Encyclopedia of Islam

Tanzeem-e-Islami

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1971 and, the following year, he founded the first 

of several organizations to pursue his approach to 

Islamic renewal, including the Markaz-i Anjuman 

Khuddam ul-Quran in Lahore. This organization 

sought to promote the study of the Quran and 

propagate its teachings so as to foster a return 

to the true Islam. He founded Tanzeem-e Islami 

three years later.

Ahmad began with Mawdudi’s understanding 

that Islamic thought should be implemented not 

just in one’s personal life, but also in the larger 

world of the social, cultural, juristic, political, 

and economic realms. Tanzeem-e Islami teaches 

that a Muslim should develop sincere faith, 

live in obedience to Muslim law (

sharia

), and 

make an effort to propagate the teachings to all 

humanity. The ultimate goal is to place Islam 

over all human-constructed systems (from gov-

ernment to science). Any Sunni Muslim may 

join Tanzeem-e-Islami. Membership involves 

offering a pledge of obedience to the organiza-

tion’s Amir (leader), currently Hafiz Akif Saeed. 

That pledge operates within the realm of obedi-

ence to the sharia.

Tanzeem-e Islami has emerged as a strong 

conservative force within Pakistan. It has opposed 

the development of modern secular curriculum at 

Pakistani universities, the Pakistani government’s 

friendly relations with the United States (and 

especially the sending of troops to i

raq

), and the 

influx of Western values and vices into Pakistan. 

While primarily active in Pakistan, Tanzeem-e 

Islami has developed affiliates based in the Indo-

Pakistani Muslim communities in North America 

and Europe.

See also  i

slamism

; 

reneWal

 

and

 

reForm

movements

.

J. Gordon Melton