Jeddah: Iqbal Academy Jeddah organized a dignified, graceful and intellectually rich event in celebration of World Urdu Day and Iqbal Day 2025 at the Imperium Auditorium in Jeddah. Students from several renowned International Schools participated with enthusiasm, expressing their admiration for Allama Iqbal’s philosophy, the beauty of the Urdu language and the scholarly traditions it represents.
The program commenced with a soulful recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Sulaiman Imran Kausar. This was followed by Syed Abdul Kareem Quadri, who, in a touching display of devotion, presented verses of Iqbal as Na’at, infusing the gathering with the spiritual fragrance of the praise of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Young students Muhammad Abdul Samie Iqbal and Muhammad Abdul Mujeeb Iqbal recited Iqbal’s famous poem “Bachche Ki Dua” in their innocent and melodious voices, earning warm appreciation from the audience.
Syed AbdulWahab Quadri, Secretary of Iqbal Academy Jeddah, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests in his inaugural address. He presented an insightful overview of the event’s objectives, the Academy’s role, and the intellectual foundation of the program. He remarked that the gathering was a beautiful blend of the subtleness of Urdu and the radiance of Iqbal’s thought—enriching both hearts and minds.
Syed Ayanuddin Quadri beautifully recited Allama Iqbal’s celebrated poem “Shehad Ki Makhii”, delivering its moral lesson in a captivating manner that deeply moved the audience.
This was followed by a thoughtful and eloquent talk titled “Let Us Meet Iqbal” by Muhammad Minhajuddin (IAJ Youth), in which he highlighted the cultural depth of the Urdu language and the enduring significance of Iqbal’s philosophical legacy. He emphasized that Urdu is not merely a language, but a heartbeat of love, culture and unity—faithfully voiced in Iqbal’s works. His speech proved impactful and intellectually inspiring for young listeners.
Adding further literary charm to the atmosphere, Faseehuddin Sufyan presented a beautiful Urdu poem.
A major segment of the event featured students from various international schools who delivered well-structured speeches in both Urdu and English. Their topics revolved around Iqbal’s thought, religious and ethical values, education, character building, social harmony, women’s dignity, love for the Prophet ﷺ, and the relevance of Iqbal in the modern age.
The participating students—Abdulrahman Muhammad, Abdul Razzaq Maher, Sarah Israr, Dania Tanaz, Sheza Shams, Samara Asif Shaikh, Abdullah Ijlal Ahmed and Maryam Fatima—impressed the audience with their confident, fluent and passionate presentations. Their speeches were frequently met with enthusiastic applause.
One of the liveliest segments of the program was the Bait-Bazi competition (Iqbal’s poetry) featuring:
Team Shaheen: Maryam Fatima, Shaikh Hafiza Raza
Team Shahbaz: Abdulrahman Muhammad, Muhammad Farhan Ahmed
Both teams responded spontaneously and intelligently to each round of Iqbal’s verses, making the contest delightful and engaging. Their quick wit, memory and confidence drew high praise from the audience.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Abdul Qadeer Hasan Siddiqui, delivered an insightful address in Arabic and Urdu, commending the efforts of the students, organizers and Iqbal Academy Jeddah for their commendable service.
In his presidential address, Mr. Syed Waheed Qadri highlighted the excellence of knowledge and scholars in the light of the Qur’an and Hadith. He spoke about the spiritual, cultural and moral dimensions of Iqbal’s philosophy, offering deep intellectual and spiritual guidance to the audience.
The artistic grace of the event was further elevated when Engineer Muhammad Yousuf, accompanied by musical instrumentation, presented Iqbal’s timeless works Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa with profound respect, emotion and mastery. The audience responded with heartfelt admiration. He was ably supported by Engineer Wajid Ali and Faseehuddin Sufyan.
The stage proceedings were conducted with exemplary grace by Muhammad Faheemuddin (Vice President & General Secretary), who also presented a brief yet comprehensive introduction to Iqbal Academy Jeddah and Iqbal Academy Hyderabad. The speech segment and Bait-Bazi were moderated by Hammad Shehzad Khan and Syed Abdulwahab Quadri, respectively.
The program’s success owed greatly to the dedicated and energetic team of Iqbal Academy Jeddah. The media team—Muhammad Asif Qadri, Abdulrahman and Muhammad Aleem (AK News)—efficiently managed YouTube and Facebook livestreams, reaching viewers across Asia, America and around the world.
Chief Advisor Shameem Kausar welcomed the distinguished guests on stage and supervised the event’s administrative affairs. Joint Secretary Tauseef Khan, Executive Members Riyaz Ahmed, Murtaza Shareef Sabir, Miraj Ali, Salman Jibran, and supporters Fathuddin Faheem, Muhammad Abdullah Afzal, Faraz Masood Ali, Syed Fayyaz Ali Siddiqui, Waqar Ahmed Khan also contributed significantly.
The event’s prestige was further enhanced by the virtual participation of prominent international personalities, including Syed Mahmood Hashmi (President, Iqbal Academy Jeddah), Ziauddin Nayyir (President, Iqbal Academy Hyderabad), Muhammad Abdul Mujeeb Siddiqui (Hyderabad) and Muhammad Abdul Haq Hashim (UAE). They expressed heartfelt congratulations and delight at the successful conclusion of the program.
Parents, teachers, community representatives and distinguished guests attended in large numbers. Notable attendees included Mir Arif Ali (Khak- e-Tayyaba Trust), Farooq Ahmed (Bazm-e-Ittihad), Syed Nayeemuddin Bari, Muhammad Yousuf Waheed (Urdu Academy Jeddah), Syed Afzaluddin Afzal, Prince Mufti Zia, Syed Ghazanfar Mumtaz, Mubassir-ul-Azam, Masarrat Khalil, Tashfeen Syed, Naushad Usmani and others. Their presence added dignity to the event, and they praised its high standards. Parents and teachers commended the students’ dedication, effort and confidence, while also appreciating the organizers’ hard work.
Overall, the evening proved to be a beautiful expression of love for the Urdu language, devotion to Iqbal’s thought and the promotion of intellectual and cultural values. The audience expressed hope that Iqbal Academy Jeddah would continue to hold such programs with the same passion and excellence in the future.
The session also included a vote of thanks to all participants and sponsors.
Plaques of Appreciations and gifts were distributed among students and participants, after which the event concluded with a group photo and a sumptuous dinner
