Jama'ah Tabligh is a new Islamic movement in Indonesia which have root of Deobandi movement from Indian continent. The aims and beliefs of the members of Jamaah Tabligh are three: 1. to highten Allah's Word, 2. to spread Islam, 3. to unite those who have these beliefs (Dustur al Amal).
editor's
letter
This weekly newsletter intended to provide the current issues in Indonesian political situation. This second edition review the Islamic rise in Indonesia, with special emphasis on quiet Islamic movement of Jama'ah Tabligh. If you have interest on Indonesia, stay tuned and check out our coming editions.
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The indonesia weekly is published weekly informally. See our back issue on East Timor, and Oil Exploration.
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indonesia weekly
Third Edition - 7 August 1997
special coverage: jama'ah tabligh
the quiet side of islam
The Tablighi Jama`at is a quietist, apolitical movement of spiritual guidance and renewal that originated from Deobandi scholarly movement in the Indian subcontinent, whose networks now reach around the world. Jama'ah Tabligh never glamorously published nor show their beliefs openly in public. They preach quietly from door to door to give advice of salat only, without mentioning another aspect of multi-faceted Islam. Membership in the Tablighi Jama`at entails its male members leaving their homes in small groups, for varying periods of time, to teach correct Islamic practices to fellow Muslims and to invite them to join the Jama`at in the work of da`wa or tabligh [proselytizing].
Tablighis, unlike Jama`at-i Islami members, are not involved in state politics and even abjure all debate with other Islamic movements.
This quiet Islamic movement may show strikingly similar attitude of Snouck Hurgronje's politic of divide et impera in Aceh, the most Islamic province in Indonesia. Snouck Hurgronje, the prominent orientalist also try to influence the Acehnese to stick on their shalat only. His strategy was to weakened the strong Islamic rebellion and struggle of independence in Aceh. Although Snouck Hurgronje proved to be failed on his preaching in Aceh, his belief on practicing salat only is currently widespread in another Indonesia province. The Snouck Hurgronje movement apparently now sublimed into Jama'ah Tabligh movement.
minimal women involvement
The absence of Jama'ah Tabligh from the political arena and low institutional profile, and most of this literature is strikingly silent on the involvement of women in the Jama`at. Some of the Tablighi share the strong opinion of avoiding women and considering women as a second class human. And the Tablighi men who leave for proselytizing are often accused of failing in their masculine roles to care for their families and implicitly encouraging the cultivation of what are considered to be effeminate attributes (gentleness, humility, and modesty).
history
Jama'ah Tabligh originated from 1927 in the post-First World War in India after the failure of the Khilafat movement. Due to British occupation, most of the Islamic scholar turned from political action to the apolitical association. With this background and inherited Deobandi scholar, the Jama'ah Tabligh founded by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas, a pious, learned religious leader based in Delhi, who died in 1944.
Maulana Ilyas (ra) originally founded the movement to help the Mewatis. These were villagers who had so intermixed with Hindus that they had adopted many Hindu customs. After some training, the Mewatis returned to Islamic practices and in turn started making da'wah to others.
The jama'at-e-tabligh emphasizes six fundamentals (six points, or "che number") and participants are all expected to give "bayan" (short talk) on these same topics. These six points are as follows: syahadah, salat, dzikr, love and respect, purity of intention and spending time in the Allah paths.
japan support east timor
Japan government through their consulate in Ujungpandang, help Yayasan Al Anshar East Timor in Ujungpandang with donation to support education for unfortunate East Timorese children education. The 40 million dollars donation will be utilized to built dormitory and its supported facilities. The donation was given by Japan consuler Takaichi Yoneda on 15 July 1997.
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