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The Islamic Missionary Movement Da´wat-e Islami

The Barelwi response to the translocal activism of Deoband?

Fieldwork in Pakistan - November 2006

Thomas 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

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.


Copyright © Thomas Gugler

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

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:


Copyright © Thomas Gugler


Copyright © Thomas Gugler


Copyright © Thomas Gugler


Copyright © Thomas Gugler

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


Copyright © Thomas Gugler


Copyright © Thomas Gugler


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


Copyright © Thomas Gugler


Copyright © Thomas Gugler


Copyright © Thomas Gugler


Copyright © Thomas Gugler

The movement is famous for their programs for people with special needs. There are 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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