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19th National Seerat Conference

President, PM stress

education based on

Islamic principles

ISLAMABAD: President Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghrai, has stressed the need for an education system based on the Islamic principles and that could produce practising Muslims.

He was speaking at the concluding session of the 19th National Seerat Conference, organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to mark Eid- Milad-un-Nabi, the birthdy of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), here Thursday evening.

The presidents said the present problems of our society are due to the prevalent education system in the country, which is devoid of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and injunctions of the Holy Quran.

"Where we are taking our young gernation to. Today, we are facing terrorism, bloodshed, addiction and total deviation due to defective education system".

He said, had our education system been guided by the life of the Last Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) there would have been no terrorism-like situation as in Karachi. 'By pursuing this system, we are deceiving only ourselves," he added.

"The nation has to take stock of the situation very seriously, which is arising out of education system not based on the model life of the Holy Prophet (Peace B Upon Him)."

Leghari said, on this auspicious day, "We have to make solemn commitment that education system based on the Islamic principles will be given to the nation.

"This system should be the blend of science and ethics, modernity and tradition, guaranteeing success in this world and here inafter with equal facility.

He urged the religious scholars and the delegates of the conference to leave this place with the commitment to give the nation, a gift in the form of a solid and rightly-guided education syystem.

President Farooq Lehgari said, the European Renaissance was the direct result of the scientific and philosophic progress of the Muslims spreading over centuries' industry. The scientific theories propounded and proved by the Muslim minds found their way into Europe from Spain.

"The source of inspiration of all the intellectual progress of the Muslims was the life of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)," he added.

Leghari said, he has been pointing out the flaws of education system in the country. The academic and extra-curricular activities in our schools are altogether devoid of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Due to this state of affairs, we are sufering stagnation and the western world, which practiced the principles of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is flourishing. "While we are stepping backward and the others have conquered space decades ago," he deplored.

Leghari asked that despite being Muslims, why our lives have not been patterned on that of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)?

"Our trade, economy, judicial system, polity and social systems collective and individual life, stand a sharp contrast to the teachings and the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)."

He asked, whether the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) were for the non-Muslims, who progressed and registered their writ on the world affairs by following the Islamic ethics of wordly life. Why, we as Muslims dither from transforming our collective and individual lives on the pattern of our Holy Prophet (PBUH). "This state of affairs will put to shame the believers on the day of judgement, when they will face the Holy Prophet, (PBUH)," the president added.

AWARDS ON NA'AT, SEERAT BOOKS

President Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, gave away prizes to the writers of books on the Life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Naat.

The first prize of Rs. 30,000, went to Mujahid-ul-Hussani on his Maqala, Seerat-i-Rasul.

Maulana Irshadad-ul-Haq Thani got special prize of Rs. 5,000 on his book, Supreme Benefactor of Humanity. Brig. (Retd) Gulzar received dollar 2000 on his book, Muhammad and his Constitutional Charter.

In regional language category Mohammad Siddique got prize of Rs. 15,000.

Hafiz Ludihanvi got first prize of Rs, 20,000 on his book, Miraj-i-Fun, Dr Riaz Majid, second prize of Rs. 15,000 and Salman Gilani, third prize of 10,000.

On his book, Nazarana-i-Naat, Zameer Jaferry got Rs. 10,000, Mir Ahmad Khan (Pushto) special prize Rs. 5,000, Professor Afzal Raza Rs. 5,000, Gul Mohammad Shah, (Sindhi) Rs. 5,000, Mohammad Ali Zahoori, Punjabi Naat, was given prize of Rs. 15,000.

The prizes to writers of Seerat books and Naat is a regular feature of the conference. This year about 103 Maqalat were received, out of which six were awarded. 30 books on Seerat and 24 books on Naat were received by the committee.

Earlier, inaugurating the conference in the morning, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said that a Pakistani troops are the soldiers of Allah Almighty and his Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and are ready to serve in any troubled spot in the Muslim world.

"Pakistani soldiers are ready to reach wheresoever their Muslim brethern are in difficulties," she added.

"These are the soldiers of Islam, of Allah and his Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)," she said of Pakistan army.

"It is because of Ishqe (love) Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)," she said that Pakistan armymen are serving in Bosnia as well as in Somalia under the United Nations command.

She said 'Ishqe Muhammad (PBUH)' is a strong source of attraction and affinity among the Muslim Ummah and that is why that, "we in Islamabad are distressed over the plight of our brethern in Bosnia."

"Twenty-first centyry is the century of Ishq-e-Muhammad (PBUH)" she asserted.

She added "Twenty-first century is the century of Asia where most of the Muslim countries are located.

Benazir hoped that Muslim countries would make strenuous efforts to make strides in the fields of science, technology and economics so that, "they could talk with courage with the developed countries."

She said Pakistan has always played significant role to forge unity among the Islamic world and referred to the Islamic Summit Conference hosted in Lahore in 1974. "Pakistan has the honor to gather leaders from all Islamic world in Lahore where they offered collective prayer in Badshahi mosque and took very important decisions," she added.

Moreover, she said Pakistan has been imparting training to the nationals of other Muslim countries in the fields of diplomacy, economics and in various Islamic disciplines.

"Today is the era of diplomacy and economy", she said and added that Pakistan is poised to promote cooperation with the Muslim countries in the fields of science and technology.

"We want trade not aid," she said, "as Islam forbids begging."

Prime Minister said Islam lays great stress on the set up of a strong system and institutions but unfortunately, "we have a weak system and infirm institutions."

In his address, Secretary Religious Affiars Lutfullah Mufti said Islam emancipated man from man's rule. He said the companions of Holy Prophet (Peace _Be Upon Him) fully acted upon the teachings of Islam and left a role model for the Muslims to follow.

He said his Ministry received 103 essays from across the country on the, "Solution of contemporary problems in the light of teachings of Holy Prophet (PBUH)." He said of these, 6 best articles are selected for the awards.

Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto gave away cash prizes to the best essay and book writers on the Life of Holy Prophet's (Seerat-un-Nabi).

MEETS ULEMA

Meanwhil, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto met with a delegation of Ulema and urged them to foster unity among the people.

The Ulema, who called on her, after the inaugural session of the National Seerat Conference, also apprised Prime Minister of their problems.

She directed Religious Affairs Ministry to look into the problems of the Ulema and get them resolved.

She also called upon the Ulema to pray for the solidarity and integrity of the country.-APP