As-salaamu `alaykum.
Due to the fact that the issue has been raised again, I decided to post some fataawa from the Shuyookh on the issue (all of which are taken from fatwa-online.com unless specified)... Let's begin with another fatwa from Shaykh `Uthaymeen,
The Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh's lack of importance given to seeking Knowledge
Question: That which is well known about this group (Jamaa’ah at-Tableegh) is the lack of importance they place on seeking knowledge, and likewise, their dislike for those from amongst them who do seek knowledge, claiming that all the Sahaabah did not seek knowledge, and that there were only a few scholars amongst them, whilst their emphasis was more on giving da'wah?
Response: This is from ignorance, and that is for someone to place a lack of importance in (seeking) knowledge. I don’t know how their da'wah can be correct without knowledge, (for) certainly da'wah is not correct except with knowledge, as Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{Say: “This is my way, I invite unto Allaah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me…”}, [Soorah Yoosuf, Aayah 108]
And it is not possible for a person to become a caller (daa'ee) until he knows full well what he is calling to. So that which is obligatory for the callers (ahl ad-da’wah) is to learn first and (then) teach and call the people.
Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen
as-Sahwah al-Islaamiyyah - Question 115, Page 282
The fatwa of Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ibraaheem,
Fatwa of Shaykh Muhammed Ibn Ibraaheem Aal-ash-Shaykh regarding the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh
From Muhammed Ibn Ibraaheem to his excellency Prince Khaalid Ibn Sa'ood, leader of the Royal Court:
as-Salaam 'Alaykum wa-Rahmatullaahe wa-Barakaatuhu, to proceed:
I received the noble correspondence of your excellency (No.36/4/5-D on 21/1/1382 A.H) and that which it contains of the request directed to his excellency, the king, from Muhammed Ibn 'Abdul-Haamid al-Qaadiree, Shaah Ahmad Nooraanee, 'Abdus-Salaam al-Qaadiree and Sa'ood Ahmad Dahlawee regarding their request for assistance in the project of their organisation which they have named (Kulliyyatud-Daw'ah wat-Tableegh al-Islaamiyyah) - and also the pamphlets that have been enclosed with their request.
I inform your excellency that there is no good in this organisation for certainly it is an organisation of innovation and falsehood which I have discovered by reading their pamphlets which were attached to their requests. We found it to comprise of falsehood, innovation and the inviting to the worshipping of graves and shirk. Quite simply, something which (we) cannot remain quiet about.
Therefore, we shall (inshaa.-Allaah) put forward a refutation revealing their misguidance and falsehood.
We ask Allaah to assist his religion and make high His Word.
was-Salaam 'Alaykum wa-Rahmatullaahe wa-Barakaatuhu
S-M-405 on 29/1/1382 A.H.
A lengthly fatwa from the Muhaddith, Shaykh Al-Albaanee,
Fatwa of the Shaykh Muhammed Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee regarding the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh
Question: What is your opinion concerning the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh? Is it permissible for a student of knowledge or other than him to go out with them under the guise of inviting to (the path of) Allaah?
Response: The Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh does not uphold the manhaj of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and that which our Pious Predecessors were upon.
And if the situation was such, then it is not permissible to go out with them because it defies our manhaj in calling to the manhaj of the Pious Predecessors. So in the path of inviting to Allaah, then an 'aalim can go out with them but as for those (ignorant - without knowledge) who go out with them, then it is obligatory upon them to remain in their countries and (study Islaam) seek knowledge in their masaajid until there graduates from amongst them people of knowledge who hold study circles inviting to the path of Allaah.
As long as the situation is like that, it is upon the student of knowledge to invite these people (those from Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh) to study the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah and invite people to it.
And the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh, with respect to da'wah to the Book and the Sunnah, do not intend by it a starting point, rather they consider that to be a divided call (da'wah)/approach; And because of this, they most resemble the Jamaa'ah of al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen.
They say their da'wah is based upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah, however this is mere idle talk for certainly they have no 'aqeedah upon which they are united (which unites them) - so you find some are Maatureedee, others are Ash'aree, whilst others are Soofee and even some who have no madhhab (affiliation to any particular ideology).
