26 – 28 August 2017, Keele University, England.

In continuation of the al-Hidayah project’s activities, raising awareness of issues pertinent to Muslims and non-Muslims in the West, al-Hidayah 2017 was arranged as a three day residential event. It was held within the picturesque surroundings of Keele University, Staffordshire, England on the bank holiday weekend running from Saturday 26 August to Monday 28 August 2017. As a project of Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International (UK) the al-Hidayah team were proud and honoured to host his eminence Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, patron-in-chief of Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International as the Keynote speaker and also presiding guest throughout the three days of the event. Dr Qadri was accompanied by Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Qadri and respected Sister Dr Ghazala Hassan Qadri. The event was arranged as a combination of detailed lectures and practical teaching of the Counter-narrative to Violent Extremism from the most authentic references and sources, as well as series of interactive workshops, sports and leisure activities.

Event organisers including the al-Hidayah Core Committee members, team members and volunteers arrived during the afternoon of Friday 25th August 2017 at Keele University, to commence the set up and facilitation requirements for the event, delegates and guests. Exhibition stalls and separate foyers for brother and sisters were set up along with an exhibition gallery showcasing the achievements and the unique history of Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International and Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. The main lecture hall and all workshop rooms were also prepared with great detail and effort. The preparation activities were closely monitored by al-Hidayah’s President Dr Zahid Iqbal.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Qadri, Sister Dr Ghazala Hassan Qadri and other guests also arrived by the Friday evening. Committee and team members worked late into the night to ensure all preparations were made for the events administration, facilitation, content and delivery to be effectively coordinated.

Day one:

On the morning of Saturday 26th August 2017, there was a pleasant feel and exciting atmosphere as straight after breakfast registered attendees started to arrive. All attendees were welcomed and assisted through the event registration process, before being allocated their accommodation rooms and associated registration materials and merchandise. Sisters’ registration was administered in the sisters’ foyer by the registrations team leader sister Subah Iqbal along with sister Zahra Hussain and other volunteers. Brothers’ registration was administered in the brothers’ foyer by br Adam Malik, Babar Khan, Hussain Ali, Hussain Malik and additional volunteers.

A dedicated creche facility had also been arranged at no extra cost for parents to leave their children in the care of qualified nursery staff at the University’s internal Nursery and Play Centre. Creche facilitation was overseen by sister Naheed Syed and sister Gulnar Khan. Prayer hall and dining hall facilities were also supervised by teams led by br Qasim Rauf and br Tanwir Rauf, whilst a team of volunteers were assisting attendees to their accommodation area and back to the main event space.

Lunch was served to all attendees from 12:30 pm in the Keele Hall banqueting suite with simultaneous separate arrangements for brothers and sisters. Following Zuhr Salat, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri arrived at the Chancellors conference centre to a warm and emotional welcome, Durood-e-Minhaj was recited as the packed audience in the Westminster Hall welcomed the keynote speaker and other guests with a standing ovation. Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri acknowledged the enthusiasm of the attendees and also the additional guests attending this initial session. Additional guests included Ms Naz Shah (Member of Parliament), Mohammed Shafiq (Chairman Ramadhan Foundation), Zahoor Niazi (Ameer Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International UK) as well as press and media representatives from BBC Midlands, ARY News, Geo News, Dunya TV, Samaa News, C44, C24, Royal tv, Roz tv, Channel 92HS and others.

After a brief welcome from Dr Zahid Iqbal, Mohammed Shafique was invited to the stage to convey his message for al-Hidayah 2017 and the counter narrative to violent extremism. He commenced with thanking the organisers and in particular Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri for initiating modern thought on the need to identify and make people aware of the plague of terrorism as well as it’s root causes. He also commented on the need to give an effective counter narrative to terrorism in modern times and the fact that this could only be delivered by an individual with international authority and recognition. He lauded the remarkable Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings authored by Shaykh-ul-Islam as well as the subsequent work on peace related initiatives. In his closing remarks he also spoke on state terrorism and the terrorism perpetrated in Model Town, Lahore, Pakistan when the state police force shot more than 100 civilians including 14 who died from their injuries. He appreciated the efforts of Minhaj-ul-Quran International in combatting terrorism at all levels and raised concerns as to how terrorism was also supported by corrupt political leaderships in certain countries. He noted how Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri was the first person in Pakistan to make the masses aware of the relevant constitutional articles related to corrupt individuals and practices.

