Jamaat-e-Islami (Pakistan) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan جماعت اسلامی پاکستان Islamic Party Pakistan
Abbreviation	JI
Secretary-General	Ameer-Ul-Azeem
Ameer	Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman
Naib Ameer	Liaqat Baloch
Founder	Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi
Founded	26 August 1941 (83 years ago) (1941-08-26) in Lahore, British India 1947 (78 years ago) (1947) in Pakistan
Preceded by	Jamaat-e-Islami
Succeeded by	Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (in Bangladesh)
Headquarters	Multan Road, Mansoorah, Lahore
Newspaper	Daily Jasarat
Student wing	Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba
Youth wing	JI Youth
Labour wing	National Labour Federation
Welfare wing	Alkhidmat Foundation
Ideology	Islamism Islamic revivalism Social conservatism Pan-Islamism Anti-capitalism Anti-communism Anti-liberalism Anti-zionism
Political position	Right-wing to far-right
Religion	Islam
National affiliation	Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin
International affiliation	Muslim Brotherhood JI (Hind) JI (Bangladesh) JI (Kashmir) UK Islamic Mission
Colors	Green, white, blue
Senate	1 / 100
National Assembly	0 / 336
Balochistan Assembly	2 / 65
KPK Assembly	0 / 128
Sindh Assembly	2 / 168
Punjab Assembly	0 / 371
GB Assembly	0 / 33
Azad Kashmir Assembly	0 / 49
Election symbol
Party flag
Website
Political parties

The logo used on Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan's Facebook page.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is an important political party in Pakistan. Its name means "Islamic Party" in Urdu. It was started by Abul Ala Maududi.

The main goal of JI is to make Pakistan an Islamic state. This means they want the country to be guided by Sharia law. They aim to achieve this through legal and political steps. JI is against ideas like capitalism, communism, and liberalism. They also do not support bank interest.

JI sees itself as a "vanguard party." This means its members are meant to be leaders who spread the party's beliefs. People who support the party but are not full members can be "affiliates" or "sympathizers." The party leader is called an "ameer." Even though JI does not have a huge number of followers, it is very influential. It is considered one of the main Islamic groups in Pakistan.

How Jamaat-e-Islami Started

Jamaat-e-Islami was first formed in Lahore, British India, in 1941. It was founded by Abul Ala Maududi. He was a Muslim thinker who believed in the importance of Islamic law. Maududi was inspired by the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

At first, Maududi and JI did not support the idea of dividing India. They believed it would separate Muslims. However, after India was divided in 1947, JI split into two groups. One became Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. The other became Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in India. Other branches were later formed in Kashmir and Bangladesh.

In its early years, JI faced challenges from the government. But during the time of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, JI's influence grew. Some party members even held important government positions.

In 1971, JI was against the independence of Bangladesh. Later, in 1975, they created Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. JI has also supported groups in Kashmir.

The Growth of JI Over Time

Abul A'la Maududi: The Founder (1941–1972)

Jamaat-e-Islami Headquarter in Lahore

Abul A'la Maududi led Jamaat-e-Islami until 1972. He was a well-known Islamic thinker. He wrote a lot about how Islam should guide society in South Asia. Maududi believed that politics and Islam are deeply connected. He thought an Islamic state would solve many problems.

Maududi was against British rule in India. But he also disagreed with the idea of a separate Muslim state. He wanted an "Islamic state" that would cover all of India. This was even though Muslims were a smaller part of India's population.

JI actively opposed the division of India. Maududi argued that dividing India went against the Islamic idea of a single Muslim community (the ummah). He believed it would create borders that separated Muslims.

Starting JI in Colonial India

Jamaat-e-Islami was founded on August 26, 1941. This happened at Islamia Park in Lahore. Seventy-five people attended the first meeting and became the first members.

Maududi saw his group as a leading force for an Islamic change. He wanted to follow the example of early Muslims. They had gathered in Medina to create an Islamic state. JI is organized like a pyramid. It works towards building an Islamic society through education and social work. Its members are expected to be dedicated leaders.

The leader, or emir, must talk with a council called the shura. JI also created groups for women and students. Early on, JI helped in refugee camps. They did social work and opened hospitals. They also collected animal skins from Eid-ul-Azha for charity.

When people joined JI, they said the shahadah. This is usually done by people converting to Islam. For JI, it was a symbol of committing to a new Islamic way of thinking. After Pakistan was formed, JI members did not take an oath to the state. They believed a Muslim should only pledge loyalty to God.

JI in Pakistan

Early Years and Challenges

After India was divided, Maududi and JI moved to Lahore, Pakistan. They helped many refugees coming from India. They did social work and opened clinics.

In 1951, JI ran in elections but did not win many seats. They found more success in promoting their ideas in public. In 1953, JI led protests against the Ahmadiyya community. This led to riots in Lahore. Maududi was arrested and sentenced to death for his writings, but this sentence was later changed.

The Constitution of Pakistan of 1956 included many of JI's demands. Maududi supported it, calling it a victory for Islam. Later, military ruler Muhammad Ayub Khan banned political parties. He imprisoned Maududi in 1964 and 1967.

In the 1964–1965 elections, JI supported Fatima Jinnah. This was unusual because JI generally opposed women in politics. During the Indo-Pakistani war in 1965, JI supported the government. They gave patriotic speeches and sought help from other Muslim countries.

