Dawat-e-Islami

English: Namaz At Faizan e Madinah 

Dawat-e-Islami is an Islamic proselytising movement. It emerged as an answer to Tablighi Jamaat movement, the latter of which gained such popularity that it became the world's biggest non-political Muslim organisation with members in over 150 countries.^[1][2]

History

Dawat-e-Islami was founded in 1981 at Babul Madina Karachi, Pakistan, by Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri.^[3]

Qadri established a form of preaching focussed on the practice of "The Faraaiz" meaning the obligatory statutes, "The Waajibaat" meaning the incumbent duties, 'The Sunnan' meaning the Sunnahs, 'The Mustahabbat' meaning the approved or desirable affairs, and 'The Akhlaqiyyaat' meaning Ethics.

Jaamiat-ul-Madinah

Jaamiat-ul-Madinah (literal meaning: institutions of Madinah) refers to institutions run by Dawat-e-islami in which an 8 year Dars-e-Nizami (Aalim) course and Mufticourse is provided.

Madani Qafila

Madani qafla (literal meaning: caravan of Madinah) refers to traveling to another area for learning and propagatingQura'an and Sunnahs. Dawat-e-Islami has reached more than 150 countries with the help of madani qafilas.^{[citation needed]}

Weekly and annual congregations

Weekly congregations

Dawat-e-Islami arranges "Haftawar Shab-e-Juma Ijtima" (weekly gatherings) in cities around the world.^[4][5][6]

Annual congregations

The annual gathering is held on 322 acres (1.30 km²) of deserted land near Multan. Dawat-e-islami is preparing to buy more land.^[7]Dawat-e-Islami held the first-ever congregation for deaf, dumb and blind students at its central headquarters Faizan-e-Madinah. Hundreds of students between 16 and 18 years of age attended the programme.^[8]

Charity collections

Dawat-e-Islami collects Zakat and Sadaqah in the holy month ofRamadan for its Dawah and organizational activities.^[9] It is also largely financed by donation of sacrificed animal skin during Eid al-Adha, which is then sold to the leather manufacturing industry.

Global presence

In Europe

Dawat-e-Islami has had a presence in the United Kingdom for more than fifteen years.^{[citation needed]}The European headquarter is Faizan-e-Madina inBradford, where they currently hold their own seminary. Other centers of the same name can be found in Accrington and Birmingham. Another Faizan-e-Madina masjid was opened in Southend on Sea in 2009. In 2009 a madrassa opened in Rotherham for the education of young children and adults. It is estimated that around 10,000 British Muslims are in some form or the other associated with Dawat-e-Islami in UK.^{[citation needed]} In Continental Europe, Dawat-e-Islami currently operates five centres in Greece and three in Spain.^[11] Norway, Germany and Italy are also known to be countries with active presence of Dawat-e-Islami activities.^{[citation needed]}

In North America

Dawat-e-Islami in North America holds events like weekly, monthly and yearly congregations in different cities of USA and Canada. Madani Qafila travel every month from one city to another on regular basis.

Dawat-e-Islami Canada has Faizan-e-Madina centres in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Vancouver andBritish Columbia^{[citation needed]}. Faizan-e-Madina masjid, Canada was established on October 31, 2004.^[12]

Dawat-e-Islami USA has its centers in Chicago, Texas and California. Various Ijtimas are being held inChicago and different cities of Texas and California throughout USA.^[13]

Madani Channel

Main article: Madani Channel

Dawat-e-Islami operates its own advertising-free television channel which does not show any television commercials, the Madani Channel, which broadcasts Islamic programmes 24 hours a day.^[14]