KARACHI: Renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel has launched a humanitarian venture and started a free ambulance service after inaugurating the flagship store of his fashion brand MTJ.
We are thankful to all the contributors who enabled us to buy the ambulances to provide the service in times of need to the needy,” the Maulana Tariq Jameel (MTJ) Foundation wrote on its Instagram page.
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The religious scholar also visited the foundation where he was photographed with the ambulances. People are praising him and wishing him luck.
MTJ Brand
The cleric inaugurated his first MTJ flagship store in Karachi last month. It is located at Tariq Road and sells eastern wear for both men and women, as well as footwear, headwear and fragrances.
The products are priced between Rs2,000 and Rs5,000 and the brand offered a discount of 20% at the time of its launch. The MTJ Foundation describes itself as a non-political organisation “serving people in health and education without segregation”.
However, a debate erupted among social media users after Maulana Tariq Jameel launched the MTJ fashion brand. People were criticizing the religious scholar for opening a ‘fashion’ brand.
The opinion of the religious scholar
Maulana Jameel explained that he did not create a business to only earn money. His entire life, he hasn’t made money. The scholar said Allah has blessed him with whatever he has. Instead, the profits will be used on the MTJ Foundation, which they envision can establish a great hospital and school.
He said in the Subcontinent, religious scholars involved in businesses are looked down upon and criticized, though he doesn’t know where this is coming from. Maulana Jameel citing the example of Imam Abu Hanifa who was a huge trader and cloth merchant of his time.
He said in this era, a maulvi is only looked upon as a beggar. Someone who begs in front of people, he said. He desires that his business and institutions continue to grow and serve even after he departs from this world.
