Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is the Indian offshoot of the Jamaat-e-Islami. Primarily a religious organisation, the Jamaat is also an active political organisation but it does not contest elections.
==History==
On the initiative of Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi seventy-five persons assembled at Lahore in August 1941 and organized themselves into a group, known as the Jamaat-e-Islami. Maulana Maudoodi was unanimously elected as its Amir (President). These persons hailed from every part of India and were drawn from all walks of life. There were among them Ulema (Muslim divines and savants) as well as university graduates, labourers, artisans and professional men.
Message of the Jamaat
Since its very inception the Jamaat addressed itself to all Indians irrespective of caste and creed. It appealed to all communities to eschew the path of violence and mutual hatred and to settle down to the task of building a Righteous Society on stable and abiding foundations.
Religion as the Basis of Life
The Jamaat advocated the cause of Religion. It recalled to the Indian mind the message and teachings of all the Prophets and Apostles who had appeared from time to time in the history of the world and had professed, practiced and preached the allegiance to God and His Commandments. It exhorted people to shed their narrow conception of Religion. Life, it argued, was an indivisible unity and Religion was a discipline that exercised its ennobling and sublimating influence over the entire gamut of human experience. The Jamaat-e-Islami persuaded people to study and understand Religion as it was professed, practiced and preached by its original messengers, the Prophets, rather than as interpreted and distorted by the political expediencies of history. Only in this way could they have a true vision of the all-pervading and assuaging role of religion. Studied in this way Religion assumes the status of the Guiding Principles which give direction to the whole activity of life.
Reorganization of the Jamaat Following Partition
As soon as normal communications were restored, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind was organized in April 1948 at Allahabad out of the divided assets of the parent organization. This new body was declared an independent party, having its own Constitution and separate President, without any organizational links whatsoever with the Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan. The two hundred forty residue members elected Maulana Abul Lais Nadvi as their Amir (President), and established their Headquarters at Malihabad, Lucknow, U.P., which were later shifted to Rampur (U.P.) in 1949 and then to Delhi in 1960. The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind underwent a long process of reorganization. It reframed its Constitution, chalked out a written policy, issued a well thought-out programme and in 1956 embarked upon a four-year plan to carry its message farther to the people, build and strengthen the character of its members by giving them continuous spiritual and moral training and to remove whatever remained of communal tension and sectarianism among the people. It also directed its efforts towards the elimination of class conflict which was being propagated by certain parties.
Communal Harmony
In the planning of its activities the Jamaat gave top priority to the removal of communal distrust, and counselled restraint to Muslims in the face of provocations. It worked for the restoration of confidence among Muslim of India who had been totally demoralized by the partition and its aftermath. The then Amir (President) of the Jamaat, Mulana Abul Lais Nadvi strongly condemned the tendency of migrating to Pakistan and urged Muslims to abide in their land of birth with the sole and solemn object of enlightening the people with the true way of life followed by all Prophets of God and to conform even minutely to that universal teaching which they possess intact. Only thus could Muslims perform their duty to God and men, solve their own problems satisfactorily and serve their country best. These articles of the Maulana appeared in the year 1949-50 in the journal Zindagi. During the period 1960-64 an unfortunate situation was created when Muslims were made the target of communal aggression in various parts of the country. The Amir-e-Jamaat once again persuasively argued with fellow Muslims against a possible tendency towards large-scale migration.
Constructive Activities-Tarbiyat and Dawah
Instead of frittering energies in parliamentary politics, the Jamaat devoted them exclusively for doing constructive work. The Jamaat concentrated mainly on two items: (1) Islamic training (Tarbiyat) of Jamaat cadres, and (2) widest possible dissemination of its message (Dawah). In training the Jammat people the Jamaat inculcated and nursed such qualities as are necessary to enable them to devote their resources, time, energies and abilities for Iqaamat Deen, to implement the proposed programmes, and discharge in the best possible manner, duties entrusted to them. Deep study of Kitab and Sunna, the seerat and other Islamic literature is necessary together with engendering a strong spirit of dependence on Allah and love for Him and His Prophet, firmness of belief, regular and devotional performance of prescribed do's and don'ts (doing the approved and avoiding the prohibited), practicing Azkar, Nawafil, Ehtisab, self assessment and Infaq, spending in the way of Allah.
DAWAH WORK
As regards the widest possible dissemination of its message (Dawah) throughout India the Jamaat works among Muslims and non-Muslims (men, women and students) through literature, individual contacts, public meetings, symposia, seminars, Friday sermons, tea parties, press conferences, newspapers, periodicals in different languages, publication of translations of Quran and Hadith and Islamic literature in different languages, organizing institutions for Islamic education, as well as Islamic cum secular education, teachers training etc. DAWAH WORK AMONG NON-MUSLIMS In doing Dawah work among non-Muslims, the Jamaat tries to remove doubts and misgivings borne out of, or created by ignorance or failings of Muslim community or owing to the false propaganda of the adversaries of the Jamaat. With a view to remove misunderstandings, and introducing Islam and Islamic movement properly, suitable literature is published in different languages and distributed widely.
Non-Muslims are acquainted with the basic Islamic concepts and values so as to recognize clearly the need and importance of Divine Guidance and Mohammad's (peace be upon him!) prophethood, and imbibe the concept of the Hereafter, together with a clear understanding of the truth about Islam as the only Deen revealed to the mankind in all times and places for the inner reform, social development and reconstruction, solution of the problems of life, establishment of justice and equity, and welfare in the Hereafter. While doing Dawah work among non-Muslims the Jamaat creates fraternal contacts with them, based solely on sincerity, sympathy, affection, goodwill and benevolence, sharing their troubles and trying to solve common problems jointly. The Jamaat always invites non-Muslim friends to tea parties, seminars, symposia, meetings and on occasions of Eid. The Jamaat also tries to seek co-operation in solving India's problems and in social service programmes.
SOCIAL SERVICE
To carry out various social service programmes, cooperation, within reasonable limits, is sought from and offered to the governmental development and relief schemes, governmental or semi-governmental or independent social associations and institutions, panchayats, mohalla committees, community development blocks, social welfare centers, cooperative societies and centres established for the uplift of backward classes. In the light of the above mentioned programme, Jamaat has been engaging itself in social services, e.g. promoting public hygiene, health and sanitation and providing medical facilities as far as possible by opening hospitals, training Muslim nurses in Islam as well as in nursing. Jamaat encourages small scale industries and promotes societies to lend money without interest.
JAMAAT MEETINGS
The Jamaat held an All-India Meet at Rampur (U.P) in 1951 and another at Hyderabad (A.P) in 1952. The third All-India Meet was held in 1960 at Delhi where the Headquarters of the Jamaat had then been shifted from Rampur. This was followed by the fourth annual meet at Hyderabad in 1967. The fifth All-India Meet was held at Delhi in 1974 in which representatives of the Muslim organizations of the world and well known scholars of Islam participated. The sixth All-India Meet was held in 1981 in Hyderabad. These meetings along with zonal and district meets held almost every year, and generally every quarter, respectively, have gone a long way in making the people conversant with the message of the Jamaat, and have won a large number of sympathizers.
POLITICS The Islamic system is an indivisible whole, politics being an inalienable part thereof. And as the Jamaat seeks to represent the whole of Islam, it can not afford to eschew interest in politics. But since the basic tenets of the Jamaat's ideology, that the Divine Guidance should form the basis of our entire activity, (expressed in political language as the Sovereignty of God, the Vicegerency of Man and the Supremacy of His Law), has yet to be appreciated by the majority of our countrymen and accepted as the basis of State organization, it would hardly be worthwhile for the Jamaat to take part in parliamentary elections at the moment. The Jamaat, however , does not rule out such participation in a democratic country like ours; only the condition are not ripe for it to do so.
'JAMAAT AND THE MUSLIM MI'NORITY The Jamaat hopes to receive a comparatively easier audience among, and consequently make greater impact on, the large number of Indians who subscribe to the Islamic faith. So it is to these people that the Jamaat primarily addresses itself. It wishes to recall them to the present rudderless life to a purposive one, and to remind them of their Islamic duties to God and man. Some of the problems with which the Muslims face as a religious minority are a matter of great concern to them; for example- 1. The primary education of the Muslim children should not be indoctrination of anything un-Islamic or opposed to Islam, and it should be imparted in their mother tongue. 2. Their Personal Law should not be changed as it is a part of their religion. The Jamaat is interested in the satisfactory and speedy solution of these problems and others like them.
Moreover the oft-occurring phenomenon of communal aggression against Muslims in various parts of the country has made it imperative that the Government should create effective machinery for the protection of their life, honour and property; and sober elements in various communities should cry a halt to this sort of insane and sinful behaviour. The obligation of Muslim leadership is, however, too direct and immense to require any emphasis. It was in the context of this grave responsibility and with a view to bring about cordial relations between the majority and the Muslim minority that the Jamaat is cooperating with the Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawrat, All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other organizations working for the purpose.
As mentioned above the large-scale destruction of life and property during the communal disturbances obliged the Jamaat to pay special attention to relief work for the sufferers and to raise finances for this purpose.
JAMAAT AND DEMOCRACY
In propagating the ideals of Islam the Jamaat is within its democratic rights. For this purpose the Jamaat makes use of the peaceful means of press and platform constitutionally available to all. The Jamaat upholds the democratic character of India and distastes the forces that tend towards totalitarianism, dictatorship and fascism.
JAMAAT AND SECULARISM
In propagating a religious ideal in a country which is avowedly secular, the Jamaat is not contravening any Article of Indian Constitution. Secularism is a State policy which implies that there should be no discrimination or partiality on the basis of religious belief. But beyond this State policy some people have deeper philosophical connotations in mind. These philosophical connotations are essentially Western in origin, and carry a spirit and history which are totally foreign to our temper and needs.
It would be recalled that that in the 17th century in Europe when modern philosophical ideas had effectively undermined people's belief in God and in the objectivity of morals, and the cumbrous theology of the then established Church fell foul of the pioneers of science and the leaders of the State, Secularism was invented to fill the metaphysical gap on the one hand and to release the State from the influence of the clergy on the other.
Understood in this context Secularism is a negation of the religious attitudes. It implies that God and His Guidance should be relegated to the private sphere of an individual's life and other aspects, cultural, educational, political and economic, should be independent of its influence. Even if it were argued that this dichotomy was genuine historical need of the West 300 years back, every thinking man would agree that in the context of our contemporary needs there is hardly any justification for its continued retention.
