اَلۡـحَـمۡـدُ لِـلّٰـہِ رَبِّ الۡـعٰـلَـمِیۡنَ وَ الـصَّـلٰـوۃُ وَ الـسَّـلَامُ عَـلٰی خَاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن
اَمَّـا بَــعۡـدُ فَـاَعُـوۡذُ بِـا لـلّٰـہِ مِـنَ الـشَّـیۡـطٰنِ الـرَّجِیۡمِؕ بِـسۡمِ الـلّٰـہِ الـرَّحۡـمٰنِ الـرَّحِـیۡمِؕ
Introduction to Dawat-e-Islami
A professional and international organization has brought a revolution, especially in the lives of the young generation. ۞ Those who did not pray became regular in salah. ۞ Deserted mosques became populated. ۞ Children who memorized the Quran went on to become Islamic scholars and muftis. ۞ Those unfamiliar with obligatory (farḍ) knowledge became its seekers. ۞Non-practicing Muslims became practicing. ۞ Thieves, robbers, gamblers, and alcoholics repented from their sins. ۞ Youth, once harmful to society, became its finest individuals. ۞ Many disobedient sons and daughters became obedient to their parents. ۞ Those who could not recite the Quran correctly began reciting it properly. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! Through the blessings of this organization, thousands of non-Muslims embraced Islam and began walking the path of Allah and His Messenger. The name of this organization that brought about such profound change is Dawat-e-Islami.
This organization was founded on September 2 1981, in a small area of Karachi, Pakistan. A few individuals came together to initiate this. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Today, the message of Dawat-e-Islami has reached every corner of the world.
This is the result of the spiritual personality who set out to complete the following goal: “I must strive to reform myself and the people of the entire world.” That great individual is the Amir of Ahl al-Sunna, Shaykh Ilyas Attar al-Qadiri.
Allah has endowed the shaykh’s speech with such efficacy that people act upon his words, and their lives continue to be transformed.اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Allah has granted Dawat-e-Islami such success that in just 43 years, the message of Islam has spread to every corner of the globe, and the journey continues.
What is Dawat-e-Islami?
Dawat-e-Islami is a personification ofٱلْأَمْرُ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱلنَّهْيُ عَنِ ٱلْمُنْكَر- inviting towards righteousness and preventing from evil. It calls us towards good deeds and prohibits evil ones. Ordaining this very goal, Allah states in the Quran:
وَلۡتَکُنۡ مِّنۡکُمۡ اُمَّۃٌ یَّدۡعُوۡنَ اِلَی الۡخَیۡرِ وَ یَاۡمُرُوۡنَ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَ یَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ الۡمُنۡکَرِ ؕ
And there should be a group from among you who call towards righteousness, and command good and forbid evil.[1]
Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān al-NaꜤīmīرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْهwrites:
O Muslims! All of you should be that group or live as such an organization, which invites all the misguided towards goodness. Invite the disbelievers to faith, the sinners to piety, the heedless to alertness, the ignorant to knowledge and recognition, the apathetic to the sweetness of love, and the sleeping to awakening.
Such a group should preach sound beliefs, good actions, and virtuous manners through speech, pen, actions, strength, gentleness, and passion. They should prevent people from evil beliefs, evil deeds, and evil thoughts, according to their capacity, via their tongue, heart, actions, pen, or even the sword. All Muslims are preachers. It is compulsory upon every single one to command good and forbid evil.[2]
The purpose of Dawat-e-Islami
The purpose of Dawat-e-Islami is: “I must strive to rectify myself and the people of the entire world.”
To strive for self-rectification, one acts upon the Pious Deeds booklet, and to strive for the rectification of others, one travels in Madani Qafilas.
Modern means of communication
By “modern means of communication,” we refer to channels and methods through which ideas and information are delivered to the general public, such as newspapers, mobile phones, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Madani Channel, radio, and television. Dawat-e-Islami has an extensive communication network.
Madani Channel
Dawat-e-Islami first launched an Urdu language channel, and subsequently:
· English Madani Channel
· Bengali Madani Channel
· Elders Madani Channel
· Arabic Web Madani Channel
· Kids Madani Channel, so children can watch and learn about Islam.
Around 70 million views are garnered by Kids Cartoons in Urdu, English, Arabic, and various other languages.
Several international airlines broadcast Madani Channel programs on board their planes, and many social media platforms host its programs. Numerous schools worldwide incorporate our teachings into their syllabi.
Social media
Dawat-e-Islami’s largest social media platform boasts over 60 million followers, likes, and subscribers, with millions of posts viewed and shared. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami invites people to righteousness in a warm and positive style, similar to public-service announcements, reaching a broad audience.
