SPECIAL EVENT IN MEMORY OF ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI Last month, Mr. Hassan Ilyas, Director of Research and Communication at the Ghamidi Center, was invited by Urdu Ghar in Dallas to deliver a talk on the life and intellectual legacy of Allama Shibli Nomani. The event saw significant attendance. Mr. Ilyas discussed Shibli’s contributions to religion, literature, and education, providing an introduction to the Shibli School and its religious and scholarly influence. He also responded to questions from the audience on various academic and intellectual matters. A full recording is available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
HOW SHOULD IJTIHAD BE PRACTISED? The ongoing video series by the Ghamidi Center titled 23 Objections included sessions in July 2025 on the subject of Ijtihad. In these sessions, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi presented the foundational principles of Ijtihad, drawing from key points in his essay Usul al-Fiqh. He emphasized that all juristic reasoning in religious matters must be oriented toward the core objective of Islam: tazkiyah (purification). He elaborated the intellectual, rational, and conceptual underpinnings of his framework of Ijtihad. These discussions are available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
ASK GHAMIDI In the Ghamidi Center’s monthly online Q&A session Ask Ghamidi, key questions raised in July 2025 included, “Do spouses have equal authority within the family?”, “How can one distinguish between supererogatory worship and religious innovation (bidʿah)?”, “To what extent can Sufism be embraced within the limits of Shari‘ah?”, “Is the aim of Sufism to attain gnosis (maʿrifah) of God?”, “Has Paradise already been created, or is it yet to be created?”, and “Are there any eyewitness accounts of the Karbala incident in history?” Recordings of these sessions are accessible on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
GOD’S COMMAND REGARDING BEAUTIFICATION In this essay, Syed Manzoor ul Hassan, referencing the Quran and hadith, explains that adornments (Zeenah) are divine blessings and using them is not contradictory to faith but a cause for gratitude. Drawing on [Quran, 7:32], he argues that beautification is created for God’s servants, and abstaining from it is a product of erroneous or mystical ideologies—not Islamic thought. Paradise itself will be the epitome of beauty, pleasure, and delight. The essay’s core message is that Islam is not a religion of world-renunciation but of enjoying worldly blessings within the bounds of Shari‘ah. The article was published in the July 2025 issue of Ishraq US.
WEEKLY LESSONS ON QURAN AND HADITH In July 2025, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi delivered live lessons under the auspices of the Ghamidi Center. His Quranic discourse covered verses [21:45–86]. In the hadith sessions, he focused on sayings relating to what contradicts Iman and Islam, including themes such as ‘the sin of disobedience to one’s father’, ‘the sin of instigating a wife against her husband’, ‘the impermissibility of using silk and silver and adopting a haughty appearance’, and ‘the prohibition of fraud in trade.’ All these sessions are archived on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
SUNDAY SCHOOL – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN The Sunday School, run by the Ghamidi Center for the past nine years, aims to nurture foundational Islamic values in students through the lens of the Quran and Sunnah. Its faculty consists of university students affiliated with al-Mawrid and the Ghamidi Center. It is supervised by Mr. Farhan Syed and Mr. Atif Sajid under the educational committee of al-Mawrid America. Registration has now begun. Classes will be held every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM (US Central Time) and 9:00 PM (Pakistan Time), starting from August 16, 2025. Interested participants may register at: https://www.ghamidi.org/sunday-school-2025/
A NATION STANDING AMID THE RUINS OF HISTORY In this reflective and civilizational essay, Mr. Muhammad Hassan Ilyas examines the current condition of the Muslim ummah in light of its past grandeur and present decline. He argues that the post–World War II world order, despite professing human rights and justice, ultimately succumbed to the dynamics of power, interest, and dominance. The political independence and new states granted to Muslims were divine opportunities—not achievements born of wisdom or strategy. Tragically, these opportunities were squandered through self- deception, emotional leadership, and sectarian conflict. The article is featured in the July 2025 issue of Ishraq US.