This is because their da'wah is built upon amassing (the people), then gathering together and culturising/instructing them, and in reality they do not really have any culture. More than half a century has passed and there has not appeared from amongst them a scholar.
As for us, then we say instruct them, then gather together, such that the gathering together is based upon a foundation in which there is no doubt.
So the da'wah of the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh is that of the Soofiyyah, they call to good manners, as for correcting the differing 'aqeedah of the group, then they do not exert themselves one iota. This is because they believe this will cause differences (and splitting apart).
It came to pass that a brother, Sa'd al-Husayn had much correspondence with the leader of the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh in India or Pakistan and it became clear from that they acknowledge (belief in) intercession and seeking help (from other than Allaah) and many other such things. And they require their people (members) to make bay'ah (oath of allegiance) based upon four issues: amongst them the Naqshbandiyyah methodology. So it is upon every tableeghee (one who ascribes to the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh) to make bay'ah of these fundamentals (issues).
A questioner may ask: Indeed this group has corrected its faults (returned to Allaah) as a result of the efforts of many individuals and quite possibly many non-Muslims have accepted Islaam at their hands. Is this not sufficient (proof) for the permissibilty of going out with them and participating in that which they call to?
So we say: Indeed we know these words and hear them a lot and know them to emanate from the Soofiyyah! For example, there is a Shaykh whose 'aqeedah is incorrect and does not know anything about the Sunnah. Instead they deceitfully take from the wealth of the people, so together with this, many open sinners seek forgiveness from them!
So every group which invites to good, then it is imperative they should be in adherence (to the Qur.aan and the Sunnah), and (this) our approach is pure, so what are they (others) calling to?
Are they calling to adherence to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and the ;aqeedah of the Pious Predecessors, abandoning blind following of the madhhabs to such an extent that they adhere to the Sunnah over and above their madhhab!? So the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh do not have a knowledge-based (manhaj), rather, their manhaj is according to the place where they are to be found, so they change their "colours" to suit themselves.
al-Fataawa al-Imaaraatiyyah of al-Albaanee
Shaykh `Abdur-Razzaaq `Afeefee on the Jama`at. Note the context he is coming from, he seems to focus on those who do infact call to Muhammad Illyas,
Fatwa of Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee regarding the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh
Question: The Shaykh was asked regarding going out with the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh to remind the people of the Greatness of Allaah.
Response: That which is the case, is that they are innovators and those who adhere to the manhaj of the Qadariyyah and other than them and their going out is not (regarded as) in the Path of Allaah, rather it is in the path of Illiyaas. They do not invite to the Book (of Allaah) and nor the Sunnah, rather they invite to Illiyaas, their Shaykh in India.
As for going out with them with the intention to invite to the path of Allaah, then that is (regarded as) going out in the path of Allaah but not that which is going out with the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh.
And I know of the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh from a long time and they are innovators wherever they may be; Egypt, Israel, America, Saudi Arabia and all of them attach themselves to their Shaykh Illiyaas.
Fataawa wa Rasaa.il Samaahhtush-Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee - Volume 1, Page 174
Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan's fatwa on them,
Fatwa of Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan regarding the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh
Question: What is your opinion concerning those who travel outside the Kingdom to give da'wah whilst they have never studied/sought knowledge. They encourage this and make odd statements firmly believing that whoever goes out in the path of Allaah for da'wah then Allaah will assist them with "inspirations/revelations" and they also believe that having knowledge is not a condition to do so.
And you know that one who travels outside the Kingdom will find differing madhhaahib and religions/sects with questions which shall be posed to the one giving da'wah.
Is it not your opinion, O Shaykh, regarding the one who travels (outside the Kingdom) in the path of Allaah, that he should be appropriately equipped so that he can face the people, and especially in East Asia where they are actively against the da'wah of Shaykh Muhammed Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab? I request an answer to my question such that benefit can be gained.
Response: Going out in the path of Allaah is not the sort of going out which is implied today. Going out in the path of Allaah (really means) going out for war. As for that which they call going out nowadays, then this is an innovation which is not mentioned on the authority of any of the Pious Predecessors.