Educational institutions
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami is spreading religious teachings through various means. For example, it has a dedicated department known as Jamiat al-Madinah, where Islamic scholars are trained. These institutes are not only established in Pakistan but also many countries worldwide. A unique aspect of these institutes is that the medium of instruction is tailored to the region.
· Urdu for Urdu speakers
· English for English speakers
·
African
languages, such as Swahili, for African students
· And in Europe, the scholar course is taught in European languages.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Jamiat al-Madinah branches exist in Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Italy, Nepal, the United Kingdom, India, Canada, Turkey, and the United States. The total number of branches has now exceeded 1500. A large number of students reside and study there, whilst Dawat-e-Islami provides their food and accommodation. Alongside Islamic studies, Dawat-e-Islami is now also offering academic education. It has even launched an examination board, Kanz-al-Madaris, through which students can now obtain dual M.A. degrees upon graduation. Across the 1500+ Jamiat al-Madinah branches, approximately 131,000 students are enrolled. To date, around 34,000 male and female students have completed the Islamic scholarship course.
Madrassat al-Madinah
The system of Quranic education present within Dawat-e-Islami is perhaps unmatched by any other organization in the world. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami is serving the Quran on a vast scale. It has established Madrassat al-Madinah (Quran learning centers) for male and female students worldwide. By the mercy of Allah, Dawat-e-Islami has established approximately 15,800 of these both in Pakistan and abroad.
Currently, more than 400,000 students are studying in these Madrassat al-Madinahs. To date, over 500,000 students have completed memorization of the Quran, or learnt to recite it correctly.
Madrassat al-Madinah for adults
For adult Islamic brothers and sisters who were unable to recite the Quran with correct pronunciation, Dawat-e-Islami established a dedicated department called “Madrassat al-Madina for Adults.” Through this initiative, countless individuals worldwide are benefiting. These classes are conducted in mosques, marketplaces, and even homes, where adults come for short sessions and learn to recite the Quran with proper articulation.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه At present, approximately 74,000 classes are being conducted worldwide.
Faizan Online Academy
Dawat-e-Islami has launched a digital learning hub called Faizan Online Academy, through which Muslims can learn the Quran online from the comfort of their homes, at a time that suits them. Not only is the Quran taught, but there are also around 40 other courses available on various branches of obligatory Islamic knowledge.
Thousands of teachers, some attending in person and others teaching from home, are working in this department, where Islamic brothers teach Islamic brothers and Islamic sisters teach Islamic sisters. This department provides services in nearly 90 countries. Currently, more than 24,000 students are pursuing their education through this department, and over 40,000 students have already completed various courses.
Dar al-Madinah
One primary concern for parents was that when children were sent to school, they became distant from religion. When sent to madrassas for religious learning, they were deprived of academic education. To address this, Dawat-e-Islami established the Dar al-Madinah International Islamic School System, where religious and worldly education is imparted in an excellent manner side by side. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهThere are now 161 branches of Dar al-Madinah across Pakistan and various countries worldwide, where over 36,000 students receive both religious and academic education.
Some parents cannot afford high tuition fees. So, catering to their needs, Dawat-e-Islami established the Faizan Islamic School System, comprising approximately 44 branches in which 8000 students are enrolled.
Some children attend schools that do not offer Islamic education. Yet, their parents desire that they receive religious and worldly education in an Islamic manner at least on weekends. For such cases, Dawat-e-Islami introduced the Faizan Weekend Islamic School, which has 55 branches, where over 2300 students receive religious education. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami has also launched Dar al-Madinah College and Dar al-Madinah International University in Islamabad.
Publication & literary distribution
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهDawat-e-Islami is propagating Islam according to modern methods of publication and literary distribution. A few examples are as follows: Maktabat al-Madinah, a department of Dawat-e-Islami responsible for printing literature.
Today, some say: “Books are outdated; it’s the digital age now. Who will buy books?” اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami is still selling books, which are purchased, read, and even gifted to others. These books are being translated into 45 different languages. To facilitate readers further, Dawat-e-Islami has also launched websites for Maktabaht al-Madinah, allowing people to purchase books online from anywhere in the world.
Islamic Research Center
Another department of Dawat-e-Islami is the Islamic Research Center, which focuses on writing and compiling Islamic literature. In this department, approximately 125 graduates are engaged in producing literary material.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه To date, approximately 576 books and pamphlets have been published, and work is currently underway on 35 additional publications.
Translation Department
The Translation Department was established to render the books, booklets, and speeches of Maktaba-tul-Madinah into various languages to disseminate Islamic teachings worldwide.
