Dawat-e-Islami

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.

History
Dawat-e-Islami was founded in 1981 at Babul Madina Karachi, Pakistan, by Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri. The then Punjab president of the youth wing of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, is the founding chief of the organization.

In 2005, players on Pakistan's national hockey team along with the coach pledged allegiance to follow Qadri's teachings. Also in 2005, Dawat-e-Islami invited former President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to its two-day congregation in Lahore. In 2007, retired Pakistani lieutenant general Khalid Maqbool praised the organization as a moderating force.

After having gone through a failed 2007 season, Pakistani cricketers including Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Faisal Iqbal and Humayun Farhat met with Qadri at his residence to seek his blessing for a better season.

Philosophy
The philosophy behind making this organisation was purifying the society from ‘the evils’. “When the tides of decadent ways are on the rise throughout the world, when mass media is using its resources to spread indecency, when the majority of Muslims continue to adopt immodesty in the name of fashion, in times like these, when homes are turning into movie theatres; and Muslims are wasting their precious time in music, movies, alcohol, and gambling. In these trying times, the Shaykh, The Founder of Dawat-e-Islami, the Spiritual Guide,Abu Bilal Muhammad Ilyas revived the work of calling to righteousness” reads a chapter of an official book of organisation on the life and work of Maulana Ilyas Qadri.

Educational Work
Dawat-e-Islami has established more than 2500 educational institutions around the Pakistan and some in other parts of the world. Dawat-e-Islami has opened a new department with the name of ‘Madrasa-tul-Madina Online.’ This department aims to teach the Holy Quran according to the principles of Arabic phonetics to all those Islamic brothers who live abroad and furthermore, this department aims to provide them with knowledge and understanding of Islamic teachings as well. In Leicester,Sutherland Street Dawat-e-islami has established Quran Tajweed Class (Madrasa Tul Madina.)

Weekly congregations
Dawat-e-Islami arranges "Haftawar Shab-e-Juma Ijtima" (weekly gatherings) in cities around the world.

Annual congregations
The annual gathering is held on 322 acre of deserted land near Multan. Dawat-e-islami is preparing to buy more land. 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.

Madani Qafila
Madani qafla (literal meaning: caravan of Madinah) refers to traveling to another area for learning and propagating Qura'an and Sunnahs. Dawat-e-Islami has reached more than 150 countries with the help of madani qafilas

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

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.

Blasphemy Law
In 2011, Dawat e Islami overtly supported the assassination of Pakistani politician Salmaan Taseer, the assassin Mumtaz Qadri,supposedly member of Dawat-e-Islami disagreed with Taseer's opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law. It was the first recorded incident of violence on the part of any Dawat e Islami member, in addition to the first instance of the organization itself supporting violence. Consequently, the Pakistani government placed the organization under surveillance, and the group's support within the Pakistani military became a cause for concern.

Notable followers

 * Abdul Wahab Riaz
 * Muhammad Owais Raza Qadri
 * Misbah-ul-Haq
 * Saeed Ajmal

In Europe
Dawat-e-Islami has had a presence in the United Kingdom for more than fifteen years. The European headquarter is Faizan-e-Madina in Bradford, 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. In Continental Europe, Dawat-e-Islami currently operates five centres in Greece and three in Spain.

In North America
Faizan-e-Madina Masjid, Canada was established on October 31, 2004.

Dawat-e-Islami USA has centers in Chicago, Texas and California. Various gatherings are held in Chicago and different cities of Texas and California throughout USA.