(Following is English translation of interview Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri gave to international channel ARY OneWorld. He spoke elaborately on the burning issues of the day, allaying confusions and misunderstandings about Islamic perspectives on them in the process. Given the relevance and importance of the interview, we are posting it on the website for the interest of viewers. Minhaj Internet Bureau)

Host (Question 1)

Let us first talk about Minhaj-ul-Quran International because you just mentioned that you established it and under it hundreds of educational institutions have been put in place in addition to a university and a welfare society. Please tell our viewers more about it.

Shaykh-ul-Islam

Minhaj-ul-Quran is an international organization and I founded it in 1981. Today it is 27 years old. It is working in a number of areas with religious work being one of them under the banner of Idara Minhaj-ul-Quran. We give spiritual, scientific, practical and pragmatic presentation of Islam. We also develop interfaith harmony and interfaith dialogue among different cultures between Muslims and non-Muslims and within Muslims so that there develops between Muslims and the rest of world a culture of peace and mutual harmony in the light of Islam. This is one of basic works.

The second area relates to educational work under Minhaj Education Society. We have established a national university, which by the grace of Allah Almighty, is a chartered university. Not only religious sciences but all subjects are also taught here including Computer Sciences, Basic Sciences, Biology, and Management Courses. In short, all subjects are offered here. Then there is a chartered residential university having equivalence of its religious degree with Jamia al-Azhar. Then we have Minhaj Education Society about which I just spoke to you. Under it one thousand schools and colleges including those of higher education and primary levels have been established. These are regular, formal and full-fledged schools and there is not even one seminary in them. Religion is taught here as one discipline. We also undertake to impart moral and spiritual training to our students. Modern subjects like computer sciences are also emphasized here.

Third area of our work is welfare under the banner of Minhaj Welfare Foundation. What do you get welfare to mean? Whenever any natural calamity strikes like earthquake, natural disaster, and windstorm, we are there to provide our services. For the purpose of marrying off daughters of the poor and needy families, we arrange collective marriages. Then there is an institution called "Aagosh" for housing and maintenance of orphan children. In short, we look after the poor, the needy, the disabled and deprived classes. Millions of rupees are spent upon the education of the deserving students, medication of the poor and collective marriages.

We have continued our efforts worldwide. We also have Directorate of Foreign Affairs. We have our branches in more than 80 countries of the world. Minhaj-ul-Quran has its institutions there including Islamic centres, cultural centres, and educational centres which millions of Muslims, both male and female, have joined to get religious, moral and spiritual training. They have changed their culture and life. Those centres also have an arrangement of regular education. There are everyday school as well as weekend schools and the various organizations of Minhaj-ul-Quran run them. This is a major contribution not merely to Pakistani society. The Indian Muslims, Bangladeshi societies and other communities are also benefiting from these initiatives. Since we impart education in English language, therefore, children from Arab world, Asian world and African world are getting associated for education. This is the Dawa work, renaissance and reconstruction of Islam at the universal level.

This denotes revival of moral, ethical, social and spiritual values of Islam, which are being promoted in such an age when distorted picture of our religion is being presented. This is great positive, reconstructive and creative contribution of Minhaj-ul-Quran International. Efforts were being made to disfigure the face of Islam and present such a distorted version of its teachings to the world. But (through MQI), true Islamic message is being presented with originality and beauty not only to the Muslims but to the non-Muslims. Non-Muslim delegations visit the central secretariat of Minhaj-ul-Quran International. Their Bishops and Fathers come and meet. We hold interfaith dialogue. Islam has been presented to the world as a religion symbolizing peace, brotherhood, security, integration and moderation. This is historic and remarkable contribution of Minhaj-ul-Quran International.

Host (Question 2)

Doctor sahib! Two terms are very ear-catching and attractive in your discussion so far and I would like you to throw more light on them. These relate to moderation and modern presentation of Islam. What is modern perception of Islam? Has Islam undergone changes?

Shaykh-ul-Islam

This is a basic question and you have very rightly raised it. Whatever be the religion, it has two basic aspects. One is the basic structure, which has fundamental principles. These basic principles of Islam have neither changed nor will they change in any time to come. What I mean by it is the Holy Qur