Religion has often caused harm to the world and humanity as a whole, whether in the form of environmental damage by filing the Yamuna and Ganga with ‘religious waste’ or turning the densely populated and congested Nizamuddin Basti into a Covid-19 hot spot for the sake of an Islamic gathering.
Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic reformist group, had a large gathering of more than 3,000 people on 13 March in Nizamuddin with foreign nationals from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia, a hot spot for the deadly virus. Infact, the Jamaat has also been held responsible for having spread the virus to half a dozen nations in its February gathering in Malaysia.
Now, people across India who had participated in the Islamic congregation are testing positive for Covid-19 — from as far as Andaman and Nicobar Islands — and 10 have already died, including the Jamaat’s Kashmir head. All of this happened because of an annual Islamic gathering.
I am not encouraging Islamophobia, it will always be a prejudice that needs vehement opposition. But if this isn’t plain stupidity in the name of Allah, then what is?
Whether India had implemented strict travel restrictions by 13 March or not isn’t the question here, the point is why gather in such huge numbers, with ‘red’ travel history for the sake of preaching religion? People from the gathering continued living in the area even after 13 March. Their orthodox movement has exposed all of us to a greater risk of contamination, from Assam to Telangana to the Andamans. And we can’t justify it by saying that other religions had also kept their doors open for a long time. All doors should have been shut.
Also Read: Tablighi Jamaat congregation and how religion has been the ‘super spreader’ of coronavirus
Ignorance in Islam’s name
Unfortunately, even amid this global crisis, some people are trying to veil the Jamaat’s irresponsibility by bringing up a 13 March PTI report about government officials having still not declared coronavirus a public health emergency and hence the Sunni Muslim group didn’t violate any norms.
Here is a fact-check; Delhi government on 13 March prohibited any gathering of more than 200 people under the Epidemic Diseases Act. Moreover, they also directed people coming from any Covid-19 affected country to self-isolate. Members of the Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin violated both these directions.
Some have also argued that the Janata curfew was imposed a week later on 22 March and not during the Jamaat’s celebrations, which is also completely ridiculous. The question here is of moral and social responsibility along with the Delhi government’s order, which prohibited religious gatherings of over 50 people from 16 March. Covid-19 had already created chaos in the world by 13 March and the Jamaat made its contribution to it, not once, but twice.
Some others are now comparing this gathering with the exodus of migrant workers in the national capital. What these people fail to understand is that those workers had to walk home together because there was no other option. No one chooses to walk hundreds of kilometres with their children and no food if they have another option. But what Tablighi Jamaat did was sheer negligence and idiocy.
This outdated and orthodox movement has committed a crime that has put several others at the risk of coronavirus infection. No one knows the whereabouts of those 3000 people and who they have contacted in the last 16 days. Sadly, all of this was done in the name of Islam.
Also Read: More than 2,100 foreigners linked to Tablighi Jamaat entered India since 1 January
Liberals are missing
Surprisingly, India’s ‘liberals’ including actors, journalists and authors are quiet on this. They have only tried to whitewash the Jamaat’s doing by pointing out the loopholes of the government and the administration. This entire fiasco, caused solely for the purpose of preaching Islam, does not seem to be a matter of concern for them. Ironically, if such irresponsibility was shown by some other religious group in the country, the same liberals would have ridiculed it, like they did for Yogi Adityanath’s Ayodhya celebrations.
We need to understand that speaking against a wrong committed by an orthodox religious group from a particular religious community doesn’t mean you’re stereotyping them. Of course, Muslims in India have always been discriminated and faced Islamophobia. However, this does not mean that you should not speak up against crimes committed by a group of orthodox people.
Not speaking up against this gross violation of human safety exposes your hollowness and your lack of balance. More so, it throws light on why there will never truly be an Indian liberal.
Also Read: What is Tablighi Jamaat? Organiser of Delhi event behind spike in India’s Covid-19 count
Speak against Jamaat, not ISIS
When ISIS attacked a Gurdwara in Kabul last week, there were some who said they were ashamed of the crimes of this terrorist organisation in the name of Islam. There were others who not only tried defending Islam in the wake of the Islamic state’s activities but also tried their best to establish the difference between ISIS and Islam.
The fact is ISIS is a global terrorist outfit that kills people, and rapes women. It has much less to do with Islam than it has to do with power. But Tablighi Jamaat should force us to think of our religious practices in every day life.
This congregation is probably the worst thing that these 3,000 Muslims could have ever inflicted on humanity in the name of preaching Islam. Ultimately, the brokers of Islam have added to this coronavirus mess.
Views are personal.
Trust religions to spread viruses anyway. Happened throughout history and eliminated a big part of humanity. In India also one virus stopped, another came up.
How so many people permitted through Airport without proper screening?Biased and communilize media should also do serious debate on Indore which is now hotspot for corona where few days back people were leading the thaali event as well as Punjab’s Preacher Baldev Singh case where thousand came into his contact.He died by corona virus.
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/indore/indore-and-ujjain-hotspots-of-coronavirus-outbreak-in-madhya-pradesh-home-to-70-cases/amp_articleshow/74893924.cms
https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/trending-news/story/people-in-indore-mumbai-lead-taali-thaali-processions-during-janata-curfew-internet-is-furious-1658730-2020-03-23
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-india-52061915
Why are 1000s of foreign Maulanas who flouted Visa norms hiding in Mosques across the nation? I see a bigger conspiracy of destabilising India.
Be it Delhi riots or spreading Corona virus from Delhi, the culprits are same!
Jago India Jago !!
bloody illeterates – a huge threat to the society. They will never change and in fact they are not humans, to say the least.
They are terrorist in every form!!!
The problem with ‘The Print’- Article, is that it tries to balance and generalize everything. This is a problem with Tabhlique Jamath and their specific call, and a very specific Pandemic of Covid 19 Virus, What the pollution of Yamuna has to do with it?
