'Tablighi Jamaat chief has not shown vision, scientific approach'

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New Delhi, April 6 (IANS) Tablighi Jamaat chief, Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, who is at the centre of the controversy for holding a large global congregation at a time of spreading coronavirus -- despite advice of veterans -- which led to a wider spread of the disease across the country, has been faulted by community leaders and intellectuals for his misjudgements.

Given that Islam is not against science, they said the community expects that followers of Jamaat to adhere to the "scientific approach".

"The community is suffering because of the lack of vision shown by Maulana Saad in dealing with the issues which could have been dealt in a better manner," Navaid Hamid, President of the Majlis Mushawarat, said, adding that had Maulana Saad showed vision, "the community would not have been maligned the way it is being done by the adversaries".

"Since the beginning, authorities of the Markaz Jamaat, including its Amir Maulana Saad, have not shown the visionary attitude which they were supposed to demonstrate during the whole crisis in its basic aspects....the foremost is the continuous congregation of the faithful and the inept response of the Markaz," he said.

Hamid suggested that Maulana Saad should have made a public statement when attendees got stuck in the lockdown, but at least now, he should come out to make a public statement.

Maulana Ashraf Imam of Mumbai said that mosques were closed when the government advisory came and it is in the teachings of Islam to save your life and the life of other person.

"The Prophet himself has said to do research on certain things to serve the human kind. The Prophet also said that not to go to the place where there is pandemic and also not to migrate from the place of pandemic," he said.

Shakil Ahmed, an engineer who has lived in the Gulf for years, said: "Islam is not against scientific approach and it seeks a person to be practical.... the problem is that the Markaz issue has damaged the image of Muslims whereas there are very less number of people who follow the Tablighi Jamaat."

However, the Jamaat disagrees on the charge that they do not follow modern ways and says its chief is in quarantine as per the advice of doctors.

Maulana Saad released an audio message last week in which he had said that he is in "self-quarantine in Delhi as advised by the doctors" and appealed to all Jamaatis wherever they are in the country to follow the directives of the law.

He said that it is also advised to remain indoors and adhere to the directives of the government and not assemble anywhere.

Maulana Saad, through his advocate, also appealed that followers of Jamaat should present themselves to the authorities for checkup and follow-up if any of the persons has returned from Jamaat and they should also adhere to the directive of the authorities and there was "no need to argue and misbehave with anybody".

--IANS

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