Ever since London was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games in 2005 (a day before the 7/7 bombings), the area around the proposed Olympic site in East London has been subject to a flurry of construction activity and proposals. Part of the rationale for the selection itself was to inject sorely needed economic activity and infrastructure into the neglected area. As such, the growing pains have prompted the usual debates about gentrification, allocation of funds, and the virtues of architectural context.

But none of this activity has stirred up as much controversy as the proposed Abbeymills Mosque, slated by its critics as a "mega-mosque" with dire implications for everything from aesthetics to national security. Many of the statistics used in opposition to the mosque have been wildly inflated, with allegations of 100,000+ capacities and the use of £100 million of taxpayers money. In reality, the mosque has a capacity of 12,000 (only 2,000 more than the current largest) and no use of public funds, as verified by London's mayor Ken Livingstone, one of the mosque's supporters. A school for 500 students is also part of the project.

Behind the numbers, the primary motivation for opponents is the group behind the mosque, the Tablighi Jamaat. Founded in India nearly a century ago with a claimed 70-80 million followers worldwide, the Tablighi Jamaat is a revivalist group with no formal hierarchy and a focus on practicing (or less than practicing, in their view) Muslims. Its current mosques, or markaz, in Dewsbury (their European headquarters) and London are overflowing with worshippers, which prompted the land purchase for Abbeymills even before the Olympics were awarded. For a group described as "quietist," the scandal has been a splash of cold water.

Opponents cite the crossed paths of a number of extremists with Tablighi Jamaat, including Mohammed Siddique Khan (from the 7/7 attacks) and Kafeel Ahmed (from the failed Glasgow attack this year), though they have provided nothing substantive. Neither were formal members of the group at the time of their terror attacks, nor did they appear influenced by doctrines espousing violence or political activity (Tabligh has none). Elsewhere, there are charges that the group seeks to convert all of Britain, though any evangelical group would likely claim the same. The Tablighi Jamaat are many things - apolitical, conservative (and if you have them as uninvited houseguests, mildly annoying). But extremists or terrorists - probably not.

An internet petition against the mosque signed by over 250,000 was rebutted by the government for its "untrue information," though it acknowledged raised tensions if the scale of the mosque was not kept in check. Tablighi Jamaat claims the organiser of a similar petition of 2,500 by Muslims (driven primarily by sectarian sentiment) now supports the mosque. Links to Saudi funding for the mosque have been denied (though the Saudi-funded Muslim World League did contribute to the group's Dewsbury headquarters).

As for the building itself, the architects for the initial scheme, which may have compounded the confusion of its scale, were sacked earlier this year, possibly due to the heightened media exposure. During the time this scheme was made public, there was insufficient effort made by Tablighi Jamaat to defend or explain the mosque. Said architect Ali Mangera, "They should have responded to the criticism by speaking to the press and public instead of remaining silent for the last three years."

It is this public silence, a characteristic of the low-lying group, combined with its decentralised authority that has led to a lacklustre defense of the project. At the first public meeting on the issue last month, official representatives failed to show up to a public meeting to debate the mosque. A local councillor and leading opponent, Alan Craig, was left to vent against the group, defended only by an activist whose ties to the Tablighi Jamaat were severed along with Mangera.

Still, there are signs the group may learn constructively from the experience. A new, high-profile architect has been commissioned for a revised (and presumably more sensitive) scheme, with a planning application expected in 2008. A more detailed explanation of the mosque and the motivations for building it can now be seen on the mosque's website. And video rebuttals have been created to counter Craig's own YouTube salvos.

"We were never going to have a 70,000 or 80,000-capacity mosque - that's Wembley Stadium," notes Tabligh member Abdul Rashid Bhatti. "This is 18 acres. It was never going to be funded by public money ... We feel threatened and saddened by the way the project has been hijacked." Forced by circumstance, the group promises a more active participation in public discourse on the mosque in the future, which could be the beginning of an increased public interaction and a tempering of the group's isolationist views.

"Opponents cite the crossed paths of a number of extremists to cross Tabligh's path." Who hasn't?

>> Founded in India nearly a century ago with a claimed 70-80 million followers worldwide, the Tablighi Jamaat is a revivalist group with no formal hierarchy and a focus on practicing

That is the case for the entire Ummah. The idea of structure and organisation has always been a loose one. Todays tabligh jamaati may well be tomorrows jihadist. The opposite may also be true. Todays tabligh masjid may well be tomorrows sufi masjid. The Pakistani government has been hampering the flow of tablighi jamaats from India on the basis of their active support for terrorist groups. It may be baseless but there is a possibility that people would under the guise of the jamaat activities find ways to gain access to some more militant networks.

But will they have equal access for women in the masjid? Will Shia be allowed to perform salaah in this masjid? Those are issues of importance to the Ummah. I also think that this group maintains its quiet stance in a western environment because of lifestyle choices. Young girls may be forced to leave school or marry against their will etc. But I guess the subcontinent always posed unique issues.

The Tabighi Jamaat scare me and I am Muslim. Not for their overt terrorist activity but for their elitist attitude and their assumption that it is their "job" to determine who is or is not a practicing Muslim. Their archaic views towards women and their strict interpetation of Hadith provide little space for Muslims outside their ideology.

