Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri’s Address at the Friday Congregation at Jamy Shaykh-ul-Islam

President of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, addressed the congregation at Jamia Sheikh-ul-Islam during the Friday prayers, presenting a unique description of the grandeur and greatness of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He said: Allah, in His infinite wisdom, chooses whom He wills for special closeness and guides them to the path leading to Him. In this one verse of the Qur'an, Allah mentions two groups: the first is the group chosen by Allah, drawn near to Him, and the second is the group that desires Allah, and Allah shows them the way to approach Him. It can be said that from these two groups, the first is the one who becomes the chosen, and the second becomes His followers.

Explaining this further, Allama Ismail Haqqi (RA) in his Tafsir states that Allah’s choosing a servant is His special grace, which results in the servant receiving numerous blessings without effort. This group includes the Prophets, Siddiqs, Reformers, Saints, and Martyrs of their respective eras.

Similarly, Imam Al-Aloosi (RA) writes in his Tafsir of the same verse that Allah chooses whom He wills, and draws them closer, bestowing divine grace and blessings upon them.

In his interpretation, Qazi Sanaullah Pani Pati writes that the Sufis believe that the person whom Allah has chosen and drawn to Himself without any effort on their part is the one whom Allah intends, and this includes Prophets, Siddiqs, and Martyrs.

Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri further emphasized the greatness of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), stating that Allah, in His infinite mercy, grants Prophethood to the Prophets without any effort or action on their part. Prophets are not chosen because of their deeds; rather, Allah simply wills them and draws them near with His mercy. The status of Prophethood was granted solely by Allah’s will and divine grace.

He continued, elaborating that all Prophets received the status of Prophethood solely because Allah desired it, and not because of any righteous deeds they performed. Allah chose them and elevated them to the position of Prophethood based on His love for them.

Qazi Sanaullah Pani Pati further writes that if the status of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the Seal of the Prophets and Leader of all Prophets were due to some righteous deed, can anyone specify which deed it was that earned him this status, making him the leader of all Prophets and Messengers?

In his Tafsir of the same verse, Sheikh Ibn Arabi (RA) writes that some are chosen by Allah purely through His grace and will, without any effort on their part, while others are chosen because of their asceticism and piety. Allah draws His chosen ones to Himself because of His prior love for them. Allah chooses Prophets and Messengers before they undergo ascetic practices and spiritual discipline, while He chooses others due to their efforts and piety.

Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri then explained that the position of Prophethood, being the highest rank and station, is solely the result of Allah's favor. The granting of Prophethood is a consequence of being drawn near to Allah, and the status of Prophethood is awarded because of intrinsic qualities unique to the Prophets.

Qazi Sanaullah Pani Pati writes that Prophethood is not based on lineage, wealth, or age. It is Allah's favor granted to the one who is most deserving of His knowledge. Prophethood is not achieved through any spiritual practice or ascetic discipline, but is a grace of Allah.

Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri further clarified that the Prophethood of each Prophet was a gift from Allah, and every Prophet was first brought close to Allah before being granted this honor. The highest level of closeness to Allah is reserved for the Prophets and Messengers.

He stated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the “Lamp of the Chosen Ones.” This is why, even before the creation of Adam (PBUH), He was drawn near to Allah and given a rank and status greater than that of all other Prophets and Messengers. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "I was a Prophet even when Adam was between water and clay."

Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri cited the words of Mujaddid Al-Fani (RA) who said, "Prophethood is the fruit of closeness." This means that the Prophet (PBUH) was chosen by Allah for this closeness before the creation of Adam (PBUH), and this closeness was granted due to the Prophet's intrinsic qualities.

Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri then quoted a Hadith narrated by Imam Tirmidhi from Wathila bin Asqa (RA), where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

"Allah selected Ismail (AS) from the descendants of Ibrahim (AS), and from Ismail, He chose the Quraysh, and from the Quraysh, He chose Hashim, and from Hashim, He chose me."

He also referenced a lengthy Hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas (RA), in which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

"I am the beloved of Allah, and I do not say this out of pride. On the Day of Judgment, the banner of praise will be in my hand, and Adam (AS) and all the other Prophets will be under it. I will be the first to intercede, and the first to have my intercession accepted, and I do not say this out of pride."

Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri further discussed the exalted status of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), quoting the famous scholar, Mullah Ali Qari, who stated that the grace of Allah was bestowed upon the Prophet (PBUH) because of His intrinsic worth—first is the essence of Mustafa (PBUH), then comes the position of Mustafa (PBUH).

At the conclusion of the Friday gathering, Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, led a special prayer for the peace, prosperity, and security of the country, and for the well-being of the Muslim Ummah.