• Live Coverage of Itikaf City 2009 by Minhaj-ul-Quran International

The proceedings of the eighth day at the Itikaf City began with usual routine with people busy in individual and collective spiritual activities. Mehfil-e-Qirat was held on a prior night in which the Iranian Qurra also participated. ‘Al-Qadeer Tawashi” group from Iran recited the Holy Quran in their unique characteristic style. They also recited Naat in Arabic and Persian languages. They also presented ‘Names of Allah’ in their peculiar style. The speech of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri started at 11:30 p.m. explaining the importance of book reading in his address, Shaykh-ul-Islam said that he bought books from every country and brought home many boxes full of the rare books. He said that he cultivated this interest in the book reading in his childhood, which is still intact. He said the reading of books transports the reader to the age about which they are concerned. He urged the participants of the Itikaf City to spread the mission of Minhaj-ul-Quran International so that everyone should be able to play his due role for this sacred cause. He directed the workers to make 1.5 million members every year, thereby increasing the target in the subsequent years. He also advised that every participant of the Itikaf City that he should establish ‘Halqa-e-Durood’ in his home.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri delivered his keynote speech on the subject of “Preaching & renaissance of Din in the contemporary age”. He said that an age would come in the world when such people, who would be corrupt and slaves of their ill-commanding selves, would get into power. On the other hand, intellectuals and religious scholars would project their own thoughts instead of the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunna. These people would be arrogant and self-conceited and would not listen to any sane advice. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said that when such age would come, it would be characterized by the destruction of religion and its values.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that democratic mantras were being touted and those doing so were not tired of referring to people being in power through elections. On the other hand, sanctity of vote has fallen far low with people ready to vote for the unscrupulous elements for petty gains. Referring to the Hadith no 4341 of Sunan Abi Dawood, he said that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) stated: O People, an age would come when the religious values would stand debunked and disfigured. In such circumstances, the one working in the service of religion would get reward equal to the reward of 50 people. The Companions asked the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) whether the reward would be equal to that of people of that age. To this he (S.A.W) said: No, the reward would be equal not to that of people of contemporary age but of your age.

Hadith no 4342 of Sunan Abi Dawood states: An age would come when there would not be good people left in the society and depraved and mean people would dominate. Whatever promises they would have made with Allah, His Prophet (S.A.W) and Din would not be fulfilled. It would lead to strife and chaos. Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that it appeared that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) had the situation of present-day Pakistan in view while stating this Hadith. The Prophet (S.A.W) said: In these circumstances, do not bother about people. Rather you should follow religion.

Referring to Hadith no 4343 of Sunan Abi Dawood, he stated that the Companions were sitting in the blessed company of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). They talked about the age of mischief before him. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: you observe people; they would not be consistent in the fulfillment of their promises. They would begin to betray their trusts. Abu Abdullah Bin Abbas says that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said that when such an age came, they should not bother about people at large, and follow religion instead.

Mentioning Hadith no 4344 of Sunan Abi Dawood, he said that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) stated: The raising the banner of truth before the cruel and brutal ruler would be the greatest obligation and highest Jihad. Hadith no 4345 of Sunan Abi Dawood states: The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said that torment and destruction would not visit people unless they performed such actions in abundance as sins, mistakes, blunders and disobedience of religious teachings. Torment and annihilation would come to the world when disobedience of religion and committal of sins would be in excess. Wait for such time!

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that all ages of mischief would continue for many years. Mentioning Hadith no. 4291 of Sunan Abi Dawood, he said that it is reported by Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) that at a time when the age would be dominated by mischief, ignorance and oppression, Allah Almighty would send a person in the beginning of every century for protection of His Umma, His religion, replacement of evil deeds with good ones, stemming the tide of distortion in faith, and restoration of broken relationship with Allah and His Prophet (S.A.W). Such a person would give glad tidings to the desperate people and restore their broken relationship with Allah.

