Tableeghi Jamaat: Teachings of Shirk in the Book -“Fadhaa.il A’maal” (popularly referred to as – ” Fazail Amal”)
Part 1: Readings in “Fadhaa.il Durood”
All praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness. And we seek refure in Allaah the Most High from the evils of our ownselves and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides none can misguide him and whomsoever Allaah misguides there is none to guide such an individual. I bear witness that there is no true god worthy of being worshiped except Allaah alone, without partner or associate. I further bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His slave and Messenger. May Allaah the Exalted bestow his peace and blessings on the final messenger Muhammad, upon his family, his noble companions and all those who follow them.
To Proceed:
That the most truthful speech is the Qur.aan, the word of Allaah and the best of guidance is that of Muhammad ﷺ. And the worst of affairs in this religion of ours are the innovations and every innovation is a Bid`ah and every Bid`ah is misguidance and every misguidance is in the hell fire.
This paper which is the first in its series is being compiled in order to inform the Muslim who yearns and strives to know Islaam. The Islaam as revealed by Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) on His final Messenger ﷺ; free from any alterations, deletions and additions. But today a dark shadow has been cast over the truth. Shirk and Bid`ah have a firm grip on the Muslims. Falsehood has worn the garb of righteousness and the ignorant ones the robes of the scholar.
Illegitimate partisanship to one’s group, party and organisation has divided the hearts of the Muslims. The rules of the party and groups transcend the laws of the Qur.aan and authentic Sunnah. False interpretation of the verses of the Noble Qur.aan and incidents of Seerah to suit the agenda of the party are rampant today.
One such group is the “Jamaa’at at-Tableegh” or the “Tableeghi Jamaat.” This party came into existence in the 1920s. Many Muslims claim it to be a creation of the colonial British in order to divide the hearts of the Muslims with false ‘aqeedah and suppress the spirit of Jihaad but the adherents to the Qur.aan, Sunnah and of the Manhaj of the Pious Predecessors do not indulge in conspiracy theories and only concern themselves with what is real and apparent. The Tableeghi Jamaat takes its teaching from the book “Fadhaa.il A’maal” (Virtues of the deeds) authored by Muhammad Zakaria Kandalvi on the suggestions put forward by Ashraf ‘Ali Thanvi, the two so called greats of the school of Deobandh in India.
Today, the Tableeghi Jamaat is considered to be the largest “evangelical group” calling Muslims to prayer, fasting, Hajj etc. Those who ascribe themselves to this Jamaat CLAIM that the book “Fadhaa.il A’maal” (also known as Tableeghi Nisaab) is the collection of various verses from the Qur.aan and ahaadeeth describing the virtues and great rewards of Hajj, Zakaah, Salaah, Dhikr etc. BUT a close examination of this book in the light of Qur.aan and authentic Sunnah reveals horrendous teachings of Shirk, innovations, lies on the Messenger of Allaah, belittling the pious generation of the noble companions and the scholars. Indeed, in the name of loving the Prophet ﷺ and the Righteous People, Shaytaan has seduced this firqah and enticed them into Shirk and Kufr – to which they appear to be so blind.
This paper and further studies into the book will provide irrefutable arguments along with accurate references to prove, inshaa.-Allaah, that the ideology propagated in this book is nothing but grave worship, supplication to other than Allaah and to prove that the ‘aqeedah (beliefs) propagated in this book has nothing to do with Islaam but with Paganism and may Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) protect us from it.
Note: The version of Fadhaa.il A’maal (Urdu Version) that is going to be used is printed from:
Idara Irshaad-e-Diniaat Pvt. Ltd.
Nizamuddin, No-13
Delhi, India
In case you do not have the above mentioned version, the copy in your home should differ by only a few pages back or ahead.
Also the Hikayat mentioned after Fadhaa.il Durood in Fadhaa.il A’maal have the same number in all versions. The word Hikayat has been translated as Incident in this paper.