Starting with all religions is Bad premise is not always a good idea? Shekar Gupta painstakingly spent half of his time on other religions, in his ‘Cut the Clutter’ Episode, prooving How bad they had been, When there was this specific problem with a Jamath and this Maulana Saad. Does the Jamath represent Islam in its entirety, if Not, then what is the point in equating it with every religion? I like ‘Cut the clutter’, infact I love it most of the time, but then, please tell him his episode was more like ‘ Disperse the Clutter’.
Good Article but it opens with the words that “… Tablighi is an Islamist Reformist Movement”. An org which endeavours for Muslims to live like in the times of Prophet Muhammad, cannot be a Reformist Organisation – it’s Regressive Org, to put it politely and mildly
Well said!!!
Very regressive and out of touch with modern times.
Jama’ats irresponsible activity of continuing congregation against Delhi admins orders r idiotic. Their biggest mistake is conducting it in the first place.
BUT when some people linking to this Congregation were tested + on Mar 19 in Telangana, whole markaz building should have been seized with people in it restricting any in or out movements. Yet, around 1500 people (potential carriers) were allowed to leave the premises to different parts of the country on Mar 23. This is the BIGGEST LAPSE on behalf of the Jama’at as wells as Govt.s.
The following information published in BBC:
“”Image copyright REUTERS
The captain of a US aircraft carrier carrying more than 4,000 crew has called for urgent help to halt a coronavirus outbreak on his ship.
Scores of people on board the Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the infection. The carrier is currently docked in Guam.
“We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,” Captain Brett Crozier wrote in a letter to the Pentagon.
Captain Crozier recommended quarantining almost the entire crew.
In the letter Captain Crozier said that with large numbers of sailors living in confined spaces on the carrier isolating sick individuals was impossible.
The coronavirus’ spread was now “ongoing and accelerating”, he warned, in the letter dated 30 March.
“Decisive action is needed,” he said.
“Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed US nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure. This is a necessary risk.”
It is not clear how many crew members on the Theodore Roosevelt have the coronavirus. The San Francisco Chronicle, which first reported on the letter, said at least 100 sailors were infected.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, a US Navy spokesman said the service was “moving quickly to take all necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt”.””
Dear fellow citizens,
Now, it is amply clear that the coronavirus pandemic is a extraordinary situation which has been faced by humanity globally. Whether rich or poor or army personnel or doctors or religious persons or ordinary citizens, all are on same page. They are being caught unaware, no one was ready to handle this situation so the unintentional mistake or foolishness occur. Even the most competent highest authority and head of Indian government failed to visualise the effect of sudden nation wide lockdown. As a result lacs of daily wages labourers come out in the street in fear or in hunger and decided to go home not to be safe there but with a logic if death is destined why not at home. Though this is foolishness on their part but cannot be said intentional to become carrier of COVID-19 virus and put the life of their family and others at native village in danger. So, to say Muslims Tablighi jamaat religious fellows gathered at Delhi Murkaz and later dispersed as usual of their own and remaining odd 2100 shifted by Delhi government in hospitals, were deliberately spreading coronavirus. This is not at all justified. Yet, certain media houses are trying to put them in dock in the name religion. A governor of Kerala State is even too eager to blame Muslim jamat of Tabligh fellow as if they are dangerous people and even called for strict action against them. This is unfortunate that a person holding constitutional post and playing politics even in this grave situation. One fellow on national TV news debate yesterday even started calling it a bio-jihad of tablghi jamat. How unfortunate this remark. It is disgusting that one can stoop so low for the sake of some political privilege. How can nation is safe if such irresponsible persons are allowed to divide nation in the name religion. This fellow who call them bio-jehadi in order to create enmity among citizens of India, must be taken care of by law. The point is, instead of blaming such sudden gathering of people due reason not on their control should be looked at with sympathy rather with contempt and consequently put their life in danger in society. Media houses should also show some responsibility not to air such view on national TV debate. This hamper the government and citizens effort to fight with coronavirus pandemic as well. Hope somebody is listening.
Adv. Shakil Akhtar
Supreme Court of India.
9717214471.
Why should not we condemn them ? It is altogether another issue whether we should sympathise with them or not.
What about Maulana Saad lecturing the gathering to defy the govt’s directive for social distancing and encouraging his followers to congregate in Masjids
actually brother these are persons who dnt know any thing
All you brothers out there,
I appreciate that atleast you (among all the silent muslims out there) agree to the fact that they were irresponsible.
But the fact that Malaysia has 100cases already in Feb, the fact that all the foreigners came into our country through travel visa (illegal to use for congregation) , the fact that they didn’t cooperate instead threw tantrums and misbehaved wherever they were helped by tbe workers, the fact that the head of it on purpose denied govt regulations which obviously inspired a lot of members, and finally the fact that most of the muslims (like abv comments), instead of condemning these crimes, are all sympathizing and playing their all the more favorite “victim card”.
I do not understand the reason why muslims don’t speak against muslims who deserve punishment for their cruel acts? In that case, how on earth, please tell me, how should any of us believe anything you muslims say? When you people only come out to speak when there is some sort of injustice done to your people. But when your people do any injustice to anyone else, noone talks.
How should we trust any of you in this case? Think for once.
Herein, I am not to support the spread of COVID 19 but to state reality before any on could derive its opinion on Islamophobia or Jihadi Operation of Jamaat as many news agencies are trying hard even to draw a Pakistani Angle to the entire incident throughout the nation.
The Jamaat has not committed a crime against humanity. So, I defend them.
It is neither true nor holds any authenticity that few religious Congregation has often caused harm to environmental, 2ndly no Religion could ever cause any direct damage neither to the world nor to humanity as a whole, it is the fanatics and fantasy lusters those cause such damage in the name of religion.
The Congregation was a preset activity and as you correctly stated that it’s an annual affair of the Organisation. Now, coming down to the facts, as it was to happen from 13 to 15 March 2020, the foreign participants started flocking in from 1 Feb 2020. And when such congregation takes place anywhere in India of any religion, there it needs clearance from a minimum of 4 to 6 Level of Government Departments at the Union, the State & Municipal Authority(s) where it supposed to take’s place.
