Close Encounter of the Tablighi Jamaat: Part 5 - The First 3 Days

The hijrah (migration) of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum highlights how they left their dearly loved homelands, an act that is extremely difficult for a person. They also left with the intention of never returning until their deaths. The hijrah was more beloved to them than the world and all its pleasures and that they gave preference to the Deen above mundane pleasures and were not concerned when these pleasures were lost. The Sahabah travelled from place to place to protect the Deen from evil, as if they were specially created for the Aakhirah and were its sons. It therefore appeared as if this world was created for them.

In February 1997, I finally had the sense and courage to take a leave on Friday to join my brother in a 3 days jamaat when I took a flight from Kuala Lumpur to join the jamaat in Johor Bharu. It was an experience beyond descriptions. Suffice to say that on the third day, I burst into tears with unexplainable emotions. I, for instance, could attempt to explain to you the taste of durian (a local exotic fruit) but you will not be able to appreciate it until you yourself tasted it. Verily, at the end of the 3 days, Islam had entered into me. I recalled a conversation that my brother had with my mother years ago when she asked him how he felt after his first 'going out for dakwah' for 3 days. My brother said, "I just became a Muslim." Indeed, I too just became a Muslim after my first 3 days in dakwah and tabligh effort.

Everything immediately changed for me right after the 3 days in the path of Allah. On the return flight, I saw a couple of monks with large beads in their hands. I thought, "O Allah! They are in the baathil belief, but yet they make effort to please whatever that they worship." I felt deed sympathy to the monks and at the same time I could not remember the last time that I made wird or zikr of Allah before the 3 days that I spent in absolute deeni environment. How I had wasted much of my time and age. The one disturbing question that always buried deep into my heart which, for ages, remained unanswered, "Did Allah create me only to live my daily routines of life like the non-believers - wake up, eat, work, eat, sleep?" 

Alhamdulillah, all praise belongs only to Allah, within that blessed 3 days short time frame, Allah Ta'ala had given me a crystal clear answer for it. We are engrossed in businesses, occupations, farming and so many other engagements. It is only in these pursuits that all our time is spent. We have begun to serve the things that ought to be our servants. It is therefore necessary that we make the object the purpose of our lives which Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam was sent for and which was placed on the shoulders of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum. We should make this concern as our concern. Our mindset should be that we have been sent to this world for the responsibility of dakwah and tabligh and although we may engage in business, the business is the servant while Deen is to be served and is the true objective.

Close Encounter of the Tabligh Jamaat: Part 4 - Wealth & Wife

Right about the time when I first received my 'tablighis' guests at home, I had been offered a new job in another public listed company. Higher position, better pay and a posh comfortable office room with a great lake view. The job was another phase of trial that I had to endure.

Whenever tasykeel was being made that required me to take a few days off from office work, the first thing that came to my mind was how on earth could I take a leave when it was just a few days I had started on the new job. Those tablighis brothers ought to be more sensitive of my awkward situation. How could I possibly justify my leave after only a few days on board the new company? The excuses dragged from days to weeks, and from weeks to months. Even when months passed by, I still thought the excuse not to take leave was justifiable. The truth is I had put the importance to go out in the path of Allah for only three days as priority number 100. But as time passed by I began to feel more and more guilty about it. There were many times when the weekends were coincided with public holidays on either Monday or Friday, but I was still not serious enough to use the long weekend for the purpose of dakwah and self-rectification, even without having to apply for leave. Other things seemed more important that giving time for dakwah and tabligh effort. When you put ten cent coins right in front your eyes, you would not be able to see the millions of money in front of you.

When I were able to somehow painstakingly subdued the ordeals mentioned, I had yet to face another trial. This time the tribulation came from the person closest to me - my wife. My first initial contact with tablighi jamaat had invited averse and dissenting treatment from my wife. I could understand the rejecting attitude of my wife since the foremost thing that she saw from all those visits was to lure her husband away from her, away from home and away from family. But I could not understand the rather irritating controlling attitude that overcame her which I had never seen coming from her before. I know now that Shaytaan could have made special efforts to get our life companion to call in question, take issue, disapprove, defy and protest against the central and paramount effort that Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam had left to be continuously carried out by his Ummah after him. Let other people do it, but leave my husband alone! He is all mine, and mine alone. The most obedient wives could turned rebellious and unmanageable against her husband when it concern dakwah and tabligh. Mark my word in bold. You will never truthfully and faithfully know your wife until you experience this. The brief turmoil relationship of Adam alayhis salam and Hawa radiyalaahu anha came to mind.

