Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, born on February nineteenth, nineteen fifty-one, in Jhang, West Punjab, is a distinguished Pakistani–Canadian Islamic scholar, politician, translator, and writer. He is best known as the founder and chief patron of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, an organization he established in nineteen eighty, which has played a pivotal role in promoting Islamic teachings and interfaith dialogue.

Qadri's academic journey is marked by extensive studies in classical Islamic sciences under various scholars across the Muslim world, earning him over five hundred ijazas and isnads in diverse fields of Islamic knowledge. After completing his education at the University of the Punjab, he took on the role of a professor of international constitutional law, showcasing his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence. His legal acumen led to his appointment as a jurist consult on sharia law for both the Supreme Court and the Federal Shariat Court.

In addition to his contributions to education and law, Qadri founded Minhaj University Lahore in nineteen eighty-six and the Minhaj Welfare Foundation in nineteen eighty-nine. That same year, he established the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) political party, successfully contesting the nineteen ninety Pakistani general election and serving as a Member of the National Assembly until two thousand four, when he resigned in protest against the policies of President Pervez Musharraf.

After facing conflicts with the political establishment, Qadri relocated to Canada in two thousand five, where he shifted his focus back to religious teachings. He returned to Pakistan in two thousand twelve, leading significant protests against Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and his successor Nawaz Sharif. In two thousand nineteen, he announced his retirement from politics due to health concerns and academic commitments, yet he continues to deliver religious lectures in Canada.

A prolific author, Qadri has penned over one thousand books in Urdu, Arabic, and English, and has delivered more than six thousand lectures. His influence is recognized globally, having been featured in every edition of The 500 Most Influential Muslims since its inception in two thousand nine. In two thousand twelve, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts against extremism and his promotion of interfaith dialogue.