Al-Hidayah (meaning "The Guidance") was founded in 2004 as a UK-based youth-oriented forum of the moderate Minhaj-ul-Quran UK.[1]
Al-Hidayah aims to bring about the spiritual and educational renewal of individuals through the means of the Qur'an and Way of the Prophet Muhammad. It aspires aims to de-radicalise young Muslims through clarifying various concepts about war, violence, human rights and justice. Its uses a moderate message of Islam in order to tackle the issue of extremism.
Al-Hidayah held its first event in 2005, which was a camp that held 300 people. The next event was held in Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire in 2006 and held nearly 600 people.[2]. In 2007, Al Hidayah held another event in which over 700 youth attended. In 2008 a one-day symposium occurred in Manchester featuring approximately 2000 people which highlighted the Islamic message of peace, integration and human rights in which Tahir ul Qadri gave a lecture over three hours explaining the rights of women, children, non-Muslims and promoted the concept of integration. Al Hidayah held another residential retreat in 2009 at the University of Warwick feuturing over 1,200 British and European young Muslims. Its main aim was to draw UK teens to combat extremism and terrorism [3]
They aim to extend its organisation further by holding more events and releasing DVDs, books and audio CDs. The organisation is also planning to release an official journal.
Scholars at Al-Hidayah events have included Tahir-ul-Qadri, Shaykh As’ad Muhammad Saeed as-Sagharji, Timothy Winter and Shaykh Hammami.