National training workshops were held across the UK with the aim of equipping our volunteers with the knowledge and understanding to successfully and effectively deliver for Minhaj-ul-Quran International’s lofty objectives of peace, interfaith dialogue and harmony.

The following training workshops were held:

26th March 2016: Midlands
2nd April 2016: South
13th April 2016: London
16th April 2016: North

The training workshops consisted of:

1. Tajweed Assessment

Due to the importance of the correct recitation of the Quran and the importance that this holds within our work, MWL- UK has been delivering online and face to face Tajweed lessons for the sisters. These lessons have been delivered initially by Hafiz Zeeshan (London) in a face to face session within each zone, followed by Sister Nusrat Mehmood who continued with these classes online via Skype.

During the training workshop President of South Zone and Mubalighat coordinator, Sister Nusrat Mehmood took a one to one assessment of each sister who attended on their pronunciation, origin, mutazaat and sifaat of the Arabic alphabet. Sisters are to be commended on the progress in their tajweed which was evident during these assessments.

The session was ended by Sister Nusrat Mehmood training the sisters on how they can now teach these lessons to other sisters in their local areas.

2. Talimaat-e-Islam

Information Secretary Asma Murtaza, ex-Dawah secretary Noshaza Hussain and current Dawah secretary Lubna Hashmi, used the ‘Imaan’ book from the series of ‘Talimaat e islam’ books written by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Mohammed Tahir-ul-Qadri as the basis of this session.

All sisters had been independently studying this book since November. During the workshop all sisters were tested on their understanding of this book through a verbal question and answer interaction.

Due to the importance of the messages given by Shaykh-ul-Islam within all of their literature, sisters were again provided with training on how to highlight the messages of these books to the public. The key message given was to first build a link with this literature ourselves so that we can deeply understand the content of love and peace.

Within this session, sisters were also provided with training on the correct technique, method and etiquette in delivering ‘halqaat’ within their local areas. Interactive demonstrations were used to guide the sisters on the method of performing dhikr and muraqaba.

3. Minhaj-ul-Quran ideology and objectives

In order for us to effectively promote Minhaj-ul-Quran to the general public, it is essential that we first have a deep understanding of this organisation ourselves. For this reason, based upon the demand and request of our workers, a session on the aims, objectives and ideology of Minhaj-ul-Quran International was included within each training workshop.

President MWL-UK Sister Fatima Mash’hadi begun this session with the following three questions:

1. What is Minhaj-ul-Quran?
2. What are the aims and objectives of MQI?
3. What is the ideology of MQI?

All sisters had to independently provide written answers to these questions on the hand-out provided. After studying these answers and using these as a foundation, Sister Fatima Mash’hadi delivered a powerful talk answering these questions.

The following Quranic verse was used as the foundation to deliver the key message of the aims and objectives of Minhaj-ul-Quran:

‘Likewise, We have sent you (Our) Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) from amongst yourselves who recites to you Our Revelations and purifies and sanctifies (your hearts and ill-commanding selves) and teaches you the Book and inculcates in you logic and wisdom and enlightens you (on the mysteries of spiritual gnosis and divine truth) which you did not know.’

Surah Baqarah verse 151.

The session was highly informative and beneficial and provided all sisters with a fresh motivation and confidence to easily propagate this message to the public.

4. Team building

General Secretary Sister Mussarat Hussain delivered an interactive session highlighting the key skill of communication required for effective team work. Sisters took part in a team activity in which nonverbal communication had to be used to guide a team of blindfolded individuals around a room to collect and deliver a number of objects. Sisters were given time to come up with a strategy prior to this activity. Through this, sisters were actively able to understand the importance of planning, preparation and communication if we are to effectively work as a team for the purpose of Minhaj-ul-Quran. This was emphasised within an interactive discussion at the end of the activity.

All training workshops ended with a concluding message and dua by Sister Fatima Mash’hadi. The training workshops provided all those who attended with a number of key skills and messages which they can now implement within their local work.