Brief introduction of Shaykh-ul-Islam, some of his achievements, works and chains of authority part 1

A man of manifold and staggering achievements, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is the founding leader of Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International (MQI), an organization with branches and centres in more than 90 countries around the globe, working for the promotion of peace and harmony between communities and the revival of spiritual endeavour based on the true teachings of Islam. Shaykh-ul-Islam is a scholar of extraordinary proportions and an intellectual leader for all seasons. He is a living model of profound classical knowledge, intellectual enlightenment, practical wisdom, pure spirituality, love, harmony and humanism. He is well known for his ardent endeavour to strengthen bonds among people, by bringing them together through tolerance, dialogue, integration and education. He successfully bridges the past with his image of the future and finds convincing solutions for contemporary problems. He has been teaching Hadith, Tafsir, Fiqh, Theology, Sufism, Seerah, Islamic philosophy and many other rational and traditional sciences to thousands of people, including Ulema, scholars, Shuyukh, students, intellectuals and academics in the east and the west.
Shaykh-ul-Islam was born on February 19, 1951 in the historical city of Jhang, Pakistan, and is the son of the great spiritualist and intellectual of his time ash-Shaykh Dr Farida’d-Din al-Qadri. He was educated from the young age in both the Islamic and secular sciences simultaneously. Although he had already started his religious education under his father two years earlier, his formal classical education was initiated in Madina at the age of 12, in Madrasa al-‘Ulum ash-Shar‘iyya, which was situated in the blessed house of Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the first residence of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) after his migration. By the time he had received a First Class Honours Degree from the University of the Punjab in 1970, he had also completed his Classical Islamic Studies, having spent over ten years under the tutelage of his father and other eminent Shuyukh of his time and achieving an unparalleled understanding of the classical shari‘a sciences and Arabic language. He earned his MA in Islamic Studies in 1972 with the University of the Punjab Gold Medal, achieved his LLB in 1974 and began to practise as a lawyer in the district courts of Jhang. He moved to Lahore in 1978 and joined the University of the Punjab as a lecturer in law and then gained his PhD in Islamic Law. He was also a member of the Syndicate, Senate and Academic Council of the University of the Punjab, which are the highest executive, administrative and academic bodies of the University.
In a short span of time, he emerged as the country’s leading Islamic jurist and scholar and revivalist of the Islamic ideology. He was appointed as a Jurist Consult (legal adviser) on Islamic law for the Supreme Court and the Federal Shari‘a Court of Pakistan and also worked as a specialist adviser on Islamic curricula for the Federal Ministry of Education of Pakistan at various times between 1983 and 1987. In the 1980s, a number of historical judgments in the legal and constitutional history of Pakistan were passed by the Federal Shariʻa Court and the Appellate Shariʻa Bench, Supreme Court of Pakistan as a result of Shaykh-ul-Islam’s juristic arguments, documented in the Pakistan Legal Decisions (PLDs) and Pakistan Legal Judgments (PLJs).
He is also a former Professor of Islamic Law at the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, and the youngest person ever to have been awarded a professorship in the history of the University. Shaykh-ul-Islam has also previously held the position of the Head of the Department for LLM in Islamic Legislation.
Shaykh-ul-Islam founded Minhaj-ul-Qur’an in 1981 and established its headquarters in Lahore. In less than 30 years, Minhaj-ul-Qur’an has expanded and spread over more than 90 countries around the world; and in terms of its comprehensive and all-encompassing sphere of activities, educational, social, cultural and spiritual, Minhaj-ul-Qur’an is probably one of the largest non-governmental organizations in the world.
Shaykh-ul-Islam is founder and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Minhaj University Lahore which is chartered by Government and is imparting higher education to thousands of students in the faculties of basic, modern, social, management and religious sciences. He is the founder of Minhaj Education Society which has established more than 570 schools and colleges in Pakistan. He is also the founding Chairman of Minhaj Welfare Foundation, a humanitarian and social welfare organization working globally. He is the founding leader of different forums of Minhaj-ul-Qur’an including Minhaj-ul-Qur’an Ullama Council, Minhaj-ul-Qur’an Women League, Minhaj Youth League, Mustafavi Students Movements and Muslim Christian Dialogue Forum.

