Translated by: Amanat Ali Chaudhary

Minhaj-ul-Quran Ulama Council hosted a prestigious Sayyidna Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA) Conference on July 10, 2008 in the Central Secretariat of MQI. Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri presided over the conference, while Shaykh-ul-Hadith Anwar-ul-Uloom Multan, Arshad Saeed Kazami, was the guest of honour. President Supreme Council of MQI Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri and member of the Supreme Council Sahibzada Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri and Sahibzada Hammad Mustafa Qadri also participated in the conference.

Among the prominent guests who were present during the scholarly moot included Amir-e-Tehreek Miskin Faiz-ur-Rahman Durrani, Nazim-e-Ala Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Naib Ameer Pir Sayyid Khalil-ur-Rahman Chishti, Naib Nazim e Aala Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, Nazim-e-Ala Jamia Naeemia lil-Bnat Allama Dr Muhammad Arif Naeemi, patron-in-chief of Dar-ul-Ikhlaas Lahore Allama Shahzad Mujadadi, secretary general of Tehreek-e-Ulama Pakistan Allama Ali Ghazanfer Kararvi, Shaykh-ul-Hadith Allama Muhammad Miraj-ul-Islam, Mufti Abdul Qayyum Hazarvi, Prof Muhammad Nawaz Zafar, G.M. Malik, Rana Muhammad Idrees Qadri, Ahmad Nawaz Anjum, Sayyid Farhat Hussain Shah, Allama Imdadullah Khan Qadri, Allama Mir Muhammad Asif Akbar, Allama Muhammad Hussain Azad and a large number of local Ulama. A large number of women from Minhaj ul Quran Women League also participated.

The conference got under way from the recitation of the Holy Book by Sahibzada Hammad Mustafa Qadri Al-Madni followed by Naat. Sayyid Farhat Hussain Shah conducted the proceedings of the programme.

In his keynote speech to the audience, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that Allah Almighty Himself made mention of Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA) being the companion of the Holy Prophet (saw) in the Holy Quran. The rejection of his companionship with the Prophet (saw) is disbelief, for it amounts to the rejection of the Quranic text. He said Sayyidna Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA) is the only holy companion who got the title of "Sani Asnain" (second of the two). Throwing light on the status of Siddiq-e-Akbar's (RA) companionship, Shaykh-ul-Islam said that fifteen verses of the Glorious Quran describe his position, station, status and Allah's mercy and blessings on him.

Quoting various exegesis of religious scholars, Shaykh-ul-Islam said that only Sayyidna Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA) stayed with the Holy Prophet (saw) in the Cave. Once people asked Huzrat Umer-e-Farooq (RA) about the status of Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA), he replied, "I (Umer) say that one night of Sayyidna Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA) that he spent in cave is superior to whole of my life." Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said in his address that Sayyidna Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA) was always ahead of others with regard to his love, respect, loyalty and companionship for the Holy Prophet (saw).

Allama Mufti Arshad Saeed Kazami said in his speech that the status and station of Sayyidna Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA) was quite high. He was such a person that did not hesitate even a bit in believing the Holy Prophet (saw). He stayed with the Prophet (saw) at every juncture of his life and enjoyed his blessed company. He further said in his talk that it is reported in the Hadiths that wherever man is buried, he is raised up from the same place. The Holy Prophet (saw), Sayyidna Siddiq-e-Akbar (RA) and Sayyidna Umer Farooq (saw) are buried at the same place.

Those who spoke at the occasion included Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Sahibzada Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Sahibzada Faiz-ur-Rahman Durrani, Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Sayyid Ali Ghazanfer Kararvi, Pir Khalil-ur-Rahman Chishti and Allama Farhat Hussain Shah.