His Eminence Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, founding leader of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, delivered the keynote address at the "Shan-e-Ahl-e-Bait-e-Nabviﷺ Conference", organised on the occasion of the "Ta'ziyati Reference of Pir Syed Abdul Qadir Shah Jillani (R.A)" under the auspices of Markazi Jama'at-e-Ahle Sunnat (UK & Overseas) at Jamia Islamia Ghousia Trust, Luton.
Addressing a large gathering of scholars, community leaders and students of knowledge, Shaykh-ul-Islam delivered a profound Qur’anic exposition of Ayat al-Tatheer (The Verse of Purification) from Surah al-Ahzab (33:33):
اِنَّمَا یُرِیْدُ اللهُ لِیُذْهِبَ عَنْکُمُ الرِّجْسَ اَهْلَ الْبَیْتِ وَیُطَہِّرَکُمْ تَطْہِیْرًا
“Indeed, Allah only desires to keep all (forms and causes of) impurity away from you, O Members of the (Prophet’s) Family, and purify you with a thorough purifying.”
Shaykh-ul-Islam explained that this blessed verse is a clear and unequivocal declaration of the unique rank, spiritual excellence and divinely bestowed purity of the blessed Ahl al-Bayt (ʿalayhim al-salām). He stated that Almighty Allah Himself has declared His exclusive will to remove every form of rijs—including every impurity, spiritual defect, doubt, moral corruption and anything contrary to goodness—and to grant them complete and perfect taṭhīr.
Explaining the Qur’anic language, Shaykh-ul-Islam emphasised that the verse is not merely a command for the Ahl al-Bayt to attain purity through their own efforts. Rather, it is a decisive declaration that Allah ﷻ Himself undertook their complete purification. This divine act establishes their honour, purity and spiritual rank through the Qur’an itself.
He further explained that the emphatic expression “وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا” signifies not an ordinary form of purification but a complete, perfect and divinely bestowed purification encompassing every aspect of their belief, intentions, character, conduct, sacrifice and spiritual excellence. He stressed that the sacrifices of the Ahl al-Bayt, particularly the events of Karbala, must be understood through this Qur’anic declaration rather than through political or worldly interpretations.
Elaborating on the unparalleled virtues and elevated status of the Ahl al-Bayt in the light of the Holy Qur’an and authentic Prophetic traditions, Shaykh-ul-Islam affirmed that love, reverence and loyalty to the Ahl al-Bayt are fundamental to the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah. He urged believers to return to the Qur’an and Sunnah when understanding their status and warned against allowing polemics or distorted historical narratives to shape their perception. He described the blessed Household of the Holy Prophet ﷺ as the purest embodiment of his guidance, character and spiritual legacy, whose lives continue to illuminate the path of faith, knowledge, piety and moral excellence.
The conference was attended by Pir Syed Mazhar Hussain Gillani, President of Markazi Jama’at-e-Ahle Sunnat (UK & Overseas); Pir Syed Munawar Hussain Shah Jamati; Syed Ali Abbas Bukhari, President of Minhaj-ul-Quran International UK; Allama Qazi Abdul Aziz Chishti MBE, Secretary General of Markazi Jama’at-e-Ahle Sunnat (UK & Overseas); alongside distinguished scholars, community leaders and members of the Muslim community from across the United Kingdom.
The gathering concluded with collective prayers for the unity of the Muslim Ummah and for peace, stability and prosperity throughout the world.
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