TAFHEEM AL-ATHAR SERIES In the Tafheem al-Athar series held in July 2025 under the Ghamidi Center, important topics discussed included ‘prophecies related to the transition from Caliphate to monarchy’, ‘characteristics of the Khilafah ʿala minhaj al-nubuwwah’, and ‘Shari‘ah principles for engaging with those in authority. These sessions are available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
NEW ISSUE OF QUARTERLY SALIHAAT The latest edition of the women’s journal Salihaat—dedicated to scholarly, literary, and informative content—is now published in both PDF and audio formats. This issue features a diverse collection of insightful and thought-provoking pieces. It includes an interpretation of Qurʾānic verses concerning spousal discipline and a precise understanding of ḥadīth related to superstitions. An editorial titled A Brief Tale offers reflections on current global affairs, while Javed Ahmed Ghamidi contributes an article on The Wives of the Prophet (PBUH). Hassan Ilyas presents two essays, A Teacher Never Scolds and A Door That Opens Inward, exploring themes of education and introspection. The fictional narrative Manliness by Naeem Ahmad Baloch adds a literary dimension, complemented by Faith in the Unseen, an essay by Kulsoom Thaqib. Beenish Kharl contributes an informative article on health, and the issue also includes a book review by Nasreen Khan along with a feature on the drama Uṛan. The editorial team is led by Naeem Baloch as Editor-in-Chief, with Wajihah Hassan Wahidi serving as Assistant Editor, under the oversight of Muhammad Hassan Ilyas.
ASK HASSAN ILYAS Mr. Hassan Ilyas continues his Q&A series Ask Hassan Ilyas on the popular YouTube channel Muslim Today, where he addresses theological and intellectual questions from the public. In July 2025, questions discussed included: “Did the Prophet [pbuh] engage in idol worship before prophethood?”, “What is the role of reason in matters of religion?”, “How can Sayyiduna Muʿawiyah be seen as the Mahdi?”, and “Has Ghamidi established that the universe is a created entity?” These sessions are archived on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
GHAMIDI CENTER’S ONLINE KHANQAH Key topics from the Ghamidi Center’s online khanqah sessions last month included: “When to prioritize good over truth”, “Difficulty in initiating communication”, “Life raises questions”, and “What to do when life offers no choices?” Recordings are available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
ISLAM STUDY CIRCLE In July 2025, Dr. Shehzad Saleem led sessions in the Islam Study Circle, addressing topics from the Quran, Hadith, and the Bible. Topics included “Spiritual Growth”, “Outward Appearance”, and “The Rights of Parents”. The session concluded with a discussion on “Hobbies” and an open Q&A. These English-language sessions are recorded and available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
MAULANA ISLAHI’S DEPARTURE FROM JAMA‘AT-E-ISLAMI In the latest installment of Hayat-e-Amin, Mr. Naeem Ahmad Baloch discusses the reasons behind Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi’s separation from Jama‘at-e-Islami. He notes that Islahi opposed the authoritarian leadership style and political strategies of Maulana Maududi, despite being committed to the group’s original principles of consultative governance and dawah. Islahi was disillusioned by the shift towards personality cults and political goals at the expense of ideological purity. This article is featured in Ishraq US (July 2025).
FAITH AND BELIEF As part of the Meezan Lectures Series, Dr. Shehzad Saleem is delivering English-language lectures based on Javed Ahmed Ghamidi’s book Meezan. Last month, he recorded two lectures on the theme of faith and belief. These are available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
ILM O HIKMAT: WITH GHAMIDI Ilm o Hikmat, a long-standing program aired weekly on Dunya News Pakistan, is recorded in Dallas and hosted by Mr. Hassan Ilyas. In July 2025, four episodes were broadcast under the theme “The Rise and Fall of the Muslim Ummah.” A special episode was also aired on the 10th of Muharram titled Islam’s Conception of Martyrdom. All episodes are archived on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
DR. SHEHZAD SALEEM’S PRIVATE CONSULTATION SESSIONS Each month, Dr. Shehzad Saleem offers private online consultation sessions for individuals seeking guidance on personal or family-related issues. Over 30 such sessions took place last month, where people discussed topics like parenting challenges and adolescent concerns.
ENGLISH SUMMARY OF THE 23 OBJECTIONS SERIES Dr. Shehzad Saleem is currently providing English summaries of all the topics covered in the 23 Objections video series. In July 2025, he summarized the second part of the discussion titled Islam and the State. Recordings are available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
ISSUANCE OF FATWAS BASED ON RELIGIOUS OPINION People regularly consult al-Mawrid America and the Ghamidi Center of Islamic Learning on issues of Islamic law—such as marriage and divorce, inheritance, and social or economic concerns. In July 2025, multiple fatwas were issued in response to such queries. These were authored by Hassan Ilyas in light of Javed Ahmed Ghamidi’s views.
ASK DR. SHEHZAD SALEEM Dr. Shehzad Saleem conducts a monthly live Q&A session where he answers religious, ethical, and social questions from the audience. Questions may be asked in both English and Urdu. Recordings are available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
TEACHING OF AL-BAYAN IN ENGLISH To make the teachings of al-Bayan, the Quranic exegesis by Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, accessible to English- speaking audiences, Mr. Shehzad Saleem is conducting its English instruction. In July 2025, he covered verses [6:1–55]. These sessions are available on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.