Pakistan Writers Forum (PWF), a well-known literary society of Jeddah, recently organized a seminar to highlight the importance of education in Islam. The seminar was presided over by poet Habib Siddiqi. Dr. Shafqat Mahmood, a renowned scholar and poet from Pakistan, who was the guest of honor, said that the prophets of Allah were the first educators and that the scholars are the heirs of the prophets. Engr. Altaf H. Awan highlighted the historical achievements of the Muslims in the field of education. He said that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) started teaching his followers in the house of his companion, Arqam, and soon the first school was established in the Masjid of the Prophet (pbuh) in Madina. Mohammad Azmeer quoted the very first revelation of the Quran which starts with the word Iqra (read) to prove that Islam puts a lot of emphasis on education. Zamarrud Khan Saifee, Amin Najmi, Dr. Mahmood Iqbal Haider, Engr. Mohsin Alvi, Mohammad Mujahid Syed and Habib Siddiqi recited poems on the subject. Mohammad Nawaz Janjua recited a poem in praise of the Prophet (pbuh). General Secretary of the forum, Syed Shehab-ud-Din, presented an introduction to the forum. Engr. Neaz Ahmed thanked all participants and prayed for the well-being of the Muslim world, including Pakistan. The seminar commenced with verses recited from the Holy Qur'an by Qari Abdul Mannan.
