Staff Reporter
KARACHI: The monthly meeting of the Hamdard Karachi Shura was held at Hamdard Pakistan Corporate Headquarters yesterday, presided over by Ms. Sadia Rashid, President of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan. The meeting centered on the theme of “Respect for Simplicity.”
Renowned industrialist, philanthropist and Senior Member of ShuraHamdard, NaushabaKhaleelSattar, served as the keynote speaker and addressed the attendees, stating that ShuraHamdard is a congregation of intellectuals, established by Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said. Today, if there is a role model worthy of emulation on the subject of simplicity, it is indeed Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said himself. He was a great personality, embodying good manners, eloquence, and an all-encompassing character. His life is a beacon of inspiration for Pakistanis. Allah Almighty had blessed him with all comforts, yet he chose to adopt a simple way of living.
She further stated that the reason for not embracing extravagance is that it leads people to corruption and an increase in crimes. To instill precious virtues like patience and gratitude within the nation, proactive steps are needed, both politically and socially.
Deputy Speaker of ShuraHamdard, Colonel (Retd) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt, emphasized that today’s topic holds significant importance for our society from various perspectives. Over the span of 75 years, our nation has experienced a decline in moral and intellectual values, a distressing situation. The lesson of simplicity is not only relevant to our religion but also holds particular significance for our culture.
Zafar Iqbal stressed the importance of having faith in our nation and understanding that simplicity means maintaining balance and moderation in worldly affairs, avoiding excess and extravagance, expressing gratitude for Allah’s blessings, being patient in times of adversity, and placing trust in the Almighty.
Professor Dr. Tanveer Khalid acknowledged that despite all our weaknesses and shortcomings, there is a great awareness within the nation regarding the value of simplicity. However, there is a lack of implementation of simplicity in practical domains. People primarily emulate their role models. Therefore, to inspire future generations, we must present the life stories of those great Pakistanis who lived their lives with simplicity and served the nation with dignity and patriotic fervor through the media.
Justice (Retd) Zia Pervez stated that both extravagance and miserliness are highly condemned traits according to Islamic teachings. In our society, the visible consequences of display, unnecessary extravagance, and the relentless pursuit of material progress have become the norm. Illicit and forbidden means are employed to increase income, leading to despair, envy, and animosity among underprivileged segments of society. As a result of this behavior, depression is increasing on the one hand, while corruption and an unjustified increase in wealth and possessions are taking place on the other.
Huma Baig, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Cdre (Retd) Sadeed Anwar Malik, Prof. Dr. Ikhlaq Ahmed, Prof. Dr. Shaheen Habib, and Dr. Abubakr Shaikh also spoke on the occasion.