Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
محمد طاہر القادری‬
Religion Islam
Denomination Sunni
Order Qadiriya Sufism
Alma mater University of the Punjab
Personal
Nationality Pakistani
Born Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
(1951-02-19) 19 February 1951
Jhang, Pakistan
Religious career
Website drtahirulqadri.com

Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri (Urdu: محمد طاہر القادری‬‎‎; born 19 February 1951) is a Pakistani-Canadian politician and Sunni Islamic scholar[1]. He was also a professor of international constitutional law at the University of the Punjab.[2] Qadri is also the founding chairman of Minhaj-ul-Quran International and also of Minhaj Institute of Qira'at and Tafizul Quran. Qadri has delivered more than 8000 lectures on various topics including radicalism.[3][4][5]

Early Years

Qadri was born on 19 February 1951 in the Jhang district of Pakistan.[6][7][8] He received both an Islamic and secular education from his father and other scholars in Pakistan and abroad including Tahir Allauddin Al-Qadri Al-Gillani.[8] From the age of 12 he obtained a formal classical Islamic education at the Madrasa al-'Ulum ash-Shariyya in Madinah.[8] He also received a First Class degree, an MA in Islamic Studies and a PhD in Islamic Law from the University of Punjab where he worked as a lecturer and then as Professor of Law.[8]

Political career

Qadri was elected as a Member of the National Assembly for his constituency. On 29 November 2004, Qadri announced his resignation as a Member of the National Assembly protesting the counterterrorism policies of the then President Pervez Musharraf.[9] In 2005 he moved to Canada.[10]

Long March 2012

In December 2012, after living for seven years in Toronto, Canada, Qadri returned to Pakistan and initiated a political campaign. Qadri called for a "million-men" march in Islamabad to protest against the government's corruption.[11] On 14 January 2013, a crowd marched down the city's main avenue. Thousands of people pledged to sit-in until their demands were met.[12] When he started the long march from Lahore about 25,000 people were with him.[13] He told the rally in front of parliament: "There is no Parliament; there is a group of looters, thieves and dacoits [bandits] ... Our lawmakers are the lawbreakers."[14] After four days of sit-in, the Government and Qadri signed an agreement called the Islamabad Long March Declaration, which promised electoral reforms and increased political transparency.[15] Although Qadri called for a "million-men" march, the estimated total present for the sit-in in Islamabad was 50,000 according to the government.[13]

Critics have charged that the protests were a ploy by the Pakistan Armed Forces to delay elections and weaken the influence of the civilian government, citing Qadri's close ties to the military, dual nationality and suspect foreign and Pakistani sources of funding.[16][17] Lawyers for the Supreme Court of Pakistan claimed that Qadri's demands are unfeasible because they conflict with the Constitution of Pakistan.[18] The Tribune reported on 17 February 2013, that Qadri seemed to have capitulated on most of his demands in the Islamabad Long March Declaration.[19]

Long March 2014

On 17 June 2014, a violent clash occurred between the Punjab Police and PAT activists resulting in the deaths of several protesters from police gunfire.[20][21]

As of the end of September 2014, the Inqilab March began, with sit-in protests with allied partner Imran Khan, chairman and founder of Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and organiser of 2014 Azadi March, in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad.[22]

Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri did not fully join their protest marches nor decline to support each other.[23] On 10 August 2014, Qadri formally announced that his party's political march, the Inqilab March, would proceed parallel with PTI's Azadi march. Both marches were organised to take different routes, albeit closely mirroring each other. It is apparent that the two parties have similar objectives yet different aims and strategies. The announcement of two parallel marches by parties in opposition gave rise to speculation that a coalition between PTI and PAT was possible. The chiefs of the two parties never clearly stipulated a formal coalition; but an informal agreement to support each other was achieved[24][25]

On 21 August 2014, Qadri said that the government had not been allowing his workers to supply food items and potable water to the participants of the sit-in.[26]

The Daily Dawn of 31 August 2014 claimed that hundreds of people were injured in the federal capital as police battled throngs of protesters led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek.[27]

It was reported that Tahir-ul-Qadri led the Eid prayer at Islamabad's D-Chowk. The congregation was attended by Imran Khan and other political leaders, including Raja Nasir Abbas Jafary of MWM. Animal sacrifies were also offered in the name of Allah following the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail.[28][29][30]

Founding of Minhaj-ul-Quran

Qadri at the Peace for Humanity Conference, 24 September 2011

In 1987, the headquarters of Minhaj-ul-Quran, based in Lahore, Pakistan, was inaugurated by the Sufi saint Tahir Allauddin, who is regarded as the organisation's spiritual founder.

