Spirituality in the Context of Tablighi Jamaat and its Implication on Muslim Society: The Sufi Perspective

Abstract

This study aims to discuss the process of self-purification in the Tablighi Jamaat and an attempt to shed light on how this Sufi ideological movement has increasingly gained popularity worldwide. Tablighi Jamaat is known as the institutional da'wah activities introduced by Maulana Ilyas, considering the demands of the modern Muslim mind and society. Tablighi Jamaat's primary purposes are to spread the message of Islam among the people and self-purification through religious practice. At the same time, this movement works for the spiritual restructuring of Islam at the grass-root level of society. The people of this Jamaat have been urging Muslims worldwide to focus on the core religious practices in pursuit of self-development and socio-Islamic reform. On the other hand, their lack of interest in traditional politics also accelerates people's religious fervour; this is considered another big reason for their popularity. In recent times, the activities of Tablighi Jamaat have expanded considerably in the Indian subcontinent and beyond. Through the efforts of the Tablighi people, a great awakening has taken place among the Muslim masses. Moreover, the people's interest in embodying Islam through practice and da'wah has increased anew. However, this paper considers analytical and qualitative research based on secondary data to give a detailed account of how Tablighi Jamaat's spiritual movement has received greater acceptance in Muslim society.