Shirk in the Section “Fadhaa.il Durood” (Virtues on sending salutations on the Prophet)
[As for sending salaat and salaam upon the Messenger ﷺ, then it is indeed one of the greatest of virtues and most praiseworthy acts. And the manner of sending salaat and salaam has been indicated in the Authentic Sunnah, and is far removed from the lies and fabrications you will soon read in this paper, from the books of Jamaa’at-ut-Tableegh. What is important to note is the great fabrications and exaggerations that have been made, around the subject of sending salaat and salaam upon the Messenger ﷺ and which are known to be such in the most evident and clearest of ways.]
1) The ‘aqeedah of grave worship in “Fadhaa.il Durood”
It is the belief of every Muslim that invoking and supplication to other than Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) (ex: angels, saints, dead prophets, scholars) in times of distress or ease with the anticipation that that being has the ability to cause the removal of distress and suffering, or that by that being’s intermediation, distress and suffering is removed, is an act of Shirk. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) has said in the Noble Qur.aan (meaning of which):
Also from the authentic ahaadeeth.
Reported ‘Aa.ishah (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhaa):
Umm Salamah mentioned to Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ that in Abyssinia she saw a church full of pictures and statues. He ﷺ said:
«When a righteous man or pious worshipper among them dies they build a place of worship over his grave and set up all kinds of pictures and statues. They are the worst of all creatures before Allaah. They combine two evils; worshiping at the graves and making graven images and statues», [Reported by Bukhaaree and Muslim].
Also in al-Bukhaaree and Muslim it is reported that ‘Aa.ishah (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhaa) narrated:
When the death approached Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ he began to draw a piece of cloth (bed sheet) over his face, (sometimes covering and sometimes removing because of distress), he ﷺ said in this state:
«Allaah’s curse be upon the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship»…thus he ﷺ warned the people about their actions.
Muslim reported from Jundub bin ‘Abdullaah (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhu) who narrated:
I heard the Prophet ﷺ say only five days before his death:
«I am free and clear towards Allaah of having any of you as my Khaleel (specially close friend). Verily, Allaah has taken me as His Khaleel just as He had taken Ibraaheem (`alayhis-salaam) as a Khaleel. If I would have taken anyone from my Ummah as a Khaleel, I would have taken Abu Bakar (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhu) as a Khaleel. Beware! those who preceded before you, used to make their Prophet’s graves into places of worship. Beware! Don’t take (any) graves as places of worship. I forbid you to do so»He ﷺ forbade this at the end of his life. After this (forbidding of taking graves as place of worship), he cursed anyone who did such deed within this context.
Imaam Abu Haneefah said:
It is not befitting for anyone to call upon Him, except by Him, and with the supplication that He has permitted and commanded, that which is instructed in His statement:
{And Allaah has Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them, and leave the company of those who deviate concerning His Names. They will be recompensed for what they used to do}, [Soorah al-A’raaf, Aayah 180] [ad-Durrul-Mukhtaar ma’a Haashiyah Raddul-Mukhtaar (6/396-397)]
Abu Haneefah said:
It is detested for the supplicator to say: “I ask You by the right of so and so”, or, “By the right of Your Prophets and Messengers, and by the right of the Sacred House and the Sacred Sanctuary. [Sharhul-‘Aqeedatut-Tahaawiyyah (p. 234) and Ithaafus-Saadaatul-Mustaqeem (2/285) and Sharhul-Fiqhil-Akbar (p. 198) of al-Qaaree]
And Abu Haneefah said:
It is not befitting for anyone to call upon Allaah, except by Him, and it is even more detestable for him to say: “By the junctures of Honour from your Throne”, or “By the Right of Your Creation”. [al-Fiqhul-Absat (p. 56)]
This is what we know of worshiping or supplicating near graves and invoking others besides Allaah. We have learnt this from the Qur.aan, the Authentic Sunnah but let us read what Muhammad Zakaria Kandalvi writes in Fadhaa.il A’maal
In Fadhaa.il Durood, p.97, Incident no (Hikayat) 35: The Messenger of Allaah (allegedly) said:
Again on page 109, Incident number (Hikayat) – 48, Fadhaa.il Durood (The last chapter in Fadhaa.il A’maal, Vol.I):
Sh. Abu Khair Qattah said that: I went to Madeenah and stayed there for five days but did not achieve the pleasure and satisfaction. I went to the graves of the Prophet, Hadhrat Abu Bakar and Hadhrat ‘Umar and said, “O Messenger of Allaah I am your guest tonight.” Then I left the place and slept behind the minbar. I saw in my dream that the Prophet of Allaah with Abu Bakar on his right, ‘Umar on his left and ‘Alee was in front of them all. Hadhrat ‘Alee then shook me and said that the Messenger of Allaah has come to visit me. I got up and kissed the Prophet between his eyes. The Messenger of Allaah then gave me a piece of bread which I ate half and when I woke up the other half was in my hand.
