Tabligh Jamaat members in their bayaans quote Qur'aanic verses and Ahaadith which pertain to Jihad and apply it to their Tabligh activities.

Answer

The fadhaa-il (virtues) of Tabligh are not reliant on the narrations pertaining to Jihad. By 'Tabligh' is meant any form and any lawful method of Tabligh. It is not restricted to the specific methodology of the Tabligh Jamaat. The narrations which the Tablighi Jamaat narrates are generally correct/authentic. However, the problem is that they commit ghulu' (excess) in their interpretation. All the Ahaadith which are directly related to Jihad are misinterpreted by the Tablighi Jamaat. They apply the Jihad Ahaadith and even the Qur'aanic verses pertaining to Jihaad to their specific methodology of Tabligh. In so doing they are in grievous error. Ghulu' deflects a movement of Haqq from its straight course. The ultimate consequences are then bid'ah and dhalaal.

Furthermore, the narrations mentioning the great virtues of Jihad also have specific application. They do not apply in every instance. Take for example the person who, when answering the call of Jihad, presented himself to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Nabi-e-Kareem (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) instructed him to remain behind and tend to his mother, for that is his Jihad. In different scenarios the rulings will change. The Hadith pertaining to Abdullah Bin Rawaha (radhiyallahu anhu) which is much quoted in substantiation of specific Tabligh, has absolutely no relevance to the Tabligh Jamaat methodology.