs, granting us ikhlas and integrity, protecting us from self-deceit, nafs and shaytaan, assisting His Deen, raising His Words, honouring us with Islam and honouring Islam through us. Verily, He is the Owner and Sustainer of all things.

May Allah's mercy and peace be upon our prophet Muhammad sallalaahu alayi wassalam, his family and all his Companions radiyalaahu anhum.

Written by Student Pupil Syeikh Saleh bin Aly Asy-Syuwaiman,

Delegation of Da'wah and Islamic Guidance of Unaizah