The Jamaat regards pristine religion as a foundational concept of life, and believes that many of the ills from which the modern age suffers are owing to this separation of Religion from the effective participation in the affairs of life. For the genuine wish to circumvent the crisis of character, and to infuse a new spirit of responsibility, duty and devotion among our countrymen, this has to be realized that God and His Guidance are effective in life, and that they are effective only when men base their mode of living on them.
THE PROCESS OF CHANGE
The Jamaat conceives Islamic revolution as a democratic process. Force and violent upheaval, besides being wholly un-Islamic, would defeat its purpose. Islamic revolution is a two fold process. The Jamaat exhorts Muslims to purify their personal lives of all things un-Islamic, to live up to the injunctions of Islam and lead an honest life as moral and upright citizens. To non-Muslims it offers the principles of Islam for dispassionate consideration, not with the intension of somehow converting them to its faith, but in genuine humility, convinced that an escape from God leads to perdition and Divine principles alone offer a true basis for the building of individual and social life. In course of time if these principles find favour with the majority of the Indian people, it is for them to organize their social and political life accordingly.
Mission
The Jamaat seeks to establish an Islamic State in India, which it advocates as the only solution to India's social and economic problems. It advocates the abolishment of secularism and democracy and the imposition of Shariah Islamic law. It often leads political agitation on the cause of Islamic law and other issues of the Muslim communities. 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. In 1986, the Jamaat exerted considerable pressure on the Congress-led government to overturn the verdict of the Shah Bano case, which threatened the separate Islamic law code in India.
The Jamaat has an organised Men youth wing known as Students Islamic Organization of India. Its organisation throughout India. The Jamaat also maintains religious charities, Interest Free Banking , Islamic schools&colleges.
Aims & Methodology
The aims and objects of the Jamaat-e-Islami have been explicitly stated in its Constitution.
“The objective of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is Iqaamat-e-Dezen*, the real motive of which is solely the achievement of Divine pleasure and success in the Hereafter. “Explanation: The word “Deen” in the term “Iqammat-e-Deen” means that true Deen which Allah, the Lord of the worlds, has been sending through all His prophets in different ages and different lands and which He revealed in its final and perfect form for the guidance of all men, through His Last Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!), and which is now in the world the only authentic, pristine Deen, and one which is acceptable to Allah, and the name of which is Islam.
“This Deen encompasses the exterior and the interior of man as well as all individual and collective aspects of his life. There is not even a single aspect of human life ranging from beliefs, rituals and morals to economic, social and political aspects which may be beyond its pale. “Just as this Deen ensures for Divine pleasure and success in the Hereafter, it is also the best system of life for the proper solution of worldly problems; and righteous and progressive reconstruction of individual and social life is possible only through its establishment.
“Iqaamat of this Deen means that it, in its entirety and without exercising any discrimination or division should be sincerely followed, and followed, single-mindedly. It should be so enforced and given effect to in all aspects of human life, individual as well as corporate that the development of the individual, the reconstruction of society and the formation of the State should all conform to this very Deen. “The ideal and the best practical example of the Iqaamat of this Deen is that which was set up by Hazrat Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!) and the rightly guided Caliphs (May the Exalted Allah be pleased with them all!)”
Methodology
Article 5 of the Constitution reads as under:
“For the attainment of its objective the methodology of the Jamat-e-Islami Hind shall be as follows :
“(i) 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.
“(ii) 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.
“(iii) 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”.
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- It is very difficult to give an English equivalent of the term “Iqaamat-e-Deen”. It may, however, be rendered as the Establishment, Realization or Pursuit of Religion ‘Religion','Way of Life', or ‘System of Belief and Action', are however, a very imperfect rendering of the word ‘Deen'
The Constitution Of The Jamaat-e-islami Hind
In The Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Name Article 1: The name of this Jamaat shall be “THE JAMAAT-E- ISLAMI HIND”, and this constitution shall be called “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI HIND”. Date of enforcement Article 2: This constitution shall come into force on the First of Ramadan-ul- Mubarak, 1375 AH, corresponding to the thirteenth of April 1956 AD. Creed Article 3: The basic creed of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is “La Ilaha Illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah”, i.e. the Divine Being is solely Allah, there being no god except Him, and that Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!) is Allah's messenger. Explanation: The meaning of the first part of this creed — i.e., the exalted Allah being the only God and no one else being a god — is that the very same Allah is the Rightful Deity and Law — giving Sovereign of all human beings Who is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Controller, the Lord of us all and of the entire universe as well as the Sovereign and the Author of all the creations. He alone is deserving of worship and He alone is the Rightful One to Whom obedience and allegiance are due, and no one in any of these capacities is His associate.
Knowing and acknowledging this reality it becomes imperative that man -
I. should not regard anyone except Allah as his patron, fulfiller of desires, provider of needs, remover of difficulties, redresser of grievances. protector and helper, for, in reality no one else has power at all in his own right;
II. should not reckon anyone except Allah as benefactor or injurer, nor fear any one, nor stand in awe of anyone, nor put his trust in anyone, nor pin his hopes on anyone, for the master of all authority is, in reality Allah alone;
III. should not worship any one except Allah, nor offer oblations to anyone, nor bow (in reverence) before any one; in a word, should not deal with anyone in the manner in which polytheists have been acting towards their gods, for Allah alone deserves to be worshipped;
IV. should not supplicate anyone for except Allah, nor seek refuge in anyone, nor invoke anyone for assistance, nor even consider anyone so powerful and meddlesome in Divine dispensation that Divine decree could be averted through his intercession, for, in the Kingdom of God all are really helpless subjects, be they angels, Prophets or saints;
V. should not recognize anyone except Allah as lord of the Dominions and Supreme Authority, nor acknowledge anyone competent to command and forbid on his own authority, nor own anyone as being in his own right a permanent and absolute law-giver and law-maker; and should refuse to acknowledge as valid all those allegiances which are not subservient to the allegiance of the One Allah and His Law, for Allah is the only legitimate Lord of His domain and the only lawful Sovereign of His creation. To none, excepting Him, accrues the right to lordship and sovereignty.
Furthermore, by subscribing to this Creed it also becomes imperative that man - I. should renounce his self-will, give up the servitude of lusts and base urges and live as a servant merely of Allah Whom he has acknowledged as his One God;
II. should not regard himself as the absolute owner of anything, but should regard everything, even his very existence, his bodily organs, his mental and physical faculties, as emanating from Allah and endowed as a trust by Him;
III. should consider himself responsible and accountable to Allah; and, in respect of the use of his faculties, his dealings and the utilization of resources, should ever keep in view the fact that on the Day of Judgment he has to render account of all these things to the Exalted Allah and has to receive reward or punishment for his deeds;
IV. should make the approval of Allah the sole criterion of his likes and the disapproval of Allah the criterion of his dislikes;
V. should make the seeking of the pleasure of, and closeness to, the Exalted Allah the sole object of all his exertions and endeavours and the pivot of his entire existence;
VI. should accept in the spheres of moral behaviour and conduct in social and civic spheres, in economics and politics — in a word, in every sphere of life — only Allah's guidance as ‘the Guidance' and acknowledge only that code as ‘The Code' which is laid down by Allah or which is in consonance with His Command and Guidance, and should reject all that which goes against His Shariat (Law). The meaning of the second part of this Creed — i.e., Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!) is the Messenger of Allah — is that the last Prophet, through whom authentic Guidance and complete Code of Life to be followed till the Last Day was sent from the Rightful Deity and Sovereign of the Universe for all human beings inhabiting the face of the earth and who had been commissioned to act in accordance with this Guidance and Code and present a complete model, is Hazrat Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!). Knowing and recognizing this reality, it becomes imperative that one -
I. should accept without demur every teaching and every guidance that is proved to emanate from Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!);
II. only this much should suffice to urge a man to do a certain thing and to make him desist from anything, that the command to do that thing or its prohibition is confirmed by God's Messenger(Allah's blessings and peace be on him!); no other reasoning should be the basis of his obedience;
III. should not acknowledge the permanent and absolute leadership and guidance of anyone excepting God's Messenger; the act of following others should be subject to its conforming with Allah's Book1 and the Sunna 2 of Allah's messenger and not independent of these;
IV. should take the Book of God and Sunna of His Messenger alone as the real sanction and authority and the ultimate source to fall back upon in every matter of his life; should adopt an idea, belief or method which is in accordance with the Book and the Sunna and should give up that which is against them;
V. should eradicate from his heart all prejudices current in pre-Islamic days, whether they have anything to do with his person and family, or tribe and race, or nation and country, or community and Jamaat. He should not be so enamoured of or devoted to anybody that love and devotion to him should subdue the love and devotion to the truth brought by God's Messenger or should become its rival;
VI. should hold no human being, except the messenger of God, as the criterion of right and wrong, nor regard anyone above criticism, nor be under mental servitude of anyone, but assess and judge everyone according to the same perfect criterion framed by God and place a person only in that category in which he fits in the light of that criterion.
1. “Allah's Book” and “the Book” signify the Quran 2. “Sunna” means the sayings, precepts and practices of the Prophet. Objective Article 4: the objective of the Jamaat-e-iIslami Hind is Iqaamat-e-Deen,1 the real motive of which is solely the achievement of divine pleasure and success in the Hereafter.
Explanation: the word “ Deen” in the term “ Iqaamat-e-Deen” means that true Deen which Allah, the Lord of the worlds, had been sending through all His prophets in different ages and different lands and which He revealed in its final and perfect form for the guidance of all men, through His Last Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!), and which is now in the world the only authentic, pristine Deen and the only one which is acceptable to Allah, the name of which is Islam.
This Deen encompasses the exterior and the interior of man as well as all individual and collective aspects of his life. There is not even a single aspect of human life ranging from beliefs, rituals and morals to economic, social and political aspects which may be beyond its pale.
Just as this Deen ensures Divine pleasure and success in the Hereafter, it is also the best system of life for the proper solution of all worldly problems, and righteous and progressive reconstruction of individual and social life is possible only through its establishment.
Iqaamat of this Deen means that it, in its entirety and without exercising any discrimination or division, should be sincerely followed and followed single-mindedly. It should be so enforced and given effect to in all aspects of human life, individual as well as corporate, that the development of the individual, the reconstruction of society and the formation of State should all conform to this very Deen.
The ideal and the best practical example of the Iqaamat of this Deen is that which was set up by Hazrat Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!) and the rightly-guided Caliphs (may the Exalted Allah be pleased with them all!).
