Jamaat-e-Islami Hind

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (Urdu: جماعتِ اسلامی ہند) is a movement working to establish peace and harmony regime in India. It was founded by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi[1]. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) develops its ideology from Qur'an, teachings of the Prophet Muhammad of Arabia.

JIH introduces themselves as “Islamic Movement”. JIH believes the word Al-Deen comprises entire aspects of life, from rituals to Politics, Economics and Sociology.

It believes that deviation from God’s guidance is the root cause for all problems that humans are facing today. JIH propagates Islam as civilized and alternative system of life for modern world.

History

It was the first organised Islamic movement in the Indian subcontinent formed on 26th August 1941 in Lahore under the leadership of Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. The Jamaat Addressed all Indians regardless of religion, caste and creed. It appeals to a1l sections of humanity to eschew the path of violence and mutual hatred, terrorism and oppression, and to settle down to the task of building a Righteous Society on stable and abiding foundations which can be only Islam. From its very inception, it advocated the cause of the Righteous Way, the way of submission to Islam and abiding well-being. It recalls to the mind the message and teachings of all apostles, prophets and divine messengers. The Jama'at points out that the time has come for the nation and the world to learn from the traumatic past. We must learn from the experience of the west; and from the bitter turmoil that raged in our own country. The Jamaat believes that Islam and Muslims have a special commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous world, a world where there is no material exploitation, no division of human life into separate material and spiritual domains, where divine values hold good in all walks of life and where all abide by the ideals of Islamic state. A world where religion is no tool for hegemonisation, but for distinction between arabs and non-arabs and for a way of life that is holistic and profoundly positive.

The Jamaat-e-Islami was not one more school among several religious schools, nor even a religious organisation in the narrow sense but more politically and socially responsible. Nor did it claim to be the Al-Jama'at founded by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The doors of the organisation are thrown open to any citizen who accepts the sacred motto La i1aha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah in its entirety and all its implications, and is ready to work for the establishment of the divine order in the land meaning thereby anyone who accepts Islam. It accepts the Islamic principle 'the end justifies the means'; and the Islamic movement professes the way adopted by the prophets, the way of peaceful and non-violent transmission of ideas. Till the attainment of freedom and the partition of the country, the Jamaat's activities were confined to propagation of ideas mainly literature and publications in Urdu. Not surprisingly, the circumstances did not allow the organisation to win the Muslim society over to its way of thinking, since it had been divided between the national movement and the Muslim communal politics. Even so, the unique approach of this new organisation made a deep impression on a substantial section of the educated intellectuals, particularly of the middle class. They were enthused to recognise in Islam a complete, divinely ordained way of living that can replace the many man-made materialistic systems. At the same time, the Jamaat faced stiff opposition from both the superstitious sections given to irrational and exploitative practices, and the nationalistic and communalistic sections.

Mission

The Jamaat seeks to build a society in India based on Islam, which it advocates as the only solution to India's social and economic problems. To achieve this, it pursues peaceful and democratic methods of building public opinion for now,lacking a political support. The Jamaat has also worked to influence India's foreign policy to favour Muslim nations and condemn the policies of Israel and the United States. The Jamaat remains a fervent advocate of the independence of Palestine in India.

The Jamaat claims to work for the inter-communal harmony and peace and has been instrumental in establishing organizations like Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity (a forum of distinguished jurists and intellectual belonging to all communities)[2] and Dharmic Jan Morcha (A federation of religious leaders from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities.[3] It conducts Interfaith Dialogues and Discussions.

The Jamaat has wings of youth, students,and women. Its leadership includes both Muslim Clerics known as the ulama and educated Muslim professionals and academicians. Its organization spreads across mosques throughout India. The Jamaat also maintains religious charities, modern schools and colleges and Islamic schools, known as madrassahs.

Message of the Jamaat

Since its very inception the Jamaat addressed to all Indians irrespective of religion, caste and creed. It appealed to all communities to leave the path of violence and mutual hatred and to settle down to the task of building a Islamic Society in India on stable and abiding foundations.

Methodology

Article 5 of the Constitution og JIH reads as under:

“For the attainment of its objective the methodology of the JIH shall be as follows :

* The Quran and the Sunna shall form the base of the Jamaat's activities. All other things shall be kept in view secondarily, only to the extent to which these could be accommodated in accordance with the Quran and the Sunna.

* In all its actions the Jamaat shall be bound by moral limits and shall never adopt such means or ways which are against truth and honesty or through which may come about communal hatred, class struggle and Fasaad fil arz1.

* For the achievement of its objective the Jamaat shall adopt constructive and peaceful methods ; that is, it shall reform the mental outlook, character and conduct through propagation (of Islam), instruction and dissemination of Islamic ideas, and thus shall train public opinion in order to bring about the desired righteous revolution in the social life of the country”.[5]

Feeding organizations

Students Islamic Organisation of India - SIO is an ideological organization working in the country for preparing students and youth for the reconstruction of society in the light of divine guidance.

Girls Islamic Organisation of India[6]

Movement for Peace and Justice, Andhra Pradesh - MPJ was launched in Hyderabad on March 5, 2005 with the intention to make the society free from illiteracy, oppression and injustice. It has 10 objectives aiming to restore justice, human rights, education, communal amity, upliftment and women’s rights, etc. all over the state of Andhra Pradesh.[7]

Solidarity Youth Movement, Kerala

Islamic Social Service Society

Ar-Rahma Foundation

National Leaders

* Jalaluddin Umri
* Abdul Haq Ansari
* Fazlur Rahman Faridi
* Muhammad Jafar
* Yusuf Islahi
* H Abdul Raqeeb
* S Ameen ul Hasan
* Sadat Husaini


References

1. ^ http://www.jamaateislamihind.org/index.php?do=category&id=31&blockid=31
2. ^ http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/15062001/inter.htm
3. ^ http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/15052001/comm-news.htm
4. ^ http://www.jamaateislamihind.org/index.php?do=category&id=31&blockid=31
5. ^ http://www.jihkerala.com/htm/english/jamaat/Aims.html
6. ^ http://www.islamicvoice.com/may.2000/issues.htm
7. ^ http://www.mpj-india.org/radiance_interview_general_secretary.php

External links

* www.jamaateislamihind.org
* www.islamvision.org
* www.sio-india.org
* www.jihkerala.org
* www.solidarityym.org
* Interview with Jamaat Amir