Shaykh-ul-Islam's first European visit: International Islamic Conference Oslo, Norway

In July 1984, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri was invited to attend and deliver a talk at the International Islamic Conference in Oslo, Norway. The talk subject was to be: ‘Islam and Christianity, A Comparative Study’.

The conference was organised by Allama Mushtaq Ahmad Chishti a prominent scholar well known for his previous work in the UK and more recently in Norway. The three day conference included talks and contributions from many senior scholars of the UK and Europe as well as prominent guests from Pakistan and Egypt. Apart from Shaykh-ul-Islam, other prominent guests and speakers included Pir Syed Barkat Ahmad Shah (Jalalpur Shareef, Pakistan), Dr Zaki Badawi (Egypt/London), Pir Syed Abdul Qadir Jillani (London), Allama Badr al-Qadri (Holland), Allama Mohammed Siddique Multani (Pakistan), Allama Ahmad Nisar Beg Qadri (Manchester), Allama Qamar-uz-Zaman Azmi (Manchester) and more.

Shaykh-ul-Islam delivered a detailed lecture lasting just under two hours, which kept the packed auditorium audience engaged with facts and a detailed comparative analysis of Islam and Christianity.

As Minhaj-ul-Qur’an was not yet established organisationally in Europe, footage of this visit and event is limited.

The original video recording is available and referenced VC-03 including highlights from the conference and Shaykh-ul-Islam’s full speech. Following conversion to electronic format, the speech is available under reference N-03.

Some photographs and clips from the stage are added on the following pages with captions.

Report: Asif Habib Malik (UK)

[Left to Right] Event host Allama Mushtaq Ahmad Chishti, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Presiding guest Pir Syed Barkat Ahmad Shah Chishti (Jalalpur Sharif), Shaykh Dr Zaki Badawi KBE (Director London Central Mosque, Regents Park).

[Left to Right] Event host Allama Mushtaq Ahmad Chishti, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Presiding guest Pir Syed Barkat Ahmad Shah Chishti (Jalalpur Sharif), Shaykh Dr Zaki Badawi KBE (Director London Central Mosque, Regents Park).

Conclusion of day two:

Day three final sessions: [Left to Right] Pir Syed Barkat Ahmad Shah Chishti (Jalalpur Sharif), Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Allama Mushtaq Ahmad Chishti, Pir Syed Muneer Hussain Shah (Pakistan), Mufakkir-e-Islam Pir Syed Abdul Qadir Shah Jilani (Walthamstow, London).