Introduction to Majlis-e-Tauqeet (Dawat-e-Islami)
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! Dawat-e-Islami, a Madani movement of devotees of the Prophet, is engaged in serving Islam across the globe in more than 100 departments. One important department is ‘Majlis-e-Tauqeet’. Majlis-e-Tauqeet has the privilege of guiding Muslims across the globe in relation to Salah, Sahari and Iftari timings and direction of Qibla since 1431 AH corresponding to 2010. Majlis-e-Tauqeet follows the principles granted by A’la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه in ascertaining the timings and direction of Qiblah.
A narration on the importance of Ilm-e-Tauqeet1
The Tabi’ee, expert scholar of the Taurah, Sayyiduna Ka’b-ul-Ahbar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has stated: We find the following written in the Taurah: The Ummah of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم abundantly praise Allah Almighty. They will praise in every moment of peace and difficulty as well as in every stage, and in every height, they will say Takbeer i.e. they will glorify Allah Almighty. They will take the sun into consideration When Salah time will approach, they will offer Salah.
(Mishkat-ul-Masabih, vol. 2, pp. 358, Hadees 5771, Dar ul Kutub il Ilmiyyah)Under the following words of the narration ‘They will take the sun into consideration’, Hakeem-ul-Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has stated: i.e. due to Salah and fasting, they will always calculate the time of sunrise, sunset, and meridians, and they will publish calendars containing this information. Islamic Salahs, Iftari, and Sahari are based on the sun; however fasts, Eids, Hajj etc. are based on the moon. This is why Muslims keep track of both (the solar and the lunar calendar). No other nation carries out these two actions.
(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, pp. 35)Definition of Ilm-e-Tauqeet
This refers to that knowledge through which the timings for the 5 daily Salahs, sunrise, sunset, meridians, Nisf-un-Nihar, the first and second Mithl, etc. and the correct direction of Qiblah are determined by means of formulas.
Shar’i ruling for acquiring this knowledge
A’la Hadrat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has mentioned the importance of this knowledge in one of his letters as follows: Allamah Ibn Hajar Makki رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has written in Zawajir that ‘Ilm-e-Tauqeet’ is Fard Kifayah [a communal obligation]. At another place he has stated: Ilm-e-Tauqeet is also a science whose experts are non-existent, even though our Islamic scholars have written that it is a communal obligation. The current scholars don’t even know when the sun will rise on such and such a day and when it will set!
(Manar-il-Tauqeet, pp. 4 Maktaba Qaadiriyyah, Faisalabad)Khalifah of A’la Hadrat, Malik-ul-‘Ulama Mufti Zafar-ud-Din Bihari رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has stated: Astronomy and Ilm-e-Tauqeet are extremely beneficial and very necessary for Muslims especially the Islamic scholars, but alas! These sciences have been greatly neglected. This is that blessed knowledge through which a person attains recognition of Allah to a great level. Imam Ghazali رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has stated:
مَنْ لَمْ یَعْرِفِ الْھَیْئَۃَ وَ التَّشْرِیْحَ فَھُوَ عَنِّیْنٌ فِیْ مَعْرِفَۃِ اللھِ تَعَالٰی
i.e. whoever does not know Astronomy and Anatomy, he is weak in attaining the recognition of Allah Almighty.
(Mufti Sahib has further stated:) This is that knowledge whose possessor has been praised by Allah Almighty in the Noble Quran and referred to them as اُولُوالْاَلْبَاب (i.e. intelligent) (as is mentioned in the Noble Quran:)
اِنَّ فِیۡ خَلۡقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ اخۡتِلَافِ الَّیۡلِ وَ النَّہَارِ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّاُولِی الۡاَلۡبَابِ ﴿۱۹۰﴾ۚۙ الَّذِیۡنَ یَذۡکُرُوۡنَ اللّٰہَ قِیٰمًا وَّ قُعُوۡدًا وَّ عَلٰی جُنُوۡبِہِمۡ وَ یَتَفَکَّرُوۡنَ فِیۡ خَلۡقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ ہٰذَا بَاطِلًا ۚ سُبۡحٰنَکَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ﴿۱۹۱﴾
Translation of Kanz-ul-Iman: Indeed in the creation of the heavens, and the earth and the mutual alternation of night and day, are signs for the people of intelligence. Those who remember Allah, standing, and sitting, and lying on their sides, and contemplate on the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying), ‘O our Lord! You have not created this in vain. Glory be to You, so save us from the punishment of the Fire.’
[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Surah Aal-Imran, Ayah 190-191)Whether it is a ruling about the validity of Salah or the accuracy of the fast, their rulings are dependent on Ilm-e-Tauqeet. Whether you need to know the timings of fasting and Salah or you need to determine the correct direction of Qiblah, it is not possible without this knowledge. Although the direction of Qiblah can be ascertained from observing a Masjid building, in order to build the Masjid in the direction of the Qiblah in the first place, it is also necessary to know this science.
(Al-Jawahir wal-Yawaqeet fi Ilm-ul-Tauqeet, pp. 2, summarised)A’la Hadrat and the revival of Ilm-e-Tauqeet
A’la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has stated: Now this knowledge has vanished from India, rather all Muslim countries in general. This humble person (referring to himself) revived this knowledge through the Divine enablement granted by Allah Almighty, and also wanted to impart it to seven people, some of whom left [the city]. Most of them stopped (studying) it due to it being difficult.
