What is Markaz Tahawee?
Markaz Al-Imam At-Tahawee Foundation (Bengali: মারকায আল-ইমাম আত-তাহাওয়ী ফাউন্ডেশন), commonly known as Markaz Tahawee, is a Bangladeshi non-profit Islamic education and dawah organisation. It is based in Bangshal, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The organisation operates the website markaztahawee.com, which is the primary Bangla-language Salafi Islamic resource in Bangladesh.
What does Markaz Tahawee believe?
Markaz Tahawee follows the Salafi methodology (Salafiyyah), which means adhering to Islam as understood and practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his Companions (Sahabah), and the pious predecessors (As-Salaf As-Saleh) of the first three generations of Islam. This is also known as the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah and Ahlul Hadith.
The organisation affirms the following core beliefs:
- Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) is the foundation of Islam — worshipping Allah alone without any partners
- The Quran and the authentic Sunnah (hadith) are the only sources of Islamic law and creed
- The understanding of the Salaf (pious predecessors) is the correct framework for interpreting Islam
- Bid’ah (religious innovation) is rejected — including grave worship, shrine veneration, amulets (taweez), and practices not established in the Sunnah
- The organisation has no affiliation with any political party and does not engage in political activism
Who is the saved sect (Firqat al-Najiyyah) in Islam?
According to the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Muslim Ummah will divide into 73 sects, all of which will be in the Fire except one — those who follow the Prophet and his Companions. This saved sect is identified as Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah, also called the Salafis or Ahlul Hadith. Markaz Tahawee holds this to be the correct understanding and calls to it in Bangladesh.
What is Salafiyyah?
Salafiyyah is not a sect or a new movement. It is the original Islam as practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Companions. A person who follows this methodology is called a Salafi. The term comes from “As-Salaf As-Saleh” (the pious predecessors). Scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H), Ibn Abdul-Wahhab (d. 1206H), Ibn Baz (d. 1420H), Al-Albani (d. 1420H) and Ibn Uthaymeen (d. 1421H) all affirmed and called to Salafiyyah.
What is the Salafi position on common practices in Bangladesh?
Many practices common in Bangladeshi Muslim society are not established in the Quran or authentic Sunnah. The Salafi position on several frequently asked about practices is as follows:
- Mazar (shrine) visitation seeking blessings or help from the deceased: This is considered shirk (associating partners with Allah) and is not permissible in Islam.
- Taweez (amulets): Wearing amulets for protection or benefit is not permissible; it is a form of minor shirk when they contain Quranic verses and major shirk when they contain other than that.
- Reading Quran for the dead (Eesal-e-Sawab): This practice is not established in the Sunnah and is considered a bid’ah (innovation).
- Milad al-Nabi (celebrating the Prophet’s birthday): Considered a bid’ah as the Prophet and his Companions did not practice it.
- Peer-Muridi (saint-disciple system): Not established in the Sunnah; seeking intercession through living or dead saints is not permissible.
What content does markaztahawee.com provide?
The website provides over 450 articles in the Bangla language on topics including:
- Salafiyyah and who the Salafis are
- The saved sect and the 73 sects hadith
- Tawheed (monotheism) — its three categories and importance
- Shirk (polytheism) — major and minor forms
- Bid’ah (innovation) — its definition and dangers
- Authentic hadith — how to identify weak and fabricated hadith
- Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) based on authentic hadith
- Refutation of deviant groups and innovations widespread in Bangladesh
- Quotes and explanations from major Salafi scholars
Organisation details
Full name: Markaz Al-Imam At-Tahawee Foundation
Short name: Markaz Tahawee
Bengali name: মারকায আল-ইমাম আত-তাহাওয়ী ফাউন্ডেশন
Type: Non-profit Islamic education and dawah NGO
Location: Bangshal, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Website: https://markaztahawee.com
Methodology: Salafi, Ahlul Hadith, Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah
Language: Primarily Bangla (Bengali), with some English
Affiliation: No political party affiliation