Happy Quaid Day

The 53^rd Birthday of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri conveys to us messages of both happiness and responsibility. The happiness is obvious and justified but only those people can justify their happiness, who are working day and night according to their abilities in propagating the message of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri. The achievements of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri are immense, unique and unmatched. As a leading figure of the Muslim Ummah he has fully carried out his responsibilities in multiple fields, setting the grounds to take the Ummah forward. Now it is up to the members of Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) in particular and Muslims in general to propagate the message and works of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri to every corner of the world through every possible means. People who are newly acquainted to the achievements of MQI are shocked and wonder why they did not find out about the great work, this peaceful movement is doing for Islam and mankind at large.

There is only one man:

who has written over 250 books in modern and religious issues in different languages mainly in English, Arabic and Urdu;

who has 5000 of his lectures in English, Urdu, Arabic available on CDs, Video/Audio Cassettes;

who has opened up over 570 schools in Pakistan;

whose organization (MQI) has a network in over 80 countries of the world;

and much much more;

in a period of 20 years...

...but only the members of MQI know about this!

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri has done Justice to the Ummah... when will we do justice to him and his multidimensional work?

The only way to take the Ummah forward is to fully propagate the works of this great reformer; who has a true vision on how to transform the fate of the Ummah from the present continual downfall into a multi faceted revival.

The variety of activities which are being held all over the world to celebrate the birthday of this great reformer, thinker, politician and scholar, such as conferences, Qawali programs, Hamd, Naat and Zikr programs, dinners, parties, are a great platform to start on this great venture of doing justice to this most humble of the servants of Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (SAW). On this day, we should make a pledge of doing our utmost to fulfill this, as soon as possible by what ever means that are available to us.

May Allah (SWT) and His beloved Prophet (SAW) shower us with their special blessings, mercy and assistance.

Question of a visitor about Quaid Day

I saw the pictures of cake cutting ceremony for prof Tahir-ul-Qadri on web today. i feel it is disgusting for such a big preacher of islam to do such a silly act of cutting a cake on his birthday, and projecting it on the web. its quite appoling situation for muslims and islam. as far as i am aware we muslims should discourage the tradetions which the yahud and ansar follow rather than follow it and project it on the web. shame on who ever is trying to get a bad name for muslims. prophets birth day is fine but tell me any instance if any prophet or any sahaba or tabaeen celebrating their birthday by cutting a cake.

Reply from Jawed Iqbal Tahiri

Assalamu Alaikum,

Thank you for your views which seem to be honest and principled.

Some Muslims groups and organisations see it as Haram to celebrate birthdays so naturally they also see it Haram to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad SAW (Mawlid/Milad).

Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri as you may know celebrates the Mawlid and propagates this practice as vital for all Muslims, in the light of the Quran and Sunnah. You can consult his lectures and books on the Quranic evidences of celebrating Mawlid.

For normal people to celebrate their birthdays with the aim of thanking Allah SWT for the blessing of life, it is also acting upon the commandments of the Quran.

Now coming to the �dreaded� practice of cutting the birthday cake, no where in the Quran or Hadith does it describe this act as being prohibited or disliked. If you think it is then please send me the references.

You agreed with celebrating the Prophet`s birthday. Can you tell me if the Prophet SAW and the Sahabah celebrated it in the way it has been celebrated by Muslims for centuries especially in the Arab world. Mawlid marches, feasts, lighting up of streets, seminars, nasheeds, lectures etc. have been the practice of Muslims in the Arab world for centuries, including Makkah and Madinah in celebrating the Mawlid. Of course this came to an end with the present Saudi family coming into power.

If a specific practice was not performed by the Prophet SAW, it does not deem it to be Haram or an evil innovation. There are many ways and methods of carrying out a certain practice.

Cutting a birthday cake is not a Christian or Jewish practice. Can you give me the relevant reference from their books which proves that the cutting a birthday cake is a specific Jewish or Christian tradition.

Furthermore, some specific practices which were performed by Jews and Christians in the past have now become common international practices, such as wearing the tie. It used to be a specific Christian practice worn to represent the cross but it is no longer worn for that purpose but is considered as a piece of clothing and is not prohibited for Muslims to wear.

Nevertheless there are some extreme Muslims who consider wearing the tie as a Christian practice. There are also people who only wear the Pakistani dress �shalwar qamees� and refuse to wear trousers-shirts, but we all know that the Prophet SAW and the Sahabah never wore �shalwar kamees�, which throws such arguments straight out of the window.

So what it boils down to is a matter of interpretation. People who consider most permissible things to be Haram, innovation or Shirk have a very narrow extreme method of interpreting such practices. Their method of interpretation contradicts the teachings and practices of authentic scholars and Muhaditheen of the �Salf�.

People who propagate Islam as a narrow minded and extremist religion are truly misrepresenting Islam and giving Islam a bad name. Some present day so-called Islamic preachers especially in the West are portraying Islam as a backward extremist religion which is incompatible with the modern day.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri and his mission of Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) are working to make the true Islam prevalent as taught and propagated by the authentic scholars throughout history, portraying it as a peaceful and moderate faith totally compatible with the modern way of life.

I hope I have clarified your misconceptions on the matter.

Thanks again for your email.

Wassalam.