بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Journey from Tableghi to AhleHadees

The Publisher of Fazaail-e-Aamal makes Tawbah – An Interview with the owner of Idara Ishaat-e-Diniyaat – For details visit http://www.ahya.org

Special Report by Sajid A Kayum - Dated 29/12/2002

Based upon the interview by Br. Muhammed Aqil

THE LARGEST PUBLISHER OF THE FAZAAIL AAMAL (TABLEEGHI NISAAB) MAKES TAWBAH

In these times of group polarization, ta'assub towards one's madhhab and sectarianism, it is a great blessing for someone to seek guidance and accept the truth, especially, if one's source of livelihood and hard-earned respect are at stake.

One such fortunate individual is Br. Mohammad Anas, the owner of Idara Ishaat-e-Diniyat - a publishing company that publishes the Fazaail-e-Amaal (also known as the Tableeghi Nisaab) in four languages and other numerous books of the Deobandis.

The Fazaail Aamaal authored by Moulana Zakariyyah Khandelwi is the book that the Jamaat Tableegh uses to spread its dawah. It is the only book that the Tableeghis allow to be read in their gatherings and a lot of stress is put on reading it regularly to the extent that this book is read by the Tableeghis five times a day after every prayer. This book has in it many false beliefs and baseless stories that have been corrupting people's Aqeedah for half a century.

Br. Mohammad Anas, the publisher of the Fazaail Aamal, after identifying the vile errors of the Fazaail-e-Amaal, has openly declared his abhorrence towards this book and the Tableeghi-Deobandi nexus that spreads its teachings. He has open-heartedly accepted the way of taking the religion from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, which is the way of the Ahle Hadees - And All praise is due to Allah.

DEOBANDI UNEASINESS WITNESSED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS

The last few years have seen unprecedented uneasiness in Deobandi circles due to the fact that a large number of people have left the blind-following of individuals and groups and accepted the pure teachings of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. While formally the Deobandis would simple undermine and brush off the way of the Ahlul-Hadeeth as something that was practically non-existent, they have now come to realize that the Ahlul-Hadeeth are a force to be reckoned with and the pillars of blind-following of elders and extreme partiality towards Madhhabs upon which the school of Deoband is based have weakened considerably.

DEOBANDISM BETWEEN THE CLAIM AND THE REALITY

The Deobandis claim to be the people of Tawheed, religious learning, and reformation and the followers of an authoritative Imaam (Imaam abu Haneefah) and thus portray themselves as a legitimate school of thought from the Ahlus-Sunnah which differs at the most on matters of Ijtihad. In reality, however, they have committed great crimes against the religion of Islam by spreading beliefs of shirk and innovations, unreasonably defending of the clear blunders of their elders and making Tahreef to support their madhhab. They have aided the spread of ignorance by organizing a volunteer force of unqualified ignorant people in the name of 'Jamaat Tableegh' and have given them the book "Fazaail Aamal" - which itself is a compilation of baseless stories that invite towards the heresies of Soofism.

The Deobandis and the Jamaat Tableegh were able to conceal their misguided views successfully and effectively in the Arab world and in the West, while openly calling to them in countries where they have a large following like India, Pakistan and others.

This has been witnessed the most closely in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is both a centre of religious learning and a place where reside a large number of religious minded people, who spend generously to help the Muslims around the world. The Deobandis took full advantage of their good-will and continued to spread their Dawah in secret to the extent that their associates maybe found appointed in many ministerial jobs. A good example is that of the wellknown Moulana Makki, a Deobandi who gives lectures in the Haram of Makkah even to this day. Even the King Fahd press that prints the Holy Qur'aan, published the Deobandi Tafseer as the official urdu Tafseer. [This Tafseer is called Tafseer-e-Usmani where the translation of the verses is by Moulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi and the commentary is by Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Usmani]. The very introduction to this Tafseer contains references to the deviant belief of Wahdat al-Wajood though not in clear terms. Even the major scholars and muftis of the kingdom had a good opinion of the Deobandis and the Tableeghis.

