On Sunday 7 June 2026, thousands of attendees from every part of the United Kingdom gathered in Sheffield for the annual Prophetic Sirah Conference organised by Minhaj-ul-Quran International UK. It was, by every measure, one of the largest MQI UK national gatherings in recent years, and a moment that captured the depth of the British community's connection to the Sirah of the Prophet ﷺ.
His Eminence Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri delivered the keynote address, accompanied by Shaykh Hammad Mustafa al-Madani al-Qadri and senior leadership of the UK movement. The programme drew delegations from all nine MQI UK centres, from the four national forums (MMG, MSF, Minhaj Sisters, MWL), and from partner organisations across the country.
Shaykh-ul-Islam's address centred on the timeless relevance of the Prophetic example: mercy as a policy, knowledge as a discipline, moral courage as a public virtue. He urged attendees to bring the light of the Sirah into their homes, their workplaces, their neighbourhoods, and their engagement with the wider British public.
The conference was notable for its scale, its calm, and the diversity of its attendees. Families arrived from Crawley in the south to Dundee in Scotland, alongside significant contingents from Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, Nelson, Glasgow, Walsall, and London. Volunteers from every centre played their part in logistics, hospitality, and stewarding.
For many present, the highlight was the closing dua. The stadium fell silent as Shaykh-ul-Islam raised his hands in supplication, followed by thousands of attendees, in a moment of collective devotion that will be remembered for years to come.
The Sheffield Prophetic Sirah Conference sets the tone for the rest of the 2026 UK programme. Preparations are already under way for the season ahead, including the Al-Tazkiya Sisters Retreat, the Al-Rihla brothers journey, and the continuation of the Al-Ma'rifa Institute course.