"There should be a group among you who invites people to virtues, and preach them for the recognition (of Allah)." (Al-Quran)
Islam in Sub-continent
The history of Islam in the Sub-continent goes back to the end of the seventh and the beginning of the eighth century when Arab Muslims appeared on the western coastal areas as settler-traders. In the following centuries many more Muslim traders came and settled on the east and west coasts of South India. However, they came as conquerors in 712 when Mohammad Bin Qasim defeated Raja Dahir to liberate Muslim Captive. Gradually this process went on until the establishment of the first Muslim Dynasty in the thirteenth century.
The spread of Islam is, in reality neither because of the Arab traders or the Muslim rulers of the Sub-continent as the farmer introduced it and the latter patronized it. In fact, the credit goes to the Sufis and mystics who through their character, conduct and personalities mesmerized people around them. People warmly embraced the pivotal force-Islam- that made those figures so ideal and exceptional.
It is difficult to trace the exact period of the arrival of the saints in the Sub-continental. However, among the earliest mystics, a major figure is Shaykh Ali Hajweri, who came and settled in Lahore between (1072-1077). Among the other saints who contributed to the rapid growth of Islam in early years are Shaykh Baha al-Din Zakariya (1182-1262), Khawajah Moin al-Din Chistin, who settled in Ajmair in the 1290s, Qutb al-Din Bakhtiyar Kaki (d.1235), Farid al-Din Ganj-i Skahar (d.1265), Nizam al-Din Auliya (1238-1325).
The Hindu society was in the clutches of various types of divisions vise on the basis of colour, creed, clan, social and economic status etc. while the attitude of the mystics was above any discrimination or prejudice. They not only welcomed people from all walks of life but also mixed up with them without any discrimination. There was no iota of differences, hatred, division or bifurcation. It was an entirely new phenomenon for the class-stricken Indian society. People from all classes were given equal treatment. These aspects of the mystics' character captivated people and these features were attributed to religion by the saints. People could not resist such a humanitarian religion.
THUS!The birth of Islam in the Sub-continent is undoubtedly because of the Muslim traders but it owes its growth and maturity to the untiring efforts of the saints who won the hearts of the Indians because of their lofty and majestic characters.
Foundation of ISLAHEE JAMAAT
Numerous people came in this world, performed extra-ordinary deeds for the betterment of humanity. After passing away, they were remembered for the welfare acts, which they performed. Nonetheless, there are a few chosen ones who did such revolutionary and reformative actions in religious, social and political spheres, whose influence would remain untarnished till the end.
Some selected and blessed souls were sent only for the guidance of human beings, for the inculcation and development of moral conduct and character of human beings, for the promotion and spread of mutual fraternity, integrity, solidarity, social justice and equality. These personalities, because of their spiritual might and effect, purified outer as well as inner selves of people and strengthened the oneness of the ummah and nation. In this age of turmoil, sectarianism and bigotry,Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Asghar Ali (Allah bless his Soul), a descendant ofHazrat Sultan Bahu (Allah bless his Soul), whose shrine is in the district Jhang, started a movement named as "Islahee Jamaat" (Edifying Movement) in 1987, when he was of forty years.
In the beginning, he guided and enlightened, outwardly as well as inwardly, a few selected disciples. The hallmark of this guidance was to keep the Jamaat (movement) or organization free from all forms of sectarianism and extremism. It was such a new, different and unique mission for the modern shrine or mystic system that people from all sorts of thinking and background not only liked it but also offered physical and material sacrifice for its rapid promotion and proliferation.
The mission spread through Pakistan and many other countries in no time. The sole secret for its such speedy growth is its purity, enlightenment and asectarianism and also that it provided
the Muslims a platform for which they had been waiting for centuries. His (Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Asghar Ali's(Allah bless his Soul)) preachings revolve around identification and recognition of Allah, which is also the real purpose of man's life.
When a person goes astray from his actual mission, his spiritual peace becomes stagnant; consequently he gets entangled in physical and spiritual problems, for which he does not have any concrete or permanent solution. People in today's world are caught in materialism and a tangible solution to this problem is required. In this context, Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Asghar Ali (Allah bless his Soul) favoured the whole Muslim Ummah by devising a comprehensive program in the light of Quran and Sunnah.
Initially only a few closest and nearest disciples attained inner peace and satisfaction by accepting this mission but gradually it made consistent progress and people warmly accepted this compact, comprehensive and according-to-Sunnah mission. After purging one's inner self, one attains Divine Unification and there is no scope for sectarianism after such Unification. The founder of Islahee Jamaat battled against sectarianism. He entirely transformed and revolutionized the inner self of every one who came close to him.
Many cruel and stonehearted persons, after looking at this attractive and blessed face, became mild and had this realization that, despite their sins and crimes, they also deserved blessings and mercy of Allah. They admitted that this character and personality, Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Asghar Ali (Allah bless his Soul), is the real representation and shade of the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Hazrat MUHAMMAD (blessing and salutation be on him). They confessed that awareness of the essence and spirit of Islam is the real ascension of humanity. They not only embraced this mission but also devoted their lives to convey it to others.
