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Accompanying the Innovated Excursions of the Tablīghī “Jawla”

Al-ʿAllāmah Ḥammūd al-Tuwayjirī

A response to a question on whether it is advisable to go out for jawla (excursions) with the tablighī jamāʿat.

Shaykh Hammūd al-Tuwayjirī [d. 1413 AH] said:

“As for the query of the questioner: Do I advise him to take excursions [jawla] with the jamāʿah al-tablīgh whether this be within our country (of Saudi Arabia) or outside of it?

I respond: Truly, I advise this individual and others who possess a desire to keep their dīn safe from the dregs of shirk, extremism, innovation, and meaningless, nonsensical activities—to refrain from attaching themselves in any way with the tabīghiyyīn. Never go on excursions [jawla] with them, whether this be in Saudi Arabia or outside of it. For the most lenient opinion we can take regarding them is that they are from among the people of innovation, misguidance and ignorance, in terms of their creed and mannerisms. There should be no doubt that safety is only achieved through complete avoidance and remaining distant [from the ranks] of whomsoever is described as thus.

How great is the saying of the poet: ‘Do not keep the company of an ignorant brother. So woe to him and to you. For how many ignorant men have marred…a guided, knowledgeable man that took him as a brother. Men are measured by [the company of] men, as he becomes what he wills [as a result of the compatriots he chooses] ’ Another [poet] rightly said: ‘A leper derives no benefit from closeness to the healthy. Rather, [this closeness] causes only the healthy to become a leper himself.’

As we have already mentioned the ḥadīth that proves all of the people of innovation are in the Fire [of Hell], and there is but one party that will be safe. They are those who follow what [was brought by] the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) and his companions (may Allāh be pleased with them). So [know] that there can be no guaranteed safety for the one who chooses to attach himself to the tablīghiyyīn, or to go out with them in their innovated excursions. [Such a person should not consider himself safe] from a portion of the promise of unrelenting torment that comes in the two ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr and Anas (may Allāh be pleased with them both). Our pious predecessors used to warn against the people of innovation and consistently highlight their inherent danger. They used to forbid sitting in their company, taking them as compatriots, and hearing their words. They would order people to avoid them, take them as enemies, hate them, and abandon them.”

Source: Al-Qawl Al-Balīg: 30-31
Translated by: Riyāḍ al-Kanadī

Published: May 24, 2022
Edited: September 8, 2022