Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri Delivers Inspiring Jumma Address at MQI Manchester

A blessed Jumma congregation was held at MQI Manchester, with the centre filled beyond capacity as worshippers gathered in the blessed presence of His Eminence Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.

During his address, Shaykh-ul-Islam delivered a powerful and timely message on the importance of preserving Urdu as a means of safeguarding access to Islamic knowledge for future generations.

His Eminence explained that Arabic is the original and foundational language of Islam, as the Holy Qur’an, Hadith and primary sources of Islamic scholarship were all authored in Arabic. All other languages, he noted, are languages of translation.

Shaykh-ul-Islam highlighted that many of the great Hadith scholars, including Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Abu Dawood, Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Nasai and Imam Ibn Majah, were non-Arabs by origin, yet authored their works in Arabic because it was the official scholarly language of the Muslim world.

His Eminence further explained that, after Arabic, the greatest bodies of Islamic literature are found in Turkish, Persian and Urdu. He stated that approximately 25% to 35% of Islamic literature is available in each of these languages, giving those who understand them access to a major portion of the wider Islamic scholarly tradition.

By contrast, Shaykh-ul-Islam noted that only around 10% to 18% of Arabic Islamic literature has been translated into English, with an average of approximately 14% to 15%. This means that around 85% of Islamic literature remains inaccessible to an English-only

His Eminence cautioned that an English-only approach significantly limits access to the deeper Islamic intellectual tradition. Whilst translations may provide access to some primary texts, many important commentaries, jurisprudential principles and advanced explanatory works remain unavailable in English.

His Eminence stressed that authentic Islamic learning requires not only books and translations, but also scholars, teachers and institutions capable of transmitting, explaining and contextualising the tradition.

Reflecting on the experiences of diaspora Muslim communities, Shaykh-ul-Islam observed that many families from the Indo-Pak subcontinent have gradually lost confidence in their linguistic heritage across successive generations. He linked this, in part, to the lingering psychological effects of colonialism and an inherited sense of inferiority towards native languages and cultures.

By contrast, His Eminence drew attention to societies such as Turkey and Iran, which retained confidence in their languages and therefore preserved stronger cultural and religious continuity.

Sharing personal reflections, Shaykh-ul-Islam explained how fluency in a language can decline when it is no longer used regularly, drawing a direct parallel with the challenges faced by diaspora families whose children risk becoming disconnected from Urdu and, through it, a vast body of Islamic scholarship.

His Eminence emphasised that language is not Deen in itself, but rather a vital tool and bridge that connects individuals to faith, knowledge and religious heritage. Preserving Urdu, he explained, is not merely a cultural preference, but a practical means of keeping future generations connected to a major reservoir of Islamic learning./p>

Shaykh-ul-Islam therefore called upon Islamic institutions and centres to introduce structured Urdu education for younger generations. He proposed that every Islamic centre should establish Urdu classes as a second language, enabling children and young people to remain connected to their religious, scholarly and cultural heritage

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Concluding his address, His Eminence reminded attendees that preserving language is ultimately about preserving access to knowledge, identity and faith. His message served as a clear call to parents, elders and community leaders to make language preservation a strategic priority for the religious future of coming generations.