FIRST WOMEN ONLY CALL CENTRE OPENS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Jeddah Dec 26 (Islam on Rise): Saudi women, who are prohibited by society from living or working independently without written permission from a male guardian, will now be part of a first-of-its-kind "women-only" call centre in the country.
Kanoo Travel, one of the leading travel management companies in the Middle East, said 20 female employees have undergone telephone operation training as the company started a "ladies-only" call centre, Xinhua quoted Arab News as saying.
"Kanoo Travel is also one of the first travel companies in the country to introduce exclusive ladies centres," said Ali Abdullah Kanoo, the company's director.
The call centre has earned praise from the company's clients.
Saudi females - who make up to nine million of the kingdom's 18.5 million people - are subject to a guardian system which prohibits any woman from driving, travelling or living independently without written permission from a male guardian who could be either her husband, father or brother.
Over the years, working as a teacher in girls-only schools was the only job sanctioned for Saudi women, but recently there has been a growing number of Saudi professional women and female doctors.
"Saudi Arabia is a very important market. Over the past few years, our business has grown tremendously in the country," said another company official, Othman Al-Ghamdi.

PREPARATION UNDERWAY FOR INTERNATIONAL TABLIGHI IJTIMA TO BE HELD IN BHOPAL

Bhopal Dec 21, 2010 (Islam on Rise): Preparations are underway on a war-footing for the three-day 63rd “Aalami Tableeghi Ijtima” (World Preachers Congregation) to be held here from December 25 to 27 on the outskirts of Bhopal atGhasipura in Eintkhedi village in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The Ijtima will conclude on December 27 with mass “Dua” (prayer).
The huge main “pandal” is coming up on about 25 acres of land to accommodate the Jamaats (Groups ofdevotees) from all over India. In the main “pandal” several lakh people will camp for three days listeningto the holy sermons of Islamic scholars as how to inculcate the good values in life following the Islamictenets in order to lead an upright life in this world and thereby be rewarded with Jannat-ul-FirdausHereafter.
On the second day separate special religious discourses will be held during the conclave for intellectuals,traders, farmers, students etc. and the participants would be asked to follow the Islamic religious tenets intheir spirit apart from the message for universal brotherhood. Prominent “Akabreens”(Tableeghi elders)who will address the gatherings include: Maulana Zubair, Maulana Sa’ad, Maulana Yunus, MaulanaAhmed Laat, Maulana Yousuf, Prof. Nadir Ali etc.
Special arrangement for the deaf and dumb
Meanwhile, a special feature of the Ijtima is special arrangements for deaf and dumb people who come inJamaats from all over the country and are housed separately. The sermons from the main “pandal” aretranslated to them in sign language. Their disability does not come in their way to leave their home andhearth to learn and inculcate the basic teachings of Islam to become righteous Muslims.
Mass marriage
Hundreds of couples will get married during the Ijtima when mass Nikaah will be performed in a simplemanner in the spirit of Islam by the elders of the Tableeghi Jamaat.
According to Mr Ateeq-ul-Islam, spokesman and member of the organizing committee of the TableeghiIjtima foreign delegates from 20-25 Muslim countries and the West are likely to join the congregation. TheJamaats from foreign countries will be housed in specially erected tents furnished with all moder facilities. Jamaats from Russia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka have already arrived in thecity and from many more other countries are expected to reach before the commencement of the Ijtima.
Mr Ateeq told this Correspondent that the preparations are in the final stages and all arrangements shall be complete by December 22 and the Jamaats would start arriving at the site of the Ijtima on December 24.
Security measures
He also informed that extra security measures are being taken with nothing being left to chance. While within the Ijtima campus Tableeghi Jamaat volunteers will keep a tight vigil on security while outside and around the Ijtima venue the cadres of Madhya Pradesh Police will do their job of maintaining law and
order. In a bid to boost security in and around the venue CCTVs are being installed at strategic points.
Police have set up watchtowers and hundreds of policemen will be present on the spot. Apart from police, the personnel of Rapid Action Force, (RAF), the Traffic police will be in attendance along with hundreds of volunteers of Tableeghi Jamaat to streamline the vehicular traffic. Special buses will be plying between the Capital and Eintkhedi village to take citizens to the venue.
CM reviews preparations
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party ruled Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while reviewing preparations of the Ijtima at a meeting instructed officials to make elaborate arrangements for the forthcoming religious conclave.
Addressing the officials, Chouhan said that best possible arrangements should be ensured for the visiting Jamaats and directed officials of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, (BMC), to repair the roads, which connect the city to the Ijtima venue at Ghasipura-Eintkhedi.
BMC officials informed that better facilities were being arranged at the event site with the budget of Rs. 23 lakh. The officials of PWD told the meeting that repair work for 22 sq km road falling in the Ijtima area, has been undertaken with the cost of Rs. 1.74 crore. MP State Electricity Board officials informed that 200 KVA supply is being ensured at the site.
Medical facilities would also be made available at the Ijtima site and ambulances with all the necessary health care equipments would be stationed at the event site. Railway officials informed that a computerized reservation centre would be established for the visitors and additional coaches would be attached to various trains.
It may be recalled here that the Ijtima was first organized at Masjid Shakoor Khan in the walled city in 1948.

