Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath is an Islamic organization based in Tamil Nadu, India. It was founded in 2004. TNTJ claims to preach true Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims as per Quran and Prophetic ways, only through authentic hadith. It claims to be a non-political organization. Ideologically due to its theological stand, it considers only a sovereign state can take up weapons and any thing contrary is against the fundamentals of Islam. TNTJ is also involved in social activities and awareness of condemning extremism through rallies and propaganda.
Social activities
Community work
Donation of blood is highly encouraged among TNTJ followers. It has won government awards for making the highest amount of blood donations in Tamil Nadu in about 10 successive years. It has offered help and support during tsunami relief in several affected areas. Its relief program during Chennai flood of 2015, whose estimated cost was twenty five crore, was a noticeable one. TNTJ has also created awareness among masses about dengue fever.
TNTJ has held demonstrations and protests across Tamil Nadu several times on various issues including reconstruction of Babri Masjid, removal of liquor shops and load shedding. Its leader P Jainulabdeen encourages followers to observe peaceful protests and to avoid any inconvenience to traffic. In September 2012, the U.S. Consulate encouraged U.S. citizens traveling in and around Chennai to exercise caution and monitor local media for security updates, owing to a protest by TNTJ following an anti-Islamic movie. On 28 January 2014, TNTJ organized a protest to demand increase in reservation for Muslims in Tamil Nadu.
The activities of the TNTJ's Sri Lankan branch the Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath have been opposed by Sri Lankan Muslim communities and organisations who have accused them of receiving Saudi Arabian funding to spread Wahabism. In November 2015 the SLTJ attempted to unveil a Sinhala translation of Quran which was accused by Sri Lankan Muslim organisations of being flawed. The SLTJ invited the founder of the TNTJ Moulvi P Jainul Abideen also known as PJ to the event. However the extreme opposition by Sri Lankan Muslims convinced the Sri Lankan Government to deny him entry. Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamaat General Secretary R AbduL Razik replied claiming that PJ, TNTJ and SLTJ are only promoting true Islam, unadulterated by non-Islamic influences. In 7 May 2019 violent clashes were reported between SLTJ and other Sri Lankan Muslim groups.
In 2013 SLTJ General Secretary R Abdul Razik claimed that Gautama Buddha engaged in cannibalism and the triple gem is nothing more than stones thus Buddhists worship stones. The video of the speech generated controversy in the Buddhist majority Sri Lanka and the Buddhist Affairs Department informed Court that the alleged derogatory remarks made by the SLTJ has caused damage to the country’s religious harmony. Colombo Crimes Division began investigations of the organisation. Abdul Razik was arrested in November 2016 and was released on conditional bail on December 2016. In 2017 the SLTJ finally agreed to apologise but the CCD found that the bail conditions were violated by Abdul Razik by makings several derogatory remarks towards buddhist Monks.
Effect on Sri Lanka
Global terror expert Rohan Gunaratna quoted that TNTJ damaging to Sri Lanka by extremist preachers.
TNTJ expels founder for sexually inappropriate behaviour
In May 2018, P Jainulabideen, the founder of TNTJ, was expelled from the organisation after several audios were released that appeared to show PJ behaving sexually inappropriately with women.