And going out calling to Allaah is not specific to any particular day(s) rather one should call to Allaah according to circumstances and abilities, without specifying a group (with which to go out with) nor 40 days or more or less.
And similarly from that which is obligatory upon the caller is to have knowledge. It is not permissible to call to Allaah whilst one is ignorant (lacking knowledge). Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{Say: This is my way, I invite to Allaah with sure knowledge…}, [Soorah Yoosuf, Aayah 108].
i.e. upon (sound) knowledge, because it is imperative the caller knows what he is calling to from that which is: waajib, mustahab (recommended), muharram (impermissible) and makrooh and also knows what is shirk, sinning, kufr, fisq (open sinning) and knows the (different) levels and the manner in which to forbid and discourage.
And going out whilst one is busy seeking knowledge is not befitting because seeking knowledge is an obligation and is not achieved except by learning/studying and this is from the evil and ignorant ways of the misguided Soofees because any action without knowledge leads to misguidance.
From the book: Thalaathu Muhaadiraat fil-'Ilm wad-Da'wah
Shaykh Muqbil was spot on with his speech, what he said is certainly not a one off example, rather it is consistent with pretty much all their members/supporters (taken from
www.madeenah.com),
Teaching Jamaa’at at Tableegh
Shaykh Muqbil ibn Haadee al-Waadi'ee
Reference: Ar Rihlatul Akheerah: P. 219
Category: Da'wah
Should we as Muslims talk about some brothers such as Jamaa’at at Tableegh and lower them from their status or their efforts while they do not have sufficient knowledge, or is it better to teach them if we have knowledge rather than criticize and battle them?
Will they accept your teachings? Or does the affair depend on their Ameer, and the affair of the Ameer depends on or is tied to India. They will not accept.
Ibn Baaz went to them one time according to what I was told, and they got up and left him! I also went to them, I got up and spoke without asking for permission, all of them got up and left and no one remained except the brother who came with me!
In addition to this, one accompanies them for forty years and remains upon his same Bid’ah and state of ignorance! An example of this is that an Egyptian man named Fahmee accompanied them for forty years, and it seems that he loves good, I saw him in the Haram one day calling the people to recite the Faatihah to him, and he is to be thanked for that. However one day he was in the home of a brother of ours from Ahulus Sunnah in Madeenah and Shaykh ‘Abdullaah Al Hantook asked him:
“Where is Allaah O Shaykh?”
He replied:
“Allaah is everywhere!”
He remained upon his same innovated ‘Aqeedah while having accompanied them for forty years.
A third point is that one may travel with them while not knowing anything, they then tell him that it is his turn to give ‘Bayaan’. He does not know anything, Miskeen. The brother Muhammad Sawwaal from the people of Dhamaar informed me - and he is a brave, truthful person who loves Ahulus Sunnah - that he was once with them, he said:
"I went to the main base and they said to me: “Get up (and speak) O Muhammad.”
I said:
“I do not know anything; I do not know anything to talk about.”
They said:
“The Ameer said you should get up.”
He got up, he looked at the crowd and the saliva in his mouth dried up (i.e. he got real nervous). He started stuttering, he couldn’t say one word, so he put the Mushaf (copy of the Qur-aan) on top of his head and started saying to the people:
“Hold on to this Mushaf!”
That was all he was able to do, and he started hitting the (walls?) with his hands like this [the Shaykh, may Allaah have mercy upon him, must have been showing them physically]. He then started crying at his state, the Ameer then got up and said:
“The Shaykh is crying due to the fear of Allaah!”
Ahlus Sunnah, due to the bounties of Allaah, you will not travel with them except that you would return with some benefits, and I do not say just one benefit. I traveled once with Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul Wahaab, Jazaahu Allaahu Khayra, to Ub, we were at Masjid ‘Abul Jabaar Al Hashaash.
Translator: Nadir Ahmad, Abu Abdul-Waahid
Date Published: Thursday, 01 December 2005
And to close this thread once and for all, here are three fataawaa from Shaykh Ibn Baaz. Pay attention to what he said, he viewed that they and the Ikhwaan are from the 72 sects,
Fatwa of Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baaz regarding the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh
Question: I went out with the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh to India and Pakistan. We used to congregate and pray in masaajid within which there were graves and I heard that the salaah in a masjid within which there is a grave is invalid. What is your opinion of my salaah and should I repeat them? What is the ruling about going out with them to these places?
