Hamilton, Ontario (Canada): The third and final day of Al-Hidayah Canada 2026, the first-ever three-day residential spiritual and educational camp of its kind in North America, held at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, concluded with the final keynote lecture by His Eminence Shaykh-ul-Islam Prof. Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.

At the outset of his address, Shaykh-ul-Islam congratulated the organisers, volunteers, scholars, and hundreds of young participants whose dedication made Al-Hidayah Canada 2026 a remarkable success. He especially appreciated the leadership of the organising team and prayed that Allah Almighty accepts their sincere efforts and enables them to continue serving Islam and humanity.

The concluding lecture brought together the central themes of the three-day keynote series, which explored the spiritual and moral journey from humanity to depravity and the path back to Divine proximity. Revisiting the concepts discussed over the previous sessions, Shaykh-ul-Islam explained that the decline of human beings begins with ghaflah (heedlessness), progresses towards shahawāt (base desires), and ultimately leads to moral depravity if left untreated. He stressed that restoring spiritual consciousness requires sincere tawbah, self-accountability, and a conscious return to Allah Almighty.

Explaining the stages of moral decline, Shaykh-ul-Islam distinguished between uncontrolled physical desires and aggressive, destructive traits that overpower reason, morality, and spiritual awareness. He emphasised that worldly pleasures are not condemned in Islam; rather, the danger lies in allowing love of wealth, status, fame, and material success to become the ultimate purpose of life, replacing the pursuit of Allah's pleasure and eternal success.

Addressing the youth in particular, Shaykh-ul-Islam highlighted the profound influence of ṣuḥbah (companionship) on human personality. Drawing upon both Qur'anic teachings and modern neuroscience, he explained how continuous exposure to environments, friendships, social groups, and digital influences gradually shapes beliefs, behaviour, habits, and character through observation, imitation, emotional influence, and social conformity.

He cited the Qur'anic command to remain steadfast in the company of those who remember Allah Almighty and warned that distancing oneself from righteous companionship inevitably strengthens attachment to worldly attractions. Quoting the Qur'an, he reminded participants that only friendships founded upon taqwā (God-consciousness) will benefit a person on the Day of Judgement, while harmful companionship ultimately becomes a source of regret.

Shaykh-ul-Islam devoted a significant portion of his lecture to the reality of tawbah (repentance), explaining that genuine repentance extends far beyond verbal expressions of forgiveness. True repentance, he explained, requires heartfelt remorse, immediate abandonment of sin, a firm resolve never to return to it, fulfilling neglected obligations, restoring the rights of others, avoiding sinful environments, and remaining in the company of the righteous.

He further explained that sincere repentance awakens the heart, restores spiritual awareness, and enables believers to experience the sweetness of faith, delight in worship, and closeness to Allah Almighty. Comparing the human heart to a spiritual receiver, he illustrated how believers must continually protect it through remembrance of Allah, righteous companionship, vigilance against arrogance, ostentation, self-admiration, and other diseases of the soul.

To illustrate the transformative power of sincere repentance, Shaykh-ul-Islam narrated the moving account of Sayyidunā Thaʿlabah ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Anṣārī (RA), whose profound remorse over a single moment of error led him to complete repentance, overwhelming fear of Allah Almighty, and ultimately Divine forgiveness. He described the incident as one of the finest examples of genuine awakening, love of Allah, and spiritual sincerity.

Concluding his address, Shaykh-ul-Islam urged participants—particularly the younger generation—to cultivate an intense love for Allah Almighty, remain steadfast in the company of the righteous, constantly evaluate the condition of their hearts, and guard themselves against heedlessness. He reminded them that true success lies not in worldly achievements but in preserving faith, strengthening one's relationship with Allah, and striving continuously for moral and spiritual excellence.

The final keynote lecture brought the three-day Al-Hidayah Canada 2026 programme to a deeply reflective and inspiring conclusion, leaving participants with a comprehensive roadmap for spiritual purification, sincere repentance, righteous companionship, and lifelong commitment to the Qur'an and the Prophetic way.

Accompanying His Eminence Shaykh-ul-Islam were Prof Dr Hassan Mohiuddin Qadri (Chairman Supreme Council, MQI), Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Madani al-Qadri, Shaykh Ahmad Mustafa al-Arabi al-Qadri, Dr Faisal Iqbal Khan, Syed Shahzad Ali Faizi, Syed Saad Ali Faizi, Syed Soban Ali Faizi, Dr Ghazala Qadri (President of Minhaj-ul-Quran Women League International), Baji Khadija Qurat-ul-Ain Qadri, and Mrs Safa Hammad Qadri, each exemplifying leadership in the pursuit of authentic, scholarly Islam.

The event also saw the presence of distinguished guests Azhar Aziz (CEO ISNA), Shaykh Hamid Slimi (Sayeda Khadija Centre), Shaykh Ramzy Ajem (Masjid Vaughan), Shaykh Ali ElSayed (Know Your Prophet Centre), Syed Sabihuddin Rehmani, along with other participants from North America.