The translation of Islamic literature requires a thorough knowledge of Islamic law, in addition to language skills. To ensure that translations are free of religious inaccuracies, Dawat-e-Islami’s Translation Department has adopted a rigorous process of Shar‘ī Scrutiny.
To date, approximately eight thousand books, booklets, and speeches have been translated into 45 languages. These are available for free download on the website: www.dawateislami.net. In addition to English, translations are also being produced in various other languages, including Arabic, Indonesian, French, Chinese, Russian, German, Italian, Spanish, and Turkish. The department has also been honoured to translate the Kanzul Iman (translation of the Holy Quran) in English and Kanzul Irfan in more than 28 languages. The English, Sindhi, Pashto, and Roman-language translations have been published, while work in other languages is currently in progress.
In addition to its translation work, the department also publishes a highly informative and engaging magazine, Faizan-e-Madinah, in Arabic, Urdu, English, Bangla, Hindi, Gujarati, and Sindhi languages.
May Allah Almighty grant the Translation Department eternal success! May the department’s endeavours become a source of everlasting reward for every Islamic brother and sister who contributes to this noble cause! Āmīn
Social services
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهJust as Dawat-e-Islami focuses on the personal and practical reform of individuals, it also strives to bring less fortunate and distressed Muslims in society closer to Islam and help resolve their financial problems.
Special Needs Department
Some distressed Muslims who cannot see, speak, or hear, are sometimes neglected by their family members. Dawat-e-Islami takes special care of them and established the Special Needs Department. They undergo training in this department, complete courses, learn sign language, and convey the message of Islam to these less able individuals. Today, thousands of visually impaired, mute, and deaf Islamic brothers, referred to as Special Islamic Brothers, work under this department.
Dawat-e-Islami is also establishing Madrassat al-Madinahs and Jamiat al-Madinahs for blind Islamic brothers, as well as producing books, Quran translations, and other material in Braille to facilitate easier learning for them.
Dawat-e-Islami’s Welfare Department
Dawat-e-Islami had already been assisting the distressed Umma, but in 2019, it formally established its Welfare Department, known as the Faizan Global Relief Foundation (FGRF). Within just five years, it accomplished numerous large-scale projects. It has even been honored with rewards from various institutes.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه The global presence of Dawat-e-Islami has enabled swift and effective welfare work worldwide.
In 2019, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dawat-e-Islami offered food and monetary support. During the same period, blood shortages were affecting thalassemia patients, and blood donations were organized to support them. When floods struck Pakistan, Dawat-e-Islami provided relief to displaced individuals by constructing homes and distributing seeds and fertilizers to farmers. It carried out primary operations to drain water from large areas. Billions of rupees were spent on flood relief efforts. Tens of crores of rupees in cash were distributed to the distressed Umma.
When a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, Dawat-e-Islami also delivered billions of rupees worth of aid there. During the crisis in Palestine and Gaza, Dawat-e-Islami’s Welfare Department was present and actively involved in providing aid, and is even making steps towards the construction of homes.
To make Pakistan greener, nearly 3 million trees were planted under the slogan: "Plant a sapling, grow a tree."
Hospitals:
Medical treatment in Pakistan is becoming increasingly expensive. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه In response to the suffering of the Umma, Dawat-e-Islami established the Madani Health Center and opened Madani Clinics in various areas of Karachi. It also launched mobile medical vans that travel to remote areas to provide free medical care. Additionally, there is a need for rehabilitation facilities for children with disabilities. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهDawat-e-Islami first opened two branches in Karachi, followed by centers in Lahore and Faisalabad. Thousands of children are currently receiving treatment through rehabilitation services.
S.E.P – Skill Enhancement Program
Dawat-e-Islami established a department called S.E.P. (Skill Enhancement Program) to improve working skills. Under this program:
· Various international languages are taught
· Different international courses are offered
· Even scholar course graduates are taught diverse skills to meet the demands of the modern world.
Madani Homes
To support orphans, Dawat-e-Islami established a facility known as the Madani Home, in Karachi. Construction is currently underway for another in Faisalabad.
Employees:
The number of people working in Dawat-e-Islami is approximately 55,000, all of whom receive a monthly salary on a basic payroll system.
Dawat-e-Islami serving humankind
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami is an international Islamic organization actively engaged in serving humanity and reforming society through its various initiatives. Its purpose is to promote Islamic teachings among both Muslims and non-Muslims, to develop moral character, and to familiarize people with the fundamentals of Islam. To serve humanity specifically, Dawat-e-Islami established a dedicated department, the Faizan Global Relief Foundation (FGRF), which plays a significant role in humanitarian relief efforts.
