Tableegh Jamaat: 40 days or 4 months???

Question:

Where do the going out for 40 days or 4 months of the Tableegh Jamaat originate from? Was this present during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam)?

Answer: 

During the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), the education system that exists today was not present. During that time, the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhu) were learning just by listening. Accessories such as pen, copybook, blackboard, chalk, etc. were not available. The writing system was almost non-existent. It was so rare that it was not even considered as authorised and permissible during a certain era. However, as we know, today the education system has evolved in order to adapt to the time that we are living in.

Similarly, the system of pre-primary, primary, secondary, tertiary school did not exist during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam)! However, the need arose to teach Deen to the next generation through this system. This was never contested by anyone on the grounds that this kind of Deeni education did not exist during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). Similarly, spending 4 or 5 years in the university precinct to learn Deen did not exist during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). Similarly, the degree of B.A., M.A. or Ph.D in Shari’ah, are diplomas and degrees that have been copied from the Kaafir system. What is very surprising is that those who write B.A. in Shari’ah or M.A. in Shari’ah with their names, present futile objections such as "What is the origin of 40 days or 4 months in Shari’ah?"

It is really ridiculous to throw stones in the yard of others when one’s house is made of glass. If 40 days or 4 months did not exist, then which verse or which Hadith in Bukhari, Muslim or other books of Hadith can be presented in order to authorise doing a B.A., M.A or Ph.D in Shari’ah? Present a Hadith if there is one, even if it is a fabricated Hadith! If, despite this, there can be a justification for adopting such an educational system, then, what prevents us from accepting 40 days or 4 months that have been fixed just as a time limit/ to ensure a certain level of Islamic formation?

In Islam, there is no mention of B.A, M.A or Ph.D in Shari’ah. However, there is the mention of 40 days or 4 month in Islam that is nuanced with what was adopted in Tableegh Jamaat. According to a Hadith found in Musannaf Abdur Razzaaq, Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) said:

"من رابط اربعين ليلة فقد اكمل الرباط"

"The one, who goes on the frontier to guard the frontier for 40 nights, has certainly completed the (time of) Ribaat (guarding the frontier)." (Musannaf Abdur Razzaaq)

That is, a complete Ribaat is a Ribaat that is done continuously for a period of 40 days. Normally, the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum) considered guarding the Islamic frontier against the attack of enemies as Ribaat. However, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) had drawn their attention to the fact that real Ribaat, is to guard the frontier of one’s Deen and one’s Imaan against the attack of Shaitan by engaging in Ibaadat continuously. According to a Hadith reported by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu), which is found in Saheeh Muslim, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) has qualified awaiting Salah after Salah, etc. as true Ribaat. Similarly, according to a Hadith found in Musnad Ahmad, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"منتظر الصلاة من بعد الصلاة كفارس اشتد به فرسه فى سبيل الله على كشحه تصلى عليه ملائكة الله ما لم يحدث او يقوم وهو فى الرباط الاكبر "

"A person, who waits for the next Salah, is like a horseman whose horse is racing with him on his back in the path of Allah Ta’ala. The angels of Allah Ta’ala make Dua for him continuously as long as his Wuzu is not invalidated and as long as he does not rise (from that place). And this person is engaged in الرباط الاكبر (the greatest Ribaat)." (Musnad Ahmad)

This means that there are two kinds of Ribaat. One that is done on the frontier, face to face with real enemies. And the second is a combat that a person makes against his Nafs, that is, he resists against his desires and his passions by engaging in Ibaadat. This combat is qualified by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) as the superior combat due to it being continuous and very difficult. In this combat, a person guards the frontier of his Deen and his Imaan against the attack of Shaitan. According to all the scholars of Islam, the most essential and the hardest combat is the combat against one’s Nafs, desire and passion. According to a Hadith found in Tirmizi, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

" المجاهد من جاهد نفسه"

"The (true) Mujahid is the one who makes Jihad (combat) against his Nafs." (Tirmizi)

Sheikh Mullah Ali Al-Qari says in his Al-Mirqaat:

"والمجاهد اى الحقيقى من جاهد نفسه فى طاعة الله اذ هو الجهاد الاكبر وينشأ منه الجهاد الاصغر"

The Mujahid, that is, the true Mujahid is the one who fights against his Nafs in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala because this is the Jihad Akbar (greatest Jihad) and Jihad Asghar (small Jihad) ensues from it. 

(Al-Mirqaat commentary on Al-Mishkaat)

That is, to resist against desire, whims and passion and to remain engaged in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala is the true and the greatest Jihad, which in turn gives rise to Jihad Asghar or what is called Jihad against real enemies.

When a person goes in Jamaat, he gets maximum time to remain engaged in Ibaadah and in the activities of Deen. In fact, he undergoes training for a considerable amount of time to fight his Nafs, resist against his habits, activities and his unjustified passions. Gradually, this allows him to devote his entire life to Allah Ta’ala and become a good Muslim. In reality, it is an effort to engage in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala that makes it become the "Ribaat Al-Akbar" or the greatest Jihad.

According to a Hadith found in Saheeh Bukhari, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"رباط يوم فى سبيل الله خير من الدنيا وما فيها ..." (البخارى)

"Guarding the frontier for a day is better than the world and everything that it contains ..."

According to Allaamah Bin Hajar (Rahmatoullaahi Alayh), this reward applies to all types of Ribaat. Rather, it will apply more to Ribaat-Al-Akbar. Therefore, for every day that a person spends in Jamaat with the intention of reforming himself, he gets this reward.

[English version of "Tabligh jamaate : 40 jours ou 4 mois ???" – Al Jamiat – Vol.3 No.6]