Question: (4) What can be said about joining Tabligh Jama'at and touring America, England, Europe, Asia and other countries under the pretext of making ghusht and responding to the verse of the Qur'an that states: "Proceed (in the path of Allah) when light or heavy." Is this type of ghusht wajib, sunnah, or mustahab in the light of the Shari'ah? Answer: (4) If the person's intention is merely to tour and is using the veil of Tabligh, he is making a grave mistake. One of the most fundamentals of the Tabligh Jama'at is the correction of intention. It is then incorrect to use the verse "proceed (in the path of Allah) when light or heavy" to encourage people to join such a tour. The verse has other connotations. Written by the servant Mahmud (may Allah forgive him) Darul Uloom Deoband 17/08/1390 A.H. Question: The second factor is that we find errors in belief and errors in action. In my understanding, an error in action is not as serious an error in belief. Although these people (of the Tabligh Jama'at do correct errors in action, they create errors in belief, which is much more harmful. The first error is that they regard a mustahab as being fardh. They interpret the virtues of jihad as the virtues of Tabligh. By your interpretation, the highest status that can be deduced is that of being mustahab. However, these people accord it the status of sunnah mu'akkadah..... Answer: One factor has been omitted. It is the reply to your statement that the Ahadith stating the virtues of jihad have been accredited to the work of Tabligh. This is quite in order. The reason for this is commonly understood. There are two factors to be understood here. The first is that actually fighting the enemies of Islam is usually referred to as jihad. It has its own virtues and enjoys a very high status. The second thing is to exhort oneself for the Deen of Allah, even though this does not culminate actual fighting. A study of the Qur'an and the Ahadith will reveal that this is also referred to as jihad. In his commentary of Bukhari entitled Fathul Bari, Hafidh Ibn Hajar has stated that acquiring the knowledge of Deen (learning), imparting it (teaching) as well as enjoining good and forbidding evil are all forms of jihad. In the like manner, writing books of Deen, explaining masaa'il to people, responding to those who object to the Deen and debating with them are also forms of jihad. In fact, Imam Nawawi has mentioned approximately thirteen forms of jihad. Allah states in a verse of the Qur'an: "O Nabi Wage jihad against the Kuffar and the Munaafiqin..." Tahrim:9 Although this verse instructs the waging of jihad against the Kuffar and the Munafiqin, the sword was never drawn against the Munafiqin. Allah says in another verse: "We shall definitely show Our avenues to those who exert themselves in our cause..." 'Ankabut: 69 Even in this verse, the term jihad does not refer to fighting with the sword. The term 'khurooj fee sabeelilllah' ( going out in the path of Allah) is not exclusively used for fighting. In his Chapter of jihad (pg. 394), Imam Bukhari has reported a hadith that states: "The fire (of Jahannam) will not touch the feet of the person whose feet became dusty in the path of Allah." Imam Bukhari has also quoted the Hadith in his Chapter of Jumu'ah (pg. 124) with the words: "Allah has forbiden the fire (of Jahannam) from the person whose feet have become dusty in the path of Allah." This makes it evident that this term is not used exclusively for fighting (because the person proceeding for the Jumu'ah salah is also classified as someone who is in the path of Allah). It should also be noted that the purpose of fighting in jihad is not to merely to spill blood, but to elevate the Deen. Then too, fighting with the sword will take place only when such an obstacle stands in the path of the elevation of the Deen which can be removed only by fighting with the sword. The procedure is that people are first invited to accept Islam. If they refuse, the sword is not yet drawn. They are then given the option of paying the jizya. If they accept this, they sword will not be necessary. If not the sword will be used as a last measure because there now stands an obstacle to the flourishing of the Deen. While there are great rewards for this (fighting with the sword), it stands to reason that the rewards for achieving the objectives of this fighting with the sword should be much greater. And Allah Knows best. Written by the servant Mahmud (may Allah forgive him) Taken from the book, Mufti Mahmud Hasan Sahib Gangohi and the Tabligh Jama'at