In the current times, take Palestine as an example. Dawat-e-Islami has not abandoned the oppressed Muslims of Gaza. To help them, Dawat-e-Islami’s FGRF prepared and distributed two large containers of relief goods containing food and warm clothing in collaboration with the Red Crescent at the Rafah border in Egypt.
Due to such selfless efforts, the Faizan Global Relief Foundation (FGRF) received eight prestigious awards in the United Kingdom. This is not only an acknowledgment of Dawat-e-Islami’s outstanding services but also a moment of pride for Pakistan and Dawat-e-Islami.
In the UK, FGRF has helped thousands of people in need worldwide, whether through food package distribution, medical aid, or relief efforts for natural disasters. The receipt of eight different awards in the UK is clear evidence that Dawat-e-Islami’s humanitarian contributions are being recognized internationally.
IT Department
Dear readers! We live in a digital era in which IT plays a significant role. People wish to obtain knowledge digitally, and Dawat-e-Islami has responded by launching its website: www.dawateislami.net. Each month, people from around 180 countries visit this website to benefit from Islamic knowledge. Additionally, hundreds of thousands individuals download a multitude of books. This website is available in multiple languages.
When it comes to mobile applications, Dawat-e-Islami’s IT Department continuously launches a host of apps. Some of them include:
· Faizan-e-Hadith
· Fatawa Razawiyyah
· Marifat al-Quran
· Kalima and Dua
· Monthly Magazine Faizan-e-Madinah
· Muslim’s Funeral
· Hajj and Umrah Guide
· Islamic eBooks Library
· Madani Qaidah Mobile
· Durood-o-Salam
· Qurbani Collection
· Ruhani Ilaj
· Zehni Azmaish Quiz
· Prayer Times
· And many more…
Other departments of Dawat-e-Islami
Below is an introduction to some more departments of Dawat-e-Islami.
Religious gatherings
When Dawat-e-Islami was first established, its very first activity was the organization of religious gatherings. These were initially organized at a local level, then provincial, followed by national, and finally internationally. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهMillions of people participate in Dawat-e-Islami’s gatherings.
Madani Qafilas
After these gatherings, the system of Madani Qafilahs was introduced to invite towards righteousness and prevent evil. These travel for 3 days, 12 days, 1 month, or 12 months.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه To spread the message of Islam, these are now traveling not only across Pakistan but internationally as well, preaching peacefully among both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Pious Deeds booklet
Remember! Individuals build a society. Without individual reform, we cannot achieve societal reform. To focus on personal reformation, Shaykh Ilyas al-Qadiri gifted the Umma with the Pious Deeds booklet.
There are 72 Pious Deeds for Islamic brothers, 63 for Islamic sisters, 92 for students in schools, colleges, and Jamiat al-Madinah, 83 for female students, 40 for boys and girls in Madrassat al-Madina, 27 for Special Islamic Brothers, and 52 for those serving time in prison.
These booklets provide both moral and practical guidance. Additionally, a mobile app has been developed. Users can now open the app and track their deeds digitally.
Constructing masjids
One major department of Dawat-e-Islami is responsible for constructing masjids. According to a ḥadīth: “Whoever builds a mosque for the remembrance of Allah, has a house built for them in Paradise by Allah.”
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهDawat-e-Islami has established over 7200 mosques. Among them are masjids that were previously non-Muslim places of worship. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه These places were purchased and converted them into masjids.
Dar al-Ifta Ahl al-Sunna
How can life be lived without the guidance of scholars? Whether it involves family matters, inheritance, or business dealings, we constantly need the advice of Islamic scholars to avoid Islamic legal mistakes and manage our affairs correctly.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه To address people’s issues, Dawat-e-Islami established Dar al-Ifta Ahl al-Sunna. This department not only provides answers physically to those who visit in person, but it also offers services digitally, whether through email, WhatsApp, or their website.
Answers are given through Madani Channel programs and social media as well. Special services are also provided on special occasions, like duringḥajj, qurbani, or the month of Ramadan, when Muslims tend to ask more questions. At such times, the scholars allocate more time to provide extra guidance.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami currently has approximately 20 branches of Dar al-Ifta Ahl al-Sunna across the country, and annually, around 250,000 questions are answered through this department.
Madani Centers
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami currently has 598 centers worldwide, known as Faizan-e-Madinah.
Note:
This was an introduction to a few departments of Dawat-e-Islami. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami is currently operating across 80+ departments. In essence, summarizing such a large organization cannot be done in a short introduction.