The Visionary Leadership of the Founder of Dawat-e-Islami, Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyas ꜤAṭṭār Qādirī دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ
The leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyas ꜤAṭṭār Qādirī دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ , initiated a transformative era for the reformation, training, and intellectual awakening of the Muslim Ummah by establishing Dawat-e-Islami in 1981. The sincerity, unwavering perseverance, and profound compassion for the Ummah with which he founded this organisation stand as a testament to his unparalleled leadership capabilities, scholarly insight, reformative vision, and preaching expertise. The leader of Ahl al-Sunnah transformed the reformation of the Ummah into a multi-faceted practical mission. Consequently, under his guidance, revolutionary measures were undertaken that not only brought about change in individual lives but also set society on the path of a holistic reformist revolution.
Under the guidance and leadership of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, Dawat-e-Islami undertook numerous initiatives, including the travels of the devotees of the Prophet in Madani Qafilahs, the practice of the Pious Deeds booklet for individual reformation, Madani Muzakarah, weekly Sunnah-inspired gatherings, Masjid Dars, Dar al-Iftā Ahl al-Sunnah, Madani Channel, Maktaba-tul-Madinah, global Madāris al-Madinah and Jamiāt al-Madinah, Dār al-Madinah School System and University, Faizan Online Academy, training sessions, in-person and online courses, publication of authentic religious books and treatises, dawah-oriented use of modern media, religious awakening among women, character building of children and youth, a system for family reform, guidance on contemporary issues, academic and research services, personal and collective training, FGRF for the welfare of the Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم distressed Ummah, organisational structure development, and institutional planning. These measures have not only proven effective in reforming individuals and society but have also laid the foundation for a multi-dimensional religious revolution. All these initiatives are not only the result of his astute thinking and far-sighted strategy but also prove that he is not merely a preacher or a teacher, but a multi-faceted leader of the Ummah. Among these, however, there are four initiatives that have provided and continue to provide countless individuals with the opportunity to reform themselves, walk the path of faith, and improve their Hereafter:
Masjid Dars: A Revolutionary System for the Reformation of the Ummah Based on the Writings of the Leader of Ahl al-Sunnah
Dawat-e-Islami’s "Masjid Dars" is a blessed initiative that offers a practical glimpse into the educational, spiritual, and reformative style of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Masjid al-Nabawi. This system is a reflection of the revolutionary thought and scholarly contributions of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyas ꜤAṭṭār Qādirī دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ , who authored religious material in an accessible, effective, and practical manner, making it a means of conveying faith to every segment of the Ummah.
For Masjid Dars, simple, well-reasoned, and reformative books specifically written by the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, such as Faizan-e-Sunnat, Call to Righteousness, Backbiting, Islamic Manners of Eating, Faizan-e-Namaz, etc., have been selected as part of the curriculum. Brief yet comprehensive lessons are delivered from these books after Salah. These lessons are not merely informative but serve as a means of practical transformation, spiritual awakening, and social reform.
The writing style in these books is profoundly impactful, employing simple language, everyday examples, evidences from the Quran and Hadith, and reformative anecdotes to influence the hearts of the listeners. Through Masjid Dars, countless people have developed a practical inclination towards righteousness, repented from sins, and adopted Sunan.
These lessons are beneficial for people of all ages and social strata, especially for those who are unable to pursue formal religious education. For them, Masjid Dars has become a consistent source of academic and spiritual training. Thus, it represents Dawat-e-Islami's vision: "May every mosque be a centre of knowledge and action, and may every Muslim flourish in an environment of reform and training."
Undoubtedly, Masjid Dars is a silent yet profound revolution that is filling the hearts of the Ummah with gentleness, piety, and love for Shariah. All credit for this goes to the scholarly efforts, sincerity, and passion for reforming the Ummah of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah.
The Revolutionary System of Madani Qafilahs: A Manifestation of the Leader of Ahl al-Sunnah's Visionary Leadership
Under the leadership of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, ꜤAllāmah Muhammad Ilyas ꜤAṭṭār Qādirī دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ , the most effective and comprehensive system introduced by Dawat-e-Islami is the "Revolutionary System of Qafilahs." This is not merely a travel routine but a comprehensive reformative, educational, and Dawah-oriented project aimed at refining the beliefs, worship, morals, and daily practises of Muslims at both individual and collective levels, and ultimately fostering a pious society through character building.