The organisation claims to promote religious moderation, effective and sound education, inter-faith dialogue and harmony, and a moderate interpretation of Islam supposedly employing methods of Sufism. During its March 2011 session, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted special consultative status to Minhaj-ul-Quran International,[31] Qadri also founded the Minhaj University in Lahore, of which he heads the Board of Governors, as well as an international relief charity, Minhaj Welfare Foundation.

Events

Anti-Terrorism Camp

In August 2010 Qadri held an anti-terrorism camp for Muslim youth at the University of Warwick with the aim of tackling extremism in the UK.[32] He organised the camp under the auspices of Minhaj-ul-Quran UK.[33]

Lahore Public Gathering 2014

Seven days after the Faisalabad Gathering, Qadri made a public gathering in Lahore on 19 October 2014.[34]

Lahore Clash 2014

The 2014 Lahore clash,[35][36] more commonly known as the Model Town tragedy or the Lahore massacre (Urdu: سانحہ ماڈل ٹاؤن‎),[37] or simply the Lahore incident, was a violent clash that ensued between the Punjab Police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek activists on 17 June 2014 resulting in several protesters being killed by the police gunfire. Five police officers remain under arrest.[38] The standoff lasted for almost 11 hours when the police′s anti-encroachment squad launched an operation to remove the barriers from the road leading to the offices of Minhaj-ul-Quran and the residence of PAT founder Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri in Model Town, Lahore. Although, Police officials were given a court order by PAT leaders, stating "due to terrorism issue place security barriers in front of Minhaj-ul-Quran and the residence of PAT founder Qadri. But police still attacked.

The incident was broadcast live on various local news channels[39] and there were conflicting accounts of how the standoff began.[40] Police claimed that they were attacked by people inside the PAT secretariat, a claim that is denied by party chief Qadri. In the live footage broadcast on television, the policemen were shown firing assault rifles and lobbing tear gas canisters at the protesting masses while the protesters threw stones at the police for defence.[40]

Qadri strongly condemned the attack and called it the worst form of state terrorism. Qadri vowed to avenge the deaths of his political workers by bringing about a revolution that would hasten the end of the rule of prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif.[41][42]

The Day of Martyrs

Qadri and his party observed Youm-e-Shuhada (Day of Martyrs) at 9 August 2014 in Tehreek-e-Minhaj ul Quran secretariat in Model Town.[43] A Country-Wide clash occurred between Police and the Workers of PAT. After the gathering of People, He assured his supporters and the government that the rally on 10 August would be peaceful while requesting his followers to bring their prayer mats for recitation of the Quran.[44]

Other Events

He has been invited to deliver his lectures by several organisations.[45][46][47]

In July 2011, he gave a lecture on the issues of terrorism and integration at the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia where he was invited by the member of the NSW Legislative Council, Shaoquett Moselmane MLC.[48] Qadri also made appearances on Australian media, where he discussed Islam, terrorism and possible troop withdrawals from Afghanistan. On 24 September 2011, Minhaj-ul-Quran convened the "Peace for Humanity Conference" at Wembley Arena in London where Tahir-ul-Qadri and the assembled speakers issued a declaration of peace on behalf of religious representatives of several faiths, scholars, politicians, and 12,000 participants present from various countries. This conference was endorsed by, or received supportive messages from, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, Ban Ki-Moon (Secretary General of the United Nations), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), David Cameron (British Prime Minister), Nick Clegg (British Deputy Prime Minister), Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury) and others. On 30 November 2011, Qadri delivered a lecture at the "Peaceful Future of Afghanistan" conference in Istanbul, Turkey which was organised by the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution of George Mason University together with Marmara University and was attended by more than 120 Afghan leaders.

On 22 February 2012, Qadri visited Delhi for a four-week tour of India.[49][50][51] Qadri delivered a message of peace and said: "Terrorism has no place in Islam", while addressing the fatwa book launch in Delhi.[52] People gathered to listen to Qadri along with government officials in Gujarat.[51][53] Qadri also urged the Pakistani and Indian governments to reduce their defence expenditures and instead spend money on the welfare of poor people.[54] He also visited Ajmer, where he was given a large reception, at which he gave a lecture on Sufism.[55] On 4 January 2015, he declared terrorism as biggest problem of the world.[56]

Fatwa on Terrorism

The Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings is a 600-page (Urdu version), 512-page (English version) is an Islamic decree by Qadri which demonstrates from the Quran and Sunnah that terrorism and suicide bombings are unjust and evil, and thus un-Islamic. It was published in London as a book.[57] This fatwa is a direct refutation of the ideology of al-Qaeda and the Taliban. It is one of the most extensive Islamic anti-terrorism rulings, an "absolute" condemnation of terrorism without "any excuses or pretexts" which goes further than ever and declares that terrorism is kufr under Islamic law.[58] The launch was organised by Minhaj-ul-Quran UK. Qadri said during the launch that "Terrorism is terrorism, violence is violence and it has no place in Islamic teaching and no justification can be provided for it, or any kind of excuses or ifs or buts."

