Thousands of women were offered warm welcome to Women Training Itikaf 2009 organized by Central Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League at Itikaf-gah Township Lahore on Friday the 11th of September, 2009. Women participants from all over the country and abroad thronged the Itikaf-gah to join the blessed Itikaf gathering organized every year under the spiritual leadership of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. Women from all walks of life, motivated to undergo the spiritual training arranged under an effective system of learning, practice, and self-application exercises supervised by the trained WL Mu’allimat to achieve self-purification, clean heart and ardent love for Allah Most Kind and the Beloved Messenger of Allah, they came in caravans. This is one of the most significant distinctive features of Minhaj-ul-Quran International that it organizes this ten-day spiritual training for womenfolk to foster a peace-loving, tolerant and moderate social environment to make life in the society a loveable experience charged with a passion for human dignity, restoration of human rights and equality and justice. The teachings of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri form the core activity to pursue these objectives with zeal and enthusiasm.

In view of serious security situation in the country the in-coming participants had to undergo strict and fool-proof security checks. They would not be allowed to enter the main Itikaf-gah without checking by the staff appointed for the purpose. Stringent security measures have been taken to ensure the external as well as the internal security.

Like the preceding years the training Itikaf has been organized for greater Islamic learning, self-purgation, self-improvement and repentance. This year, however, the number of participants has been contained, reduced from five halls to three halls: Fatima Hall (College Building), Aisha Hall (Tahfeez) and Khadija Hall (Girls Hostel). Over two thousand participants have been housed. The reduction in total number of participants has been managed through quota system: 60% Tanzimi appointment holders, 15% students, 15% influential women and 10% general public have been included. The arrangements started two months before and the instructions of Shaykh-ul-Islam were conveyed to the field through Tanzimat. The arrangements included preparation of Itikaf plan, training schedules, formation of various committees, enlisting their respective responsibilities, detailing Hall Incharges, Heads of Committees and sub-committees, preparation of syllabi and study material etc. The President and Central NazimaWomen League held extensive meetings at various levels including Majlis-e-Aamila and other forums to finalize the arrangements.

Shaykh-ul-Islam focused training especially in Majlis-e-Shura. So, the Itikaf has been named as Training Itikaf 2009. A formal training schedule has been devised for appointment holders, members and workers. The training syllabi for halqa-jaat have been prepared accordingly. To facilitate communication with all the three halls the entire Itikaf-gah has been interlinked through extensions making contact with the central control room possible. This has generated quick-report system to enable the administration address the problems promptly. All the various committees formed to take care of each aspect of the activity coordinate through a horizontal-vertical coordination system providing a free-flow information system for smooth functioning of the Itikaf.

The MWL Team shifted to Itikaf-gah almost a weak before to ensure timely preparation and finalization of arrangements. The mail coordination committee extended their most effective cooperation and supervised the entire activity. The participating women were registered in advance. The Tanzimat from Frontier, Baluchistan and Sindh reached a day before while Tanzimat from Punjab arrived on 20 Ramadan. The Welcome Committee, and Security and Discipline Committee led by President WL Mohtarma Fatima Mash`hadi welcomed the participants and took them to their respective rooms. The announcements were continuously made to guide the women and impart to them instructions and rituals of Itikaf including utterance of intention (niyyat) for Itikaf according to Sunna. After Isha prayer Shakh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri spoke to the participants from abroad, welcomed them to Itikaf, briefed them on the significance of Itikaf and extended to them his warm felicitations on joining Itikaf. He briefed them on Itikaf and prayed they achieve their goal.