Appreciation Ceremony in Honour of Dr. Sarwar Hussain Naqshbandi

An elegant appreciation ceremony was organized by Minhaj University Lahore in honour of Dr. Sarwar Hussain Naqshbandi, Director of the Hassan bin Thabit Na’at Research Center (HCRN) and renowned Na’at poet. The event was held to celebrate his first Na’at compilation titled “Huzoor ﷺ Jaantay Hain” receiving national and provincial Seerat Awards in 2025.

The event was attended by academic, literary, and religious personalities, Heads of Departments from various faculties of Minhaj University, and a large number of students.

Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of Minhaj University Lahore and President of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, participated as Chief Guest and delivered a thoughtful address.

He stated that Na’at recitation in today's age is a significant tool for Da’wah and Tabligh (propagation of faith), and for connecting people to the sacred personality of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He emphasized that if Na’at is presented with intellectual insight, spiritual maturity, and firm belief, it leaves a deep impact on hearts. However, when it is used merely for commercial purposes or lacks spiritual depth, it loses its purpose and may even create divisions among people.

Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din expressed his gratitude that poets like Dr. Sarwar Hussain Naqshbandi, with balanced and responsible expression, are contributing meaningfully to Islamic literature. Through his poetry and research, he has conveyed the message of love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ with dignity and reverence, and his Na’at collection “Huzoor ﷺ Jaantay Hain” has given a new dimension to Na’at writing.

He further highlighted that it is among the blessings of Allah Almighty that the world’s first university-based research center dedicated to Na’at is operating successfully under the leadership of Dr. Naqshbandi – a matter of pride for Pakistan. The national and provincial Seerat Awards conferred upon him are not just a recognition of his scholarly and literary contributions, but also a great honour for the research center itself.

The center, he added, not only focuses on the academic and literary aspects of Na’at, but also instills genuine love for the Prophet ﷺ and intellectual insight into the younger generation.

Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, along with other guests, presented a shield on behalf of Minhaj University to Dr. Sarwar Hussain Naqshbandi and congratulated him on receiving the prestigious accolades.

Distinguished participants included Prof. Dr. Sajid Mahmood Shahzad (Vice Chancellor, Minhaj University Lahore), Prof. Dr. Khurram Shahzad (Registrar, Minhaj University Lahore), Abdul Majeed Minhas (Chairman, Hafeez Taib Foundation), Abul Hassan Khawar (Social Media Activist), Raja Zahid Mahmood Qadri (Leader, Pakistan Awami Tehreek), Dr. Fakhar-ul-Haq Noori (Executive Director, HCRN), Rashid Hameed Kalyami (Deputy Director, HCRN).

Other notable guests included Chaudhry Ashiq Ali (Chairman, Newspaper Vendors Union, Makkah), Dr. Muhammad Saleem (CEO, UniFly Pakistan, Saudi Arabia), Malik Muhammad Riaz (Social Leader), Muhammad Umair Asif and Muhammad Bilal Chaudhry

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Shabbir Ahmed Jami, Director of the Sheikh-ul-Islam Institute of Spiritual Studies, led a special prayer for blessings, success, and continued guidance.