Re: Jamaat
Firenze, contrary to your extreme opinion probably derived from watching youtube videos of random people, I have personally interacted with many families where husbands are very active in tableegh jamaat activities. This is what I have to say:
- These men are not extremists. Their goal is to remind the muslims of our basic fardh. it is NOT wrong to do that unlike the progessive muslims today who believe in the philosophy of “to each their own.” It is fardh upon us to remind each other if we see someone going astray. We will be questioned about this on the day of judgement. So what they are doing is actually a very noble service to the muslim ummah.
- They learn perserverance. All tableeghi men I know are self sufficient. They are more relaxed at home and learn to appreciate their wives better because they are reminded of their responsibilities as muslim men over and over again. Also, the fact that you do indeed get influenced by the company you keep comes into effect here as a tableeghi guy learns how other men deal with situations from the Islamic standpoint.
What I have issues with is when these men go on extended jamaats, sometimes they do not care about their primary sources of income. I know one brother who’s lost his job 2 times because wanted to gp for the 40 day jamaat and his company had to let him go as he did not have sufficient vacation time. The other thing is sometimes, these folks do not consider the problems their families might face when they are gone for so long, especially if the wife cannot drive, etc.
Now I have a problem with that, but ask the wives of these jamaatis…they are some of the happiest women I have seen. Content and secure.