1. It is very difficult to give an English equivalent of the term ‘Iqaamat — e-Deen'. It may, however, be rendered as the Establishment, Realization or Pursuit of Religion. ‘Religion', ‘Way of Life' or System of Belief and Action', are however, very imperfect renderings of the word ‘Deen'. Methodology Article 5: For the attainment of its objective the methodology of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind shall be as follows:
i. The Quran and the Sunna shall form the basis of all the Jamaat's activities. All other things shall be kept in view secondarily, and only to the extent to which these could be accommodated in accordance with the Quran and the Suuna.
ii. 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.
iii. For the achievement of its Objective the Jammat 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. 1. Fasaad fil arz signifies social chaos, discord, anarchy, corruption and mischief in the land.
Membership Of The Jamaat
Conditions Article 6: Every citizen of the Indian Union, whether male or female, and irrespective of the community or race to which he/she belongs, is eligible to the membership of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, provided that he/she - I. bears witness, after understanding the Creed, La Ilaha Illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah, with its Explanation (mentioned in Article 3), that the same is his/her Creed; II. affirms, after understanding the objective with its Explanation (mentioned in Article 4), that the same is his/her Objective; III. affirms to abide by the Methodology of the Jamaat (mentioned in Article 5); pledges, after understanding the Constitution of the Jamaat, that he/she shall abide by the Constitution and, in conformity therewith, shall abide by the Jamaat's discipline. Admission Article 7: In case of fulfillment of the conditions of membership (recorded in Article 6); a person shall be deemed to be a member of the Jamaat when the Amir-e-Jamaat1 approves his or her application for membership.
1. There is no English equivalent for this term. As regards his status see Article 22. Responsibilities Article 8: It shall be incumbent on every member that he or she should - I. discharge all obligations (towards God and men), prescribed by Deen, in conformity with the rules of the Shariat (Divine Law); abstain from major sins1 and if, over-powered by momentary impulse, he/she commits some major sin then he/she should repent it; II. completely renounce, unmindful of the extent of loss involved, such means of livelihood, if any, that may be defined as flagrant violations of divine injunctions;2 and if only a part of his/her earning accrue from such means, he/she should purge it of the same; III. give up, if he/she has in possession any wealth or property acquired through a prohibited3, unlawful or illegal method; but if that wealth or property is not ascertainable and determinate then, along with repentance and asking forgiveness of God, he of or she should make all possible efforts to make amends for the same; IV. if in his/her wealth or property in included some usurped from a rightful person, then he/she should restore it to him. This act will be necessary if the rightful person is known and the thing which has been taken through usurpation is ascertainable and determinate; otherwise he/she should make all possible efforts to make amends along with repentance and asking forgiveness of God; V. relinquish any key-post which he/she holds under and ungodly governmental system, or the membership of its legislature or a judicial office under its judicial system; VI. fulfill the requirement of Article 6 to the best of his/her capacity; VII. invite mankind, according to his or her capability and capacity, to the Creed and Objective which have been explained in Article 3 and 4, and urge those who accept this Creed and Objective to strive collectively for Iqaamat-e-Deen 1. That is, Kabaair 2. That is, Masiat-e-Fahesha. That is, Haraam i.e. unlawful in Shariat Desirable Norm Article 9: every member of the Jammat shall have to endeavour that he/she should- I. become aware of the difference between Islam and Jaahiliyat (un-Islam) and be acquainted with the limits of Allah (imposed to guide man aright in his daily activities); II. strengthen his relationship with Allah, as best as he can; and to that end give himself to non-obligatory prayers;1 remembrance of Allah,2and recitation of the holy Quran, besides and in addition to, the performance of obligatory acts of worship; III. recast his outlook, thought and action, in accordance with Divine guidance; change the aim of his life, his preferences, and the scale of values and the focus of his loyalties and bring them all into harmony with Divine pleasure; and smashing the idols of arrogance and egoism resign himself to the command of the Lord; IV. purge his life of such customs and traditions of Jaahiliyat, as conflict with the injunctions of the Shariat; V. purify his heart of all those prejudices and interests, and his life of those pursuits, disputes and polemics, which are based on egoism or worldliness and which have no importance in the Deen; sever contacts of affection and friendship, but not the general human relations, with transgressors as well as iniquitous and God-neglecting people and should establish contact and connection with righteous and God-fearing people;
Explanation: if there are close family relationship with the transgressors and the iniquitous, their rights (so far as they are) prescribed in the Shariat, shall invariably have to be honoured and social contacts shall have to be maintained with them in conformity with decency and righteous VI. usage. It shall, however, be necessary to refrain completely from their evil-doings and try to reform them with forbearance and tact. VII. in case of being part of any ungodly governmental system or being instrumental in giving effect to its laws, should readily part with that means of sustenance; VIII. not go to un-Islamic law-courts for settlement of matters except under compelling necessity; IX. base all his dealings on truthfulness, justice, fear of God and unimpaired rightfulness; X. concentrate his labours and endeavours on the objective of Iqaamat-e-Deen and, barring the real needs of his life, should dissociate himself from all those activities which may not be leading towards that Objective.
The Jamaat Structure
Article 10: the mode of functioning of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind shall be consultative. Organizationally it shall comprise the Central, the Zonal and Local units. Besides, the Amir-e-jamaat may set up, if so required, additional regional units.
The Central Unit Article 11: The Central Unit shall comprise the following:- I. The Council of Representatives II. The Amir-e-Jamaat III. The Central Advisory Council IV. The Secretary-General. The Council Of Representatives Article 12 : There shall be a Council of Representatives of the Jamaat. The Council shall consist of representatives elected by the members of the Jammat, and the Amir-e-Jamaat and the Secretary-General.
Article 13 : The members of the Council of Representatives shall be elected in the following manner:
In the first instance all the members of the Jamaat shall elect from among themselves, ten members of the Council. Then one or more members from each Zonal Units and areas under the Central Unit, as determined by the Central Advisory Council from time to time keeping in view the total number of the members of the Jamaat in each Zonal Unit and in area under the Central Unit, shall be elected.
Article 14 :
(a) Holding the office of the Amir or Secretary-General shall be no bar for the person holding that office at the time of election, to be elected to the Council of Representatives.
(b) Any shortfall in the number of members of the council, Council , caused because of the (then) Amir-e-Jamaat or the Secretary-General getting elected to it, shall be no bar to the election of the Amir or of the Central Advisory Council during the period intervening the election of the new Amir or the appointment of the new Secretary-General.
Requisite Qualifications For Membership
Article 15 : The following qualities shall be kept in view in electing a person for membership of the Council of Representatives:
(i) He should be neither an aspirant for, nor desirous of, the membership of the Council of Representatives or of any other office under the Jamaat;
(ii) He should be, on the whole, superior to other Jamaat members in his electoral constituency in respect of the understanding of Deen, piety, trustworthiness, sagacity, soundness of opinion, understanding of issues, familiarity with the temperament of the Islamic movement and devotion thereto, abidance by the Jamaat Constitution and also steadfastness in the way of God.
Term
Article 16:
(a) The term of the Council of Representatives shall be four years.
(b) Elections to a new Council of Representatives shall, ordinarily, be held before the term of the existing one expires. When and if it be not possible, due to some compelling reasons, to hold the election before the expiry of the four-year term, the existing Council shall continue to function till the new one is elected.
Powers
Article 17: the powers of the council of Representatives shall be as follows:
(i) Election and removal of the Amir-e- Jamaat;
(ii) Decision on the resignation of the Amir-e-Jamaat;
(iii) Electing the Central Advisory Council, its dissolution and electing or expelling its members;
(iv) To decide on matters of disagreement between the Amir-e-Jamaat and the Central Advisory Council (article 39 (c) ;
(v) Consideration of, and decision on, the recommendations of the Central Advisory Council and the proposals of the members of the Council of Representatives or the Amir-e-Jamaat, concerning amendments to the Constitution (vide Article 73 and 74 );
(vi) Appraisal of the activities (of the Jamaat) during the preceding four-year term in the light of the term wise programme.
Meetings
Article 18 :
(a) The Council of representatives shall meet, ordinarily, within a maximum period of one month from the commencement of its term of office, its second meeting will be held one month prior to the middle of the Council or within three months, at the maximum, thereafter.
(b) An extra- ordinary meeting of the Council may be summoned whenever required.
(c) In case a written requisition is made by any of the ten members of the Council of Representatives to summon an extra-ordinary meeting of the Council, to consider an issue pertaining to the powers of the Council, it would be referred to each member of the Council and if majority of the members favour the summoning of such meeting, the same shall necessarily be summoned within two months thereafter.
(d) The Amir-e-Jamaat and the Secretary-General shall, when the Council is in session, be its President and Secretary respectively. When, however, an issue concerning the Amir-e-Jamaat himself is under consideration, the Council shall elect, in his place, a temporary President from amongst its members.
Quorum
Article 19: The quorum of the Council of Representatives shall consist of 60 per cent of its total members; but if a certain meeting may have to be postponed for want of quorum, there shall be no quorum for the next meeting.
Explanation: If in a certain matter some members of the Council be not entitled to vote in accordance with Article 21 then, excepting such persons, the quorum shall consist of 60 per cent of the remaining members.
Mode of Decision
Article 20: Efforts shall be made to arrive at unanimous decisions in the Council of Representatives. Failing that, decisions shall be taken on the basis of majority of votes. When and if, opinions be equally divided on a certain issue, then decisions shall go in favour of opinions supported by the President.
Explanation: Decisions on amendments to the Constitution and removal of Amir and/or removal of the Central Advisory Council shall be taken, not on the basis of the simple majority of present members only, but on the basis of the majority of at least 51 per cent of all such members of the Council as are eligible to vote as per Article 21 and to that end, the opinions of the members not present shall, if required, be obtained in writing,
Article21 : If the Council be considering a matter concerning the removal of a certain member of the Central Advisory Council, or of the Central Advisory Council itself or of the Amir-e-Jamaat, or the resignation of the Amir-e-Jamaat, then the person or persons concerned shall not be entitled to vote.
The Amir-e-jamaat Status
Article 22 : There shall be an Amir of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, whose status shall not be that of Amirul Momineen,1 in the recognized sense of the term, but his status shall be only that of the leader of this Jamaat. Members of the Jamaat shall be bound to obey him in Maaroof2. The jamaat shall not invite the people towards the personality or the office of the Amir, but it shall call people towards its Creed and Objective.
1. Literally, Amir of the faithful, i.e. the Chief of the Muslims.
2. Maroof signifies anything considered desirable, commendable, good or imperative in the Shariat as that which is proper, decent, decorous or reasonable according to common sense and good usage.
Requisite Qualifications for the Office of the Amir
Article 23 : the following qualities shall be kept in view in the election of the Amir-e-Jamaat:
(i) He should be neither an aspirant for, nor desirous of, the office of the Amir or any other office within the Jamaat.
