International Mehfile Qiraat and Naat

Darul Uloom Pretoria, in conjunction with the Pakistan South Africa Association, held an International Mehfile Qiraat and Naat on the Saturday the 3rd of September 2016 at Masjid Sayedina Ghaus-e-Azam in Taj Street.

The proceedings began after Maghrib Salaah with the first reciter, Shaikh Shokri Muawad Al Azhari, a teacher at the Darul Uloom from the world-renowned Al-Azhar University being introduced Irshaad Rojid, the first MC for the evening.

His excellent recitation was followed by by the recitation of Na’at by Ahmed Saifi, a well known Na’at reciter of this community. Furqan Nikoria, a final year Aalim course student then introduced Qari Oguzhan Sivrikaya from Turkey who is based at the UICT. His inspiring recitation was followed by a brief talk delivered by Yusuf, a first year Aalim course student.

Noman Motiwala, a final year Aalim course student introduced Qari Idris Rajab, a former student at Darul Uloom Pretoria whose beautiful recitation of the Holy Qur’aan was well appreciated by the audience. Qari Idris is now based in Durban and well known for his Qiraat in South Africa and around the world.

The guest of honour for the evening was Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali from Pakistan. He studied at Madressa Imdaadul Uloom from 1960 to 1964 under Qari Muhammed Yusuf Siddiqi. In 1977 he relocated to Maryland in the USA where he later met the late maestro of Qiraat, Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdus Samad who invited him to come to Egypt.

Qari Sayed Sadaqat Ali Saheb stayed and learnt under Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdus Samad from 1985 to 1988. In 1988 he moved back to Pakistan and in 1992 started working with Pakistani television teaching the recitation of Qur’aan. He has an estimated viewership of sixty million people.

On two occasions Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali Saheb was awarded with national awards by the president of Pakistan, the second being the Star of Excellence, which is the highest national award in the country. He also came second on two occasions in the international Husn-e-Qiraat competition and in 1995 he took the top position in Bangladesh.

The audience in the Masjid were enthralled by the melodious and inspirational recitation of the Holy Qur’aan by Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali. He also recited a Na’at thereafter which was equally well received.

The proceedings for the evening were concluded by a brief address by the deputy ambassador of Pakistan, Dr Manzoor Hussain and the vote of thanks by Aurangzeb Gogha. The Salaami was lead by Moulana Mehboob-ur-Rahman and the final Dua by Sheikh Mummer of Turkey.