Raiwind Markaz - Tablighi Jamaat

Last update: 2023, May 5

Raiwind Markaz is a large complex that houses a main Masjid, large dormitory-like accommodations for attendees, a Darul Uloom (Islamic School), and residential areas for Muqeems (long-term settlers). It is located in Raiwind city, near Lahore, Pakistan. It is considered the most prominent center for the Global Tablighi Jamaat movement, as it receives the most number of foreign guests throughout the year. Other prominent Markaz are the Kakrail Markaz (in Bangladesh), Faiz Elahi Markaz (In India), and Nerul Markaz (In India).

The famous Nizamuddin Markaz is no longer connected with mainstream Tablighi Jamaat as it was taken over by Maulana Saad‘s offshoot faction during a continuous purge since 2015 and the peak on 13 Ramadhan 2016 (June 2016) (See: Nizamuddin Bloodshed – The day our elders left).

It attracts many people to its yearly gathering, including international visitors. About 10,000 to 20,000 visitors with 400 muqeems (long-term residents) are always present at any given time. Due to a large number of attendees, Raiwind Markaz has its own roti (Bread) Factory which is capable of producing 60,000 pieces of bread daily

Address

Raiwind Markaz, 765C+2VJ, Lahore Rd, Raiwind, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

History of Raiwind Markaz and Raiwind Ijtema

Raiwind Markaz was established around the 1940s. On the 13th of March 1948, Raiwind Markaz was officially made the center for Tablighi Jamaat in Pakistan.

The famous Haji Abdul Wahab was sent by Maulana Yusuf (the second Amir of Tablighi Jamaat) to migrate to Pakistan in 1947 during the India-Pakistani Conflict. He was 25 years old at that time. It was said that he was one of the few survivors of a refugee train massacre during his migration to Pakistan.

Muslims Fleeing India were massacred (example)

It is noted that the first Ijtema in Pakistan was conducted on the 26th of December 1947 in Karachi, not in Raiwind.

In 1952, Haji Miyaji Abdullah Mewati donated a large piece of land 5 km from Raiwind Markaz. On the 10th of April 1954, the land was used as the venue for the first-ever Raiwind Ijtema. In 1985, an additional 150 acres of land was purchased to further expand the Ijtema area.

In 2006, due to the increasing number of attendees, the Raiwind Ijtema had to be done in 2 phases. The second Ijtema was conducted 3 days after the first Ijtema.

Global Tablighi Jamaat Shura Meeting

Due to the inability of Pakistanis to travel to India, and the fact that all senior elders of Tablighi Jamaat were present during the annual Raiwind Ijtemas, the highest Global Tablighi Jamaat Shura Mashwara (meeting) has always been conducted after the Raiwind Ijtema annually. The Mashwara is usually conducted at Haweli, a building where all the senior elders are housed during the Ijtema.

A lot of the historic decisions for Tablighi Jamaat were made during these Mashwara such as:

The establishment of the Global Shura concept in 1983
The appointment of Haji Abdul Wahab Sahab (70 years age at that time) as the Amir of Pakitan in 1992.
The appointment of 11 new global shura (Aalami Shura) members in 2015

Haji Abdul Wahab passed away on the 18th of November 2018 at the age of 96. Maulana Nazrur Rehman (age 90 at that time) led the funeral prayers of Haji Abdul Wahab. He has been considered the highest authority for Tablighi Jamaat in Pakistan since.