Now, the entire world has taken by the surprising spread of COVID 19 from Feb 2020 while Mr. Doland Trump was visiting India followed by the Delhi Riot. And on the day of the scheduled Program on the 13 March 2020, the Union Health Ministry notified that COVID 19 is no Epidemic. Therefore, the Program continued till 15th March 2020. From 16th March 2020, the International and Many Indian participants started returning in batch-wise for the home state. Where top Functionaries from various States were scheduled to return by 22nd March 2020 but the day turned out to be a Lockdown so rescheduled for 23rd and 24th March 2020. So, half of the members left for their destination while the member’s schedule for 24th March 2020 got held up due to the Complete Lockdown for 21 days from the 00.00 hours 24th March 2020. And on the same day, Nizamuddin PS issued notice to the Markaz to vacate its premise but the People inside are now nowhere to go but to become a hostage of their own fate.
I have 1001 questions to ask both the Union Home Ministry, Union Health Ministry, Delhi CMO, Delhi Health Ministry, Delhi Municipal Corporation, DM & DCP Nizamuddin and etc. but not now as time shall speak for itself.
Further, Justice Surinder Sachar Committee Report speaks for itself on the Literacy Rates, Political Awareness and Administration knowhow amongst the Muslims in India, who were ranked below Dalits/Harijans in India. Therefore, don’t get angry for the naive and pray that they don’t spread COVID 19 in the foolishness of life.
Someone forgot to do their homework,Paris attacks,London bombing
The chronology of events given by you is correct. In my opinion the government is only responsible for locking people without any alternative. A video of police clearly shows that the marla people were requesting police for four days for advice to send the people out. But the police officer didn’t help. He asked them to vacate the premises only.
The function was pre planned and was with all permissions. The police station is at 50 meters from the place. Still nothing was done by authorities to help the people there.
Shekhar Gupta’s analysis is faulty, and anti people, whether they are Muslims or not is not the point.
Mind you, all temples were closed on 24th Marc only. The Kashi Vishwanath temple, where thousands visit daily was open till that day.
If the govt itself doesn’t know the gravity of situation, taking hazard impulsive decisions, can ordinary people understand it instantly?.
And yet again, people bring out their sheet of dates and events and start justifying that crap congregation members actions towards innocent health workers throught the nation.
Salute to people who know how to manipulate it and turn it all around and focus only on one thing while ignoring all the things that they are wrong at.
No point arguing with fanatics.
God bless your wisdom
Good report and reporting. Good.
Government of India gave visas to those who came from abroad. While issuing visas the purpose of visit, duration of stay, place of stay and date of return has to be given. So the Home Ministry was aware of everything regarding the congregation. Why didn’t they stop it?
Visitors came inside the country via tourist visa because this organisation is banned in several countries. So, their visit is illegal.
The irony is these visitors spitting on health care professionals is unacceptable.
They have ignored the Delhi Govt notification
Dear Sir, I’m amused that we expect Govt to do everything. Don’t we have any Social Responsibility?
These were tourists visas, not missionary visas. The participants lied in their visa applications that they were entering India for travel and not to take part in any religious gathering. Thus, the visas were obtained on the basis of false declarations and lies. Hence, you can’t conclude that the Home Ministry knew about their participation in this congregation.
They all came on Tourist Visas…Thats a big like..how govt would know…
How dare you say they are intentionally spreading the contagious and they are focussing only in their religious practice improvement? you don’t have analytical sense that most of them must be innocents and failure of government to disperse after filter out them with IIT graduate CM? How could they able to receive the message form government when they were in religious practices. Did government pass circular to them disperse or not conduct any meeting in the next day?
Your so called jamat members are spitting all over the quartantine centre and abusing the doctors so does Islam teaches this and also check stones were pelted over police when they went to trace jamat’s member in bihar. So your so called religious jamat members must need to learn how to be good human first at least human , then muslim or whatever they wanted to be. They donot have basic education and contribution to society distributing coronavirus in place of good teachings of islam. And please stop playing victim card in all places and stop cursing govt and please look around you every nation is fed with your wahabi mindset so either change or people will change you.
Wow mr Ricardo. In France 2500 people were affected by corona virus as they were all attending church. And France is not worried about church or some stupid religious place. And they haven’t named people in church or Christians as promoters of corona virus as some of our people do. Stop criticising and start finding a solution. Why do you wanna go back and point others for their mistakes. And remember we Indians are nationalists not fascists. And it’s better that you start behaving as a democratic person.
question Is
If you complain about Tablighi jaamat, will this stop corona virus ?
And better stop complaining about that unexpected event and start spending your time researching over other events where people came into contact with foreign nationals . Like Sikh missionary who came back from Europe and 10000 people have visited him !
So stop complaining about past it’s better you start spreading awareness or good stuffs not spread the same news which even I can get if I switch on tv
Oh hello?
Stop comparing other countries and other religions. This group of orthodox people have crossed all limits and are not worth being compared to normal people anymore.
Until it was just about denying govt rules, did the congregation ever come up in news? Please crack open your brainwashed head for real. Everyone ignores shit that goes around until it becomes intolerable. And it did. The congregation matter wouldn’t have had such a high attention if people had behaved like normal human beings and got themselves tested. But no.
It came into major highlight when people started misbehaving and acting out of their morals if they ever had any. Running around naked in hospitals around nurses, escaping tests and absconding, illegal entry to foreigners, pelting stones at workers, dude, where did people of France indulge in such hideous act?
You freaking people stop supporting your people when it is not just !
Stop your victim card playing, we have seen enough and we are highly fed up. You people only come with full voice when even a small injustice happen to your people. But when all these things happen to others, you don’t give a damn. Why? Coz they are not from your community? Heights of religious fanaticism.
So please. Fed up.
