Tabligh Movement
1. MAULANA ILYAS
~ 13 ~
Maulana’s eyes, only a secondary one; that is, it had
considerably enhanced his own image and, as he
himself was now held in reverence, he was in a
better position to bring pressure to bear upon them
when it came to solving their disputes; there was no
doubt that he was extremely successful in this
regard. The Mewatis said, “Though a mere skeleton,
when he takes up any issue, he can work wonders.
He can solve complicated problems in a matter of
minutes. Even the most stubborn of us surrender
ourselves before him.”
But this was not the main issue. What the Maulana
was primarily concerned with was the awakening
in them of the religious spirit. Their religious inertia
was so deep—rooted that even school courses could
not help them to slough it off. This failure of the
schools greatly distressed him, and he gave the
question much thought. At last he arrived at the
conclusion that the real inadequacy lay in the
present method of working: the attempt to educate
them in their own atmosphere and in the scene of
their own activities. In such surroundings the best
efforts on the part of the teachers were in vain. As
soon as the young people left the school they
