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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP):Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, on Monday welcomed participants of the First International Qirat Competition, emphasizing that the event would project Pakistan’s positive image on global platforms.
Addressing the inaugural session of the competition at the Convention Centre, the minister described the day as historic, marking the first-ever International Qirat Competition hosted in Pakistan.
He said the event was a great honour for the country, with participants from up to forty nations taking part, adding that the event will also strengthen the spiritual bond among Muslim countries.
Sardar Yousuf assured that all participants and judges would be provided with the best facilities and would feel Pakistan as their second home.
Calling those who memorize and recite the Quran fortunate, he said the Holy Quran is a source of guidance and a complete code of conduct for all Muslims.
Quoting a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he added “The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”
The minister highlighted that Pakistan, a nation of 250 million people, primarily speaks and understands Urdu as its national language.
However, he stressed that learning Arabic is equally important for Pakistanis, as it is the religious language of Muslims.
He said the Ministry of Religious Affairs is taking concrete steps to promote the learning and teaching of Arabic across the country.
“We are reaching out to various universities to promote the Arabic language,” he added.
He also emphasized that understanding the core message of the Quran is crucial for every Muslim, and such competitions help promote it.
Sardar Yousuf said the Ministry of Religious Affairs, under the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-N—first under Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and now under Shehbaz Sharif—had taken significant steps in line with the ministry’s core mandate.
He noted that the ministry had established the Ulema and Mashaikh Council and the Quran Board during the previous PML-N government, and is now organizing the International Qirat Competition to further promote and convey the true message of Islam.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dr. Atta ur Rehman, described the competition as a remarkable achievement for the ministry, noting that the Quran resonates deeply in the hearts of Muslims.
He thanked the minister for supporting and actively contributing to the idea of an international competition.
Dr. Rehman said that despite invitations being sent on short notice, the response from Muslim countries was phenomenal, reflecting true unity within the Muslim world.
He assured that such competitions would continue in the future.
He added that people in Pakistan, regardless of age, sect, or region, love to listen to the Quran recited in beautiful voices, and expressed hope that over the next days, the competition would showcase some of the finest and most captivating Quranic recitations from around the globe.
The competition will continue until the 27th of this month, while the prize distribution ceremony is scheduled for the 29th of this month.