The missionary schools were growing like mushrooms in Punjab. Hindus were shrewd enough to respond to this challenge. Thus they opened separate schools of their own. To Muslims the situation was quite challenging. They decided to face this challenge. Sir Syed’s Aligarh movement proved clarion call for the Muslims of subcontinent and Punjab was not an exception. Moreover, the Christian missionaries and Arya Samajists created a serious situation calling for immediate attention. It was in March 1884 that Maulana Qazi Hamid-ud-din a kind hearted man invited his pupils Maulvi Ghulam Ullah and a number of public spirited persons to a small gathering and without any fanfare set up Anjuman Himayat-e-lslam (انجمن حمایت اسلام) in a small house and started a school for children.
On September 24, 1884, the establishment of Anjuman was formally announced at a public meeting and Qazi Hamid – ud – din was elected its first president.
Maulana Ghulam Ullah Qasuri was elected as Secretary and Munshi Abdu Rahim was appointed as Treasurer. The Anjuman decided to work for the following aims and objectives.