THE SCHOLARS REFUTE THE JAMAAT TABLEEGH

But Al-Hamdulillah the misguidance of the Jamaat Tableegh became clear to some Arab Salafi scholars and they refuted them in their writings. Shaikh Taqiyyudin al-Hilaali (well-known for his translation of the Noble Qur'an published by Dar-us-Salam Publications) wrote a small treatise by the name, Al-Siraaj Al-Muneer fee Tambeeh Jamaat At-Tableegh alaa Akhtaa'ihum and Shaikh at-Tuwaijiri composed the extraordinary book, "Al-Qawl al-Baleegh". Later Shaikh Taalib ur-Rehmaan, a scholar well-known for his debates with the people of Bidaa (innovations) wrote the book, "Ad-Deobandiyyah" in Arabic that further exposed the reality of the Deobandis. The sheikh has another refutation on the Jamaat Tableegh in Arabic that has been published lately. Apart from this there are the efforts of many others and may Allah accept all sincere efforts.

In the Indian subcontinent many scholars have raised awareness about the Jamaat Tableegh after many efforts towards advising them have failed. Some Ahlul-Hadeeth masjid even opened their doors to the Jamaat Tableegh with the intention of co-operation in matters of righteousness and piety and because outwardly the Jamaat Tableegh claim to have no agenda apart from calling the people towards prayer. The Tableeghi have been invited time and again to continue their work but to replace the Fazaail Aamal with authentic Tafseers and collections of authentic Hadeeth, but all such requests have been rejected.

THE TABLEEGHI DAWAH

In region where there is general Ignorance of the correct Aqeedah and a strong tradition to put all of ones religious affairs in the hands of a particular moulana, the Jamaat Tableegh speaks in a position of strength and openly calls to misguided views. The Tableeghis know that they can distort the meaning of the Quraanic verses and present to the people in order to deceive them into believing that it is Allah's Will that all true Muslims are bound to the regulations of the "Tableeghi Jamaat" and are expected to unquestionably follow them on their excursions.

The Tableeghis take pride in being ignorant and ask the other ignorant individuals like them, "to which school or university did the sahabah go to?". They lie upon Allah and the Messenger and justify it saying it is only to encourage the people towards good deeds. They often quote the Quraan as the Hadeeth and vice-versa. Even worse, they quote the sayings of elders and stories and attribute it to the Messenger (salallahu alaihe wa-sallam). Their norm is to mention quraanic verses, fragments of hadeeth, stories and fables, sayings of their elders and karguzaris without distinguishing between them - all along giving the ignorant listener the notion that all of this has come from Allah for the guidance of the people.

Many Ahlul-Hadeeth scholars have raised awareness about the Jamaat Tableegh through writings and speeches most notably Shaikh Meraj Rabbani, Shaikh Ataa Allah Daerwi and others. And those people who have left Tableeghis have exposed them even further.

As a result many people have accepted the way of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. This is an additional setback to the Deobandis. It should also be noted that those who accepted the guidance are the educated and enlightened individuals who actually have the ability to research, understand and differentiate between the fact and lies.

Others who have left this Jamaat are those who migrated to other countries where the Tableeghis do not have a strong hold and the people have had the opportunity to learn about the Book and the Sunnah. In the environment of the Indian sub-continent, the Tableeghis do not allow the common masses to read the Qur'aan and the Sunnah or listen to anyone apart from themselves. This is why I mentioned in the very start of this article that, "in these times of group polarization, ta'assub towards one's madhhab and sectarianism, it is a great blessing for someone to seek guidance and accepts the truth" ANd only he who has been in that environment can truly understand the significance of this.

THE DEOBANDI REACTION

The Deobandis have finally realized that they cannot combat the Dawah of the Ahlul-Hadeeth, by merely abusing them or undermining them and that they would have to reply with proofs and quotes and references just like the Ahlulhadeeth refuted them with proofs from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. The Deobandis therefore, organized a huge nation-wide conference called, 'Tahaffuz-e-Sunnat' in India. This was repeated in a number of other countries. They also published a number of booklets on the subject and each of the doubts in those books has been replied to either in writing or on tape, al-hamdulillah. And we will publish them on out website, www.ahya.org insha'Allah.

