Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri delivering a talk on the academic contributions of Ala’Hadrat Imam al-Hind ash-Shah Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadri. [Al-Hijaz Conference, Wembley Arena, London, 5th May 1985.]
In May 1985, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri was invited to attend and deliver a talk at the Al-Hijaz Conference, Wembley Conference Centre, London, England. The conference was arranged to address current issues in the Muslim Ummah and in particular to foster a greater understanding and comprehension of the scholarly contributions of Ala’Hadrat Imam al-Hind ash-Shah Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadri. It was organised by the World Islamic Mission under the patronage of Allama ash-Shah Ahmad Noorani. Guests and speakers attended the event in significant numbers, making this the UK and Europe’s largest Islamic conference to date.
Presiding guests and speakers at the conference included Qudwat-ul-Awliya ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid Tahir ‘Ala’ud-Din al-Gilani al-Qadri (Baghdad & Pakistan), Pir as-Sayyid Barkaat Ahmad Shah Chishti (Jalalpur Sharif, Pakistan), Allama ash-Shah Ahmad Noorani as-Siddiqi (World Islamic Mission), Mawlana Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi (Jamiyat Ulema-e-Pakistan), Pir Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Wahhāb as-Siddiqi (Coventry, UK), Allama Muhammad Arshad-ul-Qadri (India), Allama Muhammad Qamar-uz-Zaman Azmi (World Islamic Mission UK), Allam Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman Amjadi (Pakistan), Allama Mufti Mukhtar Ahmad Naeemi (Pakistan), Pir Fayaz-ul-Hasan Qadri (Birmingham), Pir Muhammad Mahroof Hussain Naushahi Qadri (Bradford), Mufti Gul Rehman Qadri (Birmingham), Sufi Muhammad Abdullah Khan Ghamkolvi (Birmingham), Pirzada Sardar Ahmad Qadri (Belgium) and many more.
Shaykh-ul-Islam delivered a remarkable, concise and energetic talk lasting 45 minutes on the academic works of Ala’Hadrat Imam al-Hind ash-Shah Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadri. He discussed the unique approach to jurisprudence of Imam Ahmad Rida and his unparalleled contribution to a greater understanding of many aspects of the Islamic faith and creed.
The talk became the focal point of the conference and the event stage host Allama Qamar-uz-Zaman Azmi commented immediately after the talk that the audience will never have heard a better talk on Imam Ahmad Rida’s scholarly contributions then the talk delivered today by Professor Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.
This first talk in the UK and attendance at such a large event and conference was the first introduction to Shaykh-ul-Islam for many in the UK. Forty years on from this first talk, Shaykh-ul-Islam will be addressing the Al-Hidayah 2025 three day conference event at the University of Warwick from 2nd to 4th of August this year.
Report: Asif Habib Malik (UK)
Shaykh-ul-Islam on stage receiving prayers and permission from Huzoor Qudwat-ul-Awliya ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid Tahir ‘Ala’ud-Din al-Gilani al-Qadri (Baghdad & Pakistan), before commencing his talk.
Newspaper report – Hijaz Conference – Wembley UK 05 May 1985
Left to Right – Syed Pir Barkat Ahmad Chishti (Jalalpur Sharif, Pakistan), Mufti Mukhtar Ahmad Naeemi (Pakistan), Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Pir Fayaz-ul-Hassan Qadri (Birmingham).
[Left to Right] Mujahid-e-Millat Maulana Abdul Sattar Niazi (JUP - Pakistan), Raees-ul-Qalam Maulana Arshad-ul-Qadri (India), Pir Syed Barkat Ahmad Chishti (Jalalpur Sharif).
Pir Muhammad Abdul Wahab Siddiqi, Mufti Gul Rehman Qadri and Pir Mahroof Hussain Naushahi with guests.
Guests and speakers on stage during conference.
Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman (Pakistan) on stage with Allama ash-Shah Ahmad Noorani as-Siddiqi (World Islamic Mission).
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