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Services of the Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam

The missionary schools were growing like mushrooms in Punjab. Hindus were shrewd enough to respond to this challenge. Thus they opened separate schools of their own. To Muslims the situation was quite challenging. They decided to face this challenge. Sir Syed’s Aligarh movement proved clarion call for the Muslims of subcontinent and Punjab was not an exception. Moreover, the Christian missionaries and Arya Samajists created a serious situation calling for immediate attention. It was in March 1884 that Maulana Qazi Hamid-ud-din a kind hearted man invited his pupils Maulvi Ghulam Ullah and a number of public spirited persons to a small gathering and without any fanfare set up Anjuman Himayat-e-lslam (انجمن حمایت اسلام) in a small house and started a school for children.

On September 24, 1884, the establishment of Anjuman was formally announced at a public meeting and Qazi Hamid – ud – din was elected its first president.

Maulana Ghulam Ullah Qasuri was elected as Secretary and Munshi Abdu Rahim was appointed as Treasurer. The Anjuman decided to work for the following aims and objectives.

  • To arrange for religious and general education of Muslim boys and girls.
  • To propagate and defend Islam.
  • To counter the propaganda against Islam, through speeches and publication.
  • To make arrangements for the conduct of activities necessary for safeguarding Muslim intellectual and cultural heritage.
  • To equip the Muslim students with adequate knowledge of Islam and that of worldly affairs so that they could be able to compete with others in all walks of life.

Anjuman in the early days found paucity of funds to tap the traditional source of fund. Anjuman started Muthi Bhar Ata Scheme. Some earthen pots were placed in a number of houses. Every time when meal was prepared, the housewife put a handful of wheat flour into the pot. Every week the office bearers and members of Anjuman collected this flour. It was sold in market and proceeds were used in furthering the objects of Anjuman. The financial position of Anjuman during the first year of its life was unbelievably modest. Its annual income was Rs.754 and the expenditure amounted to Rs.344. Such was the humble beginning of Anjuman which in the course of time became a massive organization with a budget of millions of rupees and possessing considerable immovable property. This progress was due to the untiring efforts, persistent zeal of not only the pioneer but also of the successive teams of selfless workers who continued the tradition of serving the Anjuman.

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