The fatwa received widespread media attention and was positively covered by the international press.[59]

According to CNN, experts see the fatwa as a significant blow to terrorist recruiting.[60] CNN's Amanpour show added the fatwa summary to its website and declared it to be fatwa for peace,[61] while the US State Department declares the fatwa to be significant step in taking Islam back from terrorists.[62]

Before it had been released, Douglas Murray described the Fatwa on Terrorism, in an article in the Evening Standard, as "potentially important", although he said "A single-fatwa will not change the level of denial and self criticism inherent in so much of modern Islam".[63]

ITV news channel questioned the credibility of the fatwa and asks if it was not by the British government because senior counter-terrorism officials from Scotland Yard and MI5 were present at the launch.[64]

The 512-page English book version of the fatwa, Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings, (London: Minhaj-ul-Quran, 2011. ISBN 978-0-9551888-9-3) has a foreword by John Esposito and an introduction by Joel Hayward, both of whom share Qadri's scholarly assessment that, regardless of any intention, the evil of terrorism remains evil and must be exposed, opposed and condemned.

The Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings has been officially endorsed by Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. In January 2011, the fatwa was discussed at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011.[65] In June 2011, Pope Benedict XVI received a copy of the fatwa from representatives of Minhaj Interfaith Relations. The Pope reportedly appreciated that it promoted peace, harmony and interfaith dialogue.[66]

The Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings has been reviewed positively by international scholars including Kemal Argon who published a review in the Journal of Rotterdam Islamic and Social Sciences, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2011, pp. 149–160. Islamic University of Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Views