UNIVERSE TO END IN FIVE BILLIONS YEARS: SCIENTISTS

Nov 01, 2010: The prediction comes from the theory of eternal inflation, which says our universe is part of the multiverse.
The problem with a multiverse is that anything that can happen will happen an infinite number of times, and that makes calculating probabilities-such as the odds that Earth-size planets are common-seemingly impossible.
"Normal notions of probability-where you say, Event A happens twice and Event B happens four times, so Event B is twice as likely-don't work, because instead of two and four, you have infinity," National Geographic News quoted Ken Olum of Tufts University in Massachusetts, as saying.
And calculating probabilities in a multiverse wouldn't just be a problem for cosmologists.
"If infinitely many observers throughout the universe win the lottery, on what grounds can one still claim that winning the lottery is unlikely?" theoretical physicist Raphael Bousso of the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues wrote in the new study.
Universe to end in 5 billion years, predict scientists
Physicists have been circumventing this problem using a mathematical approach called geometric cutoffs, which involves taking a finite swath of the multiverse and calculating probabilities based on that limited sample.
But in the new paper, Bousso's team noted that this technique has an unintended and, until now, overlooked consequence.
"You cannot use [cutoffs] as mere mathematical tools that leave no imprint.
"The same cutoff that gave you these nice and possibly correct predictions also predicts the end of time," said Bousso.
In fact, many physicists think eternal inflation is a natural extension of the theory of inflation, which solved some of the problems with the original big bang theory.
Eternal inflation is a next step in inflation theory, and it allows scientists to avoid some other tricky cosmology questions, such as what existed before our universe (answer: other universes) and why our universe appears to have properties fine-tuned for life.
"Although we don't have a theory [to explain the earliest moments of the universe], we have some pretty good ideas about what such a theory would look like ... and these ideas seem to necessarily include other universes," said Charles Lineweaver, an astrophysicist at Australian National University.
Universe to end in 5 billion years, predict scientists
If probabilities are to work in a multiverse, there must be actual cutoffs that bring various universes to their ends, study leader said Bousso.
According to the formulas used to calculate cutoffs, a universe that is 13.7 billion years old will reach its cutoff in about 5 billion years, his team concludes.
For most people, the idea that a mathematical tool could be elevated to a real-world event might seem strange, but there are precedents for it in physics.
Scientists think our sun-now a middle-age star at about 4.57 billion years old-will be reaching the end of its life in about five billion years.
At that point in time, the sun will run out of fuel in its core and will start to shed its outer layers of gas, inflating to become a red giant and ultimately a planetary nebula.
Earth's exact fate during this event is unclear, but few scientists would argue that life on the planet could survive the sun's death.
Source: ANI

