Tableegh (also spelled Tabligh) is a Muslim missionary movement that originated in India in the early 20th century. The movement was founded by Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi, who believed that Muslims had become too focused on ritual and legalistic aspects of their faith, and needed to return to the original teachings of Islam and focus on personal spiritual development and spreading the message of the Qur'an. Tableegh emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and personal spiritual growth, and encourages Muslims to go on short-term missions (called "tableeghi jama'at") to spread the message of Islam to other Muslims and non-Muslims. The movement has a decentralized structure and operates in many countries around the world, with a focus on non-confrontational, peaceful missionary work.