MQI Lahore Announces Schedule of Torch-Bearing Processions to Welcome Rabi‘ al-Awwal

More than 100 torch-bearing processions to be held at different locations from August 13 to 26
Grand torch-bearing procession to be taken out from Aziz Bhatti Town (Mughalpura) on August 13
“Welcoming Rabi‘ al-Awwal is an expression of love for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ,” says President Minhaj-ul-Quran Lahore Iqbal Hussain Bajwa

Preparations are well underway for the torch-bearing processions being organized by Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran Lahore to welcome the blessed month of Rabi‘ al-Awwal. In this connection, an important meeting was held at the Central Secretariat in Lahore under the chairmanship of President Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran Lahore, Iqbal Hussain Bajwa. The meeting reviewed in detail the schedule, routes, and administrative arrangements for the processions to be held across Lahore, and finalized the routes for various events.

The meeting was informed that more than 100 torch-bearing processions will be taken out from different towns and union councils across Lahore from August 13 to 26, 2026. Central, provincial, and district office-bearers and workers of Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran, Minhaj-ul-Quran Ulama Council, Minhaj Youth League, Mustafavi Students Movement, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, and other affiliated forums will participate in the processions.

The torch-bearing processions will be held in various areas of Lahore, including Mughalpura, Raiwind, Shahdara, Daroghawala, Bhati Gate, Jallo Mor, Township, Chuhng, Manga Mandi, Green Town, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Walton Road, Kahna, Chowk Yateem Khana, Baghbanpura, Samanabad, and other localities.

On Thursday, August 13, a grand torch-bearing procession to welcome Rabi‘ al-Awwal will be taken out from Aziz Bhatti Town after Maghrib prayers under the leadership of Shahbaz Hussain Qadri, President of Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran Aziz Bhatti Town. The procession will be attended by Minhaj-ul-Quran’s Nazim-e-Ala Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, along with central, provincial, and district office-bearers, members of the business community, lawyers, engineers, doctors, and thousands of people from various walks of life.

The route of the Aziz Bhatti Town procession will be beautifully decorated with banners, flags, balloons, posters bearing the name of Muhammad ﷺ, and illuminated lights. The business community of Mughalpura will welcome the participants by showering flower petals along the route.

Accompanied by continuous recitations of Durood and Salam, the procession will feature decorated camels, horse-drawn carriages, horses, motorcycles, and large numbers of people on foot. The procession is expected to fill the atmosphere of Lahore with expressions of love, devotion, and reverence for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

The meeting also decided that, in addition to the general public, special invitations would be extended to members of the business community, workers, farmers, lawyers, students, and political, social, and religious leaders to participate in the processions. The objective is to highlight the message of love, peace, and unity associated with the celebrations of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Addressing the meeting, President Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran Lahore Iqbal Hussain Bajwa said that the torch-bearing processions welcoming Rabi‘ al-Awwal are a means of expressing love for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and renewing one’s pledge of devotion to him. He added that, alongside the processions, Mehfil-e-Milad hospitality gatherings would also be arranged throughout Lahore under the auspices of Minhaj-ul-Quran Lahore.

He further said that preparations had also begun for the 43rd International Milad Conference at Minar-e-Pakistan, which is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people from Lahore. He said that there could be no greater joy than the blessed birth of the Mercy to Humanity, Prophet Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ. The advent of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a great blessing from Allah Almighty, and the Holy Quran teaches believers to rejoice in and give thanks for Allah’s blessings. The Holy Prophet ﷺ is the greatest blessing and mercy of Allah Almighty for the entire universe.

He said the purpose of the Rabi‘ al-Awwal programs is to acquaint the younger generation with the Seerah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and its message of love for the Messenger ﷺ, exemplary character, peace, tolerance, and unity among Muslims. Celebrating the blessed birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he said, is in essence an expression of one’s love and attachment to the Holy Prophet ﷺ.

The meeting was attended by Minhaj-ul-Quran Lahore’s Nazim Ali Rehmat, Allama Ahsan Owais, Captain (Retd.) Abdul Majeed, Mian Mumtaz Hussain, Zulfiqar Ali Awan, Rehan Chaudhry, and other zonal office-bearers.