It is exactly like what happened fourteen hundred years ago in Arab where the Light of Truth spread over the social set up of the whole region and within no time brightened the lives of confused, uncouth and perverted people. In a short span of time, rays of this sacred Light, after changing the Arabian Peninsula into an Islamic State, spread to other countries and now have reached almost to all countries.
In the modern era, some narrow-minded bigots have caused rifts in the social fabric of Muslim community and endangered the unity of the ummah. To check and counter their nefarious designs and activities, Allah sent, in the line of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Allah bless his Soul), a figure, who devotedly followed the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet MUHAMMAD (blessing and salutation be on him) and worked as spiritual guide and mentor for humanity to enlighten their souls. Thousands and thousands of people entered into his discipleship. He devoted whole of his life to promote this mission and to eliminate sectarianism and rifts of all sorts among Muslims.
Following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Hazrat MUHAMMAD (blessing and salutation be on him), he visited almost all parts of the country to preachand convey this mission. Every body sitting in his company received his bounties. His blessings and favours were above any discrimination of colour or race; literate or illiterate, white or black, aged or young, every one was equal in his eyes. The situation in his company was similar to this saying "Whosoever had an eye contact, became blessed from destitute."
The focal point of his sayings and preaching was the teaching of Hazrat Sultan Bahu(Allah bless his Soul), which solely is about Ism-e-Allah Zaat (Personal name of Allah). His conversation also revolved around Ism-e-Allah Zaat. He often used to say that if one remembers Allah through Ism-e-Allah Zaat, it gets imprinted on one's heart and ensuingly other impurities like jealousy, pride, hatred etc. vanish from that heart. He considered these evils as breeding ground for sectarianism.
He often used to say that the form of sectarianism, of which majority is ignorant and which is most lethal, is extreme greed, materialism and obedience of evil self (Nafse-Ammara) These evils engender all kinds of rifts and divisions. To purge heart from these vices, it is necessary and inevitable to recognize Oneness of Allah. When people will remember Ism-e-Allah Zaat, every shade of sectarianism and extremism would be ultimately eliminated, there would be the sort of fraternity among them, which was among the Holy Companions.
Thanks to Allah, now there are hundreds thousands of such persons, who after embracing this sacred mission, have become a solid and concrete whole. Each of them prefers others to his own self. All this revolution is only because of the kindness and spiritual might o Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Asghar Ali (Allah bless his Soul). Now this mission is being carried out by his sons. Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Ali, his eldest son, is heading, supervising its successful promotion. May it continue till the end.
Our MISSION and OBJECTIVES
Mission of Jamaat
The establishment of Islahee Jamaat (Edifying Group) was motivated by the following Mission:
1. To spread the teachings of all saints particularly of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Allah bless his Soul) in the light of Quran and Sunnah, through all the sections of society, at both national and international level.
2. To attain human ascension and glory by achieving the real objective of human life, that is, recognition of Allah through spiritual purgation.
3. To eliminate sectarianism and extremism through proliferation of the pacifist mission of saints.
Objectives of Jamaat
To fulfill the lofty and noble ideals of the mission, the Islahee Jamaat (Edifying Group) is passionately carrying out the following steps:
1. It is carrying out through Maktabat-ul-Arefeen, simple and easily comprehensible translation, exegesis and publication of the Holy Quran, books of Hadiths (sayings of the Holy Prophet MUHAMMAD (blessing and salutation be on him) and the works of renowned saints particularly of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Allah bless his Soul).
2. It has founded seminaries in various parts of the country where such preachers are being taught who are well versed in the knowledge of Quran, Sunnah and teachings of Saints.
3. After the completion of their learning, these preachers are sent in shape of group to all parts of the country, urban or rural, where they deliver sermons and address gatherings to convey the sacred mission to people from all walks of life.
4. Islahee Jamaat (Edifying Group) has a countrywide network of offices and libraries where exegesis of the Holy Quran, books of Ahadees (Sayings of the Holy Prophet MUHAMMAD (blessing and salutation be on him)) and works of famous saints are available for study to every body.
5. In every such office, the preachers of the Jamaat are present to communicate the sacred mission to people.
6. Country wide, both at urban and rural level, weekly and monthly meetings and gatherings are arranged, open invitation to people, from all stratum of life, of the area is extended, where sermons regarding teachings of the Holy Quran, Sunnah and saints are delivered.
7. Two annual programmes viz. on 12, 13 April at shrine of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Allah bless his Soul) in Jhang and on 26, 27 August in Anga Sharif, Soon Valley in District Khushab, are arranged, which are attended by people from the whole country on large scale. Renowned religious scholars address on these occasions to convey the mission and enlighten people through teachings of Quran, Sunnah and Saints.
8. The Jamaat also manages, through Maktabat-ul-Arefeen, publication and circulation of Monthly Mirrat-ul-Arefeen (Mirror of those who recognize), which contains articles about the topics related to Shariyat (Sunnah) and Tareeqat in easily comprehensible language and style.
