It is a good piece and quite insightful to those not familiar with the organisation.
BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN: This is with reference to Habiba Younis’s piece “Al Huda — an insider’s view”. It is a good piece and quite insightful to those not familiar with the organisation. I cannot speak for other places, but our country has been seeing the appearance of Al Huda like phenomena every now and then, primarily aimed at filling the spiritual void in the lives of people with time and money to spare. In the 1960s and 1970s it was G A Pervez, followed by Dr Israr Ahmed, Tahirul Qadri and the latest fad is in the shape of people like Amir Liaquat. Al Huda is interesting because it aims specifically at women – however I believe its cult-like following will also wither out with time because it lacks a strong spiritual tradition.
Usman Qazi
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2010.
