Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Joining an organization to do Islamic work is not a bid`ah; rather it is either recommended or permissible unless one is dogmatic about it and considers those outside its fold as non-Muslims, or one pays absolute allegiance to them in disregard to the dictates of the established principles of Islam.

Let me clarify this by saying:

Bid`ah is a term often misused by people. Bid`ah properly defined concerns are instituting acts of worship which have no sanction or evidence in the sources of Islam. It cannot be used to judge actions or institutions that do not intend to substitute or interfere with acts of worship.

Muslims are ordered by Allah to cooperate on projects that are virtuous for the welfare of humanity. Allah says, “And co-operate with one another to advance virtue and consciousness and do not work on promoting vices and oppression or aggression.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:2)

Therefore, if a particular group of Muslims were to organize themselves to propagate Islam and virtue, it cannot be deemed as Bid`ah.

No one can exaggerate the fact that working to promote the cause of Islam and morality is more efficient when done collectively rather than through individuals working in solitudes. The forces of evil and corruption organize and unite their forces. They plan and strategize; so, it takes collective work on the part of Muslims to promote the ideals and values of Islam.

So, forming an organization and joining as a member to support such work is fine and recommended. However, while doing so, one should be clear as to the terms and conditions:

1- One’s ultimate loyalty ought to be to Allah and His messenger; hence his or her membership or support of any organization or its work is conditional on it being clearly within the bounds of the divine law. For there is no obedience to anyone in defiance to the Creator. As Imam Malik said, “No one’s words are worthy of unquestionable compliance except those of the Messenger of Allah.”

2- One should stay clear of fanaticism and sectarianism: That would be the case if he or she believes that one’s Islam is not complete without joining his or her particular Jama`ah and thus puts out those who join similar organizations outside the fold of Islam. In other words, one should not think that one’s organization is the sole representative of Islam.

3- One should never resort to violence or bloodshed in promoting the above goals.

Once these terms are clear and acted upon, there is nothing wrong with being a member of any of the organizations such as Jamaat-e Islami, Ikhwan al-Muslimoon or Jamaat al-Tabligh, etc.

It would be even better for a Muslim to support the good works done by each of these groups or organizations.

Mawdudi is a thinker who was a product of his milieu. He developed an ideological interpretation of Islam; as some of the eminent scholars such as Mawlana Abul Hasan Nadvi said he was often extreme in politicizing Islam or over reacting to the Western imperialism and communism, etc. In other words, he made mistakes, and Jamaate Islami of India has distanced itself from such extreme ideas. As Mawlana himself said, this does not mean that one could dismiss his contributions to the cause of Islam. Let us remind ourselves of the wisdom of Imam Malik cited above that no one is above critique or refutation except the Messenger of Allah.

Allah Almighty knows best.