Ms Naz Shah (Member of Parliament) was then called to the stage to deliver her message to the audience and guests of al-Hidayah 2017. She spoke concisely on the need for the Western media in particular to support and promote initiatives such as this three-day event highlighting the counter-narrative to violent extremism and terrorism. She questioned why the UK’s media did not take greater interests in initiatives such as this which are for the betterment of society and also representative of the majority Muslim community’s balanced and moderate thinking. She thanked Shaykh-ul-Islam for his efforts in the shape of the Fatwa against Terrorism and Suicide Bombing and how it had assisted greatly in providing authentic answers to the rhetoric used by terrorist and radical organisations who support such barbaric acts. The Member of Parliament showed great appreciation for the Peace for Humanity Conference at Wembley arena as well as the more recent Peace Curriculum launch.

The MP congratulated the organisers of the event in bringing together more than 400 individuals to stay over three days and learn authentic knowledge to equip them in the collective struggle against terrorism and its root causes. She concluded her message with a strong statement on the need for sisters to stand for their rights and not be intimidated in any way, as they all have the right to express their cultural and religious freedom in dress, conduct and other aspects of their lives.

After the introductory messages, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri commenced their first lecture to al-Hidayah 2017 on identifying terrorists and the need for a counter-narrative to violent extremism. A detailed account was given on the origins of terrorism and the need to understand that there is no compulsion or requirement for Muslims to create a global khilafat or state.

Shaykh-ul-Islam spoke in detail on the Prophetic foresight and how the modern-day international terrorists were identified by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in terms of their likely characteristics, identities, ideologies, practices and rhetoric. Further insight was given on their methodologies and how they are manipulating authentic verses from the Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to misinterpret and distort the true moderate and peaceful message of Islam. The basis of the counter-narrative to this distorted ideology was given as a clear understanding of what Islam requires of Muslims and what the rights of Muslims are to the rest of humanity.

Shaykh-ul-Islam elaborated on the need for Muslims to revert to seeking authentic knowledge and clarifying the facts that are being distorted by radical groups who are the feeder vehicle for terrorist organisations. The attendees were congratulated for committing themselves to attend al-Hidayah 2017 to learn the true peaceful message of Islam and go out as peace makers in society.

On conclusion of the first talk by Shaykh-ul-Islam, the international media correspondents were invited to ask questions from Shaykh-ul-Islam on the event and associated subjects. The correspondents posed deep and at times-thought provoking questions, all of which were answered aptly and with necessary detail. In particular, Shaykh-ul-Islam elaborated on the need of collective state led efforts to eradicate the root causes and promoters of terrorist organisations in Pakistan, whilst also appreciating the work and sacrifices against terrorism of the army in Pakistan. The session concluded with instructions for the remaining sessions and other administrative matters.

After a short refreshment break, all attendees of al-Hidayah 2017 participated in workshops arranged to provide interactive opportunities to learn and discuss matters openly. Workshops included;

• Politics – Why and how we should engage in UK politics – Hussain ad Hassan Ali
• Ethics of Social Media and safeguarding – Shaykh Rehan Ahmed Raza
• Fundamentals of confident communication – Bilal Jameel
• Islamic & British Values – Compatible or Oxymoronic ? – Wayne Hassan Ramwell
• Spot the Extremist – Understanding the terrorist mindset – Dr Zahid Iqbal
• Stress Management and Mental Health – Sr Sehrish Ismaeel
• Minhaj-ul-Qur’an UK – Da’wa in the 21st Century – Abdul Qadeer Rauf
• Have Islamic education institutes failed a generation – Mufti Sohail Siddqui & br Tahseen Khalid

The workshops were coordinated by the workshops team leader Tahira Afzal. All workshops were well attended and participants expressed great enthusiasm at the interactive and unique formats.

Following Salat al-Asar all attendees moved onto Keele Hall for evening dinner with Shaykh-ul-Islam. During dinner, Shaykh-ul-Islam sat with various members of the youth from the UK, Europe, Canada, South Africa and other countries having informal discussions. After meeting many more male participants, Shaykh-ul-Islam visited the sisters dining hall, where all sisters’ tables were visited and greetings and well wishes were exchanged. This was a highly motivational moment for attendees and appreciated by all.

After a break for Salat Maghrib and refreshments, attendees gathered once again at the Westminster Hall for the evening Nasheed & Hadrah night. Shaykh-ul-Islam arrived around 9:30 pm and the evening gathering commenced with recitation of the Holy Qur’an by br Ibrahim Sheikh from Canada. This was followed by Naat recitals by br Muhammad Bilal Shoaib (London), Shahbaz Hassan Qadri (Ashton), Ijaz Ahmed Qadri (Bradford), Muhammad Mahnoon Mian (Dallas, USA), Muhammad Zain (MYL Canada), Bilal Javed (South Africa) and a collection of recitals by Milad Raza Qadri (Glasgow). Shaykh-ul-Islam provided much needed motivation and inspiration to each reciter and also explained how many of these reciters were from Minhaj-ul-Qur