The result of these conferences was that many people were introduced to the Ahlul-Hadeeth and began reading books of Ahlul-Hadeeth scholars either out of curiosity or to refute them and al-hamdulillah this became a means for people to come closer to the truth. The Deobandis, therefore, shot their own selves in the foot because the way of seeking knowledge, analyzing references and sound reasoning can only lead to the truth.

MUHAMMED ANAS SAHEB - THE OWNER OF IDARA ISHAAT E DINIYAAT

We ask Allah, the Exalted, to keep Br. Mohammad Anas steadfast upon the truth to which He has guided him. Br Muhammed Anas's interview has been recorded by our dear brother Muhammed Aqil from Jeddah. Brother Aqil has many efforts in the field of dawah on the internet and runs the Hadeeth Egroups.

In this interview Muhammed Anas Saheb spoke about how he recognized the corruption in the Fazaail Aamal and other Deobandi books. He also spoke about the difficulties in his struggle to seek and follow the Qur'aan and the Sunnah.

Br Anas specifically mentioned that he found our website www.ahlehadees.com and the tapes of the scholars on it very helpful.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said, "If Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels."

We ask Allah to accept the efforts of all the brothers who contributed and participated in the development of the website whether they are from India, Saudi Arabia, Emirates or Kuwait.

EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW

Brother Muhammed Anas said, "When I needed to know about everyday rulings, I referred back to the hanafi fiqh because that was the environment we were brought up in. So when we referred to those books no references were found in them, just the sayings of some aalim and this seemed to me as if he was saying something from himself and I could not (satisfactorily) accept it. So I began to research because the rulings should be with references to the Hadeeth

they are based upon. Thereafter I searched for books and read them, only to find a big difference between rulings of the (hanafi) Maslak (way) and the Quraan and the Sunnah."

Note: Here the Hanafi Maslak in common language is used to refer to the way which includes the blindfollowing of the later Hanafis, adherence to the school of deoband and its scholars, and to Maturidism in beliefs.

… "I am facing a number of difficulties and I ask Allah to grant me steadfastness. Since I have started upon this way (of the book and sunnah) and we stay in a society where the (Deobandi) maslak is followed, every one looks at me with suspicion (or with dislike) as if I have committed a great crime. I have only tried to learn the Quraan and the Sunnah and to act upon it. My relatives and those who are close to me have turned their faces away from me, except for a few. Even if I try to meet them they speak to me in a strange way and when I got my son married according to the Quraan and the Sunnah in February and did not arrange for the marriage procession and other formalities, my relatives are still angry on me. I only sent a car so that my daughter-in-law could come to the home."

He mentioned that he heard some Cds which spoke of the Hijaab. "When I heard them tears rolled off my eyes and I began to ponder as to what we had been doing until now, our lives have gone and we have not been able to do anything. After this Al-Hamdulillah we began to implement proper Hijaab in the home as it should be implemented according to the shareeah where the Hijaab is done from the housband's brothers."

When brother Aqil asked brother Muhammad Anas about the sources that helped him towards the way of the Quraan and the Sunnah, he mentioned our website http://www.ahlehadees.com and the names of the four scholars, Shaikh Ataa Allah Daerwi, Shaikh Safiur-Rehman Mubarakpuri, Shaikh Meraaj Rabbani (Hafizahumullah) and Shaikh Badiuddeen Rashidi (Rahimahumullah). He said, "I heard their tapes and liked them a lot. Whatever they say, they say in light of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah."

When asked if he was involved in spreading the true dawah of the Quraan and the Sunnah, he said, "I wish to do a lot so that the wrong things that have spread amongst the people come to an end. To start with I have prepared a list of books that I used to sell in the bookshop (he mentions various books). One of the books I used to keep was Aamaal Quraani (cures from the Quraan) while believing that they were cures from the Quraan and it would not have any (incorrect) statements, but then I heard one of the lectures of Shaikh Meraaj Rabbani (with a quote from the Aamaal Quraani) and I check the copy I had with me, I felt ashamed and very hurt and asked the staff not to sell it at all. Thereafter, I stopped selling the many other books on Soofism that are full of Shirk and Bidah."

