Itikaf City 2025: Shaykh-ul-Islam’s address on “Divine Love and the Sweetness of Tawhid” | Day 1

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri addressed thousands of male and female participants at Minhaj-ul-Quran’s Itikaf City on the topic of "Divine Love & the Sweetness of Tawhid" on the first day. In his speech, he stated that without hardships, one cannot truly comprehend Divine Love. Enduring difficulties on the path of truth as gifts is a test of patience. He said that when gold and silver need to be purified, they are subjected to intense heat; likewise, complaints and gratitude cannot coexist. The lovers and travelers of the path of truth endure hardships with patience.

Shaykh-ul-Islam emphasized that the participants of Itikaf are indeed fortunate as they are observing Itikaf under the spiritual shadow of his mentor, Hazrat Sayyiduna Tahir Alauddin Al-Qadri Al-Gillani Al-Baghdadi (RA). Those who observe Itikaf at the sacred shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh receive his blessings, and those who observe Itikaf at Jamia Al-Minhaj are blessed with the spiritual grace of Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Azam, he said.

Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri explained that Allah’s love selects hearts, bodies, and foreheads. Hazrat Tha’laba became a martyr of Divine Love. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "Make arrangements for his washing, shrouding, and burial." When his funeral was being taken, the Holy Prophet ﷺ walked on his fingertips. After Tha’laba was buried and they turned back, the Companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, today for the first time, we saw such a sight that you did not walk with your full feet on the ground."

The Holy Prophet ﷺ replied, "By the One in whose hand is my life, Allah had sent countless angels for his funeral, and I could not find a place to place my feet." This was the farewell of the lover of Allah, Tha’laba bin Abdul Rahman.

Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri further said that being proud of one’s good deeds and prayers distances a person from repentance and closeness to Allah. He said true Divine Love is when increased proximity to Allah brings greater humility and modesty in one’s nature. When hearts are void of Divine Love and spiritually barren, then tongues become dominated by backbiting and slander. If one’s heart is not connected to the creation of Allah, then how can one connect with Allah?

Dr. Qadri gave the example of Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA), who ruled over land and sea but had such an intense fear of Allah that upon hearing a single verse of the Quran, he would remain bedridden for months, crying profusely, with clear marks of weeping on his face. He said when Allah’s love settles in someone’s heart, all veils are lifted. When the heart is connected with Allah, all barriers are removed.