Islam Pracharak was a historic monthly Bengali magazine founded in September 1891 (Bhadra 1298 in the Bengali calendar) in Kolkata, India, under the editorship of Muhammad Reazuddin Ahmad. It was a significant publication for the Bengali Muslim community, aimed at promoting Islamic principles, cultural identity, and social reform through the Bengali language.

Historical Context

In the late 19th century, Bengal was under British colonial rule, and the Muslim community sought to assert its identity amidst growing Hindu reform movements and colonial influences. Islam Pracharak emerged as a voice for Bengali Muslims, addressing religious, social, and political issues. Its contributions to Bengali Islamic literature remain notable.

Key Details of Islam Pracharak

• Founding and Publication: Launched on 16 September 1891.
• Founding Editor and Owner: Muhammad Reazuddin Ahmad
• The first issue was published by Abdus Samad, the magazine’s manager, from 1 Gorosthan Road, Korea, Kolkata.
• Published monthly, initially for two years until 1893.
• Resumed publication in August 1899 (Shravan 1306) and continued for nine months until April 1900 (Baishakh 1307).

Purpose and Content

The name Islam Pracharak ( the preacher of Islam) itself explains the purpose of the magazine. It’s tagline was ‘মুসলমানদিগের ধর্ম্ম ও সামাজিক বিষয়ক মাসিক পত্রিকা’ ( A monthly magazine on religious and social matters of Muslims).

In the editorial of the first issue of Islam Pracharak, the editor highlighted the lack of religious texts in the Bengali language as a major reason for the decline of Islamic consciousness among the Muslims of Bengal. To address this gap, the magazine set out to promote Islamic teachings in Bangla, making religious knowledge more accessible to the wider Muslim community.

The editorial outlined ten key areas of focus for the publication. These included: countering the perceived superiority of Christianity and Brahminism by demonstrating their inferiority to Islam; publishing religious rulings (masla-masayel) in Bengali to support the everyday practice of Islam; critically examining local customs and rituals—such as certain fakiri practices—that deviate from core Islamic principles; highlighting the rich and often overlooked history of Islam; translating the Quran into Bengali; and shedding light on the lives and teachings of prominent Islamic figures. Through these efforts, Islam Pracharak aimed to foster a stronger, more informed Islamic identity among Bengali Muslims.

Bangladesh on Record Collection

Bangladesh on Record holds a valuable collection of digital copies of Islam Pracharak.
To request copies of the magazine, please email [email protected] or send a WhatsApp message to +8801728471997.

Below is the list of available issues in our archive.

Bengali Year 1298 / 1891 CE

• Bhadra 1298 BS – Year 1, Issue 1
• Ashwin 1298 BS – Year 1, Issue 2
• Kartik 1298 BS – Year 1, Issue 3
• Agrahayan 1298 BS – Year 1, Issue 4

Bengali Year 1299 / 1892 CE

• Baishakh 1299 BS – Year 2, Issue 1
• Jaistha 1299 BS – Year 2, Issue 2
• Asharh 1299 BS – Year 2, Issue 3