RELIGIOUS TOURISM: AN INSIGHT INTO THE ISLAMIC TOURISM OF TABLIGHI JAMAAT

Abstract

Islam is not merely the set of religious rituals or beliefs but a complete way of life. There is not even a single matter, no matter how peculiar, awkward or dull it may seem, about which Islam does not deals or directs. In all behind every act, including tourism, there is sole purpose seeking the pleasure of God-Almighty Allah, by following His commandments. Islam encourages travel or tourism and hospitable behavior, and unlike west connects it with the most sublime and honorable values and morals. It is in this backdrop, the focus of the present study is ‘Tablighi Jamaat’- an Islamic revival movement, founded by Maulana Ilyas in Mewat region near Delhi-India, around 1920’s. This movement has come to establish its presence surprisingly in and over one hundred and fifty countries throughout the world with a large number of adherents in between 100 to 150 million. This is principally, because of its unique ‘travel and tourism’ approach, which it has adopted as a daw’ah (invitation towards Islam) methodology. Consequently and interestingly, because of this fact ‘the travel and tourism approach,’ the movement has also been named as ‘travelers in faith’. This paper is primarily based on secondary sources and the main objective of the paper is to provide an insight into the religious tourism of Tablighi Jama’at.