Al Huda International Welfare Foundation is a non-profit organization established in Pakistan in 1994 with a two-fold aim
•    to impart authentic knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah  
•    to plan and extend support to the needy and the afflicted
Al Huda is the brainchild of Dr. Farhat Hashmi – an Islamic scholar with a PhD in Hadith Sciences. Today, Al Huda has grown both in presence at home and abroad; as well as in its scope of educational and welfare activities.
One of the most recent international branches of Al Huda started its educational program in Canada, in 2001.  It offers several structured courses on campus as well as online, workshops and a variety of publications and multi-media downloads.  A hallmark of all Al Huda educational programs is the use of state-of-the-art teaching methods, tools and technology.
The social welfare projects of Al Huda include:
•    Natural calamities relief and disaster management
•    Digging wells in drought-stricken areas of Pakistan
•    Stipends and food provision to widows and orphans
•    Scholarships for needy students
•    Counseling and medical assistance for patients
•    Communal sacrifice and meat distribution on Eid-al-Adha
•    Food  provision in Ramadan
•    Marriage Bureau
•    Vocational Training Centers.
Al Huda has a network of dedicated students who volunteer their services in women shelters, orphanages, hospitals, jails, crisis centers, slum areas and remote villages. They also teach recitation of Qur’an to hundreds of children – those on the streets and otherwise.  Graduates returning to remote areas help in reaching out to their community in all welfare programs.

The founder of Al Huda, Dr. Farhat Hashmi has been invited to the UAE on several occasions to deliver lectures and speeches. Most notably, she was invited to the UAE in 2002, by the Awqaf.  She conducted a month-long series of lectures in Ramadan, at a local hotel in Dubai, comprising a broad overview of the Quran. 

Ramadaan 2002, Hotel Renaissance Dubai

The ‘Mercy for the World Campaign’, conducted under the auspices of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, was launched on May 20, 2008.  The focal point of the campaign is to bring to the forefront the character and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) who was sent as a Mercy and role model for the world for all times to come.

The need for such a campaign was felt because there is a general lack of awareness about the real teachings and personality of the Prophet (pbuh), which at times leads to unkind comments and criticism. A positive solution is to educate people about him.  And to know the Prophet is to love him, for anyone who studies the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) without any bias cannot but admit that despite being a human being, he perfected humanity.  Humanity must learn from his example if it is to achieve any measure of lasting peace in this world.


Al Huda International has had the honor of working hand in hand, with the Islamic Affairs Department, from the very start, for the realization of this noble goal, and has contributed to it in several ways. A former student of Al Huda, Hafsa Ahmed, has been appointed the Head of the English section of the Campaign.

Al Huda International provided help and expertise in designing and producing posters that highlighted the compassionate character and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). A distinctive feature of this new range of posters is quotes from notable non-Muslim personalities, which vouch for the impeccable character of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Al Huda was also instrumental in producing a book titled ‘Mercy for the World- Prophet Mohammad’, which was written to counter misconceptions about the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).

A number of lectures and programs were held in the different Emirates by speakers from Al Huda International for ladies as well as the youth and children.

Most recently, a radio talk show was held about the campaign on Salam, Dubai Eye. Sheikh Jihad Brown, who delivers Friday sermons in English at a local mosque in Abu Dhabi  and is Director of Research at Tabah Foundation, was invited  to talk about the different aspects of mercy in the Prophet’s life. Hafsa Ahmed was also invited to the show and spoke about the campaign and its different activities. Live phone calls were received from people who wanted to know more about the campaign and how they could participate in it. The radio show has offered to host more shows for the campaign.

