Dhaka, Dec 18, (V7N) - The Tablighi Jamaat movement, which has been central to Islamic missionary work for nearly a century, is currently facing a major crisis, stemming from its leadership succession issues. This crisis, which began in 1995 after the death of the third Ameer, Maulana Inamul Hasan, has intensified and now threatens to divide the movement permanently.

For the first 70 years of the Tablighi Jamaat’s existence, the movement was led by three Ameers, each from the Nizamuddin markaz in Delhi. The founder of the movement, Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi, served as the first Ameer, followed by his son Muhammad Yusuf Kandhlawi, and then Inamul Hasan, who became the longest-serving Ameer, holding the position until his death in 1995.

The succession issue first arose when Inamul Hasan’s death left no clear successor at the top of the movement. The Shura, or consultative council, which had guided the movement after Hasan’s passing, took on the responsibilities of the Ameer, forming a global steering committee. However, the council started losing its members, and by 2014, the only remaining influential members were Maulana Saad Kandhlawi, the grandson of Muhammad Ilyas, and Maulana Zubairul Hasan, the son of Inamul Hasan.

With the death of Maulana Zubairul Hasan in 2014, Maulana Saad emerged as the de facto leader, but his desire to officially become Ameer sparked controversy. His leadership was criticized by a significant portion of the movement, particularly due to his perceived lack of the qualities that the previous Ameers had embodied, such as “tarbiyyah” (growth, development, and spiritual loftiness). This discontent was fueled further by an audio clip of Maulana Saad, in which he reportedly declared, “I am the Ameer… the Ameer of all… if you do not agree, go to hell.”

In November 2015, during the annual Ijtema in Raiwind, Pakistan, the Shura members gathered to reconstitute the world Shura and rejected the idea of appointing a single Ameer, emphasizing the importance of the consultative system. Maulana Saad refused to accept these resolutions, further deepening the rift. His leadership came under severe criticism from several quarters, including the Darul Uloom Deoband, which issued a fatwa condemning his ideological stance as deviant.

The crisis has also led to divisions in the movement’s activities, particularly in Bangladesh. The annual Ijtema, one of the largest gatherings of Tablighi followers, has had to be divided into two phases: one for Maulana Saad’s followers and one for those loyal to the global Shura, with the final prayers often led by Maulana Zubair Ahmed, a senior Bangladeshi cleric. The clash between the followers of Maulana Saad and those of Maulana Zubair, representing the global Shura, has become increasingly visible, especially in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, where the movement has grown in influence.

Under the leadership of the late Ahmed Shafi, the Tablighi Jamaat in Bangladesh strongly supported the global Shura system. Even after his death, this faction continued to reject Saad’s leadership, despite his growing influence among certain segments of the movement.

The Tablighi Jamaat’s leadership crisis has not only affected the movement’s internal structure but has also led to violent clashes, as seen in recent days. The ongoing tensions show no sign of resolution, and the future of the Tablighi Jamaat now appears to be in jeopardy as the leadership struggle continues to unfold.

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