Order was passed. Everyone knew it. It was all over TV and papers. You are being a terrorist if you defend them. Most Muslims are good people, and Islam is a good religion. But people defending this like you are equal to ISIS.
Thank for Sharing this brother.In reality many Muslim leaders were warning them from beginning,but they took it lightly.
They actually misunderstood the concept of trust in Allah.This is the basis of their error.While our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us “Tie your camel and then put trust in Allah”.ie do you best planning or precaution then trust Allah
No doubt ,they made mistake ….but i beg all fellow Indians kindly don’t make it communal issue and don’t give it label as corona Jihad or any other similar term.
Thanks
Excellent!! Is the Government a scavenger that you must expect always to clean up some shit done by others? Stop being an apologist for irresponsible people who have endangered many lifes through sheer callousness and ignorance. Have the courage to blame Jammat, who openly defied orders of the Delhi Government to not assemble in large numbers (<200), the Jammat also suppressed information. India should stop this proselytizing and Jammat activities in India. Enough!
Its more of carelessness that intentional. Lack of social responsibility rather. I appreciate your religious interests but not at the stake of country. Now these so called innocents have put all their family, friends and in turn the entire country at the brink of life threatening virus. Heights of foolishness is to blame the Govt. Are we not responsible for ourselves??
One more moron is repeating same lines
Public notice / orders are not circulated to individuals. All marriages were cancelled. You means govt shall go to individual house to deliver order. It is citizens duty to comply instructions once it announced publicly.
People like you who support such acts are tge reason your entire community is blamed….. Accept the fact that these retards are the worst enemy to humanity.
Religion is the opium of the masses…. a means adopted by the clergy to perpetuate their power. This outbreak and the rash actions such as this congregation are a good wake up call – ban all gatherings in the name of religion. No purpose is served by running assembling in herds or running around doing pilgrimages around the world anyway. Practice your religion in your home.
Dear Sir,
Gathering in the name of religion isn’t wrong. being irresponsible is. Had TJ been socially responsible and looked beyond their religious congregation, situation would have been different.
Every religion has its fair share of orthodox people, but in Islam it is disproportionately high.
Good point. But since 2014, I have noticed that there are not any less in Hinduism, and more regrettably, they are more vocal and interfering than the orthodox of other religions.
Pakistan never stops praying : The annual Tablighi Jamaat gathering brought 250,000 people from across 90 countries in Raiwind, a Lahore suburb, continued for a few days before it was called off. The result was that two men from Gaza were infected with coronavirus when they returned from Pakistan. Naila Inayat in PRINT
Pakistan has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
How those 2 persons travelled to Pakistan?
Which country provided them passports?
May be they also used Indian or Iranian passports??
Before writing it, the author should have known about the underlying objective and it’s follow up by personally joining the Tabligi gatherings. Mind it. They don’t spread Islam but try to reform the Muslims, and thereby focus alone on the eternal reality of Fikr, to perceive the world hereafter and be good Muslim’s as far as possible, say of the by of the Prophet’s times.
There activity is no reactionary and nonrevolutinary :hence, apolitical. Indian security grid won’t otherwise allow them functioning.
Their fault is gathering in numbers on 13th March. But, by then, virus had already made inroads in Indian by people’s arriving from the west, china etc. Italians brought it with them. That was the beginning.
Still if, their gathering was dangerous why did government allow them gather in Nizamudin?
It is a problem in Pakistan too. But they don’t demonise the Tabligi like we do in India, sadly by Muslims too.
Their gathering was as routine as anything else. Indian govt. issued them visas in the past and the present as well, since it found them harmless in their intent and organization as a reform than the prosytilisibg movement .
Yes, their gathering, not as a source, complicated the issue as some of them tested positive after return to their native places.
But, they never knew it by themselves. Why blame these sane souls, who care for the world hereafter than the world herein, and who dabble in no politics to hold power to alienate than to own the greater mass of Indian people.
Let us. Pray for the safety of all regardless if religion, group, ideology, region or race.
Dear Sir,
You religious interests are appreciated and do not contrue the blame in the angle of religion. Had this been from any other religion also, it would still be called irresponsibility. But are we socially responsible or do we play the blame game. It is not who started or who was the cause of spread. Our goal is to limit the damage. Had TJ thought a bit about the looming danger, they could have averted it rather than blaming Govt for giving permissions. Pakistan has never bothered about its people, so no point in comparing.
These sane couls are now causing virus outbreak in multiples as tehy have contacted it to their family members, friends and all the pales where they commute thus putting the entire nation in grave danger. Whom do we credit the responsibility to?
Sane souls…hahah ofcourse these dumb people are sane souls now!
What exactly do they preach in the congregation btw?
To pelt stones, disobey govt, assault female nurses who tale care of them risking their own life, abusing all religions other than their own ofcourse, Illegally letting foreigners come into congregation. Yep, sanes of all times.
Secondly, Spare the govt, they cant keep running behind cleaning your crap, we Indians should have a sense of responsibility of our own. And not depend on others to do it for us.
Grow your brains man. How can anyone be so naive I wonder.
As usual, blame the Muslims. This is a usual rant without derailing the facts. The Union health ministry notifies on May 13 that there is no national health emergency and becsuse somehow Muslims are involved, they become the scapegoats. Fix the system don’t lean on Muslim crutches. Ask the right question – was the delay in lockdown due to MP govt destabilisation.
This is heights of foolishness. Do not link up political issues and religion to the issue at hand. Corona outbreak can be lethal. TJ has acted foolishly by inviting people from corona affected countries and held on their gatherings as if nothing happened. This is creating havoc now. Blaming Govt is easy but what steps did so called TJ take to protect the people who attended the gathering? A special prayer? Are we in 2020?? TJ has been the reason behind spread of Corona to all the participants, their families and friends, putting all the lives into danger.
Ahmed, right question is this – was there not an order from Delhi Govt. on 13th March itself, banning the gathering of more than 200 people (including IPL)? Why play ‘Muslims-are-victims’ card when the organisers are clearly on the wrong side of law?
