Any male or female Muslim (belonging to any school of the Ahl Al-Sunnah) can become a member of Tanzeem-e-Islami by giving a pledge (or Baiy`ah) of obedience — within the limits set by the Shari`ah — to the Ameer of Tanzeem-e-Islami, “Shujauddin Sheikh”. As soon as a Muslim makes the conscious decision to live his life in accordance with the commands of Almighty Allah (SWT), he may join Tanzeem-e-Islami; the stages of learning, training, and purifying will occur subsequently. However, he must promise, on the occasion of becoming a member, that he will give up all that is disliked by Almighty Allah (SWT) and that he will try his utmost in fulfilling the obligations he owes as a Muslim.

The Western constitutional and democratic model work satisfactorily as the basis of organizational structure for community work, institution building, and da’wah work. Since Tanzeem-e-Islami addresses specifically to the duty of struggling for the establishment of the Deen, it believes that the Western constitutional and democratic model is not suitable for this purpose. Further, we do not find that such a model was adopted by Prophet Mohammad (SAW) for his mission. The organizational model we find in the Seerah of the Prophet Mohammad (SAW) is based on Baiy’ah (pledge of allegiance). The Prophet (SAW) was a messenger of Almighty Allah (SWT) and every command from him had to be followed; still he took Baiy’ah so as to leave an example for his Ummah. The Caliphs after him continued the same system and after them almost all of the revivalist movements have adopted the same system of Baiy’ah.The fundamental difference between the two is that the Western constitutional and democratic basis of organization rests on the idea of “one person one vote.” A number of people who want to achieve same goals get together and form an organization in which the majority vote is decisive. Whereas in the system based on Baiy’ah, one person (a da’ee) gives a call that he is going to initiate the struggle for the Deen of Allah (SWT) and invites people to join him in this cause. (see Surah Al-Saff 61:14). In such a system, the leader (Ameer) is required to consult with his rufaqa (those who join him) but is not bound by the majority decision (see Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:159). During the time of the Prophet (SAW), each one of his decisions had to be obeyed; but now the Ameer will be obeyed only within the bounds of the Shari’ah (i.e., fil Mar’uf).