"Say: If it be that your fathers' your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline; or the dwellings in which ye delight - are dearer to you that Allah or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause; - then wait until Allah brings about His Decision; and Allah guides not the rebellious." (At-taubah 9:24)

Man's heart clings to his own kith and kin-parents, children, brothers and sisters, husbands or wives, or other relatives, wealth and prosperity, commerce or means of profit and gain, or noble buildings, for dignity or comfort. If these are a hindrance in Allah's cause, we have to choose which we love most. We must love Allah even if it involves the sacrifice of all else. If we love our worldly ties and comforts, profits and pleasures, more than we love Allah, and therefore fail to respond to Allah's cause, it is not Allah's cause which will suffer. Allah's purpose will be accomplished, with or without us. But our failure to respond to His will must leave us bereft of grace and guidance, "for Allah guides not the rebellious."

Close Encounter of the Tabligh Jamaat: Part 3 - Afraid of Change

Throughout the 6-months period of constant tasykeel being put on me urging me to spend my time for three days in the path of Allah on dakwah and tabligh mission, I had to withstand several phases of trials.

Initially I was unenthusiastic and averse to the idea of changing my appearance and lifestyles. More often than not I was fighting with my inner self. I was pleased and delighted with the way that I looked, the fashion that I wore, the manner of my characters, the system that I followed, the scheme that I planned, plot that I designed, and the measure of my lifestyle. I then asked myself, why should I bother to change them and be incline towards the appearance and lifestyle of these 'tablighis'? I thought everything seemed perfect and in order with the way they were.

All those hysterical thoughts were constantly in my turbulent mind when the fact is that not even once I was told by anyone to change the way that I looked, the fashion that I wore, the manner of my characters, the system that I followed, the scheme that I planned, plot that I designed, and the measure of my lifestyle. The truth is that I had known nothing about Sunnah of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam, let alone loving the Sunnah. The reality is I let myself to indulge in those crappy thoughts, formulating reasons not to give my time to go out in the path of Allah.

The love for music and movies had been one of the contributory cause of a dilemma within myself not to immediately embrace the effort of dakwah and tabligh. I loved movies and musics. Yes, it was then a big deal to me. I thought what would I do with all those precious collection of hundreds of CDs and movies? No - I was not willing to part with the grungy songs of Nirvana, the trashy sound of Metallica and the rocking voice of Bon Jovi. But the silly thought really came as lame reasons for me not to join the noble and divine effort to strengthen my own imaan against shaytaan and my own evil desires. To some extent I still watch movies and listen to music. But I am now also aware of their evil nature. The pious and learned men say that music is the gate of munafeeq (hypocrisy). What more to say about films and movies that combine a cocktail of evils to sight, hearing and corrupting the mind. What we see, hear, say and think will definitely affect our heart - just like contaminated streams polluting a lake, so does music and movies affect a Muslim's heart. May Allah grant us all strength to totally be free from those evils.

Looking back at my younger self, I understand better the story of a skin tanner who had been all the time involved with the tanning of animal skins and had become used to the bad smell of the skins. He had been used to living in a bad smelling environment and bad smells had become second nature to him. In the meantime, the fragrant scents of perfume shops had made him sick. Really, those who become perplexed and agitated at the sweet-smell of Allah's and His Rasul sallalaahu alayhi wassalam's obedience and those who are not inclined to a life of following the Sunnah, should be considered as having the same sickness as the tanner. In our dirty way of life and the dirty environment of sinful living, we spent a whole lifetime, so that our hearts and brains become familiar with those things and are inclined towards them.

The treatment of getting us to change that life is to slowly, step by step, to get us out of that environment of sin and to make us wander around the fragrant gardens. We should be brought to the gatherings of the pious and saintly ones and into their company. After frequenting these places for several days, we will realise, "In what dirty environment were we?" Then thinking about the life of the past, perhaps we would cry and sigh and will be very grateful for the company of the righteous ones. Gradually our noses will become used to the fragrant scents (i.e. in the love and service of Allah).