(Manar-ul-Tauqeet, pp. 4)When these people began acquiring this knowledge, since there was no book in this science, A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه mentioned the principles by heart. These people would write these principles and extract the timings of meridians, sunrise, sunset, Subh-e-Saadiq [true dawn], Dahwa Kubra, Isha and ‘Asr according to these principles. Malik-ul-Ulama, Mufti Zafar-ud-Din Bihari رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه learnt this knowledge with perfection and also gathered these principles in a book, alongside this he explained them and added examples and published it with the title ‘Al-Jawahir Wal-Yawaqeet fi Ilm-i-Tauqeet’ (famously known as Taudeeh-ut-Tauqeet).
(Anwar-e-Raza, pp. 709)Need for Majlis-e-Tauqeet
Alas! Despite such efforts of the pious predecessors, let alone average scholars, even many specialists could not acquire this knowledge. The consequence of this was that apart from some major cities, calendars for Salah and Sahari, Iftari timings for other areas were not even made. And those cities in which the calendars were made by those who were ignorant of the science of Tauqeet, contained major mistakes regarding Salah, Sahari and Iftari timings. Likewise, unfortunate incidents have been observed in numerous Masajid concerning the Mihrabs being deviated to a worrying extent from the direction of Qiblah
Establishing of Majlis-e-Tauqeet
Due to the importance, benefit and need of this knowledge, a proper department by the name of ‘Majlis Tauqeet’ was established under the supervision of Dawat-e-Islami, a Madani movement of devotees of the Prophet in 1431AH, corresponding with 2010. The head of this department is the expert in Ilm-e-Tauqeet, Maulana Ustad Waseem Tauqeeti Attari Sahib. The targets for this department are to make calendars consisting of correct timings of Salah, Sahari, and Iftari, as well as reviving Ilm-e-Tauqeet. Therefore, in order to further propagate this knowledge, teaching of Ilm-e-Tauqeet began in the Jami’a-tul-Madinah Takhassus Fil-Fiqh (specialisation in Islamic Jurisprudence) classes of 1427 AH corresponding to 2006 which اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه until date is ongoing and the expert in Ilm-e-Tauqeet, Ustad Waseem Tauqeeti Attari Sahib is quenching the thirst of the students. An exclusivity of his teaching is that he also teaches how to use a scientific calculator, compass and other modern devices to ascertain the timings and direction of Qiblah.
To further propagate this knowledge, Majlis-e-Tauqeet has initiated short courses for the general public. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه a target has been set to continuously run ‘15 day Ilm-e-Tauqeet course’ and success has been achieved in running some courses.
Services of Majlis-e-Tauqeet
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! Majlis-e-Tauqeet has prepared calendars for Salah, Sahari and Iftari timings for countless cities around the world (including Haramain-e-Tayyibayn) using the principles of Ilm-e-Tauqeet formulated by A’la Hadrat. Maktaba-tul-Madinah has published these calendars and even made them the adornment of many local Masajid and houses, in fact due to the efforts of the Arakeen of Majlis-e-Tauqeet, a remarkable book consisting of timetables of Salah, Sahari and Iftari timings and direction of Qiblah for approximately 1750 locations across Pakistan entitled ‘Auqaat-e-Namaz Bara-e-Pakistan’ has also been published and made public.
Guideline in relation to direction of Qiblah
To face the direction of Qiblah during Salah is a condition of Salah. Only the people having skills in Tauqeet can determine the correct direction of Qiblah. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! Dawat-e-Islami has created ease for Muslims in this matter as well. If you want to ascertain the correct “direction of Qiblah” for your Masjid, it is better to contact Majlis-e-Tauqeet before constructing the Masjid. Likewise, it is also necessary to determine the direction of Qiblah prior to constructing a house so one can avoid having the W.C. or bathroom face the Qiblah. Upon contacting, ااِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه Islamic brothers who are expert in finding out the direction of Qiblah will welcome you and provide assistance to the utmost of their ability.
Prayer times software and application
Advances in science and technology have created ease in all fields of human life. The invention of the computer and the mobile phone has completely changed human life. Whether it is a child of today or an elderly person, a man or a woman, in brief, every human is somehow or another definitely attached to a mobile and computer. Majlis-e-Tauqeet of Dawat-e-Islami has decided to take advantage of new inventions to make timetables and ascertain direction of Qiblah for the guidance of Muslims across the world and whilst advancing in this regard, with the support of a prominent department of Dawat-e-Islami, namely Majlis I.T., it has attained success in developing a unique software called ‘Auqaat-us-Salaat’ and a mobile application called ‘Prayer Times’ .
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! via the desktop application, the correct Salah timings and direction of Qiblah for approximately 2,700,000 locations can be known easily across the world whereas in the mobile application, the correct Salah timings and direction of Qiblah for millions of locations can be known easily.
For suggestions, please contact:
If you have any question about prayer times or direction of Qiblah or you want to give a suggestion, contact the Arakeen and Zimmah dar of the Majlis in Global Madani Markaz via telephone or the links provided at this website: https://departments.dawateislami.net/toqeet/index.html
Allah karam aysa karay tujh pay jahan mayn
Aye Dawat-e-Islami tayri dhoom machi ho
1The Science of Timings