What does Zakaria Kandalvi want to prove through these evil fabrications. That making a supplication near the graves pays off by a visit by the Prophet himself and being awarded a piece of bread. And do things in dream last after the dream is over. No! but Zakaria Kandalvi wants to put the idea to his readers that the Messenger of Allaah and those illustrious Companions visited Sh.Qattah in real life and not just a dream.
These two incidents are enough to prove the teachings of grave worship in Fadhaa.il A’maal. “Shaykh al-Hadeeth” Muhammad Zakaria Kandalvi firsts fabricates a hadeeth and then an entire story. But this is not an end to the Shirk and lies in Fadhaa.il A’maal. This is just the beginning.
Indeed, the Messenger ﷺ came to forbid Shirk in the most severe of manners, and not only that, he also closed the door shut on all possible avenues that lead to Shirk – so he forbade prayer towards a grave, he forbade the unnecessary exaggeration of individuals above and beyond their true status, he forbade the wearing of talismans, he forbade making oaths by other than Allaah, he forbade the building of mosques and tombs over graves, he ordered the destruction of pictures, statues and the levelling of graves that were raised and much much more. Then comes the likes of Muhammad Zakaria Kandalvi, fabricates beyond belief, utters enormous lies against this religion and against the Messenger ﷺ, without any proof or isnaad (chain of narration) or reference, and OPENS UP the very same avenues to Shirk that the Messenger ﷺ closed!! And this indeed the characteristic hallmark of Fadhaa.il A’maal and other books of innovation and heresy – which are used by Jamaa’at-ut-Tableegh.
2) The ‘aqeedah of the Messenger of Allaah being Haadhir wa Naadhir (Omnipresent) taught in Fadhaa.il A’maal
Another false ‘aqeedah (belief) that has crept into the minds of many Muslims and which is being actively propagated by the Tableeghi Jamaat through Fadhaa.il A’maal is that the Messenger of Allaah is “Haadhir wa Naadhir” i.e. he is present everywhere and helps his loved ones during times of distress.
This ‘aqeedah is false in the light of the Noble Qur.aan and the authentic Sunnah. Verily, Allaah the Exalted and to Whom belongs all praise says in the Holy Qur.aan (meaning of which):
Also if we were to believe that the Prophet is present everywhere then what is the point of making Hijrah to Madeenah from Makkah, leaving Madeenah and going to Badr. When he ﷺ is in Makkah he is not in Taif and when he is in Taif he is not in Tabuk.
Those who claim that the Prophet is Haadhir wa Naadhir support it from the fact that the Messenger of Allaah met Moosaa (`alayhis-salaam) in the sixth heaven during Mi’raaj and also saw him praying in his grave. To them we say: This is a miracle of Allaah. He, out of His infinite wisdom, demonstrated His signs to His Messenger ﷺ. Verily, Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) says in the Qur.aan:
A cut on anyone’s hand will make blood gush forth but twice Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) made water flow from the fingers of His Messenger. But during the wounds he ﷺ received in Uhud, blood gushed out, not water or light.