The Qafilahs of the devotees of the Prophet are, in reality, "mobile schools" that travel village to village, town to town, city to city, and even across countries and continents, inviting people towards goodness. The participants, under specific training and guidance, travel for three days, twelve days, one month, or even twelve months, where they receive practical training in salah, sunan, daily Islamic etiquettes, love for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , religious knowledge, and self-reformation, and they also invite others towards this.
The leader of Ahl al-Sunnah did not launch this Qafilah movement on mere emotional zeal; rather, he devised a complete system, structure, and training framework behind it. Pre-Qafilah training, time management within the Qafilah, litanies (adhkār), readings (durūs), individual efforts, consultation (mashawarah), and post-return follow-up—all of which are part of a regulated system. Due to this system, many misguided, wayward, and sinful individuals repented and became travellers on the path of Allah Almighty.
The impact of the Madani Qafilahs has been evident not only on an individual level but also across societal and national spheres. Masjids welcomed an increase of congregants, those who previously neglected Salah began offering it, a mindset to abandon usury and alcohol and adopt lawful earnings emerged, the fear of Allah Almighty and love for the Beloved Muṣṭafāʾ صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was awakened among the youth, and many families embarked on a complete path of reform. This system not only fostered religious awareness in villages and towns but also played an undeniable role in connecting the masses with religion.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Qafilahs are a remarkable masterpiece of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah's wise leadership. They gave rise not just to an association, but to a global organisation that is now spreading the light of guidance in numerous countries around the world. This system is not only the central pillar of Dawat-e-Islami but also serves as an exemplary model for the Muslim Ummah on how religious awakening can be created in an organised, dynamic, and spiritual manner.
The Pious Deeds Booklet: A Reformative Revolutionary System
A unique and revolutionary aspect of Dawat-e-Islami's reformative and training system is Pious Deeds booklet, which the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah compiled not merely as a list or reminder, but as a complete training methodology and a moral code. This booklet provides practical guidance for self-accountability (muḥāsaba), inner spiritual training, reformation of outward deeds, and consistency in acts of worship. Each deed included in it represents a step towards a moral and spiritual destination. By following it, an ordinary Muslim can shape their life according to the Sunnah of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .
The leader of Ahl al-Sunnah has structured the Pious Deeds booklet in such a way that makes it equally beneficial for all Muslims – whether scholars or the public, men or women, young or old. It addresses high moral and social matters such as salah, fasting, recitation of the Quran, remembrance of Allah and supplication, supererogatory worship, Tahajjud, patience, gratitude, forgiveness, avoiding arrogance, negation of ostentation, good character, pure livelihood, encouragement of lawful earnings, punctuality, guarding the tongue, and abstaining from backbiting and slander. Thus, this booklet is a comprehensive curriculum for bringing about a spiritual and social transformation in an individual's life.
A significant feature of the Pious Deeds booklet is that those who practice it engage in daily self-assessment by reviewing their performance through the questions it contains. This self-accountability helps in building a moral, sincere, and balanced personality. The focus is not merely on counting the number of deeds performed, but also on intention, sincerity, and continuous efforts for reform.
The leader of Ahl al-Sunnah did not limit this booklet to Islamic brothers alone; rather, he introduced specific versions for Islamic sisters, children, and those from other walks of life, tailored to suit their age, circumstances, occupations, and responsibilities. This reflects the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah's deep psychological and social awareness in the field of nurturing the Ummah.
Thanks to the Pious Deeds booklet, an inclination towards goodness, worship, adherence to Shariah, and attachment to sunan has developed on an individual level. Furthermore, this spirit has permeated Dawat-e-Islami's organisational atmosphere, embedding the mindset that every person should become righteous and invite others toward righteousness. Today, millions of individuals regularly act upon this booklet and engage in self-accountability. This reformative strategy of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah is guiding society towards becoming an ideal one.