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.

Close Encounter of the Tablighi Jamaat: Part 1 - Exotic Strangers

All praise is for Allah. I praise Him and seek help from Him. I believe in Him and have complete trust in Him. There can be none to misguide the person whom Allah has guided and there can be none to guide the person whom Allah has caused to go astray.

To you and the rest of the world, they are known as "Tablighi Jamaat". To me, they are simply the people that had completely changed my life through the blessing and mercy of Allah Most High.

They had come to visit me at least once a month at home for almost six months. Headed by my elder brother, they came in group of four to six persons. They were all my seniors in age, most of them were childhood friends of my brother. Prior to that, I only knew them by names. Most of them were from my hometown. The first thing that I noticed about them were their unique dresses and long flowing beard. Being part of ethnic pushtun family, I had been familiar with kurta and shalwar, but recalled only occasionally put on the dress during my childhood days. Their beards were in different colours. My brother had grey black beard, another persons had mat black and dark brown beard, while the other one's was red. Amusingly, it was like 'United Colours of Benetton'.

I received them with warm heart. When they talked about Deen, I listened to them attentively but with some degree of caution. I was cautious that they would say something that was unacceptable to me, something totally different from what I knew about Islam, albeit my very limited knowledge of Deen. But what had been said during those visits simply fascinated me, especially when they told me the stories of, and narrations about the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum - about their lives with Rasulullah Sallalaahu Alayhi Wassalam. 

From all those nights that they visited me, not a night passed by without me feeling awestruck at the stories of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum. Their lives and actions simply astonished me. At that point of time I began to question myself how could I had only heard of a handful of them like Sayyidina Abu Bakar, Umar, Usman, Ali and Abu Hurayrah radiyalaahu anhum before this? How could the textbooks that I read at school failed to mention a great many more of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum? 

In this manner, we engaged in Deeni talks and discourses sometimes until fajr during those blessed nights. Then whenever they were around, I began to frequent Masjid Jame' Sri Petaling, the central markaz of dakwah and tabligh effort in Malaysia which also host Madrasah Miftahul Uloom where hundreds of youngsters studying hifz and aalim. The Deeni environment there was so overwhelmed to me, as I began to mixed around with thousands of people that gathered there on weekends - talking, eating, joking, and more importantly sharing their concern for Deen. 

I observed that they not only look alike with one another, but they shared the same thing - one mindset and one heartfelt. Never had I witnessed anyone talked more about the bounties and greatness of Allah anywhere before - not just the discourses in the Masjid but also on the streets, in shops, at restaurants, while eating, while selling, while buying, by elderly men and youngsters - it was a whole new enlightening experience to me.

For about six months, I was like someone who wandered on a journey in the darkest of night, with thunder and lightning - every time the light (helped) me, I walked therein, and when the darkness grew on me, I stood still. And during this vital period, numerous tasykeel had been asked for me to spend my time for 3 days in the path of Allah.

An Introduction to Masturat Jamaat - Pt 7

The second tafakud resulted in the similar manner, same excuses, but even lesser effort to convince her on my part then before. I guess I myself was not fully ready for it and had a negative preconception about the result, though I could not help but felt bad about it. Then came the third tafakud.

I felt entirely different during the third tafakud. The first one was rather blurry for me. The second one was lacked enthusiasm on my part. But I was overwhelmed with shame during the third tafakud. At first I could not bear facing the same responsible brothers for the masturat effort for three consecutive times in three consecutive months. What would be their perception of me? How could I not convince my own wife to join me and the other couples in the blessed journey of dakwah and tabligh? All sort of shameful thought came to my mind. I've heard of a few unfortunate people's easy way out when they said that even Prophet Nuh alayhis salam's wife had disobeyed her husband. But I refused to compare my other half with the wretched wife of Prophet Nuh alayhis salam. How could I ever do that? And how could I even compare my effort with the great effort of one of the great Nabi of Allah, when Allah Ta'ala declares that Nuh alayhis salam had made the effort of dakwah "layla wan nahar" (night and day, day and night , ceaselessly) for 950 years? I know that I had to shun the feeling of shame facing men rather than bowing down in shame facing Allah Most High on the Day of Judgement. There is no other option for me other than to face the third tafakud. (Please note that I was fighting with my own feeling and in no way it suggests that the noble wise responsible brothers of the masturat jamaat harboured any awful thought against me).