The Works of Shaykh-ul-Islam

Shaykh-ul-Islam is a prolific author and researcher. He has authored around 1000 books out of which 400 books are already published, and the rest of them are yet to be published. An unrivalled orator and speaker, he has delivered over 5000 lectures (in Urdu, English and Arabic), on a wide range of subjects, which are available on cassette, CD, DVD formats as well as online.
The following represents a selection of his printed works:

Works on Qur’anic Tafsir (in number totaling 80 works) include:

• Irfan al-Qur’an (the Meanings of the Qur’an — Urdu and English versions)
• Tafsir Minhaj al-Qur’an (al-Futuhat al-Madaniyya — 14 volumes U.P.)
• Tafsir Sura al-Fatiha (partly published, totaling 7 volumes), the largest available publication on this subject.
• Kashf al-Ghita ʻan Maʻrifat al-Aqsam li-l-Mustafa (Tafsir in Arabic on the excellence of the Holy Prophet — blessings and peace be upon him).
• Tasmiyya al-Qur’an (a voluminous book on the meanings of Bism Allah)
• Manahij al-‘Irfan fi Lafz al-Qur’an (a voluminous book on the meanings of the word Qur’an)
• Meaning of Ayat al-Kursi (a voluminous book)
• Development of Human Personality in the Light of Sura al-Fatiha
• Islamic Philosophy of Human Life
• No Coercion in Religion
• al-ʻIrfan fi Fadaʼil wa Adab al-Qurʼan (recitation of the Qur’an; virtues and manners)
• Islamic Concept of Human Nature
• Qur’anic Philosophy of Da‘wa

And many others

Works on Hadith compilation and the science of Hadith (in number totaling 100 works):

• Jami‘ as-Sunna fi ma Yahtaj Ilayhi Akhir al-Umma (a comprehensive compilation of 25,000 ahadith, totaling 20 volumes U.P.)
• al-Minhaj as-Sawiyy min al-Hadith an-Nabawiyy (4 volumes — collection of 5,000 ahadith compiled on the pattern and style of al-Imam an-Nawawi’s Riyad as-Salihin and al-Khatib at-Tabrizi’s Mishkat al-Masabih relevant to the modern age). Its abridged version Mukhtasar Al-Minhaj as-Sawiyy was published with compliments and tributes of Shaykh al-Azhar as-Sayyid Dr Muhammad Tantawi, a renowned Muhaddith of Egypt, ash-Shaykh Dr Ahmad ‘Umar Hashim, Ex-Vice Chancellor of Jami‘a al-Azhar, Cairo, and Grand Mufti of Egypt ash-Shaykh Dr ‘Ali Jumu‘a and others.
• al-‘Ata fi Ma‘rifat al-Mustafa (4 volumes — collection of 5,000 ahadith on the subjects of the excellence, habits, morals, specialties and miracles of the Holy Prophet — blessings and peace be upon him — on the pattern and style of ash-Shifa of al-Qadi ‘Iyad U.P.)
• Hidayat al-Umma ‘ala Minhaj al-Qur’an wa’s-Sunna (2 volumes — another collection of 2,200 ahadith)
• Prophetic Virtues & Miracles
• Al-Wafa fi Rahmat an-Nabi al-Mustafa
• Al-Makana al-‘Aliyya fi’l-Khasa’is an-Nabawiyya
• Al-Mizat an-Nabawiyya fi’l-Khasa’is ad-Dunwiyya
• Al-‘Azama an-Nabawiyya fi’l-Khasa’is al-Barzakhiyya
• Al-Futuhat an-Nabawiyya fi’l-Khasa’is al-Ukhrawiyya
• Al-Jawahir an-Naqiyya fi ash-Shuma’il an-Nabawiyya
• Al-Matalib as-Saniyya fi’l-‘Adat an-Nabawiyya
• Al-Minahat as-Samadiyya fi’l-Ikhtiyarat an-Nabawiyya
• Al-Imtiyazat an-Nabawiyya fi’l-‘Ulum al-Ghaybiyya
• Al-Fawz al-Jali fi at-Tawassul bi’n-Nabi
• Ash-Sharaf al-‘Ali fi at-Tabarruk bi’n-Nabi
• an-Nur al-Mubin fi Hayat an-Nabi al-Amin
• Al-Minhal as-Safi fi Ziyarat Qabr an-Nabi
• Ghayat as-Sifa fi Husn Jasad al-Mustafa
• Al-‘Asal an-Naqi fi Asma’ an-Nabi
• an-Najaba fi Manaqib as-Sahaba wa’l-Qaraba (virtues of the Companions and the Family of the Holy Prophet [blessings and peace be upon him])
• Rawdat as-Salikin fi Manaqib al-Awliya’ wa’s-Salihin (Virtues of the Friends of Allah and the Pious)
• Ahsan ’s-Sana’a fi Ithbat ash-Shafa’a (Intercession)
• Rahat al-Qulub fi Madhi ’n-Nabiyyi al-Mahbub (Hymn of the Holy Prophet [blessings and peace be upon him])
• Kashf al-Asrar fi Mahabbat al-Mawjudat li-Sayyid al-Abrar
• al-Badra’t-Tamam ‘ala Sahib’id-Dunuww wa’l-Maqam (virtues of Greetings and Salutations on the Holy Prophet [blessings and peace be upon him])
• Ahsana’s-Subul fi Manaqib al-Anbiya’ wa’r-Rusul (virtues of the Prophets and Messengers)
• as-Sayf al-Jali ‘ala Munkir Wilayat ‘Ali
• al-Qawl al-Mu‘tabar fi’l-Imam al-Muntazar
• al-Qawl al-Qawiyy fi Sama‘ al-Hasan ‘an ‘Ali (a book on the science of Hadith in Arabic language. It establishes the fact that al-Hasan of Busra met ‘Ali and heard him narrate traditions.)
• al-Kanz ath-Thamin fi Fadilat adh-Dhikr wa’dh-Dhakirin (Pearls of Remembrance)
• al-Khutba as-Sadida fi Usul al-Hadith wa Furu‘ al-‘Aqida (a brief textbook on the science of Hadith in the Arabic language)
• al-‘Abdiyya fi’l-Hadrat as-Samadiyya (Rights of Allah on His Slaves)
• Al-Marwiyyat as-Sulamiyya min al-Ahadith an-Nabawiyya
• Al-Marwiyyat al-Qushayriyya min al-Ahadith an-Nabawiyya
• Al-Marwiyyat as-Suhrawardiyya min al-Ahadith an-Nabawiyya
• Marwiyyat ash-Shaykh al-Akbar min Ahadith an-Nabi al-Athar
• al-Lubab fi’l-Huquq wa’l-Adab (Rights and Manners)
• Righteous Character & Excellence of Social Interaction
• An-Najah fi A‘mal al-Birr wa as-Sadaqa wa as-Salah
• Ad-Da‘wat wa’l-Adhkar min Sunna an-Nabi al-Mukhtar
• al-Futuhat fi’l-Adhkar ba‘d as-Salawat
• Al-Manahil as-Safiyya fi Sharaf al-Umma al-Muhammadiyya
• Imam Abu Hanifa: Imam al-A’imma fi’l-Hadith (4 volumes)