THE MESSAGE OF LAILATUL-QADR

By: Bilal Bashir Bhat

Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the Night of Lailatul-Qadr. And what will make you know what the Night of Qadr is? The Night of Lailatul-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (i.e. Gabriel) by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees, Peace! Until the appearance of dawn." (97: 1-5)
The term Lailatul-Qadr is made of two words. In Arabic, Lailat means night and Qadr means honour and dignity. Therefore, the term Lailatul-Qadr refers to the night of honour and dignity. It is this night in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet (PBUH), when he was in meditation and prayer in the Cave of Hira, Mecca. Since this night enjoys the honour of having the first revelation brought to the Prophet (PBUH), it has been named Lailatul-Qadr r.
This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadhan, most likely to be the 27th. The reward of worship on this night is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship, equivalent to a person’s lifetime. So, on this night one should perform the night prayers, recite the Quran, do much remembrance of Almighty Allah, make duas as much as possible and send blessings to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
"The person who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and with hope of reward from Allah, all his past sins have been forgiven." (Bukhari)"Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan." (Bukhari)
By odd nights, the reference is made to the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th night of the month of Ramadhan. No one night has been fixed so that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more nights in worshiping Allah. From this aspect, the importance of ‘Itikaaf (seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadhan is clear.
Let us seek abundance rewards from our Creator by performing extra actions in these last few days of the noble month of Ramadhan as it could be our last Ramadhan of our life.
One who misses this blessed night then he has missed much good for no one misses it except one from whom it is withheld. Therefore it is recommended that the Muslim who is eager to be obedient to Allah should stand in Prayer during this night out of Iman and hoping for the great reward, since if he does this, Allah will forgive his previous sins.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Whoever stands in (Prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Iman and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven." (Bukhari)
It is recommended to supplicate a great deal in it, it is reported from A’shah, (May All pleased with her) that she said: "O Messenger of Allah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, and then what should I say in it?" He said: Say: "Allaahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee." (O Allah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.) (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)
May Almighty Allah forgive all of our sins on the occasion of this coming Lailatul-Qadr.

NIGHT JOURNEY AND ASCENSION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH)

