Over the last couple of days when the world was occupied with unifying efforts to fight the deadly Covid19 pandemic, sections of Indian media provided viewers a familiar scapegoat – the Indian Muslims – who are often stereotyped as a community being constantly at loggerheads with the citizenry and the State. Biased media channels were quick to resort to blaming the entire Muslim community for the spread of the disease in the country, thanks to an ill-timed Tablighi Jamaat gathering at its international headquarters in Delhi’s Nizamuddin. Unsurprisingly, the opprobrium was also marked by a sudden spike in WhatsApp forwards of videos with people wearing skullcaps licking spoons and performing Sufi breathing rituals, suggesting some sort of wild conspiracy on the part of the community to spread the virus. Some media channels were quick to formulate, hypothesize and provide loose definitions of a newly discovered form of Jihad i.e. ‘Corona Jihad ’ thereby vilifying the Islamic faith and its followers.
While the investigation on the culpability of the organizers of the Nizamuddin event is still ongoing, there is enough information to suggest that the meeting was held before any lockdown was in force, and the problem began when there was no way of getting people out once the curfew was announced. Be that as it may, there is little doubt that organizing a meet of such a scale when there is a global pandemic smacks of gross misjudgment, and definitely the organizers should be held accountable if laws or public orders were defied. Attendees who attempt to defy quarantine measures must be dealt with strictly. However, what is alarming is that the focus and narrative have now shifted from the unfortunate event at Nizamuddin to the Tablighi Jamaat itself.
For those not familiar with the Tablighi Jamaat, the organization was founded in 1926 in Mewat by scholar Maulana Mohammad Ilyas. The Jamaat’s main objective was to get Muslim youth to learn and practice pristine Islam shorn of external influences. This is achieved through individuals dedicating time for moral and spiritual upliftment secluded from the rest of the world for a brief period of time. There is no formal membership process. More senior and experienced participants typically travel from one mosque to other delivering talks on religious topics, inviting local youth to attend and then volunteer for a spiritual retreat for a fixed number of days to a mosque in a nearby town or village to present the message to their co-religionists. Contrary to ongoing Islamophobic rhetoric, the movement does not actively proselytize. The focus is rather on getting Muslims to learn the teachings and practices of Islam. This grassroots India-based movement has now grown to almost all countries with substantial Muslim populations. Its annual meets, or ‘ijtemas’ are among the largest Islamic congregations in the world after the annual Haj. One of the reasons for its popularity and wide network in the subcontinent and wordwide is the fact that it has eschewed the need for scholarly intervention, focusing on peer learning of fundamental beliefs and practice rather than high-falutin ideological debates. The Tablighi Jamaat also distinguishes itself from other Islamic movements through its strictly apolitical nature, with a focus on individual self-improvement rather than political mobilization. Hardships and difficulty in the world are expected to be face through ‘sabr’ (patience) and ‘dua’ (supplication), than through quest for political power or influence. In terms of ideology, it is very much based on mainstream Sunni Islamic principles derived from the Deobandi school.
So, why is all this background important in the current context? While biased media entities have expectedly brought out their Islamophobic paraphernalia out for full display, more neutral commentators have tried to paint the Tablighi Jamaat as a fringe group and have tried to distance it from 'mainstream Muslims'. While the intent is no doubt innocent, this is a trap we must not fall into. This narrative, unfortunately, is also gaining ground due to apathy some Muslims have for the group, accusing it of being “disconnected from the realities of the world”. Unlike other Muslim organizations and movements, the Tablighi Jamat, by virtue of its political indifference, does not boast of high-profile advocates and savvy spokespersons who can defend it in mainstream or social media. The use of adjectives such as 'outdated' and 'orthodox' by liberal columnists to describe the Jamaat feeds into the malignant attempt to change the narrative from the control of the spread of the pandemic due to the Nizamuddin gathering to 'raison d'etre' of the organization itself.
A large mainstream religious group like the Tablighi Jamaat with nearly a hundred-year history, normally considered to be peaceful, apolitical and minding its own business is now suddenly being villainized owing to unfortunate circumstances. Biased media reactions filled with disgust and hate seem to feed the Indian public conscience with a danngerous misconception - to be a nominal Muslim is okay but being a practicing one is not. For those committed to the truth and fighting the spread of Islamophobia, the temptation to throw the entire Tablighi Jamaat under the bus must be resisted.
The writer is a lawyer and research scholar at Qatar University. Her research interests include Islamic law and politics.
Comments
It's a Sunna of prophet when there is lack of rain to pray to Allah. Is there any one in this earth a sky who can bring rain other than allah? A Stones sculpture can barely get rid of a crow sitting on its head , forget about bringing a rain or giving sustainance to this world.
Dear Brother's,
Prakash,Mahesh,Rajeev,Yogesh.We dont blame you people Because its shows your Ignorance.All your Question will be answered one Day.In sha allah.
Try to learn about Islam before you Comment.Later should not say that no one guided you people about Islam.
May almighty allah bless you all and show you all the TRUTH path.So that you can save your self from hell fire.
Mangaluru is Parashurama shristi and not Brahma srishti. Lord parashurama reclaimed this land from sea and blessed this land will be free from drought and natural calamities as long as there would be his believers. So chill , This is May month, don't worry it will start raining at right time, till then let us love and care for all humans and living beings
Only God will give rain. Pray with him. Dear Yogesh, according to you rain will not come without planting tree? Then how come raining heavy in Saudi Arabia these days??? Don't be foolish. Pray with god. Don't depend on forecast. Where were they while Tsunami coming?? Did they informed to humanity about the earth quack and tsunami???