Gadhe Delhi govt banned gatherings if 200 people on March 13 2020.Why jamaat violated delhi govt orders?They think they r special & will get discounts from following law?
”Not speaking up against this gross violation of human safety exposes your hollowness and your lack of balance. ” Indian secular brigade, the commies, and least of all this newspaper and its editor Shekhar Gupta belong to this class.
You bigot started your article blaming Hindu first for polluting Yamuna and Ganga by religious waste. You can’t point out deliberate blunder of Muslim without whataboutry.
The Delhi police and/ or the AAP Govt delayed taking strong action notwithstanding their knowledge that the congregation was a time bomb because they were afraid to take action against a MUSLIM congregation.
Both these authorities were apprehensive of reactions of liberals, the award returnees and some sections of the media about any forcible action (tear gas, lathi charge, etc) that should have been taken to disperse this gathering on time.
This was the story in Shaheen Bagh or for that matter the absolute Govt inaction when the MUSLIMS in West Bengal went on the rampage soon after CAA was promulgated.
A Govt MUST act based on what should be done instead of simply trying to ensure their party’s return in the next election.
I agree with the author of this article. The Muslims who congregate there – – and more than them, the Mullahs who are supposed to be more informed about what Prophet Muhammad said – – should have been aware of these two Hadith as recorded by Al Bukhari :
VOLUME 1, BOOK 11, NUMBER 636:
Narrated Mahmuid bin Rabi’ Al-Ansari: ‘Itban bin Malik used to lead his people (tribe) in prayer and was a blind man, he said to Allah’s Apostle , “O Allah’s Apostle! At times it is dark and flood water is flowing (in the valley) and I am blind man, so please pray at a place in my house so that I can take it as a Musalla (praying place).” So Allah’s Apostle went to his house and said, “Where do you like me to pray?” ‘Itban pointed to a place in his house and Allah’s Apostle, offered the prayer there.
_____
VOLUME 1, BOOK 11, NUMBER 635:
Narrated Nafi’: Once on a very cold and stormy night, Ibn ‘Umar pronounced the Adhan for the prayer and then said, “Pray in your homes.” He (Ibn ‘Umar) added. “On very cold and rainy nights Allah’s Apostle used to order the Mu’adhdhin to say, ‘Pray in your homes.’ ”
The present dangerous situation surely warranted to follow the Prophet’s instruction to, “pray at home”.
Dearv fanatic mushrik
Why are u selective while quoting hadith. ..
…..
What motivated u to hide those hadith wherein prophet commanded believers that ifva plague spreads in area where they happen to live in they shouldn’t leave that area while others who live in non affected areas should not go to affected areas …….. shahadah in this context would be for a group that bears disease patiently without dispersing in other areas to stop its spread. …..
The authentic commands of his are indeed meesages of divine stature not a piece of historical data only……
If u cunningly chose to ignore the hadith in totality and chose hadith selectively to interpret them with ur dirty prejudiced lens…..then fault lies in ur eyes and Heart…..not in islam……
Dear Sir,
It is not the time to fight on religions and if any are doing so it is their immaturity. It is better to ignore such comments than to react as they do not intend to understand your explanation.
To prevent spread of Islamophobia. Muslims need to condem this criminal practice and not get away by saying many muslim are adhering, a soft defense.
Another apologist, she has less issue with this but is more of an apologist writing of her religion. This is the reason they can’t produce true liberal. And why liberal drama is farce?
mr. BISMEE TASKIN Ur wite in ur article ” This outdated and orthodox movement” It is showing your jealousy against jamat. who are u to say this is outdated and orhtodox movement , pls put your opinion in ur pocket.
In delhi, the headquarter of INDIA, the IB, The DELHi police etc, don’t know what is going and markaz , If the Jamat is wrong , then Delhi’s cheater kejriwal and his govt. and the delhi police all are same responsible. Only issuing govt. orders is not a job, there is implement Agencies Like Special Branch who has responsibility the regular activities of such all religious programs.
Ye govt. ka kaam tha k wo check kerti ka kahan kya horaha, abhi her taraf police lock down implement karrahi hai, isi terha se ager 13 ko cheater kejri ne koyee order jaari kya tha to police aur adminstration ka kaam tha k us ko saqti se Nafiz kerte.
I think its a Ms & not Mr. But hey, WTF, we are all dying now
Dear Azhar, agree with you regarding responsibility of Government. However, would you care to say a word about ‘citizens’ responsibility?
Public notice / orders are not circulated to individuals. All marriages were cancelled. You means govt shall go to individual house to deliver order. It is citizens duty to comply instructions once it announced publicly. Citizen do not have any responsibility . What organisers were doing.
Its Ms. Bismee Taskin
Everything you have written is just to counter the people who are supporting jamat have said. So this is sheer a blame game. But yes as you rightly pointed out, it is ones moral and social responsibility to avoid everything which can spread this contagion.
I agree that these folks should not have gathered. But till then no events were called off. All the religious and political events were carrying on as business as usual. And you know how faith makes everyone blind, people give up all their rational thinking when it comes to religious events. And Govt knew of all the people who came to India from which countries so they could have stopped this from spreading but indian govt was not in any mood till then. First signs of any seriousness by govt came in on Janta Curfew day which was too late. I think there is no innocent religion which stopped its activities until it was forced upon.
Please, the author and readers of this article, read the Hadith collected by Sahih Al Bukhari – the most renowned and the most authentic work.
It is available online for everyone to read, and in English too.
1. Allah Apostle did say that diseases are NOT contagious.
2. Allah Apostle did say that martyrdom is the ultimate thing.
3. Allah Apostle did say that there are 5 ways of martyrdom.
4. Allah Apostle did say that Death by plague and other epidemics is martyrdom
So, make your informed and educated guess. Whether you are a Believers or Kafirs or infidels or polytheists or idol worshippers.
People like you asking to guess like this is trying to divide India in its difficult times. All religious and political gatherings happened in March were foolish. period.
