Minhaj-ul-Quran Canada Celebrates 75th Birthday of His Eminence Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Minhaj-ul-Quran Canada organized a momentous celebration honoring the 75th birthday of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri at the Mississauga Muslim Community Center (MMCC). The event brought together community members, organizational representatives, media personalities, and distinguished guests for an evening of spiritual reflection and community fellowship.

The program commenced after Isha prayers, setting a devotional tone for the occasion. Hafiz Umair Waqas and Muzammil Sharief hosted the program throughout the evening.

The spiritual segment opened with a recitation of the Holy Quran by Qari Shafique Ahmad Al-Azhari, followed by an English translation delivered by Hafiz Syed Humaid. Ali Abbas Madani was then honored to present Naat-e-Rasool ﷺ, adding to the reverential atmosphere of the gathering.

Sufi Muhammad Tariq, President of Minhaj-ul-Quran Canada, delivered the welcome speech, setting the stage for a series of addresses from various forums and chapters across the organization. Adam Bhatti, Chairman of Central Members' Council (CMC), spoke on behalf of his Council, while Presidents of MQI Scarborough (Masood Butt), MQI Windsor (Amir Khan), and MQI KWC (Khalil Malik) shared perspectives from their respective chapters. Allama Muhammad Ahmed Awan represented the Scholars' Forum, while Naheed Siddiqui spoke for Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League (MWL), Sana Shafique for Minhaj Sisters Canada.

A highlight of the cultural program was a performance by Minhaj-ul-Munshideen, led by Abdullah Sheikh, which captivated the audience with spiritual poetry and song.

The event also featured speeches from media personalities, including Badar Munir Chaudhary, Wajid Malik, Arshad Bhatti, and Arif Shaikh, who shared their reflections on the occasion. Dr. Rabia Azeem and Mufti Sohail Ahmad Siddiqui Al-Azhari also addressed the gathering, sharing insights on the significance of Shaykh-ul-Islam's contributions.

A distinguished moment came with the attendance of Peter Fonseca, Member of Parliament (Mississauga East — Cooksville), accompanied by his wife Christine Fonseca. Shaykh-ul-Islam personally presented both Mr. and Mrs. Fonseca, as well as Hafiz Khalid, the Father of Iqra Khalid (MP, Mississauga — Erin Mills), with copies of the Manifest Quran, his English translation of the Holy Quran, as gifts of appreciation. Peter Fonseca presented a commemorative certificate to Shaykh-ul-Islam in recognition of his contributions and leadership, and extended an invitation for Shaykh-ul-Islam to visit the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa.

The evening culminated with Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri himself addressing the gathering. In his address, He emphasized the importance of becoming God-seeking personalities, reminding the audience that everything we have is a blessing of Allahﷻ. His words offered spiritual guidance and wisdom to the attendees, encouraging them to cultivate a deeper connection with the Divine.

Following his address, a cake-cutting ceremony led by Shaykh Ahmad Mustafa Al-Arabi Al-Qadri marked the birthday celebration, after which food was served to all participants.

The event successfully brought together diverse segments of the community in a celebration that honored not only a milestone birthday but also the scholarly, spiritual, and socio-political contributions to human rights of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri to the Muslim community around the globe.