While addressing the gathering, Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, President of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, said that in the Holy Quran, not only the stories and events of past prophets are mentioned, but also incidents from the blessed life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. These Quranic stories include the narratives of past nations and also mention the sacrifices of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (may Allah be pleased with them). These events are not merely history but are lessons, sources of insight, and guiding lights for the believers of every age.
He further stated that the personalities mentioned in the Quran were the founding leaders of their respective nations, and all of them were prophets of Allah (peace be upon them). Their stories were narrated through the sacred tongue of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, thus becoming both a Divine tradition and a Muhammadi tradition. He said that the aim was for the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ to learn from these stories, take inspiration, and adopt the Mustafa ﷺ model to solve the issues of life. Through these, we learn the essential virtues of patience, sacrifice, sincerity, and perseverance in the path of truth.
Professor Hussain Qadri emphasized that today, the 'pioneers' who served in the early days of the Minhaj-ul-Quran Movement are present among us. These were the individuals who, alongside Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, laid the foundations of the MQI's mission of peace, interfaith harmony and dialogue, dedicated their youth to its service, and made great sacrifices. They not only built institutions and raised walls but also laid the foundation for the awareness of the Ummah. These are the great individuals who had the dream of a Muhammadi revolution in their eyes and the light of love for the Prophet ﷺ in their hearts.
Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri further explained that Shaykh-ul-Islam initiated the tradition of celebrating the Founding Members' Day to honor their contributions, so that the new generations could understand who these people were, who dedicated their lives to the mission, and in what circumstances they served. This day not only gives us memories of the past but also instills in us a sense of responsibility, reminding us that the flame of this mission now rests in the hands of our generation, and it is our duty to further its growth and spread it.
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