The problem is Islam, not Muslims. Across globe, Islam breeds same kind of bigotry irrespective of social and cultural differences amongst different countries. When it comes to Islam, the attitude of African, Chinese, Indian, middle-eastern Muslims is no different. Religion comes above everything else for the followers of Islam. With such dangerous and irresponsible conduct in the name of religion, how can other people not be Islamophobic? Anyway, it is good that some Muslims are speaking against the irresponsibility in the name of religion.
Let’s not get into ifs & buts
Let me put it in simple way, like other religious places it was a usual congregation, 2000 people left just before the announcement, the remaining were held up because of lock down & instructions from local authorities to Stay wherever one is. The Markaz was following all the guidelines of health department. When the Markaz informed the SHO to help them to allow the held up to travel to their respective places, no help from the authorities, whereas the migrant workers wanted to go to their respective places, CM begged not to leave & assuring to provide all facilities. Why double standards in handling.
Markaz has become a fodder to few known Media channels who have blown up the issue as usual to tarnish the image of one community.
The media & CM should stop misleading, instead concentrate on helping the Humanity.
Good news is Test of Every person in Markaz locked up is Negative
Long Live Humanity
As a Hindu and a “sickular” and “libtard”, let me respond. By all means, hold the Nizamuddin Markaz responsible. But then, apply the same standard to everyone. The Modi government has repeatedly shown that it has two standards. Why, for instance, is there complete silence over Yogi Adityanath shifting of the Ram lalla murti hours after the PM’s lockdown directive came into effect? How about the 70 year old Sikh priest who returned from a tour of Germany and Italy and infected multiple people before dying himself? You can hardly blame the Muslims for being sceptical about the government’s claims.
Blaming the Markaz is convenient. It masks the government’s own tardiness in handling the issue. On March 3, Rahul Gandhi (no, I don’t care for him) tweeted the PM “Quit wasting India’s time playing the clown with your social media accounts, when India is facing an emergency. Focus the attention of every Indian on taking on the Corona virus challenge. ” And yet, it was 19 more days before the government finally woke up to the crisis and came up with this comprehensive lockdown, something not even China or Italy has attempted. And what has been the result? The number of cases continues to rise.. We have a humanitarian crisis on our hands. Our doctors and nurses are working without proper protection. Even worse, the government gives the impression that the lockdown will solve the problem when all experts say that it will only slow the infection. To address the problem, one needs testing and isolation and there is no indication that the government is addressing that with any degree of seriousness.
At the least, the government should tell us why it did not ban travel from affected countries and large gatherings sooner. If that had been done, we would not be having this particular discussion. But I guess blaming Muslims is more fun. The usual suspects are at it, as anticipated. And the PM is taking no steps to discourage this, again as anticipated.
Let us fight Corona together. Let us try to limit damage and evaluate situation as it is Now. Religion of course is a shield which can justify all kind of harm’s to humanity. This Osho repeated again and again.
Dear Bismee,
I don’t know of your knowledge of both islam and viruses. What I will advise you is to read this article It’s a planned attack on Islam in India. Here I put my case Read https://bit.ly/3azAWsM. you can get back to me on this and I am willing to answer all your questions.
Regards
Arshad Mohsin
But you didn’t explain why this is under attack in Malaysia? You didn’t mention any source for any of your claims? Are you an Arab?
Firstly you should not use Indian flag, you people are arabi culture followers, so how are you Indians? Don’t bring to shame to our flag you Arabi.
How killing, raping, enslaving and looting non-Muslims against Islam? Can the author please explain?
ANOTHER INVENTION OF MODERN TERRORISM THIS SPREADING. BIO JIHAD .
Today,individuals, families,communities nation and the world are worried and fighting against an invisible army. Fanatics are from all religions are searching to score brownie points. Cant tho author & others fanatics just shut up and do something useful.
If the doors of all religions were open during that period inclufing Vaishno Devi and Titupati then why point gingers only at the Tabhleegi Jamaat? The activities of the others are conveniently dismissed – “And we can’t justify it by saying that other religions had also kept their doors open for a long time. All doors should have been shut.” Then why were all doors not shut? And how do you know that the visitors to the other religious sites have also not spread the virus?
This is scurrilous agenda driven writing.
Can you provide evidence that Tripathi refused and do not abide by state laws of closing it down? You will not do it, I can bet.
The point simply is that thousands of people were freely visiting Tirupati well beyond 15th March with no screening. So how is that not irresponsible and if you will a “Hindu jehadi bomb”?
Firstly you must use your Arabic name. And secondly nobody is hiding foreigners like this terrorist supporter jamaat
My “arabic” name is Udaya Bose.
Just i am trying to say i will defend them till the end because they didn’t let people to die alone on the streets without food and shelter as you can see anandvihar and other districts of uttar pradesh its government fault that they didnt help the people after complaining to the authorities and a write a letter… what else they can do? And also pm modi requested that stay where you are! We the muslims are not lack of humanity in our hearts….we care!!
I don’t know about others but Will you sign a petition to return Mecca to Arab Pagans? Why Muslims stayed in India even after partition, what happened to humanity for non-Muslims? Why are Muslims asking non-Muslims to convert in Pakistan if they want food to eat?
As per you, they are equivalent to the government, can you explain?. How many people as of now died without food?
Go and ask pakistanis! And ask your forefathers not to convert or kill jains, buddhists , ajivikas and other tribal groups! Are you people real? And before you rise from the railway track that you are shitting on look behind, there is a man watching at you and laughing at the shit that is coming from either sides of your gut!
Muslim and Humanity are two opposite things. You arabi followers are not Indians but a liability to this country.
India is world -wide famous for two thing. First one is” Taj Mahal” one of the seventh wonder of the world which was built by Shah Jahan – a muslim and the second is for being secular where Hindu, Muslims and people of all religion lives together share equal rights. So I really feel u need to know more about India and our Constitution
More and more it appears that Islam is a curse on humanity.
