Misleading Propaganda of those Devoted to Ridha Khan and Directed Against the Ulema of Deoband and the Tablighi Jamaa?ah

Q: Imaan-3 : The Ridha Khan group here (in Jaamnagar) are propagating the notion that the Ulema of Deoband and the members of the tablign Jamaa'ah are Kuffaar and have left the fold of Islaam. in fact. they say that even those who assist them and regard them to be good people are also Kuffaar and outside the pale of Islaam. What is then the status of those who regard the Ulema of Deoband and the members of the Tabligh Jamaa'ah as good people? What is the verdict of Allaah and His Rasool (S.A.W.) in this regard?

Answer: This propaganda campaign of the Ridha Khan group is misleading. The Ulema of Deoband and the members of the tabligh Jamaa,ah are innocent of the slander that the Ridha Khan group sling at them They are true Muslims and propagators of the message of Muhammad (S.A.W.)? safeguard the Sunnah practices and are the true heirs of the Ambiya (alayhissalaam.) (in the words of the rector of Daarul Uloom Deoband Hadhrat Qaari Muhammad Tayyab Sahib alayhissqalaam. the Ulema of Deoband are Muslims Deen, Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah by sect, Hanafi by Madh'hab, soofi by temperament, followers of imaam Maatureedi in our definition of beliefs. Chishti - in fact followers of all the paths - as far as Tasawwuf is concerned. Followers of Shah Wali'ullaah in thought, followers of Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi in our principles, followers of Moulana Rasheed Ahmad in secondary principles and Deobandi by relationship).

The Ulema of Deoband gave their lives for the service of the Qur'aan. Ahadeeth and Fiqh. Beneficiaries from the university of Deeni knowledge called Daarrul Uloom Deoband include hundreds of thousands of Ulema, Huffadh, Qurraa. Mufassireen,? Muhadditheen, Soofiyaa and Muballigheen. They have spread throughout the length and breadth of the globe to propagate the message of Islaam. A clear proof of the immense service that these Ulema have rendered to Islaamic knowledge is the couniless books that they have penned. Here we will mention only a few works of Hadith written in Arabic, all of which have won great acclaim in the world of Deeni knowledge:

1. Faydhul baari, a commentary of bukhari
2. Laami?ud daraari alaa jaami?il Bukhari, a commentary of bukhari
3. Fat?hul Mulhim, a commentary of Muslim
4.Urfush shazi, a commeentary of tirmidhi
5. Kowkabud Durri, a commentary of Tirmidhi
6. Badhlul Majhood, a commentary of Abu Dawood
7. Awjazul Masaalik, a commentary of the Mu'atta of Imaam Maalik
8. Ta'leequs Sabeeh, a commentary of Mishkaatul Masaabeeh
9. Amaanil Ahbaar, a commentary of Sharhu Ma'aanil Aathaar
10. Ma'aarifus Sunan, a commentary of Tirmidhi
11. Aathaarus Sunan ma'at Ta'leeqil Hasan wa Ta'leeqit Ta'leeq
12. I'laa'us Sunan

This is just an example of sterling service, religious good fortune and divine favour that the Ridha Khan group is deprived of. They cannot present anything comparable to this. "Prove yourselves if you are true"

Regarding such pious people and sincere servants of Deen as Kuffaar and outside the fold of Islaam smacks of ignorance, irreligiousness, enmity for Islaam and deviation. This is because such people were true heirs of the Ambiyaa alayhisslaaam. and accepted servants of Allaah and thinking otherwise will Ruin one's Aakhirah.

As for the members of the Tabligh Jamaa'ah. they bid farewell to their comforts, home, family, occupations. Businesses and farms to undertake arduous journeys at their own expense only to propagate the Deen (which was originally the task of the Ambiyaa alayhissalaam.. This service is truly an exemplary one. They teach the common (ignorant) Muslims to properly recite the Kalimah Towheed and Kalimah Shahaadah. Which are the basis of imaan.

They teach them the meaning of these kalimahs and tell them to perform salaah, thereby transforming Muslims-by-name into true Muslims who regularly perform their salaah. They also teach people Islaamic character, Taqwa, purity, the rights of creation and Creator, obedience to parents, respect for elders and compassion for youngsters. What better deed can there be? Allaah says, "Whose words can be better than the one who calls to Allaah and does good deeds?" Allaah also says. "There must be group from amongst you that calls towards good, that invites (others)'towsrds good and forbids (them) from evil. Such people shall be successful."

It can only be enemies of Islaam who would label as Kuffaar such servants of Deen (whom Allaah has praised) and those who regard them as good people. Those who regard them to be outside the pale of Islaam intend only evil for the Muslims and are out to rob Muslims of their Deen. In the words of Rasulullah (S.A.W.) such people are themselves Kuffaar and outside the fold of Islaam. Rasulullaah (S.A.W.) said that when someone labels another as a sinner Or a Kaafir, the label will return to him if the other is really not so. Rasulullaaah (S.A.W.) also said, "When someone calls another a Kaafir or an enemy of Allaah and the person is really not so, the accusation turns back on the speaker (making him a Kaafir or en enemy of Allaah)."

A Hadith states that when Hadhrat Usaama RADI. attacked a Kaafir on the battlefield, the man immediately recited the Kalimah ('Laa Ilaaha Illallaah'). However, Hadhrat Usaama RADI. still killed him. When Rasulullaah (S.A.W.) was informed of this, he asked Hadhrat Usaama RADI. why he killed the man even after he had recited the Kalimah. Hadhrat Usaama RADI. replied that the man had killed a particular Muslim and when he was attacked, he recited the Kalimah merely to save himself . Hadhrat Usaama RADI. therefore believed that the man did not recite the Kalimah with sincerity. "Did you cut open his heart (to see whether he was reciting with sincerity or out of fear)?" Rasulullaah (S.A.W.) asked. "What reply will you give." Rasulullaah (S.A.W.) asked, "When the Kalimah stands up in his defence on the Day of Qiyaamah?" Hadhrat Usaama RADI. then begged Rasulullaah (S.A.W.) to seek forgiveness on his behalf, but Rasulullaah (S.A.W.) kept repeating the words, "What reply will you give when the Kalimah stands up in his defence on the Day of Qiyaamah?" Hadhrat Usaama RADI. then said that he hoped he had accepted Islaam only that day so that all his sins would be forgiven.

The Ridha Khan group should take heed to this Hadith and stop their vile efforts to label Muslims as Kuffaar and Murtad.

The crux of it all is that these servants of Deen who are fulfilling the task of propagation of Islaam are sincere Muslims and assisting them and regarding them as true Muslims is a sign of one's Imaan. In fact, Allaah has issued a command in the Qur'aan that such people should be assisted" Allaah says. "And assist each other in acts of virtue and Taqwa".

Regarding as Kuffaar such people whom Allaah has praised and whose assistance Allaah has commanded, is clear disobedience to Allaah and Rasulullaah (S.A.W.) This is the work of the enemies of Islaam and those who wish to stamp out the responsibility of Rasulullaah (S.A.W.)It is a manifestation of the verse:? ?In a like manner, We have appointed for every Nabi some enemies from amongst mankind and Jinn". It is also the materialisation of a

Hadith that speaks about people "who are themselves astray and who lead others astray as well". May Allaah save us from falling into this category. May Allaah guide them all. Aameen. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.1

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