Thus, the Pious Deeds booklet is not merely a religious booklet but a revolutionary training movement that provides a strong foundation for reform, spiritual awakening, goodness, and welfare from the individuals to communities, and from communities to the Ummah at large. It stands as a living and bright testimony of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah's دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ insight, sincerity, and multi-faceted leadership skills.
Weekly Gathering: A Spiritual Centre for Reforming the Ummah and a Manifestation of Mawlānā Ilyas ꜤAṭṭār al-Qādirī’s Leadership
Dawat-e-Islami's weekly Sunnah-inspired gatherings, held every Thursday in Faizan-e-Madinah centres and masjids worldwide, are, in fact, a magnificent symbol of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyas ꜤAṭṭār Qādirī's دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ foresight, reformative strategy, and spiritual leadership. This gathering is not merely a formal assembly or a series of sermons but a revolutionary training platform where common people, youth, scholars, students, businessmen, women, and children all gather to receive religious training, spiritual purification, moral building, and reformative renewal.
This weekly gathering is a reflection of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah's unparalleled strategy, through which he made extraordinary arrangements to encourage the public’s inclination towards religion and popularise the invitation to good deeds. Designating Thursday for this purpose and connecting the general public to a spiritual system, masjid, and religious environment is a manifestation of such visionary leadership that serves as an exemplary model for all times. In these gatherings, topics from the Quran and Hadith, sayings of the predecessors (Salaf), anecdotes of righteous elders, etiquettes of life, the blessed biography of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , encouragement for good deeds, practical guidance for avoiding Hell and attaining Paradise, as well as the fear of Allah and love for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , propagation of sunan, steadfastness in righteous deeds, obedience to parents, rights of people, excellent morals, and countless other vital topics are presented beautifully and in an easy-to-understand manner.
These gatherings are not only a source of knowledge and wisdom but also spiritual training grounds where repentant individuals shedding tears of remorse, sinners whose lives are transformed by repentance, devotees of the Prophet whose hearts are stirred with love, and youth whose lives are turned around are frequently seen. Revolutionary changes have occurred in the practical lives of countless individuals through these gatherings; they have repented from sins, adopted the Sunnah, and many have become travellers of the Madani Qafilahs to preach religion.
Madani Muzakara: The Most Effective Means of Training and Reform
Under Dawat-e-Islami, the "Madani Muzakarah," conducted by the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, ꜤAllāmah Muhammad Ilyas ꜤAṭṭār Qādirī دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ , is an invaluable and highly effective means that has become instrumental in the training, reformation of conditions, and encouragement of knowledge and action for millions of individuals. The Madani Muzakarah is not merely a question-and-answer session but a comprehensive training system that encompasses beliefs, worship, dealings, ethics, biography of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , religious knowledge, and contemporary challenges. In these sessions, the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah مدظلہ العالی explains religious issues, imparts reformative guidance, teaches sunan, and delivers wisdom-filled discourses that profoundly affects the heart and mind, all in a simple and loving manner. Not only ordinary individuals, but scholars, students, women, youth, children, and even non-Muslims benefit from these sessions. The gentle tone, religious zeal, scholarly insight, and sincerity of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah are prominently reflected in these Madani Muzakarahs, touching the hearts of listeners. While the Madani Muzakarah is a platform for spiritual training, it is also a strong fortress for uniting the Ummah, providing guidance, and protecting against false ideologies. These discussions are the heart of Dawat-e-Islami's academic and spiritual mission, from which every listener learns, commits to the path of goodness, and brings positive change in their lives.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه The leader of Ahl al-Sunnah دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ , and his beloved organisation Dawat-e-Islami are a great means of transforming hearts, improving lives, and moulding society into an atmosphere of goodness and piety. If you also desire betterment in this world and the Hereafter , desire to live a life full of good deeds away from sins, and wish to remain connected to Islamic brotherhood, knowledge and action, and the fragrance of sunan, then join Dawat-e-Islami today. By becoming part of this great religious organisation, you can not only reform yourself but also become a means of reform for others. Gain the blessings of the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah and join the fortunate ones who are spreading the invitation to righteousness worldwide through Dawat-e-Islami.
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