Protecting Faith in the 21st Century: Insights from Shaykh Hammad's Grand Halaqa in London

LONDON: Minhaj Muslim Generations UK arranged a Grand Halaqa in Minhaj-ul-Quran London. The program was attended by many brothers and sisters from across the UK.

Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Madani al-Qadri was the keynote speaker and spoke about the topic: “Being a Muslim in the 21st Century.

Shaykh Ahmad Mustafa al-Arabi al-Qadri, Syed Ali Abbas Bukhari, Allama Muhammad Sadiq Qureshi, Dr Zahid Iqbal, Abu Adam al-Shirazi, Tahseen Khalid, and other dignitaries of MQI UK were also present at the event.

Shaykh Hammad described īmān as a diamond that has been taken out of the mines. It is purified and worked upon to enable its beauty to intensify. Then the jewel is put in the bank and is protected. The world is like the bank robber. It is always trying to break in and steal the jewel of faith. Muslims must spend their entire time learning about their faith and protecting it. If they do not, they will lose their faith. At all costs, one’s īmān must be protected from all those that seek to attack it.

Shaykh Hammad also spoke about the importance of leading a moderate life. The Muslims living in the West face different challenges on their faith, and he said we must be proud about our Muslim identity, and should not fear or feel inferiority because of our faith.

He purported the events of the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, that the Holy Prophet ﷺ made a treaty that outwardly seemed in favour of the Pagan Meccans. This disheartened the Companions, yet there was wisdom in this. Compromise is not a defeat. This treaty allowed the Muslims to propagate the message of Islam far and wide, without the fear of persecution and war. Muslims at the time of the treaty were only 1500, but a few years later, when the Muslims returned to Makkah and on the Last Sermon, they numbered 150,000; Islam grew one hundred times in this short period. This is hikma, wisdom.

Being able to be flexible, to compromise and work within moderation is key to the survival and flourishment of the Muslims. Especially when we live in a world that is not pious or righteous, nor supportive to the people of faith. We should refer to the wisdom of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, his sīra and practices.

Shaykh Hammad ended his powerful lecture with the concept of suḥba, pious company, as protection. It is wishful thinking that someone can survive in this society, and this day and age by themselves. Seek the company of those who are better than us. The pious people, who remember Allah and spread the knowledge of Islam. This is the protection against bad times, a protection for you and your family.

The event was very widely viewed across the world, live on social media, and was attended by over 200 young brothers and sisters from across the UK. The views of the people after the event was overwhelmingly positive. They were ecstatic that Shaykh Hammad spoke on such an important and much needed topic.