By TCN News,
Mumbai: The Markazul Ma’arif Education and Research Centre (MMERC) held its first all-India inter-DELL national elocution competition for ulama here, where selected ulama regaled the audience with their speeches.
DELL – the Diploma in English Language & Literature – is a two-year course to teach English and communication skills to the madrasa graduates under Markazul Ma’arif, which was established by Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, MP from Assam, in 1994, a release from MMERC said.
MMERC lecturers with Winner Shield
As many as 21 DELL students from Markazul Ma’arif; Markaz Islami Education and Research Centre, Ankleshwar, Gujarat; Jamia Islamia Jalalia, Hojai, Assam; Institute for Higher Studies, Okhla, New Delhi; Al-Mahadul Ali Al-Islami, Hyderabad; Islamic Study Centre, Ibrahim Bawany ITI, Baroda, Gujarat and Fazlani Centre for English Language and Literature, Lonavla, Pune took part in the competition.
The first prize was secured by Inamul Hasan Qasmi who spoke on ‘The Concept of Jihad in Islam’, the second winner was Abdur Rahim Qasmi who spoke on ‘The Principle of Freedom of Speech in Islam’ and the third one was Taha Qasmi who held forth on ‘Political System of Islam’, all three of them from Markazul Maarif Education and Research Centre, Mumbai. The award for the winner of the 1st National Elocution Competition for the year 2015 also went to MMERC, Mumbai.
Lauding the participants, president of the programme, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, Member of Parliament and CEO Ajmal CSR Group, said: “The aim of the DELL course is to present the correct picture of Islam and the teachings of Qu’ran and Sunnah. This requires a proficiency in English, inner purity of the heart; and intention for heartfelt feelings can only be correctly interpreted by the tongue, enabling the speakers to conquer the hearts of people.”
Dr Zahir Qazi, president of Anjuman-e Islam, Mumbai, said in his speech those who needlessly blame madrasas should remember that after 1857, if there were no madrasas then it would have been impossible for Islam and Muslim culture to survive in Indian subcontinent in the purest form its today. He also said, “Our ulama were not at all antediluvian and the evidence of this fact was presented by every participant in the competition today.”
Hazrat Maulana Shumsuddin Saheb (Muhaddith) said that learning English to preach Islam is a very praiseworthy step and when these ulama equipped with moral character and purity of intention work in the practical field for the pleasure of Allah (swt) it is quite possible they may bring about a revolution.
Maulana Muhammad Ali Manyar, who came from Makkah, said it was a historic achievement for ulama to gain command over the English language.
Among the other dignitaries present were Ebrahim Ismail Doodwala from London; Shumsul Haq Chaudhary, vice president of the Markazul Ma’arif (NGO) from Assam; Attaur Rahman (IRS), CEO of Central Haj Committee of India; Dr Tayyib Patel from Aurangabad; Maulana Mahmood Daryabadi; Maulana Gulzar Azmi and Javed Anand from Mumbai.
A View of The First Inter-DELL National Elocution Competition 2015
Among the special guests were noted human rights activist Teesta Setalwad, who said, “My experience shows that the students of madrassas and office bearers of Masjids are those with open hearts, and from whom all schools of thought can derive benefit. After listening to the speeches today I felt that ulama are the true messengers of peace.”
Earlier, Maulana Muddassir Ahmad Qasmi, coordinator, DELL welcomed the audience and explained the aims and objectives of the elocution competition. Maulana Yunus Saheb who came from Madinah (KSA) made the valedictory Dua and ended the programme, the release added.