Response: Indeed, the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh do not have real knowledge pertaining to issues of 'aqeedah so it is not permissible to go out with them except for the one who has real knowledge of the correct 'aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. In this, he can enlighten them, advise them and co-operate with them in good because they are active in their affairs. However, they are in need of more knowledge from those who can enlighten them amongst the scholars of Tawheed and Sunnah. May Allaah grant everyone understanding of the religion and firmness upon it.
As for the salaah in the masaajid within which are graves, then it is incorrect and it is obligatory upon you to repeat all that you did (in those masaajid) due to that which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Allaah has cursed the Jews and the Christians who have taken the graves of their Prophets' as places of worship)) - it's authenticity is agreed upon.
Also, his (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) statement:
((Indeed those before you used to take the graves of their Prophets' and pious people as places of worship, so do not take the graves as places of worship, for certainly I prohibit you from that)), transmitted by Muslim in his Saheeh.
And the ahaadeeth on this subject are numerous - and with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers upon our Prophet Muhammed, his family and his companions.
Fatwa dated 2/11/1414 A.H.
The Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh and the Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen are amongst the 72 sects
Question: May Allaah grant you the best (of His favours). In the hadeeth of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), relating to the splitting of the Ummah, he says:
((…and my Ummah shall split into 72 sects…)).
So, is the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh, with what they have in terms of shirk and innovations; and also the Jamaa'ah al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen, with what they have in terms of partisanship and revolting/rebelling against the leaders and lack of obedience; from the 72 sects?
Response: They are from the 72 (sects). Whoever opposes the 'aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah enters the fold of the 72 (sects). The meaning of the Prophet's (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) statement ((My Ummah)) is: the Ummah of Ijaabah, i.e. the Ummah of response; those who responded to the Prophet's call and revealed their allegiance to him. And the meaning of 73 sects: the victorious sect which adhered to him and was upright in their religion and 72 of those sects - amongst them the kuffaar, the sinners and various innovators.
So, the questioners asked: Are these two groups (Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh and Jamaa'ah al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen) from amongst the 72 sects?
And the Shaykh responded: Yes, they are from the amongst the 72 sects, along with the Murji'ah and other than them; the Murji'ah and the Khawaarij - some of the people of knowledge regard the Khawaarij from amongst the kuffaar, out of the fold of Islaam although amongst the 72 sects.
Taken from the recording of the Shaykh Ibn Baaz's lessons in Sharh al-Muntaqaa in Ta'if approximately 2 years or less before his death.
The final fatwa of Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baaz warning against the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh
Question: Your excellency, we hear about the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh and that which their da'wah entails. So would you advise me to join this Jamaa'ah. I anticipate your guidance and advice, and may Allaah reward you immensely.
Response: Whoever invites to (the path of) Allaah, then he is a muballigh (one who conveys the message (of Islaam)), (as the hadeeth mentions):
((Convey from me, even if it be a (single) Aayah));
However, the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh (originally) from India have many deviations. They have some aspects of bid`ah and shirk, so it is not permissible to go (out) with them, except for a person who has knowledge and goes (out) with them to disapprove of what they are upon and to teach them (the truth). If, however, he goes (out) to follow and adhere to them, then no.
That is because they have deviations, mistakes and lack of knowledge. However, if there was a Jamaa'ah doing tableegh other than them, from the people of knowledge, then (it is permissible to) go out with them for daw'ah purposes.
If there was a person of knowledge who goes out with them to enlighten and guide them, along with teaching them such that they leave their falsehood and embrace the way of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah, (then that is good).
This fatwa was extracted from the tape: 'Fatwa Samaahatush-Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Baaz concerning the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh' which was published in Ta'if about two years before the Shaykh's death. The tape refutes the cover-up of the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh and the old statement of the Shaykh which was published before their reality and manhaj was made clear to him.
. Shaykh Al-Albaanee rahimahullaah said,