Four Months in Jamaat and Family Huqooq

Four Months in Jamaat and Family Huqooq

Q. I would like to know if there are any criteria when men sign-up for going for 4 months to India? Are men just asked to sign up and leave behind a mess at home front?   Do the elders enquire about the man’s home life and how he is going to leave it for the next 4 months?

The four months unfortunately for some men presents an excuse to get away from their responsibilities.  I know I should not make statements I am not learned in, but from the outset, it is a 4 month break.  The 4 months should be spent in an Islamic area in a country where each individual has a skill to offer the said community and teach them and make them aware of the true Islamic way of life, not go to India spend 4 months enriching oneself (so-called for some).  Build for them, teach them building skills, electrical, plumbing, baking, cooking, etc, so after 4 months that small community in some strange country will benefit and so will the individual.  Forgive me for I know not what happens in the men’s world.

A.  Firstly, we are an Ulama Body working to educate and nurture the Muslim community for the betterment of their worldly life and salvation in the Aakhirah. We are not affiliated to the Tableegh Jamaat and we are not aware of their criteria, if any, for the four months stay in India.

We do not know what you are referring to by “mess at home front”. Do understand that in Islam the Qur’aan and Hadeeth have decreed rights or Huqooq which every Muslim has to necessarily fulfil. There are Huqooq vis-à-vis parents, Huqooq vis-à-vis wives, Huqooq vis-à-vis offspring, and even Huqooq vis-à-vis one’s mind, body and self. There are furthermore stages in these Huqooq. Violating, ignoring and being complacent in these obligatory Huqooq are sinful acts, punishable in the Aakhirah. The Deen does not prescribe violation of the family’s Huqooq in the course of going out for some time on a Tableeghi excursion. Individuals will find themselves in varying positions germane to these Huqooq. It is incumbent on those contemplating spending time abroad, away from their families, to make the necessary arrangements for their families’ Huqooq to be sustained. They should consult with the Ulama-e-Haq who will provide them with Shar’i guidance befitting their situation.

If by “get away from their responsibilities” you mean, Waajib Shar’i responsibilities such as providing expenses for the wife and children, then, needless to say this is prohibited in the Shariah. The four months in this case will be a time spent in the wrath of Allah, instead of the Path of Allah.

We differ with your averment: “[I]t is a 4 month break”. There are many cases where this period is spent in very necessary activities and duties. Whilst there may be those who just wish to take a “break”, there are also those who pursue a valid and sometimes incumbent course in the field of Tableegh (Deeni propagation) and Islaah (self-reformation) with their time out with the Jamaat.

You have mentioned some mundane services which in your opinion the Jamaat should offer to communities in other parts of the world. It appears that you are unaware of the objectives of this Deeni organization.  The fundamental purpose of this movement is to bring the lost masses of Islam back to Siraatul Mustaqeem. Whilst the services you mentioned are acts of philanthropy, they are beyond the scope and operation of the Tableegh Jamaat. If an organization wishes to limit its scope of operation due to valid reasons and circumstances, others have no Shar’i right to force upon the organization their ideas and suggestions. Those who participate in Tableegh activities to “enrich” themselves refer to spiritual and practical enrichment, i.e. to bring their lives in conformity to the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). And this is an incumbent duty upon every Muslim, male and female. Yes, there are many ways to achieve this aim and it is not permissible to forego another waajib injunction of the Shariah such as discharging of the Waajib Huqooq of the wife and kids, in carrying out the former.

We trust this concise explanation will be beneficial.