NOTE: It is mentioned in Aamaal-e-Qur'aani, p. 134 by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi [published by Jasim Book Depot, Urdu Bazaar, Jama Masjid, Delhi] that if a woman has excessive menstrual bleeding, the verse (Surah Al-'Imran: 3:144) should be written on three different pieces of paper, one tied on her right and the other on her left and the third piece of paper with the Qur'aanic verse to be hung below the naval. This verse of the Qur'aan, "Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful." [Surah Al-'Imran: 3:144]

Br Aqil : What are the difficulties that you are facing after becoming Ahlehadees"

Brother Muhammed Anas replied, "When I started to keep those books that are in accordance with the Quraan and the Sunnah, and we are in a society with people of a different view, and on the books is mentioned the word Salafi or there is something else with indicated that the books are of another school of thought - the people do not buy those books. In Delhi there is a center by the name "Allama Ibn Baaz Center" from where I ordered some books since they were good but no one would buy them because the author was Dr Luqmaan "Salafi". These are the problems I faced."

Br Aqil : Have you accepted the way of the Ahlul-hadeeth alone, or have you family members changed too?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "My wife, my children al-Hamdulillah pray in accordance with the Quraan and the Sunnah. We also hold a session of 15 minutes to read from books, like we have read from the Book of Salaat by Shaikh Kailani"

Br Aqil : Earlier you informed me about your daughter and problems faced by her. Are they because of the fact that she has started performing Raf al-Yadain?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "Yes, what else can it be? They do not consider it (Raf al-Yadain) to be from the Sunnah even though I have shown them proofs. And I gave them photo copies from the books of Maulana Abdul-Hayy Lakhnawi and Imaam Muhammad stating that the Raf al-Yadain is proven and is from Sunnah. But they are so blind in their sight that they cannot understand. How much ever you explain to them, they do not understand"

Note: Raf al-Yadain is to raise the hand in prayer before the Ruku and after the Ruku. Raf al-Yadain is a Sunnah proven by Mutawathir Ahaadeeth, but because there is extreme following of Madhhabs in the subcontinents, the people are ordered by the Madhhabi ulema to ignore those hadeeth. Often a fiqh issue like Raf al-Yadain serves as a stepping stone towards breaking the barrier of Taqleed and opens the way for correction of other matters of belief and worship.

Br Aqil : How do you feel having left the way of Shirk and Bidah towards the Straight Path and Tawheed. Is your heart content?

Brother Muhammed Anas , "Yes, definitely I feel total contentment to the extent that if I were to die today, I have great hope that Allah will have mercy on me. And whatever little I have done to follow the Sunnah will be accepted by Allah. I have complete hope in Allah. I have contentment as clear as a mirror Al-hamdulillah.

Br Aqil: Since you are mainly dealing with books, has you change affected you business relations and income in any way?

Brother Muhammed Anas , "Yes, of course. Since I have stopped printing Fazaail-e-Sadaqat and Fazaail-e-Hajj, which I used to print in 4 languages; Urdu, Hind, English French, and they sell a lot, like the Urdu version sells 5,000 copies in 2 months. So, it is effecting my business but I am not bothered about it Allah forbid even if I was to reach the stage of starvation, I would accept that because the eyes have to close and everyone has to die and we have to give account of everything."

[We ask Allah to bless brother Muhammad Anas in his business and accept his sacrifices]

Br Aqil : You have seen that the book which you had been selling till now (i.e. the Fazaail Aamal) has many statements of Shirk in it. Somewhere a pious person is receiving knowledge of the unseen, somewhere it is claimed that Allah's Messenger descended from the sky (after his death), somewhere it is said that the hand of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) came out of the grave, while somewhere the leaders of the Tableeghi Jamaat hear the reply of their salaam to the Messenger. Now that you know of these deviant beliefs will you continue with the sale of this book in the different languages.

Brother Muhammed Anas, "No, I consider selling these books a sin. And I say that if I were the sole owner of these books, I would have put them in the sea long back. I would sell something else, but not these books, for now we have stopped Fazaail-e-Sadaqat and Hajj (this is the second part of the Fazaail Aamal and is more deviant than the first) and we plan to stop Fazaail-e-Amal (i.e. the the first part) Insha'Allah."