Miracles are for specific purposes and at certain times. They cannot be used as evidence, especially in matters of ‘aqeedah. So the ‘aqeedah of the Messenger of Allaah being Haadhir wa Naadhir (present everywhere) is false. But the book Fadhaa.il A’maal propagates this ‘aqeedah in no less than 10 places particularly in Fadhaa.il Durood.
Let us read for ourselves
Muhammad Zakaria Kandalvi reports on p. 84, Incident number (Hikayat) – 4, Fadhaa.il Durood: “Minhaj al-Hasanat quotes the book ‘Fajr Munir’ by Ibn Fakhafi that one very pious “buzurg” (literally meaning elder, but should be understood as Pir) by the name of Moosaa Darir who narrated his incident that: I was once aboard a ship which began to sink. At the point slumber overtook me and the Messenger of Allaah visited me in that state and taught me to instruct the people of the ship to recite durood (sending salutations on the Prophet) 1000 times. We had only recited it 300 times that the ship regained stability.”
When a ship is sinking, do its passengers feel like sleepy or are in a state of panic. This story can be excused that its only a dream but the following narration will leave you in disgust; read what the scholars of Deobandh have in their filthy minds.
Fadhaa.il Durood, p.109, Incident no (Hikayat) – 46:
Haafidh Abu Na’eem reports from Sufyaan ath-Thawree that: One day I (Sufyaan) was going out when I saw a young man who recited the durood on every step. I asked him, “Does this deed of yours have any basis (or is it just your own action)?” He asked, “Who are you?” I replied, “I am Sufyaan.” He then asked, “The Sufyaan of Iraq?” I replied, “Yes.” He then asked, “What type of knowledge of Allaah do you have?” I replied, “He takes the night out of the day and day out of the night and creates the face of the infant in the womb.” He replied, “Then you don’t know anything.” I then asked, “How do you know Allaah?, what is this durood of yours?” He replied, “I went along with my mother for Hajj and my mother died there, her face became black and her stomach swelled to which I realised that she had committed some very serious sin. I raised my hands to make du’aa to Allaah when I saw that from the direction of Hijaz a cloud appeared from which emerged a man. He placed his hand on my mother’s face and it became enlightened and rubbed his hand over her stomach and the swelling disappeared. I asked him who he was who relieved my mother and I from our difficulties. He replied, “I am your Prophet Muhammad. I then requested him to advise me. He instructed me to send durood (salutations) on him on every step.
What kind of a horrendous lie and insult is this to our beloved Prophet! Zakaria Kandalvi wants us to believe that the Messenger of Allaah is alive and goes around helping people. And what shameless lie he fabricated! The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, whose wife ‘Aa.ishah described as being more shy than a veiled virgin, massages the face and stomach of women?! Astaghfirullah.
I ask the scholars of Deobandh and the entire Tableeghi Jamaat: Has the rescue missions of the Prophet stopped or do they continue to this day. Why does he not come to the rescue of the Muslims of Kashmir, Palestine and Chechnya? I ask the Tableeghis that where was the Prophet when ‘Umar was martyred, when ‘Uthmaan was martyred and when ‘Alee was martyred?
Alas! My Muslim brother, do you see the lies and insults that are being thrown at the Messenger of Allaah in the name of love, in the name of service to Islaam. To such liars we only say that the one who intentionally forges a lie against the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ let him take his seat in the fire. And an evil abode indeed! But this is not the end of lies. Zakaria Kandalvi goes on to say that:
1) The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ kisses an insane Soofi (Fadhaa.il Durood, Incident no – 42, p.102)
2) Muhammad ﷺ descends from the sky on a cloud with a piece of bread in his hand in order to feed his “pious followers.” (Fadhaa.il Durood, Incident no – 48, p.110)
3) The Messenger of Allaah, the seal of the Prophets ﷺ plucks hair from his beard and gives it to a dying man in order to cure him. (Fadhaa.il Durood, p.110, incident no – 48)
May Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) save us from fabricating such lies, insults and nonsense against the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ and make us amongst the drinkers from the Haud (pool of) al-Kawthar.
