Those against the TNTJ accused it of pitting the cohesive community members against each other.

Despite persistent rain on Thursday, hundreds of members of the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamat (TNTJ) organised a protest against some rival Muslim outfits at the Rajarathinam stadium in Chennai.

In recent weeks, there have been speeches circulating on social media against TNTJ and its former president P Jainulabudeen, in which leaders of rival Muslim groups allegedly made murder threats against him.

The TNTJ, known for its puritanical interpretation of Islamic texts, has been campaigning against ‘Dargah’ worship and ‘superstitious’ practices that, they claim, are not supported by Islamic texts.

Consequently, they have been facing the heat from other Muslim outfits and parties.

Explaining the TNTJ’s stand, its new president, Fakeer Mohamed Althafi said the organisation has been campaigning for the practice of Islam as per the holy texts.

“If all Muslim groups swear by the Koran, all that we are asking is that they should not deviate from it,” he said.

Those against the TNTJ have accused it of creating unnecessary controversy and pitting members of the cohesive Muslim community against one another.

“They made a provocative statement about the need to remove the green dome on top of Prophet’s grave in Medina when there are many burning issues in India. It’s an issue for the Saudi Arabian government to think about. They make controversial statements with an intention to divide the Muslim population in the State for political power,” said Tada Abdul Rahim, president of Indian National League party.

Sources in the TNTJ say they have been assured by the authorities that action would be taken against those who made the threats.