Br Aqil : Tell us about Fazaail-e-Amaal since how long have you been printing it and was it you father who initiated the work?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "My father was the first one to publish this book on off-set printing (since 50 years, they have been printing this book). Initially they were printed as separate booklets like Hiyaakaat-e-Sahabah, Fazaail-e-Namaz, etc. then the booklets were compiled in one volume and then the compilation was named, 'Tableegh-e-Nisaab' It was not named 'Tableegh-e-Nisaab' by Maulana Zakariyah (the author) but it was named as such by my father. Later when some Barelvis objected to it, then its name was changed to 'Fazaail-e-Amaal'

Br Aqil : In the end, would you like advice those who are still busy in the publishing and selling of the book?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "I consider the income which comes from the selling and spreading of such books that spoil the Aqeedah is not Halaal. So one should limit himself. There are many books, why not sell authentic books? The stories of parrot and birds, Kabutar Nama (the story of the pigeon) [he is referring to the stories of Khurafaat mentioned by the Soofis in their books as lessons]. When good (authentic) books are available, then these should be spread."

Br Aqil: Any of your two brother have accepted the way of the Ahlul-Hadeeth?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "Yes, as I mentioned earlier, my youngest brother who heard the CDs, has begun to perform Raf al-Yadain, He told me, 'Brother if this (Raf al-Yadain) is correct, then why be afraid of following it while it is proved from the Messenger of Allah and is a Sunnah? And he (Allah's Messengers) has practiced it until his death." So, I started (the Raful-Yadain) for he was on the truth'

Br Aqil : What message would you like to send to the people of Jamaat Tableegh so as to assist them in seeking the truth?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "It is the duty on every person to seek the teachings of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and analyze whether their actions are in accordance with the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. This is a general message for everybody."

Br Aqil: would you like to convey something to the Ulema of Deoband who compile and spread such books like the book of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi - Aamaal-e-Quraanin?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "Yes, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi is the author of Aamaal-e-Quraani. But it is not sure whether this book was later attributed to him or he has himself written such things. Allah known best but what I found in them were completely against the Qur'aan and the Sunnah so I have stopped selling it."

Br Aqil : It was surely not attributed to him later for if it was later attributed to Maulan Ashraf Ali Thanwi then the Ulama of Deoband would have pointed to the statements have been (incorrectly) attributed to the Maulana but the Ulama of Deoband have always supported it so it is not incorrectly attributed to Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi but it is his own book."

Brother Muhammed Anas, "I was astonished when I read Hikayat-e-Awliya, which is also known as 'Arwah e-Thalatha. In all there are 60-70 books which I have stopped printing and selling."

Br Aqil : Have you seen 'Tareekh-e-Mashaaikh-e-Chist' by Maulana Zakariyah?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "I have stopped any orders for that book also. I have also prepared some literature which points towards all such matters in those books. If someone informs me of any such reference, I personally analyze it and if I find anything incorrect I discard it."

Br Aqil : The authors of such books from the Ulama of Deoband and the Barelvis, their blind-following does not allow them to return to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and even after knowing the truth they do not propagate it. What would you advice them?

Brother Muhammed Anas, "The religion reached us through the Sahabah, but if one was to search for books on their seerah (biography) he would not find it. The Mureeds (followers) however write books on (the biographies) of their Pir (mentor) who dies just 100 years back, and even today we do not know the Sahabah."

Note: There are many biographies just on the life of Moulana Ashraf Alee Thanwi and some of them are in 10 volumes.

Br Aqil : What is your message to our listeners and especially those who are still struggling to seek the truth? For this cassette of yours will reach them Insha'allah and when they learn that a prominent publisher of these books has made Tawbah before Allah, then this will surely soften their hearts and will encourage them to take the religion from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah.

Brother Muhammed Anas, "Firstly, my message is that analyze all you deeds and verify whether they are in accordance with the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. One should not follow everything what people tell them, and today there are so many books available which do not mention references. So one should research and make sure whether his deeds are correct or incorrect. May Allah grant us the Tawfiq."

For Free Online resources, articles, books and lectures on the Jamaat Tableegh and the Deobandis and a detailed anaysis of their dawah, please visit us online at http://www.ahya.org/tjonline/index.html