Dear writer,
I am a Muslim and I never condoned the Tabhilighi Jamat for what they have done. Neither did none of my liberal brethren. Please stop acting like a silly kid, who keeps complaining of how liberals are, and if there is nothing to complain, just make up stuff to complain about.
This is a straw man that you are building up here. But we know where it comes from. Keep up!
You may be right. It is good to know that you have liberal friends. It would be great if you can quote some liberal leaders who have condoned this act of Tabhilighi Jamat.
Who are your liberal brethren? If you are muslim. And if you are muslim than you are surely not indian as you follow arabi culture and have nothing to do with Indian culture.
The congregation took place on 13-15 March,2020 .Were there any restrictions placed. The first Janata curfew was announced on 22.03.2020. Is the government also not reponsible in as allowing the meet and giving visas to persons from countries who were grappling with C-19. It is simply shifting of the blame.
Have you read the article? He has already answered those questions.
The idiots who attended this gathering should be rounded up and NOT be given any treatment, but just kept in quarantine. If they recover, Allah has heard them; if they die, too bad, Allah did not hear them. Let us not waste precious medical resources on folks who do not exercise common-sense, violate laws, and then mix with rest of populace happily. So-called liberal like Javed Akhtar is pointing out at the lapses in police and administration. Whenever a group does a mistake, they point fingers at others. Really sad at this so-called liberal.
Religion should be strictly kept personal, and nation should be put first. Any person of any religion who does this should be punished.
Mr. Taskin is highly ill informed about the social and religious role the Tabliqh Jamaat plays in our country India. Should visit and stay there to see, check and analyse the daily routine of the Jamaat before pulling them in a negative tone. I condemn these comments. We muslims try to appease the Almighty and not any other individual. Hence its been very clear to take a shot at us as an easy target. The Nizamuddin incident is a carelessness of our system as the Central Govt. was busy counting numbers of MLA’s to form a Govt in Madhya Pradesh and getting the seats for Rajya Sabha. No focus was made on the religious meetiings held at Markaz, Nizamuddin which involved many foreign visitors being the Head quarter. Even the Delhi Govt. needs to take the blame as to why against lockdown and information received from the Jamaat about people stuck in the Head quarter, no action was taken. Moreover when foreign nationals were visiting India along with other regular individuals from various destinations, why they were not screened and data maintained as to trace their locations. Its quite simple nowadays to target muslims and the religion , Mr. Taskin should perhaps invest this time at the Head quarter which is under 24×7 vigil of various security agencies before spewing venom. Simple to write an article against muslims and Islam is a regular practice to gather attention of the masses . Should be stopped.
“We muslims try to appease the Almighty and not any other individual.”
This statement is wrong in so many ways. It just shows your utter lack of respect for others and their beliefs and your peoples’ disgusting selfishness.
It’s disgraceful you play the victim card when you don’t respect the laws of the land. Let me tell you, you only get what you dish out to others. So when you say Muslims are not respected, there’s good reason for that
Your thoughts are equally poisonous as the virus and for our sake, please stay far away from the rest of us.
You should be ashamed!
By your logic Muslims have no responsibilities, all the responsibilities are on Kafir to stop the spread of the virus. How this article is against Islam?
You try to appease the almighty, but the almighty does not get appeased. And why does it happen? Because you lack honesty in your appeasement, just like our secular politicians.
The author clearly proves her bias and tries to prove that Hindus are also equally culpable.
She has not quoted any published scientific paper that has identified that Ganga and Yamuna pollution is caused by religious waste.
Yamuna is polluted after Delhi and there is no significant religious activity that takes place. Delhi takes Yamuna’s water and replaces with its sewage.
Ganga has lost a lot of water due to Tihri dam. Further City sewage and untreated discharged from factories, particularly from tanneries, is the culprits.
Both these facts are scientifically proven and volumes of peer reviewed papers have been published. I will appreciate if ThePrint at least maintain scientific accuracy – if not intellectual honesty.
This author is ignoring the point of view of Tabligh administration.
Which point ignored?
Islam itself is a virus that doesn’t kill but changes the functioning of human mind in such a way that any scientific reasoning or argument become rubbish to humans infected by this virus.
Hats off to author for boldly writing against Islamic. If islamic practiced instead of preaching, a lot of their own people could have been saved. Now they have left ordinary Muslims in a lurch and turned all of them as an object of vilification. Though, they all strictly followed Lockdown.
You are sure what you are saying???
The believers are doing what the scriptures are telling them to do. The author being a believer of the Arabic ideology, should know better. What choice any believers???
According to several Hadith collected by the most famous of the Collectors. Sahih Al Bukhari
1. Allah Apostle did say that diseases are NOT contagious.
2. Allah Apostle did say that martyrdom is the ultimate thing.
3. Allah Apostle did say that there are 5 ways of martyrdom.
4. Allah Apostle did say that Death by plague and other epidemics is martyrdom
Please read. It is available online.
So, if you are a true believer and trust Allah’s Apostle seriously, and blindly – what else you can do? can the author elaborate.
Is the Author suggesting that people should NOT trust Sahih Al Bukhari or any other collectors of any Hadith??? Yes, all these Hadiths were collected and written down almost 200-250 years after Allah’s Apostle’s death. or is it that Allah’s Apostle made mistakes??
.
Or open up your mind and brains, and be conscious …and read these scriptures as historical documents only – NOT messages from Allah or his Apostle.
rather this a wise comment would had been more den welcomed
Are you?
While your knowledge of the Arabic language/culture is commendable, your response is probably out of context.
Whatever their beliefs, when the govt says stay home, people should STFU and stay at home.
In an emergency such as the one we’re in, its stupid and highly irresponsible for anyone to congregate in such large numbers. That’s it!
If not for themselves, they should have atleast stayed at home for the greater good of others.
It’s exactly this lack of respect for everyone else apart from their own that they receive such harsh backlash. I have no sympathy for them.
But the sad part is, they’ve probably infected hundreds of innocent people and they don’t even have the decency to own up to their idiocracy.