(ii) He should be, on the whole, the best of all in the Jamaat in respect of the knowledge of the Quran and the Sunna, piety, sagacity and soundness of opinion, resolve and determination, understanding of affairs and power of decision, gentleness and forbearance, familiarity with the temperament of the Islamic movement and devotion thereto, abidance by the Jamaat Constitution, steadfastness in the way of God and the ability to discharge responsibilities the office entails.
Election
Article 24: (a) The Council of Representatives shall elect the Amir-e-Jamaat.
(b) The election for the office of the Amir shall, in normal circumstances, be necessarily held in a meeting of the Council of Representatives. To get elected to the office of the Amir, the person concerned should necessarily secure more that 50 per cent votes of the members present and voting. Election by means of correspondence may be held only in exceptional circumstances.
( c) The council of Representatives shall hold new election for the office of the Amir within a maximum period of one month from the commencement of its term.
(d) The same person may be elected repeatedly for the office of the Amir.
Article 25 : When and if the office of the Amir suddenly falls vacant for any reason, the Amir-e-Jamaat shall, when in a position to do so, nominate an interim Amir; or else, the members of the Central Advisory Council present at the headquarters shall, with mutual consultation, elect an interim Amir from amongst themselves. If, however, only one member of the Central Advisory Council be present at the headquarters, he shall assume the duties of the Amir temporarily. In case of no member of the Central Advisory Council being present, the members of the Jamaat, present at the headquarters, shall elect from among themselves an interim Amir by a simple majority of votes.
This interim arrangement shall hold good for a period not exceeding four months, before the expiry of which the Council of Representatives shall elect an Amir (vide Article 24 (a) and (b).) This election shall be deemed as a temporary one except when the Council of Representatives decides to make it a permanent one in view of the needs or interests of the Jamaat.
Article 26: (a) The Amir-e-jamaat may, if he requires to be relieved of his duties temporarily, or else be absent from the headquarters for reasons of some necessity, appoint someone to officiate on his behalf during this period.
(b) The period of this appointment shall not exceed one year and, in case of its being for more than three months, the approval of the Central Advisory Council shall be necessary.
Explanation: The meaning of a person being an “interim Amir” or “officiating Amir” is that on the return of the permanent Amir the interim or officiating Amir shall automatically cease to function.
Term of Office Article 27: An Amir-e-Jamaat shall hold office till such time as the new Amir takes over charge of the office in accordance with Article 24 (a) and (b), or Article 25. Duties and powers Article 28: Duties and powers of the Amir-e-Jamaat shall be as follows:
(1) The ultimate responsibility with regard to disciplining and guiding the movement shall be that of the Amir-e-Jamaat.
(2) (a) In order to accomplish the task related to dawah and tarbiyah, the Amir-e-Jamaat may, in consultation with the Central Advisory Council, appoint Naib Amir/s also.
(b) The Naib Amir/s shall be answerable to the Amir-e-Jamaat for the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
(3) The Amir-e-Jamaat shall, in consultation with the Central Advisory Council, formulate the policy of the Jamaat and, decide such important issues as may have an appreciable impact on the policy or discipline of the Jamaat.
(4) It shall be imperative for the Amir-e-Jamaat that he should -
(i) keep obedience and loyalty to Allah and His Messenger (Allah's blessings and peace be on him!) above everything else;
(ii) regard his foremost duty to serve, whole heartedly, the cause and the objects of the Jamaat;
(iii) give preference to the interests of the Jamaat and the responsibilities of his office over and above his own self and his personal interests;
(iv) always adjudicate among members of the Jamaat with justice and integrity;
(v) accord full protection to the assets of the Jamaat placed under his charge;
(vi) abide by the Jamaat's Constitution himself and strive his best to run the Jamaat in accordance with the same.
(5) (a) The powers of the Amir-e-Jamaat shall be as under:
(i) The Amir-e-Jamaat may, in such important matters as call for urgent action and where it be not possible to seek the advice of all the members of the Central Advisory Council even through correspondence, take a decision in consultation with such members of the Council only as are available for timely consultation. The Amir-e-Jamaat shall, however, place such a decision before a (subsequent) meeting of the Central Advisory Council for confirmation (vide Explanation to Article 29).
(ii) To discharge all the administrative functions of the Jamaat.
(iii)To use and operate the assets of the Jamaat in the interest of the Jamaat within limitations, if any, imposed by the Central Advisory Council and to sell, purchase, exchange, donate or otherwise transfer, movable or immovable property on behalf of the Jamaat.
(iv)To sanction enrolment of (new) members of the Jamaat (vide Article 7) and to pass orders of expulsion of the members (vide Article 69).
(v) To constitute Zonal Units and set up regional administration as and where required (Articles 10 and 45 (a)).
(vi) To nominate an interim or officiating Amir as and when required (Articles 25 and 26 (a)).
(vii) To summon ordinary and extraordinary meetings of the Council of Representatives (Article 18 (a) and(b)).
(viii)To preside over the meetings of the Council of Representatives (Article 18 (c)).
(ix) To take a decision in case of equal division of votes in the Council of Representatives (Article 20).
(x) To summon ordinary and emergency meetings of the Central Advisory Council (Article 35 (a), (b) and (c)).
(xi)To preside over the meetings of the Central Advisory Council (Article 35 (d)).
(xii)To take a decision on matters where there is no unanimity in the Central Advisory Council, in favour of more than one-third of votes of the members of the Council.
(xiii) To permit non-members of the Central Advisory Council to attend the meetings of the Council (Article 40). .
(xiv) To appoint the Secretary-General, Secretary/Secretaries and to give directives to them (Articles 41 and 44).
(xv) To appoint Zonal Amirs and supervise their work (Article 46 (a) and (b)).
(xvi)To confirm the decisions of the Zonal Advisory Councils (Article51).
(xvii) To appoint Amirs for Local Jamaats (Article 53).
(xviii) To take a decision to merge any of the treasuries with the Central Treasury in the interest of the Jamaat (Article 57 (b)).
(xix) To prescribe appropriate norms in respect of Zakat (poor rate) etc. of individual members (vide Explanation to Article 58).
(xx) To incur expenditure on Jamaat's activities out of the Central Treasury (Article59).
(xxi)To exercise control over the expenditure of the treasuries under the charge of Zonal Amirs (Article61 (b)).
(xxii)To frame rules and regulations concerning the treasury (Article 63).
(xxiii) To take decisions in respect of all office bearers (Article 65 (a)).
(xxiv) Removal of the Secretary-General” Zonal Amirs and Local Amirs (Article 67).
(xxv) Appointment of the staff for carrying out various functions of the Jamaat specifying their duties and their dismissal.
(xxvi) To suspend members of the Jamaat (Article 69).
(xxvii)To suspend or dissolve subordinate Jamaats (Article 70).
(xxviii)To frame by-laws (Article 71).
(xxix) To propose amendments to the Constitution in the meeting of the Council of Representatives (Article 74).
(5) (b) The Amir-e-Jamaat may exercise these powers directly and/or indirectly through the staff working under him. Explanation:
These powers of the permanent Amir shall, likewise, vest with the interim Amir as well. The officiating Amir, however, shall exercise only such powers as are delegated to him by the (permanent) Amir-e-Jamaat. Central Advisory Council Status Article 29: To aid and advise the Amir-e-Jamaat, there shall be a Central Advisory Council, which the Amir-e- Jamaat shall consult on all such important matters as are likely to have a considerable impact on Jamaat's policy and/or discipline.
Explanation:
The Amir-e-Jamaat may, in such important matters as call for urgent action and where it be not possible to seek the advice of all the members of the Central Advisory Council even through correspondence, take a decision, in consultation with such members of the Council only as are available for timely consultation. The Amir-e-Jamaat shall, however, place such a decision before a (subsequent) meeting of the Central Advisory Council for confirmation.
Composition Article 30: The total number of members of this Council shall be 19 out of which the Council of Representatives shall elect 18 from amongst itself and the 19th member shall be the Secretary- General ex-officio.
Explanation: members of the Central Advisory Council so elected shall continue as members of the Council of Representatives wherefrom they have been elected.
Article 31: Election to the Central Advisory Council shall be held within a period not exceeding two months from the commencement of the term of office of the (new) Council of Representatives.
Requisite Qualifications for Membership Article 32: the following qualities shall be kept in view in electing anyone for the membership of the Central Advisory Council:
1. He should be neither an aspirant for, nor desirous of, the membership of the Central Advisory Council or any other office under the Jamaat.
2.He should be, on the whole, superior to other members of the Council of Representatives in respect of understanding of the Deen, piety, trustworthiness, sagacity, soundness of opinion, understanding of affairs, familiarity with the temperament of the Islamic movement and devotion thereto, abidance by the Jamaat Constitution and steadfastness in the way of God.
Term Article 33 : The Advisory Council shall remain in office so long as a new Advisory Council is not constituted in accordance with Article 30 and 31.
Article 34 : If a seat in the Central Advisory Council falls vacant temporarily, it shall be filled according to rules and this election shall be temporary.
Meetings
Article 35: (a) The Central Advisory Council shall ordinarily meet once a year, and the intervening period between two meetings shall in no case be more that 15 months.
(b) The Amir-e-Jamaat may summon an extraordinary meeting of the Central Advisory Council at any time.
(c ) If five members of the Central Advisory Council make a written requisition to the Amir-e-Jamaat for summoning a meeting of the Council, an extraordinary meeting of the Central Advisory Council shall be summoned at the earliest.
(d) At the time of the meeting the Amir-e-Jamaat and Secretary- General shall respectively be the President and the Secretary of the Council.
Quorum
Article 36 : The quorum of the Central Advisory Council shall consist of 10 members; but if a meeting may have to be adjourned for want of quorum, there shall be no quorum for the next meeting. Proceedings
Proceedings
Article 37 : In every ordinary meeting of the Central Advisory Council the following matters shall be presented for consideration:
(i) Annual report of the Jamaat.
(ii) The report of the income and expenditure of the Central treasury in the light of the previous year's budget to which shall also be attached the Auditor's Report.
(iii) Budget for the ensuing year.
(iv) Programme of the Jamaat for the future, if necessary.
(v) Proposals by the Amir-e-Jamaat or any member of the Central Advisory Council, in respect of the policy, the programme, the discipline of other matters concerning the Jamaat.
Explanation: from the expression ‘discipline or other matters concerning the Jamaat', in respect of which the members of the Central Advisory Council may present proposals, shall be excluded such aspects thereof as lie within the authority of the Amir-e-Jamaat.
Note: Such proposals by the members of the Jamaat as be deemed important by the Amir-e-Jamaat or any member of the Council may also be presented for consideration.
