"Validation of the Attribution of the Tablighi Jamaat (Ashā‘ah al-Tawḥīd) to Deobandism: A Methodological and Ideological Analysis"

The Tablighi Jamaat (Ashā‘ah al-Tawḥīd), as an emerging movement in the Muslim world, identifies itself as affiliated with the Deobandi school. Given the influence of this movement and the necessity of distinguishing it from Deobandism, this study examines the validity of this attribution from methodological and ideological perspectives. In this regard, the citation practices of these two groups regarding their scholars and masters, as well as their views on divine oneness (Tawḥīd al-Ilāhī), lordship oneness (Tawḥīd al-Rubūbī), and the issue of hearing the dead (Samā‘ al-Mawtī), are analyzed. Using a library-based method and comparative analysis, this research demonstrates that the Deobandis not only do not consider the Tablighi Jamaat as part of their school but also regard them as outside the fold of Ahl al-Sunnah. Furthermore, fundamental differences in the theological foundations of Tawḥīd between the two currents—especially regarding the concept of Tawḥīd al-Rubūbī and the condition of intention (niyyah) in acts of worship—highlight their ideological distinction. Deobandis consider absolute independence in lordship as an exclusive attribute of God and hold that polytheists (mushrikūn) commit shirk in this regard, whereas the Tablighi Jamaat defines rubūbīyah as absolute dominion and governance, thereby considering polytheists as monotheists (muwaḥḥidūn) in this domain. This research represents the first comparative analysis between these two groups.