According to one newspaper pundit, the legal-theological opinion by Qadri in his fatwa on terrorism creates an impression that there is a consensus in Islam on the Khariji, which did not exist in Muhammad's time but came about later during the reign of the Fourth Caliph Ali and challenged his authority.[67][68]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Raza Academy just a protest dukaan: Cleric - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "PUNISHMENTS IN ISLAM THEIR CLASSIFICATION & PHILOSOPHY – Pakistan Research Repository". Eprints.hec.gov.pk. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "USIP official site".
  4. ↑ "Young Muslims attend anti-terror camp at Keele University". BBC News. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  5. ↑ Clarke, Matthew; Halafoff, Anna (25 August 2016). Religion and Development in the Asia-Pacific: Sacred Places as Development Spaces. Taylor & Francis. p. 49. ISBN 9781317647454.
  6. ↑ Nielsen, Jørgen S. (2012). Islam in Denmark: The Challenge of Diversity. Lexington Books. p. 23. ISBN 9780739150924.
  7. ↑ "Minhaj.org". www.minhaj.org. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Clarke, Matthew; Halafoff, Anna (25 August 2016). Religion and Development in the Asia-Pacific: Sacred Places as Development Spaces. Taylor & Francis. p. 50. ISBN 9781317647454.
  9. ↑ Qadri sends 41-page resignation to speaker Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Tahir ul-Qadri: A political 'enigma' aljazeera.com
  11. ↑ "Pakistani city prepares for cleric's march". 3 News NZ. 14 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Long march: Walking in the name of 'revolution'". 15 January 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Pakistanis protest 'corrupt' government". 3 News NZ. 15 January 2013.
  14. ↑ Declan Walsh (15 January 2013). "Internal Forces Besiege Pakistan Ahead of Voting". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  15. ↑ Anita Joshua. "Qadri's picketing ends with 'Long March Declaration'". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  16. ↑ Arab News, "Pak crisis deepends: PM arrest ordered as rally shakes capital," front page, Vol. XXXVIII, #45. Wednesday, 16 January 2013
  17. ↑ Rodriguez, Alex (14 January 2013). "Pakistan 'Long March' protest draws tens of thousands to capital". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "'Long march' show not in millions, but not a flop". The News International. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  19. ↑ Abdul Manan. "Two steps back: Qadri capitulates on earlier demands". Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  20. ↑ "Pakistan: Eight die as Lahore police clash with Qadri supporters". BBC News.
  21. ↑ "7 Killed as Pakistan Police Clash With Preacher's Followers". The New York Times. 18 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "'Revolution March' to Begin on August 14: Tahirul Qadri", The News International, 10 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "Inqilab, Azadi march will go together on Aug 14: Qadri". dunyanews.tv.
  24. ↑ "I meant people should kill me, Imran Khan if retracted from mission: Qadri". dunyanews.tv.
  25. ↑ Amjad Mahmood. "Qadri to march side by side with Imran".
  26. ↑ "The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News".
  27. ↑ "Battleground Islamabad: Imran vows to advance as clashes continue".
  28. ↑ "Tahir Blasts Tahir". The Nation's Staff reporter. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  29. ↑ "Khan, Qadri offer Eid prayer at D-Chowk". Samaa.tv. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  30. ↑ retrieved: 12 October 2014
  31. ↑ "Report of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations on its 2011 regular session" (PDF). Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  32. ↑ Casciani, Dominic (8 August 2010). "Muslim summer camp preaches 'anti-terror' message". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  33. ↑ Casciani, Dominic (7 August 2010). "Muslim group Minhaj ul-Quran runs 'anti-terrorism' camp". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  34. ↑ "Dunya News Videos".
  35. ↑ Tanveer, Rana (20 June 2014). "Lahore clashes: Will accept only JIT with ISI, IB, MI reps, says Qadri". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  36. ↑ "Pakistan: Eight die as Seikh amir saleem and others clash with Qadri supporters". BBC News. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  37. ↑ Tanveer, Rana; Manan, Abdul (21 June 2014). "The axe falls: Heads finally roll over Model Town tragedy". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  38. ↑ Gillani, Waqar (17 June 2014). "7 Killed as Pakistan Police Clash With Preacher's Followers". New York Times. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  39. ↑ "PPP, MQM resolutions condemn Lahore killings". The News International. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  40. 1 2 Nauman, Qasim (17 June 2014). "Pakistan Police Clash With Supporters of Canada-Based Cleric". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  41. ↑ "State Terrorism will not be tolerated: Qadri". The News International. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  42. ↑ "Qadri vows to take revenge by revolution". The Nation. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  43. ↑ "PAT set to observe Youm-e-Shuhada today".
  44. ↑ "Youme Shuhada, Pakistan Today".
  45. ↑ "Tahir-ul-Qadri to deliver speech at 2010 Global Peace and Unity event". Presstv.ir. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  46. ↑ "Associated Press of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) – Muslims urged to stand up against terrorism". App.com.pk. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  47. ↑ "Tahir-ul-Qadri's Struggle Against Radicalism in Islam". Usip.org. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  48. ↑ "Full Day Hansard Transcript (Legislative Council, 5 August 2011, Corrected Copy)". Parliament.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  49. ↑ Coming: Pak Islamic scholar who pulls no punches against terror Archived 3 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  50. ↑ "Qadri given honour in India". Nation.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  51. 1 2 "Pakistani scholar thanks Modi for security". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  52. ↑ "Terrorism has no place in Islam: Sufi scholar". Indianexpress.com. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  53. ↑ Pak scholar debunks Islamic stereotypes Archived 13 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  54. ↑ "Stay away from communal clashes in future: Pak Islamic scholar". Ibnlive.in.com. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  55. ↑ "Pak scholar to speak on Sufism in dargah". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  56. ↑ Samaa TV (4 January 2015). "Tahirul Qadri terms terrorism as biggest problem". Samaa TV.
  57. ↑ Influential Pakistani cleric based in GTA
  58. ↑ "Sheikh issues fatwa against all terrorists". The Independent. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  59. ↑ "Tahir ul-Qadri and the difficulty of reporting on fatwas". Reuters. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  60. ↑ "Some experts see fatwa as significant blow to terrorist recruiting". Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  61. ↑ "Fatwa for Peace". Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  62. ↑ "Muslim leader's edict decries terrorism – Washington Times". The Washingtion Times. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  63. ↑ "Is this a triumph for the Islamic peacemakers?". The Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  64. ↑ Fatwa condemns terror Archived 6 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  65. ↑ "The Reality of Terrorism". The Reality of Terrorism – World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  66. ↑ Minhaj man meets Pope
  67. ↑ "a-closer-look-at-tahirul-qadris-thesis".
  68. ↑ "Tahir-ul-Qadri's Vision for a Democratic Pakistan, CNN News".

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