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View: How Radical Organisations Are Influencing Muslim Youth In India
The time has come for assertive, inclusive interventions not just by the state but by civil society and the Muslim community itself
In the intricate mosaic of India's religious landscape, Muslim organisations play a significant role in shaping identities, beliefs, and communal behaviour. Among them, Jamaat-e-Islami and Tablighi Jamaat have historically positioned themselves as Islamic revivalist movements. While they publicly disavow violence, concerns are growing over how their ideological frameworks and influence networks may be radicalising segments of Muslim youth in India.
This article aims to unpack the mechanisms, narratives, and patterns through which these groups operate and how their doctrines can tilt toward exclusivism, isolationism, and even extremism.
The Ideological Roots: From Spiritual Revival to Political Agenda
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), founded in 1941 by Abul A'la Maududi, is not merely a religious movement. It is based on a political interpretation of Islam, aiming to establish an Islamic state governed by Sharia. While banned in Jammu & Kashmir, JeI continues to operate across India, student organisations, and civil society under various names and fronts.
Tablighi Jamaat, on the other hand, is ostensibly apolitical and inward-looking, focusing on personal piety and Islamic evangelism (dawah). But its brand of Islam, rigid, Deobandi-based, and anti-modernist, discourages pluralism and instils a worldview where religious identity trumps national identity. It is often accused of building echo chambers that alienate youth from mainstream society.
Though the two groups differ in method, JeI being politically charged and Tablighi Jamaat spiritually intense, both promote binary, us-versus-them narratives that breed alienation.
Campus Footprints and Student Influence
One of Jamaat-e-Islami's most visible arms is its student wing. While presenting itself as a platform for education and social justice, the student wing often mirrors Jamaat's ideological undertones, opposing secularism, glorifying Islamic governance, and reinforcing communal identity.
Across campuses in Kerala, West Bengal, and Delhi, JeI's student wing has cultivated an ideologically regimented cadre that sees modern politics and Western liberalism as antithetical to Islam. These young recruits are often introduced subtly to anti-democratic ideas under the guise of 'intellectual Islam".
Tablighi Jamaat, meanwhile, maintains a low-profile but deep network of young followers who are trained through 'chillas" (40-day missionary tours). Youths are encouraged to abandon regular education or jobs, isolate themselves from 'non-Islamic environments", and dedicate their lives to purifying the ummah. The emphasis on blind obedience, uniform dress codes, and rigid gender segregation is an early form of ideological radicalisation.
Echo Chambers, Alienation, and Gateway Radicalism
Both groups are non-violent in stated strategy, but that does not mean they are non-radical. The radicalisation process is not always about violence; it's about the creation of a mindset that normalises separatism, rejection of constitutional values, and distrust of the 'other".
Many young Muslims drawn to these groups begin to question:
In doing so, a space is created where more radical elements can easily recruit. Indeed, various intelligence reports in the past have noted that individuals involved in terror plots or who later joined ISIS had a background of association with such ideological groups.
For example, in Jammu and Kashmir, JeI has been accused of ideological indoctrination that later led to militancy. While the group denies links to terror outfits, its literature often paints the Indian state as an aggressor.
Digital Propaganda and Transnational Influence
Modern radicalisation doesn't need a mosque. It needs a smartphone, an internet connection, and unregulated content. Both JeI and Tablighi networks have been quick to adapt.
WhatsApp groups pushing Maududi's or Zakir Naik's content, YouTube sermons discouraging integration into the Indian mainstream, and Telegram channels sharing conspiracy theories against the Indian state: these mediums are now fertile ground for soft radicalisation.
Moreover, both movements have strong transnational linkages. JeI receives ideological backing from Pakistan-based networks, and Tablighi Jamaat is tightly connected with counterparts in Bangladesh, Malaysia, and even the UK—countries where their role in promoting extremism has come under scrutiny.
Need for Counter-Narratives and Engagement
Outlawing or banning these groups alone will not suffice. What's needed is a robust civil society response that includes:
Promotion of inclusive Islamic scholarship (Sufi, interfaith dialogue)
Mentorship for Muslim youth through cultural and academic platforms
Monitoring of digital propaganda without targeting communities indiscriminately.
State engagement with moderate Muslim voices, especially at local and university levels.
Government agencies must distinguish between legitimate religious expression and ideological grooming. Muslim communities, in turn, must introspect and challenge hardline dominance in their educational, social, and cultural spaces.
The silent radicalisation of Indian Muslim youth through ideological soft power, whether via Jamaat-e-Islami's politicised Islam or Tablighi Jamaat's rigid piety, poses a serious challenge to the ideals of secularism and national integration.
The time has come for assertive, inclusive interventions not just by the state but by civil society and the Muslim community itself. The battle against radicalism cannot be won in courts or police stations alone. It must be fought in minds, in classrooms, and on digital platforms through reform, reason, and responsible leadership.
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First Published:
July 03, 2025, 23:26 IST
News opinion View: How Radical Organisations Are Influencing Muslim Youth In India
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