MQI Austria holds programmes in Muharram

Minhaj-ul-Quran International (Austria) arranged a number of programmes to observe the 'epoch of Karbla'. Held as a means to strengthen the faith and relationship of love with the Prophet's Household, the programmes stared on December 24, 2009 and culminated on the 10th of Muharram.

The first programme was held in Bilal Mosque under the supervision of Hafiz Muhammad Yousuf Ghori and his brothers where the former threw light on the status of martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A). Besides Muhammad Naeem Raza, General Secretary of MQI Austria, a large number of participants attended the programme.

The second gathering took place on December 26, 2009 in MQI Islamic Centre Vienna. Recitation of the Holy Quran was also arranged for the martyrs of Karbla on the occasion. Khawaja Muhammad Naseem, MQI president, Muhammad Naeem Raza, General Secretary, al-Haaj Malik Naseem, secretary of Events Management, and Muhammad Akram Bajwa, coordinator of Minhaj Media Bureau were also present on the occasion.

A similar programme was also held at the Shiite centre "al-Aser Centre" on the same day where Muhammad Hafeezullah Qadri, Khawaja Muhammad Naseem, Muhammad Naeem Raza, Haji Farooq Akber and Haji Afaq Akber represented MQI Austria. Muhammad Naeem Raza delivered brief speech about Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri's love for the Prophet's Household and dilated upon the unity with the Umma. Later on in his keynote speech, Maulana Sayyid Mureed Hussain Naqavi appreciated the services of Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri for achieving harmony and unity within different sects.

On December 27, 2009, Quran Khawani was arranged for the martyrs of Karbla in Ibrahim Mosque after the Zahur prayers under the banner of MQI Austria. Both halls were jam-packed with men and women respectively due to their love for the Prophet's Household. After the Asr prayers, Hafiz Yousuf Ghori recited the verses from the Holy Quran to start the proceedings of the programme. Aaqash Ghori, Muhammad Kashif Mahmood, Sayyid Usman Shah, Shahid Rahi, Hafiz Yousuf Ghori, and Haji Shahid Mahmood presented their 'Kalam' in the honour of the martyrs of Karbla.

Muhammad Naeem Raza, stage secretary of the programme, recalled the sacrifices offered by the martyrs and threw light on the greatness of the Prophet's Household. He said that Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) was the champion of love and peace who acquainted the Muslim world with the philosophy of revolution by sacrificing his life. He also condemned the terrorists and suicide bombers who were taking lives of hundreds of people through their misplaced and forbidden actions.

In his final speech, Allama Abdul Hafeez al-Azhari, speaker of Noor Islamic Centre, dilated upon the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) and its objectives in the light of the Holy Quran and Prophetic traditions. Khawaja Muhammad Naseem, president of MQI Austria, thanked all guests. Special prayers were made on the occasion especially for late brother of Allama Hassan Mir Qadri.

Khawaja Muhammad Naseem, Muhammad Hafeezullah Qadri, Malik Muhammad Shafi, Malik Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Naeem Raza, Haji Naseem Malik, and Ijaz Rasheed Malik made special efforts to make these programmes successful. In addition to that, Muahmmad Akram Bajwa, coordinator of Minhaj Media Bureau, Muhammad Bashir Nasir of South Asian Press, Muhammad Iqbal Ghori and the management committees of Noor Islamic Centre and Ibrahim Mosque also extended their full cooperation in this regard.