The Tablighi Jamaat, a global Islamic missionary movement, has been rocked by internal divisions in recent years centring the Bishwa Ijtema, one of the world’s largest Islamic congregations held annually in Bangladesh’s Tongi.
In the latest rounds of clashes today, four people were left dead and hundreds injured.
The police have imposed bans on gatherings around the Ijtema grounds, while heavy security has been deployed in Tongi and other parts of the capital to avert any further untoward incidents.
But what is the root cause of the conflict?
Two years in the making
On 5 November this month, a grand rally was organised by the Ulama Mashayekh Bangladesh in the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan.
It brought together Islamic leaders and scholars from across the country to discuss various issues, with a focus on opposing Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi of Delhi, a prominent figure in the Tablighi Jamaat.
The gathering called for a restriction on Kandhalvi and his followers from attending the Biswa Ijtema and making the Kakrail mosque off-limits to them.
The controversy around Kandhalvi had been sparked years ago.
In 2018, a faction of the Tabligh Jamaat blocked the busy Airport Road protesting the arrival of the Saad Kandhalvi from India to attend the Ijtema. It was reminiscent of what had happened just a year earlier.
The protests were mostly led by members of Hefajat-e- Islam who chanted slogans against Kandhalvi for what they claimed were “controversial comments about the Koran and Sunnah”.
More importantly, Kandhalvi had also at the time announced himself as the sole Amir of Tabligh Jamaat, angering senior preachers of the Tabligh headquarters in India as well.
Kandhalvi had courted controversy over similar comments, with Deobandi leaders also issuing a fatwa against him.
In the end, Kandhalvi could not attend the 53rd Ijtema, returning home to India soon after.
Recent Clashes Over Ijtema
Tensions escalated over the scheduling and control of the Bishwa Ijtema grounds.
In December 2024, both factions planned separate preparatory events (Jor Ijtema) leading up to the main congregation. The Zubayer faction held their event from 29 November to 3 December, while the Saad faction announced theirs for 20 December.
Disputes over the use of the Ijtema grounds led to confrontations.
Both sides have accused each other of initiating the violence, with reports of attacks involving bricks, knives, and other weapons.
The situation prompted the deployment of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel to restore order.
What it all means
The internal strife within the Tablighi Jamaat over the Bishwa Ijtema underscores deeper issues of leadership and ideological differences within the movement.
The clashes have not only led to loss of life and injuries but have also raised concerns about the future unity of the organisation and the peaceful conduct of one of the largest Islamic gatherings globally.
Efforts toward reconciliation and dialogue between the factions are crucial to preserving the Tablighi Jamaat’s mission and ensuring the safety and spiritual focus of the Bishwa Ijtema.
