On behalf of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the World Associate of Al-Azhar Graduates, Pakistan Branch upon the launch of its new website. A primary aim of this website is to fulfill the Qur’anic command of imparting knowledge to human kind. As we progress further into this millennium the need of the time dictates that every modern tool be used to fulfill the demands of the Prophetic message and thus this website hopes to achieve these esteemed goals.

Knowledge is an integral part of the Islamic faith without which humankind would be lost in an eternity of wilderness. It is highly significant that the very first words revealed to the Holy Prophet (saw) laid the foundations upon which Islam was to spread and prosper. Almighty Allah stated:

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ. خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ. ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ. ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ. عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ.

“(O Beloved!) Read (commencing) with the Name of Allah, Who has created (everything). He created man from a hanging mass (clinging) like a leech (in the mother’s womb). Read and your Lord is Most Generous, Who taught man (reading and writing) by the pen, Who (besides that) taught man (all that) which he did not know.” (al-‘Alaq, 96:1-5)

After enlightening us with the strategy to be used in order to gain success He then endowed upon us the means and faculties in which to obtain these goals.

وَٱللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـئِدَةَ‌ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ.

“And Allah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allah).” (al-Nahl, 16:78)

His Mercy is such that He guides us from whence this knowledge will come and the path that we must follow:

وَيَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلْعِلْمَ ٱلَّذِىۤ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيَهْدِىۤ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ.

“And those who have been given knowledge know that (the Book) which has been revealed to you from your Lord is alone the Truth. And that (Book) guides to the path of Most Exalted in Might, All-Praiseworthy (Lord).” (Saba, 34:6)

يَـٰۤأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوۤاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ‌ فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْأَخِرِ‌ ذَالِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً.

“O Believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) and those (men of Truth) who hold command among you. Then if you disagree among yourselves over any issue, refer it to Allah and the Messenger ([blessings and peace be upon him] for final judgment) if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is best (for you) and best for the end result.” (al-Nisa’, 4:59)

وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ.

“And, (O Glorious Messenger,) We have revealed to you the Glorious Reminder (the Qur’an) so that you may explain clearly to people (the Message and the Commandments) that have been sent down to them and that they may meditate.” (al-Nahl, 16:44)

Once a person sets out to achieve knowledge of Islam in all its forms, his link with Allah Almighty and the holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) will be strengthened. He will not only become more acquainted with the qualities and attributes of both but then wholeheartedly submit his own will to the will of Allah, become consumed with the love of Allah Almighty and His Beloved Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) so that he will become of those whom:

يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَـٰتٍ‌ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ.

“Allah will raise up, to (suitable) ranks and (degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted knowledge. And Allah is well-acquainted with all you do.” (al-Mujadila, 58:11)

Unfortunately we live in troubled times. Islam is being misrepresented and misused by a small minority of extremists. Islamic knowledge, which was once considered sacred and an honour to be learnt is being manipulated for selfish and illegal aims. Thus it is essential that efforts are made to impart the teachings of Islam that are a true reflection of the Holy Prophet’s life. Islamic knowledge needs to be presented in such a way that the younger generation in particular receives a definitive grounding in the classical sciences of Islam. In this respect Al-Azhar University has a rich and historic heritage which as always endeavoured to impart knowledge with wisdom and balance. It has multi-faceted faculties covering a wide array of subjects ranging from the classics to modern contemporary fields. For hundreds of years it has been a beacon of light within the Muslim world and history bears witness to its dedication to the proliferation of Islam. In the same vein Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International is dedicated to the propagation of peace, tolerance and love through the teachings of the Glorious Qur’an and the life and works of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him). Al-Azhar University and Minhaj University Lahore share this common heritage and so I wholeheartedly endorse the initiative of the World Association of Al-Azhar Graduates Branch Office in Pakistan. This will give an invaluable opportunity to scholars and non-scholars alike to benefit from the highly trained lecturers and graduates of Al-Azhar University.

An important aim of this Office is also to foster better relations between the varied ulema and scholars who belong to different organizations and institutions in order that we may work as one Umma with the goal of uniting upon our commonalities and work through our differences.

So congratulations to the World Association of Al-Azhar Graduates, Pakistan Branch, in creating this project and the launch of this website. I pray to Almighty Allah that He places His Blessings and baraka in this new project and pray He gives us the strength to continue these work with purity of faith and steadfastness.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
Founding Leader of Minhaj-ul-Quran International &
Chairman, Board of Governors, Minhaj University Lahore