Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri addresses the 27th annual Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference held at historic Minar-e-Pakistan through video conferencing from UK.

The 27th annual Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference, the biggest event of its kind in the Muslims world, was held under the banner of Minhaj-ul-Quran International between the intervening nights of 11th and 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal (February 15, 2011) at the historic Minar-e-Pakistan and Romford London. The chief highlight of the Conference was the keynote speech of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, which he delivered from UK through video conferencing to an audience of hundreds of thousands of people all the over the world. The proceedings of the Conference were telecast live by ARY News and in well over 90 countries via internet. This mega event of MQI was organized under the direct supervision of Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, President of MQI’s Supreme Council.

A view of participants of the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference held under the banner of MQI

The distinguished guests of the Conference included Qazi Hussain Ahmad, former Amir of Jamat-e-Islami, Pir Sayyid Khalil-ur-Rehman Chishti, Sahibzada Faiz-ur-Rehman Durrani, Amir of MQI, Allama Shahzad Ahmad Mujaddadi, Allama Sayyid Ali Ghazanfer Kararvi (Secretary General of Tehreek-e-Ulama Pakistan), Pir Sayyid Jamil-ur-Rehman Chishti (Aastana-e-Alia Kamonki sharif), Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Secretary General of MQI, Allama Muhammad Idrees Qadri, Naib Nazim Directorate of Dawa & Training of MQI, Sayyid Farhat Hussain Shah, Secretary General of Minhaj-ul-Quran Ulama Council, Allama Imdadullah Khan, president of Minhaj Ulama Council Punjab, Allama Muhammad Usman Sialvi, Allama Asif Akber Mir, Allama Muhammad Hussain Azad, Dr Ali Akber Al-Azhari, Sayyid Musharraf Ali Shah. The audience in London had such prominent personalities as Zahoor Ahmad Niazi, Amir of MQI UK, Haji Muhammad Aslam, Allama Sadiq Qureshi, Muhammad Ishtiaq Qadri, Dr Zahid Iqbal, Matloob Barnabas, Father Denis Lilly, Dr Muhammad Naqvi, Imam Asim, Maulana Abdul Qadir, Mufti Mujahiddin, besides hundreds of people who belonged to various walks of life.

Women's overwhelming participation in the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference at the Minar-e-Pakistan

A large number of renowned religious scholars participated in the program for whom a VIP enclosure was set up. Hundreds of thousands of people from different walks of life attended the Conference. Separate seating arrangements were made for the women. The venue was decorated befittingly. Pigeons continued to be freed from time to time. In addition to the Punjab Police, about 5000 members of Mustafavi Students Movement and Minhaj-ul-Quran Youth League were also deputed for the security purpose. The proceedings of the Conference were telecast live on ARY News and internet around the world. A 15-member team of Minhaj Internet Bureau and Minhaj Productions had made satisfactory arrangements in this regard.

Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Sahibzada Faiz-ur-Rehman Durrani, Pir Khalil-ur-Rehman Chishti, Dr Jamil-ur-Rehman Chishti, and Raja Zahid Mahmood are seated at the central stage during the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011 in Lahore.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that respect and reverence for the person of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) is the part of faith and the blessed month of Rabi-ul-Awwal holds special importance for demonstration of this love and respect for the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him). He said that the vast grounds of historic Minar-e-Pakistan have been bearing witness to the reality of the Muslims’ love for their Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) since last 27 years. Islam, he said, is a religion of peace, mercy, compassion and human welfare and the Muslims are the custodians and inheritors of this unique legacy in the world. “No terrorist or a suicide bomber can be a follower of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him),” he added. Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said, “Islam and the Holy Prophet's city of migration, Madina, teach the lesson of love and peace to the followers of Islam. So every follower must abide by the teachings of Islam and the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him). Moreover, we should love very much in the light of the Prophet's fair and sound traditions.”

A beautiful view of International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that only those people who did not understand the reality and essence of Islamic teachings are committing the heinous crimes of terrorism and suicide bombings and bringing such a peaceful religion as Islam into disrepute as a result of their actions. He said that such elements who misinterpret Islam to suit sectarian agendas out of their limited understanding of religion are the extremists and those afflicted with extremism and conservatism can come to the point of committing terrorism. He said that it is the love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) that has attracted the hundreds of thousands of people at the Minar-e-Pakistan this night. Their presence in such overwhelming numbers despite bad weather is a message of Islam being a peaceful religion, a religion, which binds people together in a relationship of harmony, love and peaceful coexistence.

Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, President of MQI’s Supreme Council, addressing International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he who is charged with the love of his Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) cannot even think of hurting an animal leave alone perpetrating terrorism in the name of religion. He said that for the restoration of peace in the society it is necessary that the Muslims strengthen their relationship with the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) because when this relationship with the person of the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) would be strong, only then would one understand the ‘Seera’ of the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) and try to implement his teachings in one’s individual and collective life. “In order to bless ourselves with peace and light, we need to learn to show our reverence for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), for reverence for Holy the Prophet (peace be upon him) would be instrumental in humility and spread of fragrance of love. He who is a repository of love can give forth attitude of love and harmony,” he added. Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the Muslim world got the blessing of Islam and the Divine gnosis as a result of the birth of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Holy Quran is the best book on the life, morality and the conduct of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

Hundreds of thousands of people participate in the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011 despite precarious security situation in the country.

