Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Maulana Ilyas Attar Qadiri is the founder of the international movement of the devotees of Rasool for the preaching of Quran and Sunnah, Dawat-e-Islami, with its millions of followers spread around the six continents of the globe.

Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat was born on the 26th of Ramadan, 1369 Hijri (1950 AD) in Karachi, Pakistan. His ancestors belonged to Kutyana, Junagadh, India. The piety, virtues and exemplary character of his grandfather were well-known in the area. His parents moved to Pakistan after the partition in 1947, first living in Hyderabad, Sindh, before coming to Bab-ul-Madinah Karachi. His father, Haji Abdul Rahman Qadiri, was steadfast on Islamic guidelines and was a righteous individual who would often walk with a lowered gaze and knew many Ahadith by heart. He never showed any interest in accumulating worldly materialistic wealth. He was also a disciple of the Noble Shaikh Ghaus-e-Azam Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah have mercy upon him) in the esteemed Qadiriyyah order.

Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat was still an infant when, during a Hajj pilgrimage in 1370 Hijri, his father passed away due to an extreme heat wave in the plain of Mina on 14th Dhul Hijjah 1370 Hijri, receiving the distinct honour of departing this world during a Hajj pilgrimage. At such a young age, he lost his father, and after that, his only brother Abdul Ghani also passed away in a train accident. Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat was brought up by his mother in challenging financial circumstances. She was a pious lady who, despite bearing hardships, raised her children with good morals and deep-rooted religious values.

From a very early age, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat had a keen interest in learning the sacred religious knowledge. To quench his thirst for knowledge, he would read Islamic books and remain in the company of Islamic scholars, particularly the Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Mufti Waqar-ud-Din Qadiri Ridawi (may Allah have mercy upon him), in whose blessed tutelage he spent about twenty-two years and also received the honour of being his spiritual successor. As a result, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat is proficient in and well acquainted with the sacred Islamic laws, guidelines of spirituality (Tasawwuf) and the code of morals and ethics. The works of Imam Muhammad bin Muhammad Al-Ghazali (1058-1111 AD) in Tasawwuf and Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (1856-1921 AD) in Fiqh (Islamic Law) have particularly inspired him. He considers Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (may Allah have mercy upon him) as his ideal personality.

In addition to his other religious services, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat has authored numerous books and booklets on topics ranging from the rulings of Salah to reforming the inner-self. These books have inspired millions to change their sinful ways and repent of their sins. Many of his books have been rendered into a number of local and foreign languages.

In 1981, he founded the movement Dawat-e-Islami with the revolutionary Madani aim that "I must strive to reform myself and the people of the entire world." The Madani message of this movement has currently reached more than 190 countries and its Madani activities are being carried out in more than 103 walks of life, from hospitals to prisons and from schools to universities. By virtue of Dawat-e-Islami, thousands of non-Muslims have embraced the light of Islam and countless sinful Muslims have reformed themselves and are now spreading the call towards righteousness themselves.

Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat is a Shaikh (Spiritual Guide) of the Qadiriyyah Sufi order with Ijazah (Authorisation) from a number of Mashaikh (spiritual guides) of the Qadiriyyah Sufi order. Despite having such a wide following of Muslims, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat leads a simple, moderate life, always contemplating the hereafter and worrying about preserving his faith, and enjoins his disciples to do the same.