27th International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference 2011 under chairmanship of Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri

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. This mega event was organized under chairmanship of Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, President of WAAG Pakistan chapter.

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

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 Mujadadi, 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 & Trianing 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.

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.

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

Speaking to the International Mawlid-un-Nabi Conference, Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, president of WAAG Pakistan Branch, 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.

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

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.

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

Qazi Hussain Ahmad, former Amir of Jamat-i-Islami, Allama Ghulam Murtaza Alvi and Sahibzada Zaheer Ahmad Naqshbandi 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 (S.A.W).

Women, attending the Conference with rapt attention