Arabic & English declamation contests held

Declamation contests in Arabic and English languages were held on March 24, 2011 on the third day of ‘Ambassador of Peace Celebrations’ under the aegis of College of Shariah & Islamic Sciences (COSIS). The students from the renowned educational institutions of the country participated in the competition. The subject for English speech was “Men, not material make a Nation”. The proceedings of the program got underway with the recitation from the holy Quran by Qari Sayyid Khalid Hameed Kazami followed by Naat.


Brig. (r) Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Principal of COSIS, presided over the program, while Imran Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf and former captain of Pakistani Cricket Team and Pir Sayyid Asghar Ali Shah, Sajjada Nasheen of Gunjial Sharif, were the guests of honour on this occasion. Other distinguished guests on the stage included Asif Shah Hashmi, chairman of Evacuee Trust Board, Justice (r ) Nasira Javed Iqbal and Prof Umar Butt, journalist of Daily Pakistan, Dr Zahoorullah Al-Azhari, Maj. (r ) Ali Hussain Rizvi, G.M. Malik, Sajid Mahmood Bhatti and Qazi Faiz-ul-Islam.

Dr Zia-ul-Mustafa, Dr Masood Ahmad Mujahid and Faizullah Baghdadi were the members of jury in the Arabic declamation. According to unanimous result, Hafiz Abdul Wahid of COSIS, Muhammad Zaid Mustafa of Jamia Islamia Lahore, Mian Ghulam Rabbani and Faiz-ur-Rehman of Dar-ul-Uloom Muhammadia Ghousia won first, second, third and honorary positions respectively. Hafiz Abdul Wadood, being a host, surrendered his position.

Chief Guest of the ceremony, Imran Khan, said in his address that the rightly guided Caliphs were the students of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and hence great leaders. He who had a nodding acquaintance with them would end up becoming a leader. Following Battle of Badr, the Holy Prophet’s (SAW) condition for the disbelievers to educate ten Muslim children to secure their release highlights the importance of knowledge in Islam. This, he said, also proves that nations progress through the quality of human resources not material resources. He stressed the need of eliminating social divide to establish a just and peaceful society. He said that the Holy Prophet (SAW) empowered the weak and deprived sections of society by eradicating fear and it is only a fearless leadership who can take courageous decisions in the larger interest of nation.

Speaking in the Arabic language in the ceremony, Dr Ghulam Mustafa said that the subject for today’s declamation contest is an important and complex issue of the contemporary world. He said that the attacks are being carried on the respect of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and increasing trend of blasphemy and desecration of the Holy Books at the hands of extremists on both sides of equation threatens the global peace and harmony in the world. He said that we can safeguard the sanctity of Islam if we bring about real change in our lives and promote its message of peace, harmony and peace. He highlighted the need of familiarizing the youth with the teachings of the Holy Prophet (SAW).