And many others

Works on Islamic ‘Aqida (in number totaling 100 works) include:

• Majmu‘at al-‘Aqa’id (25 volumes — an unprecedented compendium on Islamic Faith and Theology)
• Kitab at-Tawhid (a detailed treatise on the concept of the unity of Allah running into 2 volumes)
• Kitab ar-Risala (2 volumes — a detailed treatise on the excellence of Prophethood and highly esteemed station of the Holy Prophet — blessings and peace be upon him)
• Kitab as-Sunna (2 volumes — a comprehensive treatise on the authority, science and compilation of hadith and sunna)
• Makanat ar-Risala wa’s-Sunna
• Kitab al-Bid‘a (a comprehensive work on the concept of “innovations” in Islam)
• Kitab al-Iman (Basic Tenets of Faith)
• Kitab al-Islam (Pillars of Islam)
• Kitab al-Ihsan (Book on Spiritual Excellence)
• Kitab az-Ziyara (Book on Visiting the Graves)
• Kitab al-Baraka (Book on Blessings)
• Kitab ash-Shafa‘a (Book on Intercession)
• Kitab at-Tawassul (Book on Intermediation)
• at-Ta‘zim wa’l-‘Ibada (Reverence and Worship)
• al-Wasa’it ash-Shar‘iyya (Lawful Means and Linkages)
• Reverence of Prophethood
• Finality of Prophethood
• al-Mawlid an-Nabawiyy ([blessings and peace be upon him)] Celebration of Mawlid] The largest ever written work on this subject, consisting of approximately 850 pages)
• ‘Ilm al-Ghayb (Book on the Knowledge of the Unseen)
• Ascension of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him)
• Love and Reverence of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him)
• The Central Point of Iman
• Prisoners of the Beauty of Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him)

And many others

Works on the Biography (Sira) of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) and his virtuous characteristics:

• Sirat ar-Rasul (collection of 14 volumes, the largest collection ever written in the Urdu language)
• Muqaddima as-Sira (2 volumes — an unprecedented work in Islamic history on the pattern of Muqaddima Ibn Khaldun)
• Khasa’is al-Mustafa (Holy Prophet’s Exclusive Virtues)
• Shama’il al-Mustafa (Holy Prophet’s Personal Characteristics and Habits)
• Asma’ al-Mustafa (Meanings and Interpretation of the Holy Prophet’s Names)
• Dala’il al-Barakat (2500 styles of greetings and salutations on the Holy Prophet — blessings and peace be upon him — a masterpiece of Arabic literature, written in the style of the well-read Dala’il al-Khayrat of Imam Jazuli)
• Political Aspect of the Prophet’s Sira
• Economic Aspect of the Prophet’s Sira
• Administrative Aspect of the Prophet’s Sira
• Constitutional Aspect of the Prophet’s Sira
• Scientific Aspect of the Prophet’s Sira
• Cultural Aspect of the Prophet’s Sira
• Historical Aspect of the Prophet’s Sira
• Aspect of Human Rights in the Prophet’s Sira
• Aspect of Peace and Integration in the Prophet’s Sira
• Diplomatic Relations in the Prophet’s Sira
• Relations to Non-Muslims in the Prophet’s Sira
• Revolutionary Struggle in the Prophet’s Sira
• Qur’an on the Characteristics of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him)