PRETORIA On Saturday, 28 May 2022, the community of Christoburg (Erasmia) witnessed a very prestigious event that was based on the role and importance of the Arabic Language for the South African community in general and the Muslim community in particular.
The event was arranged by the International Knowledge Foundation-South Africa, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in South Africa, and AWQAF SA in conjunction with Al Ghazali College and Masjid Abu Bakr.
There were more than 100 guests, both local and international, including H E Mr. Mubarak Salim Ali Al-Zakwani, the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman and Dean of the Arabic group, H E Mr. Arshad Omar Esmaeel, Ambassador of Iraq, H. E. Mr. H E. Jarr Inalla, Ambassador of Mauritania, H.E. Mr. Kanat Tumysh, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, H. E. Mr. Yamin Jafarov, Charge d’affaires of Azerbaijan, H E Mr. Sadik Shahin, Deputy Ambassador of Turkish Embassy, H.E. Mr. Hassana Aldramly, Consular of Embassy of the State of Palestine to South Africa, H.E. Dr. Mohsin Zadeh, Culture Consular of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Africa, as well as Professor Dr. Jaco Beyers, University of Pretoria, Professor Yasien Sayed, WITS University, Johannesburg and Professor Dr. Auwais Rafudeen, University of South Africa (UNISA).
The event was officially started by Nuriya Alli and Fatima Karimova, Grade 10 and 11 Al Ghazali College learners who were the program directors.
The recitation of the Holy Quraan was performed by Farhan Karimov, Grade 10, also an Al Ghazali College learner, while the translation was made by Fatima Arshad, Grade 9, an Al Ghazali College learner.
H.E. Mr. Kanat Tumysh, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to South Africa welcomed all guests. Thereafter, H.E. Mr. Mubarak Salim Ali Al-Zakwani, Ambassador of Sultanate of Oman to South Africa and Dean of Arabic Group delivered his speech on the ways of promoting the Arabic language in South Africa with the support of the various Arabic Embassies.
In addition to this, there was a presentation by the Al Ghazali College learners where the learners delivered Arabic poetry and a short speech in Arabic. Thereafter, a presentation was given by Dr. Fatima Cheik, Arabic teacher for the Foundation Phase, Al Ghazali College in which she spoke about teaching the Arabic Language as a second additional language.
Advocate Hafiz Aboobaker Mahomed, former Judge of the High Court of South Africa and Pioneer of Islamic Banking in South Africa, spoke about the role of the Arabic Language in Islamic Religion.
Mr. Abdulkader Kurtha, Chairperson Masjid Abu Bakr and Erasmia community membmemberssented a brief overview of the National Arabic Competition for South African high school learners and university students, which will take place at the end of June 2022.
Dr. Abdul Majid Mahomed, head of the Society for the Promotion of the Arabic Language, Hafiz Muhammad Cajee and Mr. Zeinoul Abedien Cajee, CEO of AWQAF FOUNDATION of South Africa, had an important discourse about the current status of teaching and learning of the Arabic language in South African institutions and future plans to develop the Arabic language for the broader South African Muslim community.
The participants of the event agreed that it is important to arrange such an event among the South African community in order to promote and support the establishment and teaching of the Arabic Language at different levels, such as secondary schools, traditional institutions, and universities.
It was said that it is essential to continue to support the mission of providing the community with the importance of learning and studying the Arabic Language, as the language of the Muslim world, the official language of twenty-two Arab countries, as well as one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
The participants added that, through collaboration and working together, we are making measured progress towards the objective of the upcoming events such as the Arabic National Competition for South African High School Learners and University students, which will take place from 27 June to 27 July 2022.
School learners and university students who like to take part in the upcoming competition can contact Dr. Asadullah Karimov, Senior Arabic Lecturer, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, and Ad Hoc Consultant to the Embassy of Kazakhstan to South Africa by sending him an email on bukhari75@gmail.com to find more about the upcoming competition.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Mr. Ismail Kalla, Vice President of the Islamic Council of South Africa on behalf of the organizer of the event, and a conclusion prayer was made by Mikaeel Omar, a Grade 5 learner of Al Ghazali College.