By: Bilal Bashir Bhat
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had been preaching for a number of years before this wonderful incident of nightly journey and took place. The journey refers from Makkah to Baitul Muqqadis or Masjidil Aqsa as alluded to in Surah Isra or Bani Israel Verse number 1 Glorified be He (Allah) Who transported His messenger for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque [Masjidil Haram] to the Farthest Mosque [Masjidil Aqsa] whose surroundings We have blessed in order that We might show him (the Messenger) some of Our Signs.
This incident of journey has a great significance, in the sense that it confirms and explains some of the basic tenants of Islam.This, confirming the existence of heaven and hell and the Final Judgment, reward and punishment, recounts the genesis of the basic worship [Salat] five times a day, and a number of other aspects of blessings from Allah (SWT) showered on Muhammad (SAW) and his community of Muslims.
One night, it was a Monday night, the Prophet was staying at Um-Hany's house. The prophet had been brought up in the family of Abu Talib and after the Prophet's marriage to lady Khadijah (RA) Ali (RA) used to live with him. Abu Talib's wife Fatimah and her daughter Um Hani were among the first Muslims. Um Hani was the daughter of Abu Talib and sister of Ali and Jaafar. Um Hani's husband Hubayrah was not a Muslim, but he respected the family relationship and the fact that they had accepted Islam. He made the Prophet (SAW) feel welcome at his house and did not oppose his family members using his house as a place of retreat for the Prophet (SAW).
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) is reported to have said that he was awakened by the angel Jibra'eel (AS). His heart was cleansed, and Buraq (which in Arabic means the Lightening), a heavenly beast, was brought for him to ride. Jibraeel (AS) said, "Ride, so we can go."
"Where to?" asked the Prophet.
"To your Lord," said the archangel.
On the Way to the Masjidil Aqsa:
Praying at Other Holy Places
As the journey continued, first they halted at Yathrib and prayed two rakats of prayer. The Prophet was told that he would be migrating to this place. Then they stopped at Madyan and the Mount of Sinai and the Bush of Moosa (AS), and Baithelhem the birthplace of 'Isa (AS) and said two raka'ats of prayer at each place.
Choosing the Natural Religion
Then the prophet felt thirsty and three cups were brought to him: one had honey in it, the other milk, and the third wine. The Prophet (SAW) chose milk and he was congratulated by the angel for the choice of the natural in his religion. He was told he and his people would remain firm on the natural ways.
In the Baitul Muqaddis (The Sacred House In Yerusalem):
The Prophet Is Greeted By the Angels
Then they reached Baitul Muqaddis where he was greeted by angels who were saying,
"Asalam 'alaika Ya Awal, Ya Aakhir, Ya Haashir."
The angel explained to the Prophet (SAW) that he was being greeted as Awal the First [Aakhir] the last and [Haashir] the gatherer because he would be the first to rise on the day of resurrection and the first intercessor [shaafi'] and the first [Mushfi']; and he was the last of the Prophets and he would be the gatherer [Haashir] of communities on the day of Judgement.
The Prophet is greeted by the Earlier Prophets
Then they entered the Mosque where he was received by the Prophets before him-- from Idris and Nuh to 'Isa [Alaihimissalam]. They also greeted him with the same greeting as did angels, "Assalam Alaik Ya Awwal, Ya Aakhir, Ya Haashir."
The Prophet Is Asked To Lead The Prayers
The Prophets stood in rows and Muhammad (SAW) was asked to lead them in prayer. The gathering of the prophets and Muhammad (SAW)'s leading the prayer was to indicate that Muhammad (SAW) had brought no religion other than the one practiced and approved by the prophets before him and that he was to perfect their religion and be its final Messenger.
Ascending To Skies
Then the Prophet (SAW) and Jibraeel (AS) came out of the Mosque and in the company of Mikaeel (AS) and other angels they headed for the seven skies. They were allowed to enter each heaven after the archangel had responded to the enquiries regarding his companion and whether he had been sent for. In the first and the seventh sky, the Prophet was greeted by Adam and Ibraheem (Alaihimassalam) who greeted him addressing him as Pious or Right-Acting Prophet and Pious Right-Acting son and said, "How blessed is your arrival here!"
From the second to the sixth sky, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) met 'Isa and Yahya, Yusuf, Idris, Haroon, and Moosa Alaihimissalam who greeted him addressing him as Pious Right-Acting Brother and Pious Right-Acting Prophet and they said, "How blessed or blissful is your arrival here!" They said,
The Meeting With Allah (SWT)
The archangel Jibraeel (AS) stopped at the Sidratul Muntaha and the Messenger of Allah was brought into the Presence of Allah (SWT). During this Meeting with His Lord, Muhammad (SAW) was greeted with the greetings of peace: [Attahayyatu lillahi Assalat wat-tayyebaat Assalamu 'Alaika Yaa Ayuhan-nabi]. There the Prophet (SAW) saw what he saw. His heart did not lie about what he saw. The eyes did not waver. And Allah revealed to the Messenger what He revealed. Then he drew nearer until Allah SWT says, "He drew nearer" and "He was at two-bows' length or even nearer."
Qadhi Iyad reports Mawardi who said, "It is said that Allah (SWT) divided His vision and His speech between Musa (AS) and Muhammad (SAW). Muhammad (SAW) saw Him twice and Allah (SWT) spoke directly to Musa (AS) twice." On his return, Prophet Moosa (AS) made Muhammad (SAW) go back to his Lord five times with regard to reducing the number of the prayers until it came down to five from fifty.
Then the Prophet (SAW) was asked to speak. The Messenger of Allah glorified Allah (SWT) and recounted the blessings Allah (SWT) had bestowed upon His prophets before him. Then Allah (SWT) addressed His Messenger and said,
"I have taken you as a close friend and as a beloved.
I have had it written in the Toraat that "Muhammad is the beloved of the Merciful."
I have sent you to all mankind.
And I have made your community such that none shall be permitted to speak until they have testified that you are My servant and My Messenger.
I made you first of the Prophets to be created and the last of them to be sent.
I gave you Surah Al-Fatiha
I gave you the seals (the last three verses) of the Surat al-Baqarah from a treasure under My Throne, and I did not give them to any prophet before you.
I made you an opener and a seal."
Thus what was awarded to the Messenger of Allah on this day included presents the likes of which no prophet was given before him: the power of intercession for the pardon for the major wrong actions of everyone of his community who did not associate anything with Allah and five prayers a day.
Witnessing the People In the Hell and the Heavens
Then Muhammad (SAW) was shown both the hell and the heaven. In the hell were the eaters of the properties of orphans and the eaters of usury, adulterous men and women, killers of children, back-biters, slanderers, and many others. Muhammad (SAW) was also shown the Jannah. He saw the Jannat of Zaid bin Haritha, Umar Ibn Khittab, and heard the sound of Bilal's footsteps in one of the Jannats. The details are narrated in a number of traditions.
The Return Journey
It is reported that after the visit of the seven Skies, Jibraeel 'Alaihissalam brought Muhammad (SAW) back to Masjidil Aqsa from where they returned to Makkah. During their return journey, the Prophet (SAW) saw two caravans heading for Makkah at certain distance from one another.
Before departing from Allah's Messenger, Jibraeel (AS) asked the Prophet to inform the people about this incident. The Prophet expressed his fear that people would not believe him. The Prophet (SAW) said, "O Jibraeel, my people will not confirm it." Jibraeel (AS) said, "Abu Bakr (RA) will testify it and he is As-Siddiq."
Prophet Narrates the Incident to Abu Jahl & Other Kuffaar of Makkah
The Prophet was sitting by Hijr in the Mosque when Abu Jahl passed by and asked mockingly what new thing he had brought to say that day. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) told him about the nightly journey to Baitul Muqqadis. Abu Jahal was delighted to find such a wonderful occasion to mock the Prophet, so he asked him if he would narrate that story in front of others. When the Prophet said he would, Abu Jahal went and brought a huge crowd of the Quraish to the mosque to hear the Prophet's story.
The Prophet Describes Baitul Muqqadis to the Quraish
Ibn Isahaq said, when the Prophet (SAW) told them the story most of them said, "By Allah this is a plain absurdity. A caravan takes a month to go to Syria and a month to come back. How can Muhammad (SAW) do the return journey in one night?" This was like it would have been difficult a hundred years ago to believe that a man can take that same journey in an aeroplane in an hour's time; but today we know such a journey is possible in an hour. So the Quraish of Makkah asked the Prophet (SAW) to describe the Masjid al-Aqsa to them. Jabir Bin Abdallah reports how Allah's Messenger (SAW) used to describe this event. Allah's Messenger (SAW) used to say, "When the people of Quraish did not believe me, I stood up in Al-Hijr and Allah (SWT) put (displayed) Baitul Muqaddis in front of me, and I began describing it to them while I was looking at it."
There were, among the audience, quite a few persons, including Abu Bakr (Radi-Allah 'Anhu) who had seen the mosque. As the others heard the description of the Masjid with their mouths open in amazement, Abu Bakr kept testifying that what the Prophet was saying was correct. Finally, among the people sitting there, Abu Bakr said, "That is true and I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah and His Servant." Thereupon Jibraeel (AS) brought the revelation, "
And he who has come with the Truth and the one who confirms him true they are the God-fearing. (Az-Zumur: 39:33)
Abu Bakr (RA) was given on that day the title As-Siddiq-- the True, the Confirmer of the Truth. The Prophet (SAW) also told the Quraish about the two caravans which were soon to arrive. Then when the caravans did arrive, they found all the details to be just as the Messenger of Allah had informed them.

