Waz Mahfil

Waz Mahfil (alias: Waz, or Tafsir-ul-Quran Mahfil) is a traditional Islamic preaching event in Bangladesh that combines the Arabic words 'waz', meaning "giving advice", and 'mahfil', meaning "gathering". It is a gathering of Muslim devotees and common listeners for sermons on Islam, has long been one of the primary means of preaching Islam in Bangladesh. Waz Mahfils are typically held in open spaces, such as playgrounds, paddy fields, street corners, or public grounds, and usually last from evening until midnight.^[1][2][3] It is the most popular medium of discussing teachings of Islam and Tafsir in the subcontinent especially in Bangladesh. However, apart from preaching Islam through Waz Mahfil, various political, social and contemporary issues of the country are also discussed here.^[4][5][6] Ibrahim Ali Tashna is regarded as the founder of Waz Mahfil (previously known as Islamic Jalsa) in the country. In 1906, he organized Islamic Jalsa or Waz Mahfil in the open ground to spread Islamic knowledge among the common people. Thousands of people from far and wide used to attend the event he introduced. The news of this new type of event spread quickly in Sylhet and Assam region as a result, Waz Mahfil started being organized in different places.

Mahfil has long been one of the primary means of preaching Islam in Bangladesh. Waz is originally an Arabic word meaning “giving advice” on what to do and what not to do about Islamic culture and practices, while the Arabic word Mahfil denotes assembly, gathering, meeting, or congregation. Waz Mahfil is usually held in tents erected in the open space, either in playgrounds or paddy fields after harvest in rural areas or at street corners and public grounds in cities, especially during winter. It usually begins in the evening and continues until midnight.^[1][2][3] Several speakers, who are usually called Mufassir (an Arabic term meaning somebody who can authoritatively interpret the Qur'an) or Ulama, speak one after the other. The chief speaker for the day speaks last. The speakers are seated, together with guests of honors from socio-political leadership, on a slightly elevated stage. The male congregation assembles on the ground in front of the stage, which is covered with mats made out of bamboo, cotton, or rarely, straw. The female congregation is kept in different tents separated by a curtain from the male congregation. The size of the audience varies, depending on the popularity of the speakers, from several hundred to hundreds of thousands.^[7]