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            | The Islamic Missionary Movement Da´wat-e 
                Islami
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            | The Barelwi response to the translocal 
                activism of Deoband? |   
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            | Fieldwork in Pakistan - November 2006Thomas Gugler
                 
                  | Da´wat-e Islami is a Transnational Islamic Missionary 
                      Group, which was founded in 1981 by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas 
                      Attar Qadri in Karachi. The movement has its headquarters 
                      Faizan-e Madina in Purana Sabji Mandi, Karachi. |   
                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  | The Faizan-e Madina hosts about forty shops, 
                      which provide pilgrims with devotional objects, madani dress 
                      (´imama-sharif, madani chadar etc.) and of course 
                      books. The most important publication of the movement is 
                      the “Faizan-e Sunnat” (Blessing of the lifestyle 
                      of the Prophet) of founder and leader “Amee-e Ahl-e 
                      Sunnat” Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri. |   
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                       Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  | The Faizan-e Sunnat emphasises the imitation of the lifestyle 
                      of the Prophet to ignite the love to Muhammad and Madina. 
                      The green turban can be called the trademark of DI. It gave 
                      birth to terms like the “parrots of paradise” 
                      (jannat ke thuthe). The female adherents wear the “Madani 
                      Burqa”.  |   
                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  | The main objective of the movement is to propagate Qur´an 
                      and Sunna: “I have to rectify myself and the people 
                      of the whole world.”For practicing sunna the DI requests their followers to 
                      act according to the 72 madani-in´amat, fill out the 
                      madani-card, attend the weekly gathering (ijtema´) 
                      and travel on qafila. The missionary groups travel by car, 
                      bus, train and also plane:
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                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                       Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  | Besides the weekly íjtema´ 
                      on Thursdays in local mosques the DI holds also an annual 
                      ijtema´ in Multan. With about 1.5 million members 
                      this three-day long gathering is among the largest gatherings 
                      of Muslims around the world. In dozens of tents people are 
                      invited towards good (naiki ki da´wat). |   
                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                       Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
 | Among the famous visitors were in November 
                      2006 Faisal Iqbal and Salman Butt, two cricket-player of 
                      the Pakistani national team. |  
                 
                  | During the annual ijtema´ the movement 
                      takes well care of the physical as well as spiritual needs 
                      of the convened: | 
                       Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                       Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                       Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                       Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
 | The movement is famous for its programs for people 
                      with special needs. They offer programs to teach na´at 
                      and lifestyle of the Prophet to blind and deaf people (in 
                      sign-language). |   
                  |  Copyright © Thomas Gugler
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