This is a puritanical school of thought that rejects most customary practices and intermediaries to privilege foundational texts and individual religious responsibility. Farhat Hashmi’s interpretations are marked by the particular doctrinal stance that is identified as the Ahl-i Hadith branch of Sunni Islam in South Asia. These lessons train women so they can understand and apply canonical Islamic teachings to their own lives, reform themselves, and then share this knowledge with others (Hashmi 2006). 4 This stance has also been described as Wahhabism-the official ideology of the Saudi Arabian state-a (.)Ģ The curriculum at Al-Huda focuses on the texts of the Quran and Hadith, 3 including translation from Arabic into Urdu and Hashmi’s extensive commentaries on their meaning, historical context and contemporary relevance.3 The deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, considered an authoritative source of guidance in Is (.).Her message and fame are carried far and wide through audio cassettes and CDs, books and pamphlets, radio and television programs, and websites. Her teachings form the core of study in Al-Huda classrooms and her lectures can attract audiences numbering in the thousands. The founder and leader of this movement is a woman called Dr. In addition, classes under the Al-Huda banner are carried out amongst Pakistani diaspora communities in North America, Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. More than 15,000 women 1 have graduated with a diploma or certificate from one of Al-Huda’s courses while many more attend these lessons without enrolling formally. The institute branched out to Lahore and Karachi over the next few years and by now its network has grown to approximately 70 locations in urban areas all over Pakistan. 2 Hashmi, Farhat interview by author, 17 August 2006, Toronto.ġ Al-Huda opened its first school of Islamic education in Islamabad in 1994.

1 Al-Huda does not share official enrollment or attendance figures.

Dr farhat hashmi lectures 2005