Shaykh-ul-Islam proved in the light of references from the Holy Quran and Hadith that celebrating the Mawlid-un-Nabi (SAW) is far more superior to the Laila-tul-Qadr, for one prays and worships during that night for one’s own wellbeing and repentance. However, in case of celebrating the birthday of the Holy Prophet (SAW), one seeks to please one’s Lord as celebration of this event is His Sunna. He said that it is a principle of love that a lover always seeks his pleasure in the pleasure of his beloved and submits himself fully. He further said that Laila-tul-Qadr is useful for the Muslim Umma only, while the Mawlid-un-Nabi (SAW) is beneficial for the entire humanity.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad, former Amir of Jamat-e-Islami and Dr Raheeq Abbasi, Secretary General of MQI, speak to the audience of International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri specifically congratulated those people who are spreading the Holy Prophet’s message of love, peace and harmony at a time when violence has become rampant in the world and terrorism has crossed all limits. He said that Allah Almighty and His Prophet (SAW) have always been remembered together since the days of Hazrat Adam but today conspiracies are afoot to de-hyphenate their remembrance, which are destined to fail.

Women, attending the Conference with rapt attention

Speaking to the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference, Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, president of MQI’s Supreme Council, said that love and respect for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) are two distinctive aspects of our faith and there is a dire need of working hard for the establishment of internal and external peace. “This is possible if we water the world of our heart with the love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). If we equip ourselves with piety, cleanliness, and purgation by giving up base desires, every member of the Muslim world will become the source and fountain of peace in the world,” he said. He further added that people cannot do justice while celebrating the Mawlid-un-Nabi (peace be upon him) because Allah Almighty Himself has celebrated the occasion of birth of His Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him). Therefore, we must celebrate this event more than is the case with all other occasions in our lives.

Qari Allah Bakhsh Naqshbandi recites the Holy Quran during the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011

In his speech on the occasion, Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Secretary General of MQI, said that the number of Durood recited at the Gosh-a-Durood of MQI ran to more than 10 billions in year 2010, which is presented to the presence of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) on this auspicious occasion. He said that MQI is working for the promotion of peace, harmony and interfaith dialogue in over 90 countries of the world. Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, he added, has paid back the debt due on the Muslim scholars by authoring his historic Fatwa (religious edict) against terrorism. He said that Fatwa can play a critical role in eliminating the cancer of terrorism and extremism provided its contents are implemented in letter and spirit. He said that MQI is an ideological and intellectual organization, which is doing its duty of reconstruction of religious thought in accordance with the spirit of Islam and this message is being received in the world. He said that Pakistani society is a victim to a clash of religious and secular fundamentalisms, which can only be cured if we reconnect ourselves to the person of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and MQI is working effectively in this regard.

Naat Khawan recite Naat during the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011

Qazi Hussain Ahmad, former Amir of Jamat-i-Islami, Allama Ghulam Murtaza Alvi and Sahibzada Zaheer Ahmad Naqishbandi also spoke the international conference. Collective Dua was made for peace, security and development of Pakistan and well being of the Muslim world after sending greetings and salutations on the Holy Prophet (SAW).

Naat Khawan recite Naat during the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011

Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz (head of the Administrative Committee), Brig. (r ) Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Jawad Hamid (Secretary), G.M. Malik (deputy head), Ahmad Nawaz Anjum (deputy head), Rana Muhammad Idrees Qadri (deputy head), Muhammad Aaqil Malik (deputy head), Rana Farooq Mahmood (deputy head), Raja Jamil Ajmal (deputy head), Sajid Mahmood Bhatti (deputy head), Muhammad Shahid Latif (deputy head), Irshad Ahmad Tahir (deputy head), Haji Muhammad Ishaq (deputy head), Shahzad Rasool Qadri (Deputy Secretary), Sahibzada Iftikhar ul Hassan (Deputy Secretary), Zeeshan Baig (Deputy Secretary), Anwar Akhtar Advocate (member), Sayyid Altaf Hussain Shah Gilani (member), Muhammad Abbas Naqishbandi (member), Sheikh Aamir Rafi (member), Sayyid Farhat Hussain Shah (member), Javed Iqbal Qadri (member), Sohail Ahmad Raza (member), Malik Shameem Numberdar (member), Shafiq ur Rehman Saad (member), Sajid Hameed (member), heads and members of the sub-committees worked hard day in and day out to make this Conference a success. A committee of Minhaj ul Quran Women League led by Ms Sumaira Rafaqat Advocate also put in their full efforts to complete the arrangements.

Naat Khawan recite Naat during the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011