(ZINA) ADULTERY IN ISLAM

By: Bilal Bashir Bhat
Islam has taken a firm and decisive stance against Zina (fornication or adultery). Allah, the Almighty, commands in explicit and unequivocal words: "Do not go near to adultery. Surely it is a shameful deed and evil, opening roads (to other evils)" (Quran 17:32).
Thus, Islam not only prohibits Zina, but also closes all the avenues and means leading to it. This is achieved by prohibiting every step and means leading to stimulating desires, opening ways for illicit sexual relations between men and women, and promoting indecency and obscenity.
"Say, 'Verily, my Lord has prohibited the shameful deeds, be it open or secret, sins and trespasses against the truth and reason"' ( Quran 7:33).
"Women impure are for men impure, and men impure are for women impure and women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity." (Quran 24:26)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said in many places that adultery is one of the three major sins. However, the most interesting story is that of a young man who went to the Prophet. This man asked for permission to fornicate because he could not control himself. The Prophet dealt with him with reasoning and asked him if he would approve of someone else having illegal sex with his mother, sister, daughter, or wife. Each time the man said 'no'. Then the Prophet replied that the woman with whom you plan to have sex is also somebody's mother, sister, daughter, or wife. The man understood and repented. The Prophet prayed for his forgiveness.
Adultery is a crime not against one person but against the whole of society. Does it mean that not only is illegal sex prohibited, but also anything that leads to illegal sex is also illegal? These things include: dating, free mixing of the sexes, provocative dress, nudity, obscenity, masturbation and pornography. The dress code both for men and women is to protect them from temptation and desires by on lookers who may lose self-control and fall into sin. "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity, and God is well acquainted with all they do. And say to the believing woman that they should lower their gaze, and guard their modesty."(Quran 24:30-3 1)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O mankind! Beware of fornication/adultery for it entails six dire consequences: three of them relating to this world and three to the next world. As for the three that are related to this world, they are the following: it removes the glow of one’s face, brings poverty, and reduces the life-span. As for its dire consequences in the next world they are: it brings down the wrath of Allah upon the person, subjects him to terrible reckoning, and finally casts him in hell-fire”

