Dear friends,

The Diamer Campus of Karakoram International University (KIU) held a seminar on “Love for the Country” (Patriotism) and invited me to speak on the topic.

Many students from different schools and colleges in Chilas participated in the seminar. They shared their views through speeches, Patriotic songs, and other activities. The Campus Director, Dr Talib Hussain, Dr Imdadullah and Maulana Saeed-ur-Rehman also delivered valuable speeches.

A documentary about love for the country, produced by ISPR, was also shown to the audience. It covered many aspects of patriotism, but it did not represent Deeni madaris or their students.

I also delivered a short speech on the topic. I would like to share some of my thoughts with you.

Guidance from the Holy Quran
Allah Talah says:

لَا أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ ، وَأَنْتَ حِلٌّ بِهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ

“I swear by this city, and you are a resident of this city.” (Surah Balad)

These verses highlight the special status of Makkah, the city and homeland of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The Prophet’s Love for Makkah

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ expressed his love for Makkah and said:
“By Allah, you are the best land of Allah and the most beloved land to Allah. Had I not been forced to leave you, I would never have left you.”
(Jami Tirmidhi)

This shows that love for one’s homeland is a natural human feeling and is not against Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ also prayed for Madinah:

“O Allah, make Madinah beloved to us as Makkah is beloved to us, or even more.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)

Dear students

Muhammad ﷺ was sent as a messenger to all humanity and as a mercy to all the worlds. His message was for all people, yet he loved Makkah deeply. This teaches us that loving our homeland is a natural feeling and is not against Islam.

These teachings remind us that love for our homeland and place of residence is a natural and valuable feeling.

The Responsibilities of Students

After discussing the Quran and Hadith, I focused on the responsibilities of students towards their country.

Dear students, true love for your homeland means respecting the law, protecting public property, avoiding corruption, promoting education and justice, helping the poor, protecting the environment, and spreading peace, unity, and tolerance.

But I especially emphasized one point,
Dear students, your greatest responsibility towards your country is to study, study, and study.

Without education, hard work, and research, you cannot play your proper role in the development of your country. If you truly love Pakistan, work hard to gain knowledge, develop your skills, and use them for the betterment of society.

Dear students and listeners,

Pakistan is not merely a piece of land. It represents the sacrifices of our elders and the hopes of our future generations.

Love for Pakistan does not mean simply waving a flag or raising slogans. It means working honestly, respecting others, promoting education, and serving humanity.

I also shared another important message with the students.This is the age of social media. Raise questions with knowledge, not ignorance. Criticize within reasonable limits, and express your disagreements respectfully.

Dear students

I have noticed that some students use abusive language and make fun of others. This behaviour is neither good for students nor beneficial for our society. Mockery and abusive language cannot solve our problems. We need knowledge, reason, tolerance, and respectful discussion.

We may disagree with one another, but we should never forget our manners. A civilized society welcomes questions, respects differences, and values constructive criticism.
The best proof of our love for Pakistan is to become good citizens, good human beings, and good Muslims.

A Meaningful Discussion Over a Cup of Tea

After the seminar, I had an opportunity to discuss various social issues and educational challenges in Diamer, particularly the need to promote higher education in the region. The discussion took place over a cup of tea with the Campus Director, Deputy Director, and other distinguished faculty members of KIU Diamer Campus.
Such academic discussions are valuable because the development of a society requires not only speeches and seminars but also serious thinking, practical efforts, and cooperation.

May Allah help us become responsible citizens who contribute positively to our country and society. Ameen.

Ahbab Kya kehty Han?