He said there is no denying the truth that Minhaj-ul-Quran International is the reformist and revivalist organization in this century. At a time when love for the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) was losing steam, recital of Naat was being dubbed as ‘innovation’, the opponents had taken to taunting because there was less recourse to the Holy Quran, and stories started replacing the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunna, MQI has played its part and undertook the arduous task of changing the mindsets of the people in the light of real teaching of Islam. Today those who considered Naat as innovation are now holding Mehfil-e-Naat. The forces of truth have come out victorious and forces of disbelief and anarchy have receded. MQI played its distinct role at intellectual, scholarly, practical and spiritual levels.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that today the concept of Monotheism or Oneness of Allah has come in clearer shape and that of Polytheism and Innovation died its own death. Those who indulged in blasphemous activities regarding the person of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), Companions and the Prophet’s Family have been dealt a severe blow. Under the influence of ‘Khawarij’, the status of the Prophet’s Family and reverence of the Companions came to be understood as poles apart. MQI decimated the evil designs of Khawarij by spreading the real teachings of Islam regarding the issue. It bridged the so-called gulf between the Prophet’s Family and the Companions, which was created by the vested interests for their nefarious ends. It gave the youth renewed and modern understanding of religion and brought them back to Islam by proving latter’s relevance at practical, rational, scientific and spiritual levels.

Shaykh-ul-Islam said that if people wanted to know and understand religion through spiritualism, it made it possible for them through spiritual presentation of faith. If others put emphasis on the role of rationality and arguments, MQI used the same medium to explain religious teachings in that idiom. Hundreds of lectures on the Holy Quran are being held today under the aegis of MQI across the country. Hundreds of Gosha-e-Durood have been established where Durood is being offered round the clock. One such Centre is working at the central secretariat of MQI where Durood and Salutation is being offered on the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) continuously and without any break.

Addressing the workers of MQI, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that Allah Almighty has chosen them for the great task of revival of religion. The work of protection of faith was not merely confined to Pakistan but has now reached every part of the world. You should pay your gratitude to Allah Almighty. He said that every forum of MQI deserved felicitated which was doing this great work.

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: O people keep fulfilling the responsibility of commanding the good and forbidding the evils. If you did not do this, Allah would impose evil rulers on you who would perpetuate painful torture upon you. Then you would cry and call because those rulers would be imposed upon you due to your actions. The pious people of your society would pray for your good but their prayers would not be granted. It would be said: They themselves asked for evil and oppression and rejected good and justice. They could have changed their system but they did not do so. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: Never give up the responsibility of serving the religion and if you did that, such set of rules would be imposed upon you who neither would show mercy to the young nor respect for the elders.

Hazrat Huzaifa (ra) states that there is a command of Allah Almighty: O people! Keep performing the obligation of commanding the good. If you gave up doing so, Allah would cause the killings to spread among you and terrorism and shedding of blood would overwhelm you. Government would be handed over to the evil people. They would indulge in killing you. He said that there would be many forms of killings such as economic murder and dearness murder etc.

Sayyidna Abduallah Ibne Abbas (ra) states that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: An age would come when the hearts of the believers would melt like salt dissolves in the water. The Companions asked why it would happen so. He replied: Those people would not undertake the responsibility of protecting the religion and commanding good and forbidding evils.

Hazrat Abu Umama al-Bahili reports that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: O people, what would be you your state when your women would become rebel and your youth would indulge in obscenity and impiety and you would give up the struggle for revival of Din of Allah. The Companions enquired surprisingly whether such a thing would happen. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: Yes, it would be even worse than this. The worse would be that you would sop commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil. It would be even worse than women becoming rebellious and the youth suffering from obscenity and impiety. The Companions asked whether such an age would come when people would not perform the obligation of protecting the religion. At this the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: Yes, the circumstances would be worse than this when the good would come to be regard as evil as evil as good. Evil people would be considered respectful and the pious would be held as criminals. He who would earn his livelihood through lawful means would be considered as mad and lazy. The student of religion would be looked down upon. The corrupt, the dishonest, the cheat and the looter would come to be understood as powerful, respected, and rich. He said that it would be even worse than this.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri asked the participants of the Itikaf City to go home with the message, commitment and determination that every one of them would not rest in life unless he undertook the obligation of protecting and reviving the religion. Everyone should have the knowledge of religion in order to be able to invite people to the good. He asked them to devote themselves to reading books, listening to speeches and establishing libraries in their homes. Allah’s message for those seeking knowledge is that when they walk, the angels put their wings under their feet. When such people walk out for seeking and promoting knowledge, the fish in the rivers and oceans and the angels in the heavens pray for their forgiveness. Allah said that those with knowledge and without knowledge could not be equal in His Eyes.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri concluded his address with the instruction for the participants of the Itikaf City to offer two cycles of optional prayers for new determination, resolve and intention so that Allah Almighty may accept our services for the revival of religion and enable us to keep doing this duty till our last breath.