‘Alee (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
Zubayr Abu Abdullaah narrates that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
Salamah narrates that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
3) The propaganda of the ‘aqeedah that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ is alive in his grave, listens to us and has the knowledge of the Unseen
The author of Fadhaa.il A’maal, Muhammad Zakaria Kandalvi believed and wanted to propagate that the Messenger of Allaah is:
a) alive in his grave and listens to us;
b) has the knowledge of the unseen.
To a Muslim of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah and on the ‘aqeedah of our pious predecessors believing in such heresies is nothing short of Kufr and Shirk. They are in direct opposition to the Noble Qur.aan and the authentic Sunnah of Abul-Qaasim ﷺ.
Regarding him being alive and listening to us, the Word of Allaah, the most truthful of speech has cleared out the facts for us. Allaah says in the Holy Qur.aan (meaning of which):
And also:
And who can forget the historic speech of Abu Bakar as-Siddeeq (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhu) except the innovators! He truly said:
And now, he who worships Muhammad ﷺ, Muhammad is dead now. But he who worships Allaah, He is Ever Living and He never dies.
Allaah says:
Ibn al-Musayyib said that ‘Umar had said:
By Allaah, as soon as I heard Abu Bakar say it, I fell down to the ground. I felt as if my legs had been unable to carry me so I collapsed when I heard him say it. Only then did I realize that Muhammad ﷺ had really died. [Bukhaaree, 2/640, 641]
It should now be clear to every Muslim that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ no longer lives in the life of this world. That takes us to the second point that needs to be addressed: Does the Prophet of Allaah ﷺ possess independent knowledge of the unseen?
The Word of Allaah states (meaning of which):
Anyone holding any belief contrary to the above points then he is on total misguidance and to hold on to such beliefs actually constitutes Kufr and Shirk as it negates one of the foundations of Tawheed!
Yes, the Messenger ﷺ was given knowledge of the Unseen, in certain incidents, but it did not originate with him, it came from Allaah, who gave him this knowledge in certain situations and incidents as a miracle and as a sign of his truthfulness as a Messenger from Allaah.
But whoever claims that the Prophets and Messengers have independent knowledge of the Unseen, then he is upon Kufr, and refuge is sought in Allaah. But the Innovators, like the figureheads of Jamaa’at-ut-Tableegh who allow this falsehood to be taught and to remain, do not understand, or merely pretend not to understand the likes of these affairs, which are as clear as daylight in the Noble Book of Allaah.
Yet the author of Fadhaa.il A’maal Zakaria Kandalvi fabricates the biggest lie, insult against the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ that even the Kuffaar might not have done. Kandalvi writes on p.115, Incident no (Hikayat) – 50, Fadhaa.il Durood (last incident or Hikayat in Fadhaa.il A’maal, Vol.I). He is reporting the incident of some unknown person by the name of “Maulana Jami”.
Maulana Jami once set out for Hajj and had the intention to stand near the grave of the Messenger of Allaah and recite poetry over the grave. Upon completion of the Hajj, he set out for Madeenah. The Ameer of Madeenah saw the Prophet in his dream and the Prophet instructed him to prevent Jami from coming to Madeenah. The Ameer tightened security but zeal and “Ishq” (note: the word Ishq is used for that love which is accompanied with lust!) for visiting the Prophet had completely overtaken him and he continued his way to Madeenah. The Ameer again saw the Prophet in his dream and instructed him not to let Jami in. The Ameer scrambled his men and arrested Jami. He was manhandled and thrown into prison. The Ameer then saw the Prophet for the third time and informed the Ameer that he (Jami) is no criminal but he had composed a few lines of poetry which he intended to recite over my grave and had he done so (i.e able to recite the poem over the grave) my hand would have come out of the grave to greet him and this would have caused fitnah. Hence, Jami was taken out of prison with honour and respect bestowed upon him.
