Madhur Sandesh, a “Mobile Dawah Van” is a minivan beautifully modelled and equipped with all Dawah supplies, including a projector, DVD player and Islamic audio visual material to play Islamic videos. The Van has three screens stalled on the top of the roof on which videos on current social issues such as female feticide are played. The van reaches out to certain locations which have absolutely no access to Islamic information. Or perhaps wrong information.
Shaikh Kareemuddin, in-charge Shoba-e-Dawat Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Pune, said, “The Dawah Van visits two or three areas of the city such as MG Road Camp, historical Shanivar Wada, Qasba Peth, etc. every day. The response to the van is encouraging and overwhelming. A majority of the visitors are young college students.” We have nearly 200 books in Marathi, Hindi and English on different topics on Islam. “We also provide copies of the Qur’ān at 50% discount to them in their mother tongue. Getting the Holy Book in the language they speak, they express gratitude.”
“Pune is known as the Oxford of the East, which home for many topmost educational institutions and IT companies. Students from different corners of the world come here for higher studies. They are young and enthusiastic to know about Islam and read the Holy Qur’ān. Opportunities for Dawah activities are many and calling educated people towards Islam is comparatively easier. Keeping the ground realities in mind Jamaat-e-Islami Pune decided to launch a van which would serve Dawah purposes and the responsibility was given to Shaikh Kareemuddin, Secretary for Dawah JIH Pune. By the Grace of Allah, it was launched by Late Maulana Abdul Qayyum in 2010. Since then it has been busy spreading the true message of Islam,” said Azhar Ali Warsi, unit president of JIH Pune.
We parked the Van at the entrance of the 89th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held from January 11 to 13 at Pimpri-Chinchwad Pune and the response was overwhelming.
We sold out more than 300 copies of the Holy Qur’ān at our Van. The most interesting event which occurred on the last day of the Sammelan was: a school girl of about 15 came running to the van and enquired about the Marathi translation of the Holy Qur’ān. “I searched for a Marathi translation of the Holy Qur’ān at many book shops but returned empty-handed. Give me one as I want to buy it right now,” she asked passionately. Mushtaque Asar, a senior Karkun of JIH Pune replied, “You are late; all the copies have been already sold out and we have not a single copy of it here to give you.” No sooner did she hear his words than tears started rolling down her eyes. He consoled her and noted down her address so that a copy of the Qur’ān would be sent to her.
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