Shame on them!
You over acting bro!
Nope, Tablighi Jamaat has given the same arguments and has spread viruses in Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and now India. And they have done it in the name of Islam and Allah and quoting hadiths. Many of them even though knowing that they had the virus never informed and not informing even now.
Anyway, are you defending Tablighi Jamaat or not?
Dear Mr. Gosh, you are twisting facts and cherry picking. If you want to read and not distort the message that Islam spreads, then please read this
https://www.newsweek.com/prophet-prayer-muhammad-covid-19-coronavirus-1492798
Also please not that these people made a huge mistake no doubt, but everywhere in the world similar acts of stupidity have been committed. Read up on the pastor in Florida and you will know what I am referring to.
First and foremost order as per hadith is not to go to an area where there’s an epidemic and if you are already there the orders are not to leave the place. Martyrdom in a epidemic ridden area is stated for the ones who listened to this message, complied and didn’t leave. Hence the message is pretty clear and far superior to the current day quarantines and scientifically effective.
Stop spreading hatred. They made a mistake. Charge them and take them to the court. Other religious entities also gathered but for a few hours. You know it and I know it as well. This group, being ginormous, also followed the routine of staying at these quarters which is a norm otherwise. But no doubt in the current global situation, it was idiotic, irresponsible and uncalled for. But the majority of these people are not scientists. You, being a very clever individual faulted by misquoting hadith and promoting hatred. How are you being different than them?
She is another apologist of this middle East nonsense
It is an idiotic reaction in itself! Yes, it was a blunder on the part of the Jamaat. But the fact remains that gatherings were banned on 13th when the premises were already full of foriegners and locals . Thousands of people have foreign travel history but do you expect everyone to self-isolate or get themselves quarantined in shit filled smelly rooms? To top it with the idiotic governments that you have, both at state and center levels who flew their citizens from hotspots and now rmptied the Markaz which could’ve been used a quarantine facility. Your article is a veiled dig at Islam in itself and has overtones of islamophobia. There is no coherence in your views. Don’t blame the jamaat, blame the idiots that are running your governments. I know jamaat has become a scapegoat and will be blamed for the disaster that india will pass through. But it was already in the making. Your ghanta curfews and lies won’t stop the coronavirus to spread. Way to go idiot, way to go!
Ah, another muslim hiding behind the comment. It’s fine, we are used to such people by now.
Wtf are you saying “your govt” for? Where the hell are you from? If you don’t share the same govt, then please stop throwing your gyaan about “someone else’s” govt that you might not be aware of.
People blaming govt is the easiest escape these days. No sense of self responsibility, just blame the govt like they are sitting and waiting for you to shit and them to clean it up. So convenient isn’t it.
You freaking people stop supporting your people when it is not just ! Speak up.
Stop your victim card playing, we have seen enough and we are highly fed up. You people only come with full voice when even a small injustice happen to your people. But when all these things happen to others, you don’t give a damn. Why? Coz they are not from your community? Heights of religious fanaticism.
So please. Fed up.
You’re too naive to understand the factors to be considered before deciding something. A place needs to be sterilized and tested free from radicals and not do a irresponsible “disaster” by using that building for others. Naive.
Very Nicely said sir.. but you only showed one part of it.. If you are relating this event with religion then please look at all other places of workship too which violated norms of the state and central government. See what happened in Karnataka today when lockdown was relaxed (don’t know why was it relaxed). People flocked the market and there was no social distancing.. or take the event of today from dadar (mumbai) same thing. Are we going to blame the religion for the plain stupidity of the people. Govt. is not to be blame in-spite of such late response (can’t blame them to be too busy in toppling state government). Regarding online material you read only the half.. the next half let me tell you . The apostle said if you know that in some place a pandemic is there , don’t go there and if there is a pandemic in place where you live .. don’t leave it and go to other place. Please do the research properly.. Brother hatred let us see only one side of a coin.. When i salute the tri-color, I am not saluting a mere cloth I am saluting the value it represent. A nation is not a piece of land with boundary . A nation means it people, If you love your nation love your people. Regarding scripture and their translation.. we can talk seperately.. why only muslim or hindu.. i can translate to you all religion scripture.. Gandhi said if you want to understand about your religion then read other religion and understand it first
over reaction…
i totally agree with the editorial. i will go further and request the concerned persons to apologise to the nation. and let all the muslims who attended the the jamaat form a COVID INDIA help group after their recovery. This will not only serve nation but will also earn lots of blessings from ALLAH, whose happiness is the ultimate goal of all religious discourses.
Presently there is no need to apologise. If all the attendees who could not be traced yet can voluntarily come forward and let government know where they visited in the last 15 days so that contact tracing can be done and people likely exposed isolated, that will go a long way in controlling the damage already done than any apologizing.
The govt decision to vacate the mosque and transfer all these people congregated at the mosque is a double blunder. They should have been confined to the premises and given tests or quarantine or treatment as required in situ. The facility has hosted over 3000 delegates for over 15 days and surely can continue for another few weeks. The required medical and security teams could be pooled from within the jamat and necessary equipment, medicines provided.
We have now ensured that it spreads outside and wider.
Here in this case the quarantine is to stop people getting affected further and medically monitored. Many have been admitted to hospital for treatment. Had they been allowed to stay in the same place, 2631 of then as per the figures released yesterday, everybody will, sooner than later. After vacating the premises, now Delhi govt is doing major sanitization operations to clean the filth left over by occupants.
You are trying to explain logic to an extremist Muslim. She wont get it.
Exactly so. If they have alrfeady gathered they should have been asked to stay there until the risk is finally over. Allowing them to leave was another big mistake. I know that many would consider this against freedom but this is not the right moment to excercise rights rather it’s of utmost importance that we excercise safety first.
I agree. Those people should be left alone to stay inside and never allowed to come out. Now they are spreading the disease everywhere in the country.
they are actually a threat to the society ( as usual)!!! Sick of these monsters!!!!