Media Release
Kuwait, Jul 5: Indo Kuwait Friendship Society (IKFS) organized Ghabqa 2016 for its IKFS members on Saturday July 2 (27th Ramzan 1437 Hijri) at Ahmad Tower – Fatma Auditorium amidst a galaxy of Kuwaiti, Indian and dignitaries.
The Qabka evening commenced at 10.30 pm by recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Alameera Almubeenah. Before starting the main programme Sunil Jain, ambassador of India, graced the event.
A K S Abdul Nazar, general secretary welcomed the guests and said that ‘Gabqa’, a wonderful tradition of the locals has been adopted by the IKFS first time since establishment of IKFS in 2011. Qabka considered as a local tradition is celebrated in the month of Ramadan after Taraweeh prayers.
Sayid Nasir Al-Mashoor Thangal, head of Foreign Exchange and Options at National Investment Co, former board member of Indian Community School and patron of IKFS admired IKFS team for organizing Qabka event and said that Gabqa helps to foster strong ties amongst families and friends. He added that in fasting, by refraining from the natural human urges to satisfy one’s appetite, we are exercising our ability of self-restraint, so that we can then apply it to our everyday life to bring about self-improvement. Also admired IKFS president Dr Ghalib Al-Mashoor, president for his personal initiative for organizing such a wonderful event named Gabqa.
Aziz Bin Al-Rasheedi, media giant and known personality among Kuwaiti public relations, as well as Bu Mohamed, a leading Kuwaiti businessman delivered complimentary speeches. They said they are very much honored to participate in the IKFS GABKA event. Aziz said that these kind of programmes will help to strengthen ties between Kuwaitis and Indians. This is a form of expression of our love, friendship and gratitude to the wonderful people of both India and Kuwait.
Kuwait Tamila Islamic Committee (K-Tic) president Mohamed Meerasha Baqawi also added a few words in Urdu/Hindi language while talking on how to develop and strengthen our powers of self-control, so that we can resist wrongful desires and bad habits and therefore 'guard against evil'.
Talib Ba-Wazir, IKFS patron said that Ramdan fasting will help us to learn to refrain from usurping other’s rights and belongings. In fasting we voluntarily give up even what is rightfully ours; how then can we think of taking what is not ours but belongs to someone else?
The chief guest from Chennai Moulana H A Ahmed Abdul Cader Alim Mahlari, (A-Quran and Hadees researcher, and Khateeb in Kayalpatinam Big Masjid) delivered the Ramadan message. "For the past almost 30 days we have been fasting and hopefully have attained nearness and closeness to Allah so that Allah becomes a reality in our lives. As we bear the rigors of fasting purely for the sake of following a Divine commandment, knowing and feeling that Allah can see all our actions however secret, it intensifies the consciousness of Allah in our hearts, resulting in a higher spiritual experience."
Dr Ghalib Al-Mashoor, in his presidential speech reiterated charity and generosity and urged to speed up especially during Ramadan. It becomes obligatory when the sun sets on the last day of Ramadan. Anyone who gets married, has a baby born to him or becomes a Muslim before the sun sets on that day, has to give zakat al-fitr (on behalf of himself and/or his new wife or new baby], but if that happens after sunset, he does not have to give it. Whoever dies after sunset on the night of fitr, zakat al-fitr must be given on his behalf. This is what Ahmad stated.”(Al-Mughni)
Dr Al-Mashoor added that we learn to give and not to take. The deprivation of fasting makes us sympathise with the sufferings of others, and desirous of alleviating it; and it makes us remember the blessings of life which we normally take for granted.” Anas also thanked IKFS for arranging Qabka. Iftekhar Ahamed, treasurer expressed the vote of thanks followed by Qabka dinner.