Seminar on 'Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri: an epoch-making personality' under the banner of MYL

Reported by: Muhammad Ilyas Mughal
Translated by: Amanat Ali Chaudhary

The central programme marking the 57th birth anniversary of Ambassador of Peace Shaykh ul Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri was held in the hotel Regent Plaza on February 24, 2008 under the banner of Minhaj-ul-Quran Youth League Karachi. The topic of the programme was "Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri: an epoch-making personality", which was presided over by Nazim-e-Ala Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, while former federal minister and young scholar Dr Aamir Liaqat Hussain was the guest of honour at the occasion. The owner of Q TV Haji Abdur Raoof, Nazim Youth Zaheer Akhtar, Naib Nazim Youth Zahid Hussain, Ameer Tehreek Karachi Qaiser Iqbal Qadri, Dr Khawaja Ashraf, Sayed Zafar Iqbal, Dr Zameer Hamza Dawood, former Olympian Samiullah, former selector Wasim Bari, Prof Ishaq Madni, Athar Javed Saddique, Rao Kamran Mahmood, Furqan Qadri, Mazraq Shah, Aftab Malik, Shabbir Mustafvi, Latafat Mahmood, Sayed Muhammad Khan, Sagheer Ahmad, Adnan Raoof, Ateeq-ur-Rehman, Ateeq Ahmad Chishti, and Asmatullah Niazi made special attendance. Those from among the prominent guests included Naib Ameer Jamat Islami and former senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, PRO to Chief Secretary Sindh Nokhaiz Anwar Saddique, former director Radio Pakistan Rizwan Saddique, Allama Naeem Anwar Numani, Allama Azmat Ali Shah Hamdani, central Nazim Youth Sajid Mahmood Bhatti, Prof Dr Faiza of Karachi University, President Women League Perveen Malik and others. In addition to these, people belonging to various walks of life especially journalists attended the seminar in a large number.

The programme started with the inauguration of exhibition of books and CDs of Shaykh-ul-Islam at 7 am in the Regent Plaza Hotel at the hands of Prof Vice Chancellor of Karachi University Prof Dr Ikhlaq Ahmad and Dr Khawaja Muhammad Ashraf. Irani Consulate General Masood Muhammad Zamani visited the exhibition along with the delegation. Talking at the occasion of inauguration, Dr Ikhlaq Ahmad said that Shaykh-ul-Islam is not an individual but is a University in the field of scholarship from whom the rivers of knowledge flow out. He said Shaykh-ul-Islam is that scholar from whom the Umma has many expectations. The Irani Consulate General said Shaykh-ul-Islam is a great scholar of Umma who has revived the severed the relationship of the youth with the books.

When the seminar got under way at its appointed time at 3 pm, the hall was already jam-packed. The proceedings started with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Qari Abdur Razzaq followed by Naat which was recited by Qazi Ghulzar. Faheem Khan conducted the proceedings of the seminar.

Nazim-e-Ala of MQI Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi said Allah Almighty has invested the Islamic teachings with such a universal aspect that they would never by dominated by any other ideology till the Day of Judgment. He said a reformer is needed at the beginning of every century because society always continues to go through the mazes of evolution. The history of Islam bears witness to the fact that every century has produced great reformers and distinguished personalities who introduced the actual teachings of mysticism. Allah Almighty has selected Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri for correction of multi-dimensional disorder. He provided the Umma with a great platform by founding Minhaj-ul-Quran International in 1980 for the Islamic renaissance. He said Shaykh-ul-Islam's role is similar to that of Imam Ghazali, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani and Mujadid Alif Sani, which is beacon of light for the Umma.

Addressing the seminar former federal minister and young scholar Dr Aamir Liaqat Hussain said the personality of Shaykh-ul-Islam does not need any introduction. His scholarship is talk of the town in seven continents of the world. He is imparting Umma the lesson of love of the Holy Prophet (saw). He said the life of Shaykh-ul-Islam is devoted to the Prophetic love (saw) whose glaring example is his hundreds of books. He said it is a matter of honour for him that Shaykh-ul-Islam has made him his son. He said whosoever is blasphemous of Allah and His Prophet (saw) has been accursed by Allah.

In his speech at the seminar former senator and Naib Amir Jamat-e-Islami Prof Ghafoor Ahmad said Shaykh-ul-Islam has attracted the Muslim Umma to reading of the Holy Quran and the whole of humanity is benefiting from his scholarly services. He said Shaykh-ul-Islam wields great influence in the Western countries by using which Denmark should be forced to seek public apology from Muslims and take steps for the prevention of blasphemous activities of certain individuals.

In his talk PRO to Chief Secretary Sindh Mr. Nokhaiz Anwar Saddique said that youth of Minhaj-ul-Quran Youth League have broken the stagnation and are playing their role in spreading the thought of Iqbal. He said Shaykh-ul-Islam is that international Islamic scholar who is propagating the real teachings of Islam from East to West. He is the radiating star of the scholarly world. It is a rare blessing on the Land of the Pure that such a religious scholar, jurist and historian has been born in this part of the world.

Mr. Rizwan Saddique said that Shaykh-ul-Islam is the only ray of hope in the entire Islamic world who has become Ambassador of Peace through his multi-dimensional efforts for the establishment of peace. He said if the youth of the day made Shaykh-ul-Islam their ideal, no conspiracy of anyone can succeed against Islam. He said Shaykh-ul-Islam is a university of Urdu literature. The personality who emerged during the 80s is now benefiting the entire world with his scholarship and knowledge.

Allama Azmat Ali Shah Hamdani said the way Shaykh-ul-Islam has presented the relationship of love and respect with the Holy Prophet (saw) is noteworthy for other religious scholars. He said 'Daura Sahih Bukhari has served to correct the beliefs of the Muslims of the world. The forces of falsehood are extinguishing the love for the Prophet (saw) from the hearts of the Muslims, while Shaykh-ul-Islam is playing his role in reigniting them.

Mr. Sajid Mahmood Bhatti said Shaykh-ul-Islam is not an individual but the name of the movement who awakened the people from slumber and gave a gift of one chartered university, colleges and 572 schools to the nation. The graduates of these institutions are playing their leadership role today in various areas of life. Nazim Youth Zaheer Akhtar, Ameer Tehreek Karachi Qaiser Iqbal Qadri, Dr Khawaja Ashraf, Sayed Zafar Iqbal, Dr Zameer Hamza Dawood, former Olympian Samiullah, former selector Wasim Bari, Athar Javed Saddique, Rao Kamran Mahmood, Furqan Qadri, Prof Dr Faiza of Karachi University and President Women League Perveen Malik also addressed the seminar.