I. Programs for Ladies:

i) Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Dubai
A series of lectures were held in Ramadan, at Crowne Plaza Dubai, under the patronage of Princess Haya bint Al-Hussein, in which different speakers participated. Al Huda speaker and senior teacher Yasmin Khakwani, specially invited from Pakistan for the campaign, delivered a poignant lecture on the ‘Prophet of Mercy’ in Urdu. It was followed by a talk in English by Hafsa Ahmed, supplemented by a crisp PowerPoint presentation.
The program was attended by about 350 women, who represented not only multiple nationalities but also many different faiths. Free books and write-ups were distributed to create awareness about Islam. The lectures were followed by a quiz competition on the biography of the Prophet (pbuh) with cash and gift prizes. A special plaque was awarded to Al Huda International, and certificates to the speakers, by Rashid Pediatric Centre, in recognition of their contributions to this campaign.

ii) Seerah Week, Abu Dhabi

From September 14-18, Seerah Week was organized  for ladies in Abu Dhabi. The key-note speaker was Yasmin Khakwani, who expounded on the biography of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) with the help of maps, flowcharts and PowerPoint presentations. 

iii) Al Ain

A similar lecture on ‘Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) Mercy for Mankind’ was conducted for ladies in Al-Ain on 17th September.

iv) Journey through Quran

Al Huda International also held a month-long ‘Journey through the Quran’ in Ramadan, to provide a brief review of the ‘Message of Mercy’ that the Prophet (pbuh) brought for mankind.  The program was conducted by a former student of Al Huda, Samitah Ali, who delivered the translation and brief explanation of the Quran in Urdu. It was held at the Pakistan Association in Bur Dubai.

II. Programs for Children:

i) Evening at Children’s City, Creek Park

On August 16th, a fun evening for young boys and girls was organized at Children’s City, Creek Park. The events comprised a talk on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) relationship with children, supplemented by a PowerPoint presentation.  There were Quiz, Calligraphy and Essay Competitions – all carrying cash prizes. At the end of the evening, many participants read their essays on stage.
ii) Dubai GEMS School

Yasmeen Khakwani conducted an interactive program at Dubai GEMS School on September 11. It was attended by almost 300 Muslim and non-Muslim students and staff. The talk was followed by a question-answer session wherein non-Muslim students also participated enthusiastically.

iii) Talk at City School

Another talk was held at City School on 15th September which was attended by a number of teenage students from different faiths and a few staff members. There was a quiz on Seerah (the life of the Prophet, peace be upon him) and one of the surprise winners was a non-Muslim student.

A lecture on the life of the Prophet (pbuh) was conducted in Karachi in July, supported by a PowerPoint presentation.
At Al Huda Institute Islamabad, a quiz program was conducted in which 600 students participated. Gifts were distributed to the winners. The latest Seerah quiz competition was held on 17th November between students of different courses at Al Huda, Islamabad. The students prepared exceptionally well and a tough competition was witnessed between the different teams

Seerah programs are also being conducted in the local schools and colleges of Islamabad. Efforts are being made to inculcate love for Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) in the hearts of the younger generation and develop tolerance for others adhering to different faiths and cultures.

      Seerah stall in a local college in             Seerah quiz in a local college in Islamabad
     Islamabad

Seerah-related activities have been conducted in slum areas in Islamabad, orphanages and in institutes for children with hearing and speech impairments in Peshawar as well.  In one underprivileged locality, where a weekend school has been started by Al Huda, the results of a Seerah quiz were amazing. The children retained most of the topics covered in the lecture they heard, such as:
•    Why Makkah was chosen as the birthplace of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and for the advent of Islam,
•    The characteristics required of Muslims for peaceful co-existence with others,
•    Arabia before Islam,
•    Qualities of Prophet (peace be upon him) as a peace-loving person even before receiving prophethood.


Seerah lectures have been started once every weekend with the mothers of these children who work as part-time house maids.
A similar quiz was conducted for them too and ladies giving correct answers
were given 1-kg bags of rice. A number of women are attending these classes
and more incentives shall be offered to them to attend Seerah classes, so that such disadvantaged women can attain knowledge on a regular basis.

At Al Huda Institute Canada, Seerah classes are held twice weekly, as part of the on-going Diploma Course. The lectures are story-based with an emphasis on lesson extraction and practical implementation in daily lives. The students have also been assigned to write an essay as part of the subject.