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AL-MASJID-AQSA?

By: Bilal Bashir Bhat
Have you noticed that whenever Masjid Aqsa is mentioned in the media, they show the picture of Masjid (Dome of Rock) Why?The main reason for that is the Zionist conspiracy to erase from the memory of Muslims worldwide, the true picture of Masjid Al-Aqsa.
PLEASE BE CAUTIONED

Many Muslims and Non Muslims publish the incorrect picture of Masjid Aqsa out of ignorance. It has become a common mistake in the Muslim world. The real tragedy is that generations of Muslim children (as well as adults) around the world are unable to differentiate between Masjid Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock.What is worse than this is that many Muslims today display the picture of the Dome of the Rock in their homes and offices, as it were Masjid Aqsa?

SUBHAN ALLAH

What do you think is going to happen if Masjid Aqsa will destroy and removed from present landscape?Obviously you might not expect much since everyone will see the Dome of Rock still standing, unharmed.People will incorrectly believe that nothing has changed and that something else was destroyed.What are you going to do now?It is your duty now to clear up this misunderstanding, especially for our children because they are the future.Truth has come and Falsehood has vanished. Surely Falsehood is ever bound to vanish. (Al-Quran 17:81)

A SHORT INTRODUCTION OF TABLIGHI JAMAAT

By: Bilal Bashir Bhat

The Tablighi Jamaat was founded by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhalawi in the Mewat province of India, since 1920. Tablighi Jamaat is one of the most successful movements in the present modern times. A short introduction is presented here. The aim of the article is to give a brief understanding of what this movement originates.

Tablighi Jamaat is strictly a non political movement. The movement has spread to 150 countries and has an active following estimated to be between 70 to 80 million devout followers. The Jamaat does not solicit or receive donations. Rather it is self funded by its members and operates.

Leaders: The first leader, also the founder, was Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhalawi. The second was his son Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Kandhalawi. The third one was Maulana Inaam ul Hasan. Now there is a shura (council) which includes two leaders: Maulana Zubair ul Hasan and Maulana Saad Kandhalawi.

Social Impact: Most hamlets in the Indian subcontinent usually have a mosque called the Markaz, or centre, where weekly meetings occur. Preachers during these meetings urge people to go in Jamaat for as many days as their condition permits. The recommended period (but not necessary) is four months once in a life-time, a periodic planned tour schedule of 40 days in a year and 3 days in a month.

A strong grassroots support for the movement can be found in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Central Asian countries, East Asian countries, North and Central African countries, South American countries and the Gulf countries.

In Kashmir the movement is based in the downtown area of Srinagar called Ranger Masjid. The annual Tablighi congregation is held in Bangladesh, (Baitul Muqaram) the Biswa Ijtema the second largest gathering after Hajj, attracts many devotees from around the world. A large participation in Tabligh efforts are also seen in Europe, North America, South Africa, North Africa and East Asian Muslim countries. The main headquarters for Tablighi Jamaat (known as a Markaz) is in Nizamud-deen, India called Baglawali Masjid.

The Tablighi Jamaat is a professedly non-political movement. Despite this, due to its popular stature, many prominent politicians in Muslim and non-Muslim countries from both the right and the left associate themselves with the Tabligh. Many entrepreneurs in the Muslim world have been Tablighis. Among others, former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also associated with Tablighi Jamaat. Other than politicians, many celebrities in Pakistan have also associated themselves with the Tablighi Jamaat. Acclaimed musician of Pakistan Junaid Jamshed reverted to Islam through the Jamaat. Members of the Pakistani cricket team, including Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Yousuf (convert-formerly Yousuf Youhana), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Salim Malik, Mushtaq Ahmed & Shahid Afridi frequently attend the Jamaat's lectures & Practice.

