Biography of Sayyid Jama'at Ali Shah (r.a)1841-1951 Part 11

Risala Anwar us-Sufiya ,Sufi Illuminations Journal ,published by Naqshbandiyya Foundation For Islamic Education

Biography of Sayyid Jama'at Ali Shah (r.a)1841-1951 Part 11 Sirat Amir e Millat

Religious and Community Service

Anjuman-i-Khuddam as-Sufiyya (Voluntary Association for Sufi Servants):
The Anjuman was established in 1901 with following objectives:
1.To unify all Sufi lineages,e.g.Naqshbandiyya,Chishtiyya, Qadiriyya and Suhrawardyya (Itehad Jamaiye Silasil Tasawwuf )
2.To spread knowledge of Islam and Sufism ( Isha'at e Islam wa Tasawwuf )
3. To refute and counter propaganda against Islam and Tasawwuf (Tardeed Alzamat Khalaf e Islam wa Tasawwuf)
4.To refute false beliefs ( Tardeed Madhahib e Batila )
The first three years meetings were held at Badshahi Mosque,Lahore and then changed to Alipur Sayyidan in 1904.The two days meeting was attended by Well-known Scholars (Ulama) and Na'at Reciters .The first session started at 8AM followed by lunch and Zuhr Prayers.The second session will last until Maghrib with a break for Asr Prayers.The third session would start after Isha until 2Am. Partipants would offer Tahajjud Prayer and will end with Salam,Khatam Sharif for Isal e thawab and dua.In the years 1912-15 roughly 7000 participated.In 1916-1917 this number almost doubled.The participants enjoyed the known hospitality of Amir e Millat (r.a) and were provided food & lodging.Chapters of the Anjuman were opened in towns and cities across the Subcontinent.The Anjuman published monthly magzine " Risala yi anwar as-Sufiya " Journal of Sufi Illuminations.The Risala published articles about Islam, Tasawwuf, Biography of famous Scholars & Sufis , Khutabat of Amir e Millat (r.a) and other useful information.In 1923 the Risla added a regular section on the " calamity of apostasy" ( fitna yi irtidad ) and on monthly progress of the Anjuman in propagating Islam.The Anjuman initiated a fight against the activities of the Arya Samajis,whose goal was to' re-convert' the Muslims whose ancestors has been Hindus. By1925 Hazrat Jama'at Ali Shah (r.a) led thirty one delegations all over the Punjab to counter the Arya Samaj movement. In 1923 the Risla began featuring monthly articles describing the Anjuman's effort in building schools,mosques and hospitals.Risala published "Tariqa should help people" in 1915 and Amir e Millat (r.a) regarded these efforts to improve people's lives as part of the propagation of Islam.
Other Islamic Magazines published were Al-irfan,Al-faqih, Al-jihad, Muballig,Lama'at as-Sufiyya and Al-jama'at.The goal of all these publications was Islamic Education and propagation,promoting true tasawwuf, defending Islamic way of life , refuting false beliefs and sects and informing Muslims about their religious & community obligations.