MWF’s two-day workshop for its office holders

On the 25th of December 2010, a two-day workshop for the Tehsil office holders of Minhaj Welfare Foundation was held in the central secretariat under the banner of MWF. The proceedings of the workshop got underway at 3 p.m. and concluded at 5 p.m. on December 26.

It was with the recitation from the Holy Quran that started the formal proceedings. Iftikhar Shah Bokhari, director of MWF, Raja Jamil Ajmal, director of foreign affairs, Allama Ghulam Murtaza Alvi, deputy director of Directorate of Training, and Prof Sajjad-ul-Aziz delivered lectures in the first session of the workshop.

Expressing his views, Iftikhar Shah Bokhari said that Islam is a religion of peace and its concept of welfare is not confined to creed only but is a practical system. Islam offers the concept of general welfare and mutual cooperation to ensure the security and well-being of individuals in an Islamic society. He said that MWF is an international NGO which is busy serving the suffering humanity and downtrodden sections of society in every walk of life by rising above the considerations of caste, creed, colour and race. It is working not only in Pakistan but has also been at the forefront of relief efforts in international calamities. It has rendered its services for the rehabilitation of victims of various kinds of natural disasters and is working hard for the elimination of deprivation, poverty, unemployment, disease and ignorance. “The workshop is a case in point, which is meant to further motivate the workers to dedicate themselves whole-heartedly for the public welfare,” he concluded.

Allama Ghulam Murtaza Alvi threw light on the topic of “Welfare of Humanity in Islam”. Referring to a Tradition of the Holy Prophet (SAW), he said that the Prophet said: “The best among the people is he who is more productive for (common) people.” By presenting the notion of mutual cooperation, Islam has taught us the lesson of brotherhood, respect, and prosperous life. The service of humanity is a great virtue and highly rewarding in the eyes of Allah Almighty. He said that no other religion can match Islam so far as the welfare of the disadvantaged sections of society is concerned.

Prof Sajjad-ul-Aziz apprised the participants of the workshop about the welfare activities of MWF in the perspective of international conditions. He said that MWF is spreading the passion of serving the humanity in the entire world. He warned that Islam is being erroneously associated with terrorism to kill the Islamic ideal of a welfare state. He said that by implementing the Islamic message of welfare, we can secure global peace in the world on permanent basis.

Raja Jamil Ajmal, director of DFA, said that MWF has propagated the Islamic message of welfare with such a passion in about 90 countries of the world, as has helped wash off the allegations of terrorism on the face of Islam. He said that due to untiring efforts of MQI and MWF, the world has started understanding Islam and its teachings in the correct perspective.

The second session of the training workshop started at 9 a.m. on December 26, 2010. Anwar Akhtar Advocate, Secretary General of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, delivered lecture on the importance of organizational solidarity in welfare projects. He said that welfare projects are the backbone of any organization as they benefit the suffering humanity. He said that MWF is also busy day in and day out in spreading the concept of welfare in the world.

Abdus Sattar Minhajian, deputy director of Minhaj Internet Bureau, delivered lecture on importance of internet media. He said that it is the age of media. If it is being used for promotion of obscenity in the Muslim world, it is also about time that internet media was also used for promotion of positive activities in an organized manner. He said that it is the singular honour of MQI that its main website has one hundred thousand users on daily basis. There is no part of the world, where activities of MWF and MQI are not reaching through internet. He emphasized the need of projecting the local activities of welfare in the domains of education, and public health etc.

Safdar Abbas, assistant director of Minhaj Welfare Foundation and coordinator of ‘Aagosh’ also spoke on the topic of welfare. He said that Islam urges its followers to take care of the poor, disadvantaged and helpless sections of society. It also ordains us to leave no stone unturned to provide for these sections of society. Islam has promised punishment for those who do not do their duty of taking care of the underdogs in the society. He said that MWF is engaged in the struggle for support of these sections of society at two levels. Firstly, it is practically involved in welfare activities at the national and international levels and secondly it is spreading awareness about welfare and human rights. The workshop, he said, was a case in point.

Safdar Abbas said that MWF has established a grand project of Aagosh for the complete maintenance of 500 orphan children. It is a project of worth million rupees. Likewise, the MWF is also establishing branches of Aagosh in Multan and other cities of Pakistan. He asked the affluent sections of society to come forward and help this sacred cause.

Iftikhar Shah Bokhari, director of Minhaj Welfare Foundation, gave a special lecture on the ongoing projects, organizational structure, code of conduct and responsibilities of secretaries of welfare. He said that in order to efficiently work and produce results, the office holders are expected to be fully acquainted with the code of conduct and systems. When work gets organized, its speed also increases. He said that real religion lies in social welfare.

Iftikhar Shah Bokhari said that Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has given a unique concept of welfare and service of humanity. MWF is not a traditional organization. He stressed the need of preparing the workforce for elimination of oppression, deprivation and ignorance from the society.

The chief highlight of third session was the keynote address by Sahibzada Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, president of MQI’s Federal Council. He said that Islamic system of welfare is dynamic and creative concept, which if implemented can bring about a revolution in the world. He said that people are connected with one another in a variety of ways. If the idea of mutual help and cooperation is not translated into reality, the society runs the risk of being deprived of its values. That is why Islam has fulfilled the basic needs of every individual of society through its concept of general welfare.

He said that when society suffers from water shortage, energy crisis and lawlessness, killings, and price hike become the order of the day, such a society has not fulfilled the basic responsibility of looking after the downtrodden sections of society. He said that prayers of the helpless and dispossessed save the society from torments of varying nature. When society chooses to neglect this section of society, Allah Almighty deprives such people of His mercy.

He urged the office holders of MWF that they play their full and vigorous role in helping those who cannot help themselves. He said that it is through the idea of self help that we can change our destiny as a nation and community.

Mian Tahir Yaqoob, and Ahmad Moeen also addressed the workshop. Khurram Shahzad conducted the proceedings of the program. The organizers saw off the participants of the workshop and distributed certificates among them. The program ended on Dua.