Yogesh/khuswanth or funk,go and marry to donky monkey and crab fool pepole study islam and secure your body from hell.shame on you telling cow is mother .......
Dear Yogesh,
You seem to have little knowledge, just your planting one tree will not save the world. Road developers and Electrical Contractors are cutting so much trees even Lord Indra also can not bring rain to the earth. Just for sake of commenting and Satisfying your itch do not comment. If this prayer do not harm any one and may be if there is a divine blessing what is harm.
O Allah, Shower Upon us Abundant Rain, Beneficial Not Harmful, Swiftly and Not Delayed.
We should go back to God for natures anger....praying Allah is best way to over come problems around...specially water is very essential for human kind if it does not rain, human kind cannot live so pray for him...he is sympathetic and kind...pray as much as you can...he will help overcome problems....
Dear Brothers,
Prakash, Mahesh, rajesh, rajeev, yogesh, kushwant bhat.... we muslim are seeking help from Allah for rain, raining or not raining is his wish..... its our duty to ask help from allah.....you chaddi minded people first change your mentality from sanghi to a human being.... then you will know what is religion and what is islam.
Sins of human being is the main cause for all the clamity human beings face these days. The best way to clear it up is by asking forgiveness from your creator. The people who have studied little bit of science will laugh and mock when people who have little bit of knowledge of his creator ask for forgiveness from him. In 21st century humans have excelled in science, going to space, rockets, tecnology, flying, construction but lost humanity, humility, trustfullness, truthness, spirtual. Its high time to ask forgiveness from Almighty Allah before you return to him. Lot of people won;t beleive in god his angels, his revelation, but they will definately belive in death.
Maintaining the ecological balance is definitely important. And it is important to realize the value of the trees. The cut down of trees happening in the name of development should be looked into closely. The Valencia Jeppu road for example. All the trees were chopped down in the name of creating a double road. We should ask ourself, was it required? That stretch usually doesn't have so much traffic that we had to chop the trees. Let's say for argument sake that this was needed, we still had so much place left to build those additional area required for road. Leaves us with one question, Is this development or destruction?
These brothers are atleast praying to the creator of all things for Rain. This is sensible enough to accept for those who believe in a Lord/God/creator.
But,
What about those who arrange marriages with Donkey, Monkey, Dogs etc.. for Rain.? I think you guyz should try and educate them.
Dear All, specially those mockers OR disbelievers
For instance in Mangalore more than 90% believe in God by their own way,
No doubt, sure these people pray their version of God for their every need. It does not mean every prayer is immediately responded. Praying is our duty and the reply is upto God how he wants to hear it.
Think these Muslims also did their duty leaving the action to the God. Who knows there can be 1true person who is admired by the God to his fullest contentment/ satisfaction.
No Idols
No saints
No animals
No urine
No pictures
No statues...
No MAN made GODs (FAKE GODS)
WE Muslims pray to ALLAH, the lord of the heavens and Earth. ALLAH is the OWNER of this EARTH. it is HE who gives RAIN and it is HE who brings the dead earth to LIFE... similarly our LIFE.
WE muslims Believe in the Unseen world which is around us..and it is explained in the QURAN...
There are many things which QURAN mentions to PONDER. Some people IGNORE what is said in the QURAN..
Whatever said in the QURAN have come TRUE and there are some issues QURAN explained and SCIentist have not come across. which IN-SHAA ALLAH will surely be shown to MANKIND...
ALLAH gives RAIN and it is in his Hands..
Now WE see in DESERT there is water and India is full of GReenery & Rivers still WE see water scarcity.
Recognise your lord ALLAH and dont fall to man made created things... Worship the CREATOR and not his CREATION
The prophets bring truth, when disbelivers done same as above some commentors. This is all timing happening. But these commeators should understand pooling tendor coconut,frog marrige,dog marriage ect.. theses are all the highest level of supersticion. Mr. ur get any message from rain will next week rains????????
Dear Friends, Do not mock people praying to their Lord.
In Islam there is always two level approach, first we have to do the acts using all the resources at hand, including, in this case planting trees, then we have to hope for the best by spiritually connecting to the Lord. You and I cannot bring rain, this is hard truth. if anyone says that I have control over the rain, then he has to be a foolish. Rain, growth of plants and bearing fruits that we eat, are beyond human scope. What we can best do is that we can do the work using all the modern technology and knowledge and connect to the Lord of the World to make it happen. If only rely on the technology and knowledge, then there should not be drought anywhere, there should be earthquakes anywhere, there should not be excess rain anywhere, there should not be tsunami anywhere...
Alhumdulillah good gathering, no one take credit for rain. If rain start it will not say Muslim prayed so rain will b poured on Muslim house. If we cannot do good we do not have right to object it. Plant tree first then say to other. Pray for betterment of our society. Better reframe from negative thinking nd work for betterment of our country
May Allah put mercy on all humanity & fulfill scarcity of water around us...
Dear Brothers... Instead of blaming someone better you look at yourself... What you have done for the human being... Did anyone here try to stop cutting trees or plant trees around your location...? Most of the comments shows like they belong to trouble mongers groups.. They will never think about society development & build peace & harmony among different community... First of all learn to respect each other...
Try to learn teaching of Quran & power of Islam.. May Allah give you all Hidaya... Aameen.
Parakashanna, these people not believing the Miracles, then how comes next week rain??? better bring water in Choppers like Uttarakand, then declare we are the winners!!!!
Wonderful muslim brothers. keep it up good work for the society.
O ALLAH send us rain'\ O ALLAH send us rain\" O ALLAH send us rain\""
Plant tree all over. that will be better idea.
Good work, Muslim brothers. humanity still alive
next week rain will come dont worry.
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