>> Will Shia be allowed to perform salaah in this masjid? <<

Perhaps you mean "Will Ahmadinejad be allowed to visit?"
Ha ah ah ahha hah. Ouch. Inclusivesness cuts both ways my friend.

>> "Will Ahmadinejad be allowed to visit?"

One things for sure. Differences do not reconcile exclusive notions of Deen. Shia and Sunni, rich and poor, man and woman, pure and dodgy ... all should have access to the houses of worship.

>> The Tabighi Jamaat scare me..

What I've learnt is that the brothers are sincere and can teach alot of good .. even if people disagree with them on some points. And the Masjid would probably cater for a very cosmopolitan group of Muslims.

What I've learnt is that the brothers are sincere and can teach alot of good .. even if people disagree with them on some points. And the Masjid would probably cater for a very cosmopolitan group of Muslims.

They are sincere in their efforts to enforce their own rules and ideas on everyone else. As a Muslim woman I resent their efforts to exclude me from the public forum. A year or two ago they were allowed to hold their weekend convention at our masjid. This is the first time ever women were told they could not enter through the main doors and instead of sitting in the back of the prayer area as we usually did, we were forced to enter and worship in a small classroom area that was not nearly big enough for all of us. There were several Tablighi "Taliban" brothers who met us as we were entering and refused us to enter through the main entrance. Excuse me if I don't have much respect for their "brand" of Islam. They need to get real jobs!

Well, like all institutions across the planet that influence people's lives in a powerful way, the Jamat-e-Tabligh is no different in that it suffers from a totalatarian fasicm of sorts. As in, "You are With Us or Against Us". One can hardly blame the Tablish for this malady.

POINT: That power to do good at a broader scale comes with fascist conformism. The wishy washy non-committal weekend Islam (like Christianity) practiced by most American Muslims like peace4all is all very inclusive and "politically correct", but what has it accomplished in the broader scheme of things? Zippo.

Lest one forget, the people who are standing up to the fascism of the Neo-cons are the Tablighi "Talibans" back in South-Asia. The "cosmopiltan Muslims" have no real power to do anything really. Well except organize the fabulous annual ISNA Mating Conference.

The wishy washy non-committal weekend Islam (like Christianity) practiced by most American Muslims like peace4all is all very inclusive and "politically correct", but what has it accomplished in the broader scheme of things? Zippo.

Wow! You have no idea what kind of Islam I or anyone else practice, nor do you have the right to make assumptions about what anyone has or has not accomplished. Please tell me what judgemental know-it-alls like you or anyone else accomplish or what positive contributions you make to society?
I live Islam everyday by trying to practice the positive characteristics and examples that were lived by the Prophet. Helping to protect and serve humankind in a productive and honorable way.
I don't believe this is accomplished by eating with my hands or questioning others about why they are not praying fajr in the Masjid. The Quran warns us against slandering other Muslims or making assumptions about their faith, I would remind you that those who you slander may be more honorable in the eyes of Allah.
Quran 49:11

http://general.rau.ac.za/sociology/FinalZahraa.pdf

http://etd.rau.ac.za/theses/available/etd-06282005-091515/restricted/mathesis.pdf

I think that we can all teach each other something. Every perspective is valid. Every good counsel is helpful and Ummah developing. Its the whole truth that evades all of us. Islam is not just Dawah or Dhikr or Tariqas or Fiqh or Shariah or Politics or Business or Social Work or Social Empowerment or Charity or Five Pillars or Quraan or Sunnah or Shia or Sunni or Sufi .. it is all of these and more and none of these. The definitions we set are where we stand our ground. As Muslims, we are too quick to stand our ground, and usually do so when there is no obstacle ahead of us.

>> POINT: That power to do good at a broader scale comes with fascist conformism

Thats the most naively stupid and unIslamic thing I've ever heard anyone say. If you can find an example that points to this in the Islamic framework of our Prophet SAW then produce your evidence. Shura/Consensus are the founding blocks of the Medinan society.

>> the people who are standing up to the fascism of the Neo-cons are the Tablighi "Talibans" back in South-Asia.

Tabligh is surprisingly apolitical at the current moment (if you must represent the movement learn about its pacifist founder Moulana Ilyaas). If every active Tabligh person crossed over to Afghanistan to fight, it would be Vietnam for the American troops all over again and worse. As a matter of fact, the occupiers prefer the Taliban as an enemy. Better than actively social and politically developed bodies that tried to establish themselves in the past in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. ... and just about every other Muslim country. I think your opinion is naive and distracts from the goals of Ummah development.

>> "You are With Us or Against Us".

You know nothing about the broad aims of Tabligh. People may not like you for being different, but they certainly cannot exclude you. Jamaat is a very active process and the members I know who are actively involved, have a variety of thoughts on a variety of issues and are only confined to the limits of the movements Dawaah programme, which is in itself also very broad.

..Jamaat-e-Tabligh: A Model of Inclusivity....

Ha ah aha hah a ahaaha ahaa. For sure........