Article 38: Recommendations or proposals, if any, regarding the constitution of the Jamaat shall be formulated in a meeting of the Central Advisory Council to be placed before the Council of Representatives.
Mode of Decision
Article 39: (a) Efforts shall be made to arrive at unanimous decisions in the Central Advisory Council. (b) If there be no unanimity on any issue, and if the opinion of more than one third of the members of the Central Advisory Council present and voting concur with that of the Amir-e-Jamaat, he may take a decision in accordance with his own opinion. Otherwise decisions shall be taken on the basis of the majority opinion of voting members of the Council.
(c) For a decision regarding the formulation of the basic policy or amendments thereto it shall be necessary that either three-fourth majority of the Central Advisory Council members present be in its favour, or half of the present members of the Central Advisory Council and the Amir-e-Jamaat be in its favour. Otherwise this matter shall be deemed controversial and shall be decided by the Council of Representatives.
Participation of non- Members:
Article 40: If the Amir-e-jamaat deems it necessary, he may invite non-members also to attend the meeting of the Central Advisory Council but they shall have no right to vote. The Secretary-general Appointment
Article 41: (1) There shall be a Secretary- General of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, whose appointment shall be made by the Amir-e-Jamaat. In respect of this appointment the Amir-e-Jamaat shall keep in mind the opinion of the members of the Central Advisory Council also.
(2) (a) The Amir-e-Jamaat can, in consultation with the Central Advisory Council, appoint Secretary/Secretaries also to aid and assist the Secretary - General.
(2) (b) The Assistant Secretary-General/s shall be answerable to the Secretary-General in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
Qualifications for the office of the Secretary- General
Article 42: The following qualities shall be kept in view in the appointment of the Secretary- General:
1. He should be neither an aspirant for, nor desirous of the office of the Secretary- General or any other office in the Jamaat.
2. He should be superior to the generality of Jamaat members in respect of understanding of the Deen, piety, trustworthiness, sagacity, soundness of opinion, understanding of affairs, power of decision, gentleness and forbearance, familiarity with the temperament of the Islamic movement and devotion thereto, abidance by the Jamaat Constitution, steadfastness in the way of God and organizational capacity.
Duties
Article 43: The duties of the Secretary- General shall be as stated hereunder: 1. He shall supervise the management and functioning of all the departments at the headquarters;
2. Maintain general discipline in the Jamaat;
3. Keep in touch with and be watchful of all the administrative zones and issue instructions to them as and when required.
Article 44: The Secretary- General shall perform his duties as per Article 43 under the directions of the Amir-e-Jamaat; and in that regard shall be answerable to the Amir-e-Jamaat. Zonal Unit Organizational Zones
Article 45: (a) For organizational purposes the Amir-e-Jamaat shall constitute Zonal Units, and in that connection he shall take into consideration the suggestions of the members of the Central Advisory Council.
(b) The organizational set-up of a Zonal Unit shall comprise the Zonal Amir and the Advisory Council of the zone.
Zonal Amir
Article 46: (a) For every Zonal Unit there shall be a Zonal Amir, appointed by the Amir-e-Jamaat, in consultation with the Advisory Council of the Zone concerned and shall also keep in mind the opinion of the members in the zone, as also the interest of the Jamaat. For this purpose, if deemed fit, the Amir-e-Jamaat may also put forth the names of certain person/s before the members to be considered for the office of the Zonal Amir.
(b) The Zonal Amir, under the directions of the headquarters, shall be responsible for the management and functioning of the Jamaat units in his zone and for the Tarbiyat and guidance of the members thereof. In all these matters he shall be answerable to the Amir-e-Jamaat.
(c ) The Zonal Amir may perform his duties through his assistants also.
Requisite Qualifications for the Zonal Amir
Article 47: The following qualities shall be kept in view in the selection of a Zonal Amir: 1. He should not be an aspirant for, nor desirous of, the office of the Zonal Amir or any other office under the Jamaat.
2. He should be on the whole superior to the generality of members in the zone in respect of knowledge of the Deeen, piety, trustworthiness and integrity, understanding of affairs, forbearance, acquaintance with the temperament of the Islamic movement and devotion thereto, abidance by the Jamaat Constitution, missionary efforts, steadfastness in the way of God and organizational ability.
Zonal Advisory Councils
Article 48: (a) For every Zonal Amir there shall be an Advisory Council.
(b) The Zonal Amir shall fix the number of members of the Zonal Advisory Council.
(c) Members of the zone shall elect members of the Zonal Advisory Council from among themselves.
(d) The term of the Zonal Advisory Council shall be four years.
Article 49: the following qualities shall be kept in view in electing a person for the membership of the Zonal Advisory Council:
1. He should be neither an aspirant for, nor desirous of the membership of the Zonal Advisory Council or any other office under the Jamaat;
2. He should be on the whole superior to the other members of the zone in respect of understanding of the Deen, piety, trustworthiness, sagacity and soundness of opinion, understanding of affairs, familiarity with the temperament of the Islamic movement and devotion thereto, abidance by the Jamaat Constitution and steadfastness in the way of God.
Article 50: (a) The Zonal Amir shall seek the advice of the Advisory Council of his zone in all important matters. (b) The Zonal Advisory Council shall meet ordinarily twice a year, and the interval between two meetings shall not exceed eight months.
(c) The Zonal Amir may at any time call an extraordinary meeting of the Zonal Advisory Council. Moreover, if half of the members of the Council make a written requisition to the Zonal Amir, it shall be obligatory to call an extraordinary meeting of the Council at the earliest. (d) At the time of the meeting of the Zonal Advisory Council the Zonal Amir shall be its President. (e) In the event of there being no unanimity, a decision shall be reached by majority of votes and, at the time of counting of votes, the vote of the President also shall count as one vote. However, in there event of votes being equally divided, decision be taken according to the votes in which is included the vote the President (the Zonal Amir). (f) Following matters shall be placed before the Zonal Council for consideration in its annual meeting; (i) Annual Report (ii) Income and Expenditure Account of the zonal treasury in the light of the previous year's budget accompanied by the Auditor's report. (iii) Annual budget for the next year.
Article 51: The Zonal Amir shall communicate the decisions of the Zonal Advisory Council, together with relevant details, within fifteen days from the day these are taken, to the Amir-e-Jamaat for approval. However, if the Zonal Advisory Council is of the opinion that urgent action is inevitable in a particular matter, the Zonal Amir may proceed to act prior to obtaining such approval.
Local Unit
Local Jamaats
Article 52: A Local Jamaat shall be set up at a place where there be more than one member of the Jamaat, but if there be only one member at a given place, then he shall be linked directly with his Zonal Amir and shall act according to his instructions.
Local Amir
Article 53: Every Local Jamaat shall have an Amir whose appointment shall be made by the Amir-e-Jamaat, keeping in mind the views of local members, the opinion of the Zonal Amir, and the interests of the Jamaat.
Article 54: The Local Amir shall, under the directions of the Zonal Amir, be responsible for managing the affairs and functioning of his unit and for the guidance and Tarbiyat of the members under his charge. He shall perform Jamaat's duties in consultation with the members of the local Jamaat.
Provided that if the total number of member of the Jamaat at a place exceeds 20, a local Advisory Council may be constituted.
Requisite Qualifications for Local Amir
Article 55: The following qualities shall be kept in view in the selection of a Local Amir:
1. He should be neither an aspirant for, nor desirous of the office of the Local Amir or any other office under the Jamaat. 2. He should be on the whole superior to all local members in respect of piety, acquaintance with the Deen, understanding of affairs, forbearance, familiarity with the temperament of the Islamic movement and devotion thereto, abidance by the Jamaat Constitution, missionary efforts, steadfastness in the way of God, and organizational ability.
The Relationship between Local Amir and Zonal Amir
Article 56: The Local shall be answerable before the Zonal Amir in respect of his relevant duties.
Finances
The Treasury Article 57: (a) There shall be established a local treasury for every local Jamaat, and a Zonal treasury for every zone and a Central treasury at the Jamaat headquarters.
(b) The Amir-e-Jamaat may, if he deems necessary in the interest of the Jamaat, merge any local treasury with the Zonal or the Central treasury.
Article 58: The members of the Jamaat shall deposit their Zakat and Ushr in the respective local treasuries.
Explanation: The Amir-e-Jamaat shall prescribe suitable norms in respect of the Zakat and Ushr of individual members.
Central Treasury
Article 59: The Central treasury shall be under the charge of Amir-e-Jamaat, out of which he shall spend on relevant heads of account in accordance with the approved budget.
Explanation: The Amir-e-Jamaat shall have the authority, subject to provisions of Article 29, to transfer funds earmarked for one head of account to another, and to make appropriations, in excess of the approved budget, to meet unforeseen contingencies.
Article 60: The audit of accounts of the Central Treasury shall be caused to be made annually by some auditor whose appointment shall be made by the Central Advisory Council. The auditor's report shall be presented in a meeting of the Central Advisory Council.
Zonal Treasury
Article 61: (a) The treasury of every zone shall be under the charge of its Amir, whence he shall spend on relevant heads of account in consultation with the Advisory Council of his zone.
(b) Every Zonal Amir shall be answerable to the Amir-e-Jamaat in respect of the income ad expenditure of the treasury of his zone. (c) The accounts of the treasury of the zone will be got audited every year through an auditor to be appointed by the Zonal Advisory Council.
Local Treasury
Article 62:
(a) Every local treasury shall be under the charge of the Local Amir, out of which he shall expend on relevant heads of account in consultation with local members.
(b) Every Local Amir shall be answerable to the Zonal Amir in respect of the income and expenditure of is treasury.
Management and working of the Treasury
Article 63: The Amir-e-Jamaat shall frame rules and regulations for the working of the treasuries.
Miscellaneous
Vacancies Article 64: Vacancies, if any , in the Council of Representatives and/or the Central Advisory Council and/ or the Zonal Advisory Council shall be filled up as per relevant rules, within three months ( from the data these have been so caused), unless the vacancy is caused during the last six- month period of the term Article 64: Vacancies, if any , in the Council of Representatives and/or the Central Advisory Council and/ or the Zonal Advisory Council shall be filled up as per relevant rules, within three months ( from the data these have been so caused), unless the vacancy is caused during the last six- month period of the term (of the concerned Council).
Article 65: (a) If an office — bearer, other than the Amir-e-Jamaat, tenders resignation from his office, the Amir-e-Jamaat shall have the authority to take a decision in respect of his resignation. (b) The Council of Representatives shall be competent to take decision in respect of the resignation by the Amir-e-Jamaat. (c) The person tendering his resignation shall continue to hold office till such time as his resignation be accepted. Article 66: One who tenders his resignation from the membership of the Jamaat may be allowed a maximum period of one month to reconsider his decision.
