Tanzeem-e-Islami

The Tanzeem-e-Islami is an Islamist religious organisation based in Lahore, Pakistan that advocates the establishment of a global Islamic Caliphate.^[2] The organization was formed by author and Islamist theorist Israr Ahmed as a splinter group from the Jamaat-e-Islami in 1975, when the latter entered electoral politics in Pakistan.^[3] Hafiz Akif Saeed assumed the leadership role of the organization after the voluntary resignation of the founder in 2002.

Espousing what it calls "Islamic Revolutionary Thought", the organization seeks to implement the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah "in their totality in the social, cultural, juristic, political, and economic spheres of life".^[4] The organization considers the "effective refutation of the misleading thoughts and philosophy of modernity" as its most important task.^[5]

History of Tanzeem-e-Islami

The essence of what Tanzeem calls the “Islamic revolutionary thought” consists of the idea that it is not enough to practice Islam in one's individual life but that the teachings of the Qur'an and those of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) must also be implemented in their totality in the social, cultural, juristic, political, and the economic spheres of life. The credit for reviving this dynamic concept of Islam in the Indian subcontinent, after centuries of neglect and dormancy, goes to Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The first attempt towards the actualization of this concept was made by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Another attempt was made by Maulana Sayyid Abul A`la Maududi.

When Jama’t-e-Islami entered in the electoral process in 1956, a group of individuals including Dr. Israr Ahmed resigned on account of their disagreement with the leadership of the Jama‘at on significant policy matters. While continuing his Quranic lectures, Dr. Israr kept waiting for his former colleagues to initiate efforts of Islamic renaissance through the revolutionary process. However upon realizing that nobody was coming forward to shoulder this responsibility, he decided to step-on for this effort and call people to make a disciplined organization and he therefore laid the foundation of Tanzeem-e-Islami.^[6]

Obligations of Tanzeem-e-Islami Members

The obligations of a Muslim as ordained by the Qur'an and Sunnah, can be understood as having four levels:

1) A Muslim is required to develop real faith and conviction (Iman) in his heart;

2) He is required to live a life of total obedience to the injunctions of the Shari`ah;

3) He is required to propagate and disseminate the message of Islam to the entire Humanity;

4) And he is required to try his utmost to establish the ascendancy of Islam over all man-made systems of life.

The objective of establishing Tanzeem-e-Islami is to assist the Muslims in carrying out these obligations.

The ultimate goal is to seek Allah's pleasure and salvation in the Hereafter.^[7]

Mission Statement of Tanzeem-e-Islami

The Mission Statement of Tanzeem-e-Islami describes that:

“The addressee of Islam is an individual. The main objective of Islam is to provide moral and spiritual fulfillment and salvation to the individual , and the proposed collectivity is required chiefly for the purpose that it may help an individual in achieving his goal, that is to seek the pleasure of Allah.

With regard to the Da`wah, Tanzeem considers that the practice of Da`wah and reform should extend from an individual to his family, his kith and kin, and then gradually to his surroundings.

In regard to the collective responsibility of the Muslims concerning the work of Da`wah and propagation among the masses, Tanzeem considers that the guidance given by the Book (Qur'an) and Sunnah concerning the various aspects of human life should be explained in clear terms so that their real wisdom and rational worth can be made clear, and the doubts in the minds of the people of the present times may be removed.”^[8]

Israr Ahmad's Thoughts and Academic Works

Master Thesis

Miss Shagufta Ahmad has submitted her master's thesis entitled, "Dr. Israr Ahmad's Political Thoughts and Activities"to the McGill University, Canada in 1994. The thesis discussed in detail the intellectual development of Israr Ahmad and the influence of Allama Iqbal, Abul Kalam Azad and Maulana Moududi, Political Thought, especially his theory of revolution and the activities of his three organizations i.e. Anjuman Khuddam-ul-Qur'an, Tanzeem-e-Islami and Tehreek-e-Khilafat. Anjuman Khuddam-ul-Qur'an has published this thesis in 1996.

Phil Thesis

Mr. Fawad Ali Lauhany, an M. Phil Scholar of the Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar (Pakistan), has written a thesis entitled, "A Critical Analysis of Dr. Israr Ahmad's Views on Islamic Revolution" and submitted it to the said university in 2009.

Objectives of the research were:

• To study Dr. Israr Ahmad’s political thought with particular reference to his views on revolution and a critical analysis of several stages of revolution identified by him;

• To study non-violent approach of Islamic Revolution in the context of today’s violent movements in the Muslim World and rest of the world;

• To study the causes of Counter-Revolution and its impact on the ideology of a revolution;

• To present a modified version of the above-mentioned theory based on the flaws brought to the surface by the researcher.'

Mr. Fawad Ali Lauhany has defended his thesis in the Department of Political Science on 10 July 2009. Supervisor and co-supervisor of the thesis were Dr. Taj Muharram, Chairman, Political Science Department and Dr. Abdur Rauf, Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar, respectively and the external examiner was Dr. Razia Mussarrat, Chairperson, Department of Political Science, University of Bahawalpur.

See also

• Anjuman Khuddam ul Quran
• Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan
• Voice of Quran
• Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam
• Quran College
• Israr Ahmed
• Hizb ut-Tahrir

References

External links

• www.tanzeem.org
• www.quranacademy.com
• BR report
  • www.drisrarahmed.com
• / www.hizb-ut-tahrir.info
• / www.hizb-ut-tahrir.org