As long as Britain is engaged in wars in Muslim lands, its own Muslim minority will be subject to such vicious campaigns. Never trust an Englishman as the Irish say.

>> its own Muslim minority will be subject to such vicious campaigns.

What vicious campaigns are its minoritys subject to? Are you referring to petitions and referundums against muslims in a society that protects the freedom to practice religion?

>> Jamaat-e-Tabligh: A Model of Inclusivity

As opposed to which other models of inclusivity? For the purpose of discussion.

>> As opposed to which other models of inclusivity? For the purpose of discussion. <<

Well, the whole methodology of the Jamaat is one of recruitment. The basic idea is not to impart a certain set of knowledge or education or training on the average Muslim on the street and thats it. Its to become part of the tableegh movement and start going around people's houses and whatever and doing the same.

When the tableeghis attack their prey, they do not say, ok we have this course, why don't you take it and you will know more, or our goal is to make you frequent your local mosque and that is it. On the contrary, when you do go to your local mosque on their behest, you find yourself being recruited for the next stage, to travel with them.

Which is all well and good, nothing wrong with that. The way I see it, tight knit jamaats, gangs, cults, communities are able to do great things with a handful of people, that loose knit groups may not be able to accomplish with ten times or even hundred times as many people. Its the nature of things.

And you will rarely ever see the Jamaat reaching out to other organizations and working in tandem with them. I dono in UK, but here in North America, the Jamaat is notorious for not working with other Islamic groups. They are a bit narrow minded simpelton people in that sense, unable to fathom the complexities of modern society or more sophisticated Islamic ideas. Example as quoted earlier of their inability to handle aggressive self-righteous American Muslim females that nowadays abound in most rich suburban Islamic Centers. I suppose in that sense it is only natural for them to become isolated and dismissive.

While it is easy to beat up on the Jamaat, may Allah bless their work, in terms of models of inclusivity, frankly there are none. ALL Islamic groups are by nature exclusive, after all that is why they are there, because someone else is not practising Islam in the right way they consider right. I have studied under atleast three, and I find they are really unable to overcome differences and communicate with each other, forget co-operating on a broader scale. Too bad.

I think most Islamic jamaats-movements-groups are reductively classifiable into Political, Sufi and Salafi (for lack of better terminology) threads. And the problem is communicating across these borders. I imagine the tableegh must have little difficulty hobnobing with other groups with sufi underpinnings. The problem is in working with say Salafi groups that are more strict about the doctrinal issues that make up formal religion. On a similar vein, political movements work in a different sphere, they are more pre-occupied with practical realities of social justice in open society, and often tend to underemphasize sufi spiritual development or strict formal religious doctrinal constraints.

>> the whole methodology of the Jamaat is one of recruitment..
>> ALL Islamic groups are by nature exclusive, after all that is why they are there, because someone else is not practising Islam in the right way they consider right
>> .. are reductively classifiable into Political, Sufi and Salafi

lol ... Do you just make this stuff up or does talking utter nonsense come easy to you. I challenge you to prove any of these statements. My own assertions have already diminished your "declarations"

>> .. are reductively classifiable into Political, Sufi and Salafi <<

Well, I believe that is true. The Islamic groups and jamaats that are the most inclusive are usually the ones with the least "potent" agendas for societal change. Wishy washy stuff, mating conventions, kissing ass of local politicains that sort of thing. Like MAC, ISNA here in North America. Any group requiring serious bodily sacrifice from its members to attain its goals automatically becomes exclusive
and intolerant.

Such groups usually approach religion in three distinct threads. Literalism, aka salafi, involves authentication and literal practice. This is the underpinning of their methodology, adherence to which results in the hope for betterment in the world. With the idea that personal interpretations and cultism are removed in the hope of a unifying common platform ideology.

Tableeghi style, aka sufi, whereby there is an utter renouncement of worldly life and promotion of fakirism in various forms is another thread common among some religious groups. The idea being that the problems of the world can be solved this way, by simply doing away with materialism altogether, as if it does not exist.

Sandwiched between these two extremes are other groups that operate more on a poltico-jihadist format. Some of them have sufi or salafi underpinnings, but their methodology is more clearly one of active political involvement, a sort of realpolitik. Betterment of society to them is clearly tied to political establishment. Or vice versa, that is why political establishment is in place to start with, for betterment of society.

Insofar as the Prophetic Ideal? Depending on how you look at it, all three format of religious groups see Early Islam from their own angle. No one has been able to duplicate the era of the first 30 years of Islam, nor anybody will, so as a result, peoples have broken up into groups trying to emulate one dimension or another as a asort of substitute.

By modern day sophisticated standards, the Prophet and his companions were basically "fakirs". Raggedy, happy-go-lucky, Robin Hood type characters. So it is little wonder the tableeghis try to renounce the world and emulate that dimension. Yet, the Prophet was the head of state and did fight wars and raise a military to defend the religion and the people. And through all this, the Sahaba were quite particular about their religion and its distinctness from past traditions.

I would hardly consider the Tablighi "sufi-ists", since their strict interpetations of Islam leave little room for open thought.