Muhammad Zakaria continues:
I have no doubt in listening to this story but my weak memory and illness fails me to recall in which book it is recorded. If anyone from the readers comes across the story in any book during my life time then please inform me and if after my death, then please add the reference at the bottom of the story as a footnote.
Astaghfi-rullaah! What shameless, deliberate lies! Had Zakaria no guilt or fear of fabricating such tremendous lies and attributing it to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ in the pathetic manner that he has done above? He says he cannot remember which book it is in?! And then invites his followers to inform him if he is mistaken?! Then why narrate it in the first place – making a clear lie upon the Messenger ﷺ – let alone what it contains of misguidance!!
Abu Hurayrah narrates that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
And he also narrated from Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ:
And Ibn Hibbaan included the ahaadeeth on prohibiting lying against the Messenger ﷺ under the following chapter heading, “A mention that the one who ascribed something to al-Mustafaa while not knowing that it is authentic, then it is binding that he will enter the Fire”, and then he quotes the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah:
This then, is the state and condition of “The Muhaddith”, “The Axis of the World” (!!!), Zakaria Kandalvi?!
Then additionally, and even worse, is this not Shirk to claim that the Prophet ﷺ has the knowledge to know the intentions of men from his grave. Who is the only one who knows what men intend? Allaah! What a horrible ‘aqeedah is being propagated here!
But Zakaria Kandalvi does not stop here. He had to prove the high status and the ascetism of his Soofi saints. Read what he continues in the same incident:
Syed Ahmad Refai is a famous “buzurg” (elder, but should be understood as Pir) and is among the senior Soofis. His story is famous that when he went for Hajj in 555H and stood near the grave of the Prophet (in Madeenah) and recited 2 lines of poety, the hand of the Prophet came out and he kissed it.
I doubt that the above passage has been written by any sane Muslim. Such lies, fabrications and insults can only come from an enemy of the sound and pure Islaamic teachings but in this case it happens to be “Shaykh al-Hadeeth”, “Knower of Allaah”, “Axis of the world” Muhammad Zakaria Kandalvi!
My Muslim brothers and sisters: You have just read the stories of Shirk, innovations and lies upon the Messenger of Allaah. These are the few lies among the many that are rampant in the two volumes of Fadhaa.il A’maal. What we have covered is just Fadhaa.il Durood. There is Fadhaa.il Hajj, Sadaqa, Dhikr, Salaah, Ramadhaan left. Inshaa.-Allaah the Shirk and lies in these chapters will soon be exposed in the light of Qur.aan and authentic Sunnah.
So beware my brothers and sisters! Beware of sitting with Jamaa’at-ut-Tableegh, or going out with them and listening to them lest you also sink into the pit of Shirk and Bid`ah, for they corrupt the heart and mind and lead one to foolishness and folly. Rather, take the advice of our noble pious predecessors: al-Fudayl bin ‘Iyaad (d. 187H) said:
I met the best of people, all of them people of the Sunnah and they used to forbid from accompanying the people of innovation. [Reported by al-Laalikaa.ee (no.267)]
al-Hasan al-Basree (d. 110H) said:
Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them. [Reported by ad-Daarimee in his Sunan (1/121)]
From Aboo Qulaabah who said:
Do not sit with them and do not mix with them for I do not feel safe that they will not drown you in their misguidance and confuse you about much that you used to know. [Laalikaa.ee no. 244]
May Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) keep us firm on Tawheed and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ and keep us ever away from the disgrace of Shirk and Bid`ah and the teachings of the Tableeghi Jamaat.
May Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) make this compilation solely to seek His Pleasure and forgive my sins. To Him we belong and to Him is our return.
The Slave of Allaah,
Abu Muawiya
as-Sabt 15 Dhul-Hijjah, 1421 H
Saturday 19 March, 2001