In the 1970 Pakistani general election, JI did not win many seats. They won only four seats in the National Assembly. JI strongly opposed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his socialist ideas. They saw his policies as a threat to Islam.

Changes in Leadership

JI opposed the movement for Bangladesh's independence. Some JI members may have worked with the Pakistani army in 1971.

In 1972, Maududi stepped down as leader due to health reasons. Mian Tufail Mohammad became the new leader of JI.

Mian Tufail Mohammad's Leadership (1972–1987)

Under Mian Tufail Mohammad, JI continued to oppose Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. They led a movement called Nizam-i-Mustafa (Order of the Prophet). Bhutto tried to stop JI by arresting its members.

In the 1977 Pakistani general election, JI won nine seats. They believed the election was unfair. Maududi called for protests. The government of Saudi Arabia helped secure Maududi's release from prison. JI helped remove Bhutto from power.

At first, JI supported General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Zia used Islamic ideas in his government, which gave JI more importance. Many JI members and supporters got jobs in the government. However, Zia later distanced himself from JI.

JI supported Zia's fight against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Their sister party, Jamiat-e Islami, received aid from Saudi Arabia and the United States.

In 1987, Mian Tufail stepped down due to health. Qazi Hussain Ahmad was elected as the new leader.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad's Leadership (1987–2008)

In 1987, JI joined a political alliance called Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI). In the 1993 Pakistani general election, JI won three seats. JI also became part of a group that supports the independence of Jammu and Kashmir.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad resigned from the Senate of Pakistan to protest against corruption.

Protests Against Government

In 1996, Qazi Hussain Ahmed led protests against the government of Benazir Bhutto. He accused the government of corruption. Bhutto's government was later removed from power. JI then chose not to participate in the 1997 Pakistani general election. Because of this, they lost their seats in Parliament. However, they remained active in politics.

In 1999, Pervez Musharraf took power. JI first welcomed him but then disagreed with his secular reforms. They also opposed Pakistan joining the "War on Terror" after the September 11 attacks. JI condemned the attacks but also criticized the US invasion of Afghanistan.

In the 2002 Pakistani general election, JI formed an alliance called Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). They won 53 seats, especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. JI continued to oppose the War on Terror. They also called for the justice system to be restored.

In 2006, JI opposed the Women's Protection Bill. They believed the existing Islamic laws protected women well. Qazi Hussain Ahmad resigned from the National Assembly in 2007. This was to protest a military action at Lal Masjid, Islamabad.

Sayyed Munawer Hassan's Leadership (2008–2014)

In 2008, JI did not participate in the elections. Syed Munawar Hassan was elected as the new leader.

Siraj-ul-Haq's Leadership (2014–2024)

On March 30, 2014, Siraj-ul-Haq became the new leader of JI. He was the first leader to be voted out after only one term. He resigned from his government position to focus on leading the party.

In 2016, Siraj-ul-Haq led funeral prayers for Mumtaz Qadri. Qadri had been executed for killing a governor. Siraj-ul-Haq called for protests against the execution.

Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman's Leadership (2024-Present)

Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman was elected the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami on April 4, 2024.

How JI Helps People

JI has many groups that help different people. These include unions for:

• Doctors
• Teachers
• Lawyers
• Farmers
• Workers
• Women

They also have student groups like Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) and a youth group called JI Youth Pakistan.

JI publishes many newspapers and magazines. These include the daily Jasarat and the monthly Tarjumanul Quran. They also have educational bodies and support many Islamic schools (madrasas). JI runs schools, women's training centers, and health programs. They also have hospitals and mobile clinics.

Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Kashmir

An independent branch of Jamaat-e-Islami was started in Azad Kashmir in 1974. This was done to help spread Islamic ideas there. This branch has its own leader, Maulana Abdul Bari.

The Azad Kashmir branch has supported groups in Indian-administered Kashmir. They have helped train young people for these groups. They also have a student wing called Islami Jamiat-i-Tulaba (IJT). Many of its members later join other groups.

Connections to Other Groups

Jamaat-e-Islami has been linked to some other groups in Pakistan. One notable connection was with the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM). This group was started by Sufi Muhammad after he left Jamaat-e-Islami.

Leaders of TNSM later formed alliances with other groups. Experts say there is a complex relationship between these different groups. They sometimes support each other, coordinate, or even compete.

Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami

More About JI Leaders

• Abul A'la Maududi (1940–1972)
• Naeem Siddiqui
• Mian Tufail Mohammad (1972–1987)
• Qazi Hussain Ahmad (1987–2008)
• Muhammad Athar Qureshi
• Syed Munawar Hassan (2008–2014)
• Siraj-ul-Haq (2014–2024)
• Mushtaq Ahmad Khan
• Muhammad Ibrahim Khan
• Khurram Murad
• Liaqat Baloch
• Khurshid Ahmad
• Abdul Ghaffar Aziz
• Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman (2024–present)
• Naimatullah Khan

See also

In Spanish: Jamaat-e-Islami (Pakistán) para niños

• Naeem Siddiqui
• Israr Ahmed
• Sayed Ahmad Khan
• Amin Ahsan Islahi
• Allamah Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
• Abdul Qader Molla
• Motiur Rahman Nizami
• Merajuddin Khan
• List of Islamic political parties