Removal Article 67 : The appointing or selecting authority for an office shall be competent to remove the incumbent concerned, provided that such removal shall be effected strictly in accordance with the procedure laid down in this Constitution for his election or appointment.
Expulsion
Article 68 : The expulsion of a member from the Jamaat may take place on any one of the following grounds only: When and if he - 1. contravenes, by word or deed, article 6 of this Constitution: or 2. infringes any clause of Article 8 and does not desist from that infringement; or 3. acts against the settled policy of the Jamaat; or 4. adopts an attitude detrimental to Jamaat's discipline or to its moral and religious position; or 5. it becomes apparent from his conduct that he is no more interested in the work of the Jamaat; or 6. gives up domicile of the Indian Union. Article 69: (a) Every member of the Jamaat, prior to his expulsion shall be informed of reasons thereof and allowed two months time to submit an explanation. (b)The Amir-e-Jamaat may, if so deemed necessary, suspend a member, pending a decision on his expulsion. Provided that the Zonal Amir may also, if he deems it unavoidable, suspend a member pending the decision of the Amir-e-Jamaat.
Suspension of Jamaat Units
Article 70: When and if it is expedient and in the interest of the Jamaat, the Amir-e-Jamaat shall be competent to suspend or dissolve a subordinate (branch of the) Jamaat; in this regard he shall seek the advice of such members of the Central Advisory Council as be available at the time.
Powers of Framing By-laws
Article 71 : To fulfill the intent of this Constitution and to organise the missionary activities the Amir-e-Jamaat shall frame by-laws, as many be required. In this connection he shall also seek advice from members of the Central Advisory Council and shall give due regard to the same.
Interpretation of the Constitution
Article 72 : Differences, if any, in interpreting this Constitution shall be resolved in a meeting of the Central Advisory council.
Amendment in the Constitution
Article 73 : If any proposal for amendment in the Jamaat's Constitution is made by the Amir-e-Jamaat or by a member of the Central Advisory Council, or, when made by any other member of the Jamaat, in the opinion of the Amir-e-Jamaat or a member of the Advisory Council it merits consideration, the Central Advisory Council shall formulate its recommendations regarding the same and those shall be placed before the Council of Representatives for decision.
Article 74: If the Amir-e-Jamaat or any fifteen members of the Council of Representatives present be in favour of considering any proposal for amendment in the Constitution, such proposal may be placed in the meeting of the Council of Representatives for consideration and decision notwithstanding the provision of Article 73.
Article 75: If the Central Advisory Council is of the opinion that the proposals for an amendment in the Jamaat's Constitution are only minor in nature, the decision on such proposals may also be taken by seeking the opinion of the members of the Council of Representatives through correspondance.
Policy & Programme
Introduction Policy
Programme National - International Issues
Service, Training and Organaization
Introduction
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent ! PREAMBLE
The Objective of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is establishment of the DEEN (the divinely ordained way of life known as Islam). The Jamaat has been striving to establish Islam in its totality, in all aspects of human life – individual as well as collective – related to the inner self as well as the external world. Islam ensures salvation and success of human beings. With this guidance alone a person can save himself from the displeasure and punishment of Allah, and seek His pleasure and blessings in the Hereafter. Islam delivers man from the veneration of all but Allah as well as from the slavery of his fellow beings, and invites him to accept the worship of One God. This DEEN reforms individuals – both their inward and outward selves, and solves all their problems in the best manner. It also provides the human society with the best means for equity and justice, welfare and reform, and progress and prosperity irrespective of race or colour, region or language. The Jamaat is of firm conviction that Islam alone offers the best and most suitable solution to the problems our country is faced with, including the crises of thought and action our fellow countrymen are passing through in their moral, social, economic and political spheres of life. The Jamaat is striving for the establishment of this Islam in the country. For the attainment of its Objectives, the Jamaat stands firmly committed to the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Under their guidance, the Jamaat employs ethical, constructive, peaceful, democratic and constitutional means, and refrains from all such activities which are opposed to truth and honesty, or are likely to provoke communal hatred, class conflict or social disorder.
BACKGROUND
The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is a movement. It is necessary for its growth and advancement to take stock of the present circumstances in which it is striving for the attainment of its Objective viz. establishment of the Deen, and to keep them in view while formulating its strategy and priorities. One aspect of these circumstances is related to the moral and prevailing condition of the Muslims. In the present age the Muslim community is ignorant of its true status. It considers itself, like other communities, just a community, and uses the same criteria while formulating its priorities as is the practice of other communities. Its divinely enjoined duty is to invite the human beings towards the true religion and to disseminate as well as implement the teachings of Islam. But, due to ignorance of its position, the community, consciously or unconsciously, has been drifting away from the moral teachings of Islam in its individual and collective life, and appears to be negligent of Islamic principles, teachings and norms. As a result of this moral degeneration, it has been losing the zeal and courage required for the dissemination, propagation and establishment of the Deen. To rouse the consciousness of its being Khair-e-Ummah and to restore to it its lost capability is a very important part of the Jamaat’s programme.
The second aspect of the present condition of the Muslims is related to their general life. The status quo of their attachment to the Deen, their interest in Ibadah, their adherence to the Islamic teachings in family life, their trust and honesty, integrity and probity, are in need of immediate attention and reformation. Tainted mutual relations, increasing waywardness and depression in youth, indifference to Islamic norms and imitation of Western culture, ignorance of rights of women and violation of those rights, extravagance in functions, tendency of adopting innovations (bidaat) and polytheistic customs, increasing unemployment – all these weaknesses are such as can tarnish the image of Islam and Muslims, and, it is feared, they can also deprive them of succour from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. The third important aspect of the life of the Muslim community in India is its general illiteracy and educational backwardness. After Independence of the country the community has fallen victim to economic backwardness. Taking advantage of the internal weaknesses of the community, certain national and international forces have turned hostile to its existence, its cultural identity, its cultural and religious symbols, and its political and economic progress. In order to hold the Muslims responsible for the so-called obscurities of the past and to achieve certain heinous ends they are campaigning to dub them as extremists and terrorists and thus trying either to obliterate the system of Madrasas and Jamias or to make them part of the secular system of education at the cost of their Islamic characteristics. It is imperative for the Jamaat to adopt proper and effective measures in order to retain the cultural and religious identity of the Muslims and to remove their multifarious weaknesses. At present our country is passing through a very critical period. At this hour of crisis it is not clear to our political leaders and intellectuals as to whither they should lead the country and society. Owing to the aims and objectives not being clear to them, they are imitating rather inadvertently the developed and dominant nations of the world. They fan caste conflicts and communal hatred to stay in power. This results in increasing strife and chaos. Its natural corollary is that the trends of materialism and consumerism are advancing at a dangerously rapid pace. The values of individual and collective ethics and philanthropy are being violated. Family system is disintegrating. While, on the other hand, there is marked increase in poverty, hunger and diseases. Due to criminal negligence of the government, deprivation of weaker sections is on the increase. This aimlessness and crisis is adversely affecting the rights of Indian Muslims and their positive role in the society, which is becoming an obstruction in the way of Islamic Dawah. Amelioration of this situation requires sustained, positive and comprehensive efforts.
At the international level, humanity is passing through a severe crisis. The only self-styled superpower, intoxicated by power, has not only violated the borders of independent countries but also massacred lacs of human beings. It proves its hard-heartedness and inhumanity. It has trampled upon all the invaluable assets of democratic values, principles of morality and honesty and freedom of thought. This power has especially targeted Muslim countries. Its objectives include not only attaining political and military supremacy but also to solely occupy oil resources and to crush the Islamic civilization which is quite distinct and distinguished from its own. To counter the dangerous consequences resulting from this scenario, the Muslim community and the Islamic Movement need to chalk out a long-term plan. Besides this motive of political and military supremacy, the objectives of the superpower and its allies also include revival of capitalistic system of economy, financial and economic dominance, and imposition of interest based capitalism. If the West succeeds in achieving these ends, hunger, starvation, poverty and disease shall become the destiny of the Third World. Common people are expressing their disgust and annoyance against this situation. Fortunately a considerable number of justice-loving intellectuals of the world are disgusted with this state of affairs. But they do not have any other social and economic system which can give a constructive turn to this dissatisfaction and simultaneously guarantee both economic development and equity and justice. In this scenario, only Islam can present an effective and just social and economic system which can face the ogre of capitalism and also bless the common man with prosperity and economic progress. The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind will introduce the Islamic social and economic system as a viable alternative and simultaneously take steps for its implementation. In this perspective, the Jamaat has drawn up its Policy and Programme for the next four-year term, and it prays to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to bless it with His guidance and give it zeal and enthusiasm and required resources and man power to make progress on all important fronts. Aameen!
The Jamaat’s Policy and Programme that follows hereunder shall be governed by the following Directive Principles:–
1. Purification (Tazkiya) of those associated with the Jamaat and internal consolidation of the Jamaat shall be our first priority. 2. The Jamaat shall affirm the comprehensive concept of the Deen and criticise the un-Islamic ideology based on ignorance. 3. The Jamaat shall pay special attention to Dawah work among the fellow countrymen. 4. The Jamaat shall also pay special attention to the religious, moral and social amelioration of the Muslims so that they may fulfil the responsibility of being Khair-e-Ummah (Best of the communities) in the real sense of the term. 5. The Jamaat shall pay special attention to restoring to women a place of honour and dignity in society, protecting them from injustice and excesses, and enabling them to play an active role in society. 6. Safeguarding human rights, promoting democratic values, opposing political and economic colonization, and containing the upsurge of fascist tendencies shall form part of the priorities of the Jamaat. 7. The first priority of every worker shall be reforming of his own individual-self and the primary area of work for him would be his family and immediate environment; while the sphere of work for every local unit of the Jamaat shall be its locality.
Policy
Dawah
The Jamaat shall undertake Dawah activities to acquaint the countrymen with the basic Islamic concepts of Monotheism, Prophethood and the life after death and their implications. The Jamaat would convince them that Islam is the only just and humane order, which guarantees success in this world and salvation in the Hereafter, and rejection of which brings ultimate failure in both the worlds. It would endeavour to acquaint them with the irrationality and harmful consequences of polytheism and atheism and other false ideologies and ways of life, as well as the ill consequences of moral turpitude. Efforts shall also be made to allay the misgivings about Islam, Muslims, and the Islamic movement.