Constitution and activities: Each Jamaat has 8 to 20 members with one leader or Ameer who is usually chosen by the members themselves before the actual journey. They stay in Masjids (Mosques) along the way, and preach to the people who attend the Mosque. During the day, members of the Jamaat visit Muslim houses door to door and roam the markets of the town or village they have stayed in and exhort Muslims to lead a pure religious life and invite them to attend a sermon in nearby Mosque after certain prayers. Usually after the sermon, they encourage the attendees to come forward and join them on the spiritual journeys for a number of days they can spare.

Since they encourage other Muslims to join in their spiritual journeys, any Muslim can easily join. There are no strict membership rules to be part of Tablighi Jamaat. In fact there is no 'membership' at all and there is no background check for newcomers. Almost any Muslim can join the group in a mosque.

Aims: Allah says in glorious Quran: You are the best nation produced (as an example) for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. (3:110)

No new faith will born no other apostle will come because Prophet Muhammad (S) was the last and final Massager of Allah. Thus it is our duty to stop people from bad deeds and order to good deeds.

Ordering right and forbidding wrong is essential to our success in this life and in the hereafter both individually and collectively. Ordering right and forbidding wrong is general obligation for the present Ummah (Muslim nation). Allah says in Quran: Let there be among you a group who call to good, command what is right and what is wrong. These are successful ones. (3:104)

The aim of the movement is to present the world with such a beautiful living image of Islam that all people being attracted to its peaceful and balanced message eventually practice Islam.

The Tablighi Jamaat program is based on six points:

1. Kalima (Witness): Belief in the oneness of Allah. This is expanded to mean that the creation cannot do anything without the will of Allah, but Allah can do everything without the creation. It also has the adjunct of belief that complete success in this world and the hereafter is only achieved in following the way of life shown by the prophet Muhammad (S) and every other way leads to failure in this world and the hereafter.

2. Salah (Nimaz): Five daily prayers which are essential in Islam that makes connection between Allah and us. Perfection in observance of prayers.

3. Knowledge and Remembrance of Allah: In this session every individual contributes his knowledge about Islam, reciting the Quran and reading the Sayings of prophet Muhammad (S), gain the remembrance of Allah by reciting Third Kalima, Sending Blessings to Prophet Muhammad (S) and Isthigfar (repent of sins) each 200 times a day.

4. Respect of Muslims: Good behavior towards Muslims, and Non-Muslims. Sacrificing ones own needs in order to fulfill another's needs. Includes love to youngsters respecting elders & Muslim Scholars.

5. Sake of Allah: Correction and Purity of intention. Means that all good actions should be done for the pleasure of Allah and not for fame or materialistic gain. At the beginning, during and at the end of a good deed, the intention should be checked and corrected.

6. Inviting: Since Prophet Muhammad (S) was the final Massenger of Allah now this is our duty to forward his missions i.e. call towards good and prevent evil. (As mentioned above)

Five recommended tasks of Tablighi Jamaat:

1. Two weekly visits to Muslim’s homes (one for surrounding local Masjid and other for nearest Masjid)

2. In the local mosque, there is a daily 'Taalim' (which means teaching or learning) and one person reads from a book. 'Taalim' is also done in homes with family members. This teaching is generally done with a few books, but is not limited to Fazail-e-Ammal (virtues of deeds) by Maulana Zakaria Kandhalawi and also the book of selected Ahadith called "Muntakhaba Ahadees" (selected sayings of Prophet Muhammad (s)) and it covers the basic tenets of Islam.

3. At least spend three days a month in Jamaat.

4. A daily council in Masjid to discuss how to increase Tablighi activity in the area.

5. Apart from preaching, followers are also encouraged to spend 2.5 hours every day serving others. Typically this involves encouraging other Muslims to join the effort. These 'hours' are also used to meet sick people and help the needy.

Tablighi Jamaat of Women: There is a Jamaat for women called a Masturaat Jamaat. Unlike the men, the women stay outside the mosque in the house of a well known Tablighi worker following full Islamic rules with pardah (veil) and learn and also teach the women of that locality who may come to join them. Men do not join the Masturaat Jamaat as they are separate and stay in nearby mosque.