Soon after I had faced the ordeal of the third tafakud, one of my dear friend, Edy Herianto Majlan @Abdul Hadi, who was also in the same masturat jamaat with me, suggested for me to buy all the necessary items at the shops in the compound of the markaz for my wife, in preparation for her to join the jamaat. It was something that I had never thought of before. What is the point of making tasykeel to your wife when there is no preparation made to ease her in making decision? Thus, I bought an abaya, a two-layered pardah, a pair of ladies gloves and a pair of stockings - all of them black in colour. 

I laid all the items that I bought on the bed in front of her when I arrived home with a grin on my face. She shrieked when she saw them. Her shrieking came with words of disapproval but somehow I could see a smile on her face. She even tried the pardah in front of the mirror amidst her mumbling of complaints. 

A day before the scheduled departure of our jamaat, I sat alone after zuhur namaaz in our old small wooden surau/musolla and made du'a to Allah Ta'ala after two rakaat of solatul hajat. I complained, complained and complained of my weakness to Allah until I burst into tears. I honestly could feel that my du'a would be accepted by Allah. However, it was not after more tests being put before me. On the morning of the scheduled departure date, I found myself pleading to her to join the masturat jamaat. I was ready with my luggage and bedding packed since the night before but she had made nothing in preparation. Nothing...and we  were already late for masturat hidayat bayan. It was the longest plead to anyone that I could recall of. Abdul Hadi has been calling me several times over the phone. It seemed that the best I could do was to make her promise to join me in a masturat jamaat the next month when deep inside me I know that there would never be a fourth tafakud.

I was about to give up entirely and decided to join the local three days men's jamaat that was scheduled on the same day, when my last plead to her was, "You may promise me to join a masturat jamaat next month, but know this that you will have to join a jamaat that are strangers to you. You won't be joining people that you know, who are your friends like this jamaat." At the point when all hope and expectancy gone, as I picked up my luggage and bedding to leave, to my utter pleasant surprise she said, "Alright then." 

Subhanallah! Truly Allah Ta'ala decides in the most astonishing and marvelous way!

  

An Introduction to Masturat Jamaat - Pt 6

"Why should I go out leaving the house and the children for three days? Is it not sufficient just to read the ta'leem at home with the children? If you want to go out for tabligh, then go! Leave me out of it." That might not be her exact speech word by word, but that was certainly the gist of it when I asked her to join the three days masturat jamaat that had been formed. I had to refrain myself from turning my invitation to a prolonged argument that may be detrimental to the whole intent and purpose - mainly, because I could easily get agitated and angry as a husband and as a father; another reason was because of the advises that I got from friends who have experience in masturat effort: "Hawa had been created by Allah Ta'ala from the rib of Prophet Adam alayhi salam. Hence, like the shape of the rib, women's liking and behaviour is naturally 'bended'. You cannot use force to straighten it, alas it will break in two. But if you leave it as it is, it will forever be 'bended'." 

So, when the scheduled date to join the earlier formed masturat jamaat had passed in vain, I told my other half that I would go for another tafakud for the second time, albeit her protest.

Hazrat Mufti Mahmud Hassan Gangohi rahmatullah alayhi further wrote, "The objective of the tabligh jamaat is to learn the Deen and to become steadfast in it as well as to prepare others to do the same. It is often necessary to undertake distant journeys for this purpose. Just as men need to learn the Deen, women do too, but there is not always the infrastructure in place for this. To achieve this objective, it will be permissible for them to undertake journeys even to London on condition that they are accompanied by a mahram, hijab and other regulations are observed and no rights of any people are violated. In fact, doing this is beneficial and necessary for the Deen. If the children are not so small that they are totally dependent on their mother and if the grandmother is capable of caring for them, there will be no harm in the mother going. May Allah Ta'ala bless this journey, assist the jamaat, bring them back with success and take care of the children."