Islamic Society
The Jamaat shall strive to highlight the true concept of Islam in its entirety, underlining prudently its bearings on their individual and collective lives in order to arouse in them a concern for the Hereafter, and an urge to seek the pleasure of Allah and love for the Prophet (peace be upon him). Their lives should be free from the evils and defects of thought and action, and the impurities of Shirk (associating others with Allah) and Bid’ah (innovative practices in the name of religion) so as to make their lives consistent with the teachings of Islam and in accordance with Shariah. The Jamaat would strive to make them conscious of their status as Khair-e-Ummah (best of the communities). It would persuade them to unite on the basis of Islamic teachings and bear witness to the truth of Islam by word and deed and thus discharge their basic obligation of establishing the Deen.
Community Issues
The Jamaat shall pay due attention towards the important issues and problems of the Muslim community related to its security and religious and cultural identity. It shall also make efforts for educational advancement and economic uplift of the community.
National Issues
The Jamaat shall strive to uphold the basic human rights, and work for the attainment of social, political and economic justice for all. It shall endeavour to promote human brotherhood and moral values, to establish peace, to preserve democratic values and to safeguard the rights of religious, linguistic and cultural entities. It shall also endeavour to counter all such measures and activities as are detrimental to the basic human rights and values. The Jamaat shall, at every level, direct its criticism against oppression, exploitation and the lifestyle based on violence. It shall also highlight the need and importance of value-based politics.
International Issues
The Jamaat shall strive to uphold the independence of nations, respect for international laws and freedom of conscience and culture, and freedom of individuals and cultural entities. It shall also espouse positive values like world peace, justice and fairplay, morality and nobility, and unity of mankind, and human rights. It shall oppose the efforts of powerful nations to establish their political and economic hegemony.
Service To Humanity (Khidmat-e-khalque)
Service to humanity is an important requirement of Islam. The Jamaat shall strive to provide, within its means, succour for the sick, the disabled, the needy, the indigent, the afflicted and the oppressed irrespective of caste or creed.
Training (Tarbiyah) And Organisation
The Jamaat will implement a comprehensive training (character building) programme, encompassing the intellectual, academic, religious and moral aspects of the personality of its members and workers, both men and women, besides ensuring organisational consolidation and discipline. It will strive also to strengthen their bond with Allah, and to inculcate in them a concern for the Hereafter and love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) so that they might become true followers of Islam, with utmost dedication to establish the Deen, and a resolve to sacrifice their all for the cause of Truth, and be an embodiment of fortitude as a leaden wall in respect of discipline and collective endeavour. This shall be the foremost task of the Jamaat, deserving the greatest attention.
Programme
Dawah
(Under Article 1 of the Policy)
(A) The Jamaat shall endeavour:–
1. That our brothers and sisters of the country be fully acquainted with the Islamic concepts of Monotheism,Prophethood and the Hereafter as the only source of Ultimate Success. And, the ill consequences of polytheism, atheism and such other false beliefs and ideologies like the wrong concept of the unity of religions should also be made explicitly clear to them.
2. That they be further acquainted with the holy life, mission, and achievements of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his benevolence to the world. And, be made aware of the reality behind the misgivings about the personality and holy life of the Prophet being spread by different quarters.
3. That Islam is the system of mercy and justice, and the propaganda being made against it is baseless and irrational, should be made known to them.
4. That their misgivings about Islam, Muslims, history of Muslims in India, efforts aimed at resurgence of Islam in the present age, and the Islamic movement be removed.
5. That they may know that Islam guarantees freedom of faith and religion, and does not impose its ideology upon anyone.
6. That they be made to realise that the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is a principled organisation with distinct non-communal character, and is a true well-wisher of all the citizens of the country. The Jamaat shall further endeavour:–
7. That relationships with fellow countrymen be developed at human level, equality and sympathy for fellow beings be promoted, and countrymen be familiarised with the Islamic values of human dignity and unity of mankind.
8. That the oppressed and the downtrodden be uplifted, and social discrimination based on caste system and untouchability be eliminated.
9. That the fellow countrymen be acquainted with the social and economic system of Islam as well as with its blessings.
(B) To achieve the above objectives:–
1. Individual contacts shall be made, group meetings be organised and dialogues initiated.
2. Symposia, seminars, public speeches and addresses, study circles, and public meetings would be arranged.
3. Special campaigns on selected themes would be organised.
4. Literature, magazines and newspapers would be utilised.
5. More Postal Libraries shall be set up, and the ones already established shall be made more useful and effective.
6. Dawah websites shall be launched. And, for effective use of electronic media, a department shall be set up under the supervision of Jamaat headquarters.
7. Media Monitoring shall be launched in all organisational zones.
8. For the training of men and women Dawah workers, Dawah centres shall be set up at different places in the country.
9. Attention shall be paid towards preparation and production of relevant literature at central and zonal levels.
Efforts shall be made to forge mutual co-operation with fellow countrymen for promoting virtue, eradicating evils, solving social and economic problems and undertaking social service activities. And, those willing to offer practical support in such activities and fill Associate (Muavin) form will be enlisted as Associates.
Joint forums may be constituted, as and when necessary, at Local, Regional, or Zonal levels to attain the aforesaid common objectives.
Islamic Society (Under Article 2 of the Policy)
The Jamaat shall endeavour:–
1. That the knowledge of Islam spreads among Muslim men and women, their conviction in the truth of Islam and its teachings be strengthened, and they be made conscious of the priorities in the obligatory and optional acts of worship and obedience (Faraiz and Nawafil), and their minds be free from un-Islamic concepts.
2. That Prayers, Zakah and other acts of worship be observed with commitment in the Muslim society.
3. That they observe the Islamic injunctions in their personal behaviour and mutual dealings, in social contacts and economic transactions and political behaviour. And, they discharge their duties towards their parents and relatives, and thus lead a pleasant family life.
4. That they develop consciousness of being Islamic missionaries, they get acquainted with the demands of being Khair-e-Ummah, and start bearing witness to the Truth by their thoughts and actions.
5. That they rise themselves above sectarian bias and avoid mutual conflict, and stand united on the basis of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah.
6. That the importance and need of Islamic collectivism as well as its blessings be made clear to them.
7. That Muslim women get acquainted with their rights and responsibilities in the light of Islamic Shariah, and they play an effective role in the construction of society and family as well as Dawah activities.
8. That a countrywide campaign is launched to acquaint Muslim men and women with the Islamic injunctions of family life.
9. That Nikah (Islamic institution of marriage) becomes easy, the curse of dowry and un-Islamic customs and traditions come to an end, marriage and other functions be free from extravagance, and the Nikah of widows and divorcees be made possible and easy.
10. That positive efforts are made to contain the increasing impact of the Western culture on Muslim youth. And that aimlessness of their life, thoughtless indulgence in fun and frolic, indifference to the Islamic values and etiquette, and shirking from hard work, etc. are curbed, so that they may emerge as part of a healthy Islamic society.
That mosques become the centres of education and spiritual uplift of Muslims, and the imams of mosques pay attention towards this.
Community Issues (Under Article 3 of the Policy)
1. In order to eradicate the educational backwardness of Muslim men and women, the Jamaat shall set up madrasas and schools for Muslim boys and girls. It shall also endeavour to set up institutions of higher and technical education. 2. The Jamaat shall endeavour to form a Joint Educational Forum to adopt practical measures to solve the various educational issues confronting the Muslim community, especially the problems and difficulties faced by minority educational institutions and madrasas. The said Forum will also strive its level best to counter the adverse moves of state bureaucracy. 3. Arrangements shall be made for the training of Muslim teachers. 4. Objectionable portions in the textbooks prepared under the supervision of the government shall be pointed out, and efforts be made to get them corrected. 5. The Muslims would be motivated towards the collective collection and distribution of Zakah and Ushr. 6. Criticism shall be directed against saffronisation of the educational system and measures be adopted to counter it. 7. The Muslims would be made to realise the implications of being a religious and cultural entity in India and their duties in this context. 8. Efforts would be made that they should develop the habit of extraordinary hard work, cultivate academic and technical skills, strengthen their institutions on right lines and utility in order to solve their problems. They would be encouraged to establish new institutions wherever necessary. 9. Instead of falling prey to sectarian issues, they should learn to work unitedly for the important collective causes. 10. They would be acquainted with the unlawfulness and ill consequences of usury, and interest-free societies shall be set up. Attempts would be made to mobilise public opinion to seek an amendment in the existing law for introducing interest-free banking system. 11. The Muslims would be motivated to benefit, within permissible limits, from the self-employment schemes of the government. 12. Efforts shall be made to set up, with the help of Muslims, such centres as can provide necessary information on employment and economic opportunities. 13. The Muslims shall be inspired to develop unity among themselves to meet the ideological and practical challenges posed to the existence and security of the community, and its religious and cultural identity. 14. Efforts shall be made to set up Tasfiya (reconciliation) committees and Shariah Panchayats to defuse mutual disputes. And, co-operation in the establishment of Darul-Qazas be extended. 15. The Muslims shall be motivated to take necessary measures unitedly, within the Constitutional and Shariah limits, to safeguard and defend themselves against the attacks on their life and property, honour and dignity, and seek the co-operation of justice-loving people of the country in this regard. 16. Efforts shall be made to set up an institution to maintain a comprehensive record of all the incidents of human rights violation, and to keep the authorities of the government and the community as well as the media, informed of them. Attention of the authorities shall be drawn towards adopting proper measures for the safeguard of Waqf properties and utilising their income in welfare schemes.
National Issues (Under Article 4 of the Policy)
Social Issues
1. The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind shall endeavour that all the inhabitants of the country construct together a society which is based on moral values justice and fairplay, and in which social and economic disparities are removed. The Jamaat would warn the countrymen of the dangerous consequences of the rising trends of materialism, indifference towards the divine guidance in collective life, sexual anarchy and permissiveness, and motivate them to counter such trends.
2. The Jamaat would oppose the oppression and subjugation of backward classes and communities. It would strive to uplift them so that they may enjoy a place of dignity and honour in the society. It would extend its support to the positive efforts made in this regard.
3. The Jamaat would strive to restore to women their due place in the family and society, and try to end unjust discrimination, undignified treatment and oppression against them.
4. Attempts shall be made to contact the organisations and institutions working in the country for solution of the problems of women. And, proper steps would be taken for solution of the issues and problems confronting them.
Political Issues
5. The Jamaat would acquaint the countrymen with the dangers of imposing a particular religion, culture or language on others by force, creating in the name of religion undue hatred and animosity among the different groups, and desecration of scriptures and religious places of different groups. It would also clarify the importance of freedom of faith and religion, and oppose all such legislations which violate this freedom.
6. The Jamaat would continue its struggle for upholding human rights, rule of law, and establishment of equity and justice in the country.
7. The Jamaat would support the efforts that seek to provide due rights for minorities, and which are meant to restore their rightful place in the areas of education, economy and power sharing.
8. The Jamaat would make concerted efforts at every level – ideological, cultural, social, political and media – for the eradication of communal fascism. It would strive to mobilise public opinion for the promotion of democratic values as well as equity and justice for the various cultural entities in the country. It would try to influence the electoral process of the legislative bodies on right lines.
9. The Jamaat would strongly condemn the rising trends of violence and terrorism as well as the violation of human rights at the governmental level. It would emphasise the need to understand the underlying reasons behind these trends and of removing them. It would prevail upon the countrymen to adopt peaceful means to achieve their due rights.
10. The Jamaat would vehemently oppose caste discrimination, communalism, vested interests based on class differences, criminalisation and corruption in national politics. It would strive to promote value-based politics.
Economic Issues
11. The Jamaat would expose with necessary evidence the evils of capitalism, particularly the interest-based economic system, and present as an effective alternative the fair and just Islamic economic system. It would mobilise public opinion for the establishment of interest-free banking.
12. The Jamaat would draw the attention of sincere citizens of the country towards the grave problems of illiteracy, exploitation, corruption, ecological imbalance, unbalanced urbanization, rising costs of education and medical care, and the issues of poverty, starvation and unemployment. It would support sincere efforts to solve these issues on right lines.
13. The Jamaat would make efforts for the establishment of economic justice in the society, and oppose all forms of unjust customs and traditions like bonded labour, unjust disparity in the wages of men and women, and economic exploitation of children of both sexes. It would oppose such legislations as can adversely affect the rights of labourers.
The Jamaat would point out the ill effects of globalisation and oppose its offshoots, i.e., government’s anti-people measures like the privatization of health care education and other services. It would draw the attention of the government towards the adoption of just and proper policies. It would emphasise that it is the responsibility of the government to provide the citizens with basic necessities of life.
International Issues
(Under Article 5 of the Policy)
1. Obscenity, nudity, sexual anarchy and permissiveness, consumption and trade of drugs, and the trend of materialism have engulfed the entire world, and, as a consequence, the ethical values and family system have been adversely affected. The Jamaat would raise its voice against these aberrations, and try to save people from their ill effects. 2. Some powerful countries and international monetary institutions under their control are striving to retrieve economic imperialism and exploit poor countries. The Jamaat would condemn this trend and warn people against its ill consequences. 3. The Jamaat would oppose the American government and its allies’ highhandedness against independent countries, and their bid to impose military control over them. It would urge upon them to respect international laws. 4. A motivated campaign against Islam, Muslims, the Islamic Movement and Muslim countries has been launched in the name of combating terrorism. The Jamaat would expose the evil designs behind it. 5. The Jamaat would condemn the atrocities of Israel, and support the freedom movement of the Palestinians. 6. The Jamaat would oppose the oppression and tyranny perpetrated against the people who demand their legitimate rights; in any part of the world, and extend its sympathy towards the victims. 7. The Jamaat would condemn terrorism, and draw the attention of the governments as well as the people towards understanding the reasons behind this trend and removing them. 8. The Jamaat would condemn the terrorism perpetrated by governments against their citizens, and by powerful countries against weak ones. 9. The Jamaat would express its stand that nuclear, chemical and biological weapons are a serious threat to world peace, and the world should be freed from them. And, this process should begin with the destruction of the weapons already in possession of powerful countries. 10. The Jamaat would support the movements actively engaged in the Muslim countries in promoting democratic values, protecting human rights, and moulding society on Islamic principles. It would condemn the measures employed to crush these movements. Outside support to such oppressive measures would also be condemned. The Jamaat would condemn the wrong and baseless propaganda carried on to tarnish the image of Islam and Islamic movements by calling them anti-democratic, militant and inhuman. It would highlight their salient characteristics of being democratic, peace-loving, upholder of human rights, equality, fraternity, and social and economic justice.
Service To Humanity (Khidmat-e-khalque) (Under Article 6 of the Policy)
1. The Jamaat would promote the spirit of service to humanity. Besides individual efforts, it would highlight the importance and blessings of collective efforts in this regard. 2. The Jamaat would continue to serve, irrespective of caste or creed, those affected by man-made or natural calamities, epidemics or communal clashes; through rehabilitation work and provision of financial, medical and legal aid. 3. The Jamaat would try, to the best of its capacity, to provide help for the poor and needy and the sick, succour for orphans and widows, and scholarships for deserving students. It would try to help those behind the bars and their dependents. It would also strive to establish interest-free societies, hospitals and orphanages. 4. The Jamaat would strive on its own, and encourage the community as well, to establish such centres as can provide lodging and educational facilities for orphan girls and destitute women, in which their problems would be solved. 5. The Jamaat would try to establish NGOs to undertake service to humanity. 6. It would render service and guidance to Haj pilgrims on Haj-related affairs and provide them with necessary facilities. 7. The adherents of the Jamaat would try, to the extent of their capacity, to solve the local problems of their localities. 8. Attempts would be made in a planned manner to provide basic necessities for the residents of some selected poor localities and slum areas. Legal Aid Centres would be established at the central and state levels to provide legal aid for the victims of unjust laws, wrong interpretations of laws, highhandedness of government machinery and police, and to counter other illegal measures. Besides providing legal aid for the victims, these centres would provide the general public with necessary information related to legal safeguards that are available in principle to every citizen but are generally violated in practice. Booklets would be published and workshops organised to provide this information. These centres would seek the co-operation of the organisations and individuals working for human rights.
Training (Tarbiyah) And Organisation (Under Article 7 of the Policy)
Training (Tarbiyah) 1. It would be the foremost responsibility of every member and adherent of the Jamaat to reform and train himself on the basis of the sense of accountability before Allah in the Hereafter, and a concern for seeking His pleasure, and love for and obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him). For this, he must acquire the basic knowledge of Islam, learn the Arabic language, know and respect the limits set by Allah, understand the difference between Islamic and non-Islamic concepts, methodologies and etiquette, and whole-heartedly make endeavours for comprehensive self-purification and reform. To achieve these, he would adopt the following measures: o Observance of obligatory acts of worship (Faraiz and Wajibaat) with their external and internal perfection. o Recitation of the Qur’an and its comprehension. o Study of Hadith, Seerah, the lives of the Companions (men and women), and the literature on Islam and Islamic movement. o Regularity in Azkar (remembrance of Allah). o Performance of optional prayers (Nawafil) prescribed by the Prophet (peace be upon him), particularly Tahajjud and voluntary fasting as per one’s capacity. o Spending in the way of Allah. o Total observance of the injunctions (Awamir) and complete avoidance of the prohibited (Nawahi). o Self-assessment of daily activities and engagements, and repentance (Tauba) and seeking forgiveness (Istaghfar) from Allah. o Self-introspection to assess one’s attachment with Allah from the angle of sincerity and purity of intention, fear of Allah, patience and gratitude, struggle and steadfastness, love of and trust in Allah, repentance (Tauba) and sense of dedication (Inabat). o Reformation of one’s conduct and dealings. o Reformation and training of one’s family members, and holding family meetings (Ijtimas) for this purpose. o Active participation in Dawah and movement work. o Sacrifice in the path of Islam, and adherence to Jamaat’s discipline. o Total conviction in the truthfulness of the objective of the Jamaat and profound attachment to it, and struggle for the movement with dedication and wisdom. o Consciousness of the importance of collectivism, capacity to work together, respect for and compliance with collective decisions, strict obedience to commands, unity of thought, goodwill for co-workers, mutual affection and fellow feelings, disposition to help each other, compassion towards subordinates, and mutual consultation with them in matters of collective concern. o Caution in criticism, regard for Islamic limits, restrain in conversation, gentle admonition and advice with love and affection, mutual enjoining of truth, steadfastness and kindness. o Piety (Taqwa) and excellent attitude (Ihsan) in all circumstances and affairs in individual and collective matters, avoidance of pretence and arrogance and cultivation of sincerity, selflessness and unstinted devotion to Allah. 2. Jamaat functionaries would have regular individual contacts with their co-workers, and pay attention towards their character building and training. 3. Local units would organise monthly meetings (Ijtimas) for self-assessment and reviewing their activities. 4. Local Ameers would make arrangements for the training (character building) of their local members and workers, and Zonal Ameers would do this for local, district and area office bearers. 5. The Jamaat headquarters would make arrangements for the training of Zonal Ameers, and for this purpose Tarbiyah meetings shall be organised twice in the current term. 6. A Training (Tarbiyah) plan would be prepared by the headquarters, and arrangements be made to implement it. 7. Arrangements would be made at the Central Tarbiyah Cell for the training (character building) of selected persons as well as the office bearers of Zones. 8. Arrangements would be made for the religious, moral and intellectual training of the members of SIO and GIO, and for nurturing their talents to make them more useful for the Islamic movement. 9. Arrangements would be made for the training of talented women functionaries at the Central and Zonal levels. 10. Separate Tarbiyah camps would be organised for madrasa graduates under the supervision of the headquarters. Organisation 1. In order to let a maximum number of Muslims participate in the Jamaat’s Dawah, religious, community-related, reformative and service-oriented programmes, effective and planned attempts would be made in a way that the number of men and women workers is doubled and the number of men and women members is also increased considerably by the end of the current term. 2. In order to enlist the support of a maximum number of Muslims in the Jamaat’s religious, community-related, reformative and service-oriented programmes, attempts would be made to enrol Muttafiqs (Sympathisers) in a way that the number of men and women Muttafiqs records an increase of 150 per cent during the current term. 3. Keeping in view the various requirements of the Jamaat, a comprehensive list of suitable persons would be prepared, and they would be given the required training. The fields in which they would have to render their services are Dawah and preaching, preparation of literature, dissemination of thought, literature and journalism, electronic media, education, service to humanity and research and creative writing. 4. Jamaat functionaries would pay immediate attention to those aspects of members and organisational units which need rectification. Appropriate measures would be adopted for internal consolidation, and, as per the need, the process of purging would be made effective and easy. 5. Meetings of Jamaat members would be convened at Zonal level. 6. During the current term, a zonal conference (Ijtima-e-A’am) would be organised by each Zone, with due approval of the headquarters. 7. A committee of women would be constituted at the headquarters to organise the Tahriki activities among women in the country. A campaign on “Protection of Human Rights” would be launched countrywide. And, if feasible, a campaign on “The Status of Women in Society” would also be launched.