1 lakh students ready for Infinite Light contest based on a book on Prophet Muhammad
Preparation for an all India contest based on the book The Infinite Light, a biography on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is in full swing. The book originally in Turkish, written by Turkish Islamic scholar Muhammed Fethullah Gülen and translated into dozen of languages including English, Urdu and Hindi has been well received with some 110,000 people, mostly students, ready to enter the contest in which they will be asked questions about “The Infinite Light”.
For days Infinite Light was promoted at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Jamia Nagar with some students erecting temporary stalls in different places.
The Infinite Light Contest 2012-13 examinations will be held in two stages in all over India: In the first stage, high school and university students will answer questions on “The Infinite Light” on January 15. They will move on to a final round of questions on February 9 which will be held in New Delhi.
Owner of the Adam Books Publishing Company, Sajid Ali, whose company printed 110,000 copies of “The Infinite Light” in just two months, said he is very proud to participate in such a project.
Ali said there are many books about the life of the Prophet Muhammad in India and that he had expected “The Infinite Light” to sell between 5,000 and 10,000 copies initially, but added that the entire first printing of 110,000 books has already been sold out due thanks to the promotion of the contest and the interest shown by young people.
Dr. Fakruddin Muhammed, spokesperson of the organizing committee of the contest, said: “It is necessary for today’s youth to learn about Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) character and mission to gain necessary moral values for success”.
The committee unanimously selected “The Infinite Light” because they considered it a book that would explain the life of the Prophet to young people in the easiest way and also engender a love for the Prophet, Dr. Fakruddin added.
Darul Uloom Deoband Rector Shaykh Maulana Mohammad Salim Qasmi, said he very much appreciates the contest which aims to promote Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) life and His character among youth, and also aims to introduce His life to younger generations.
Qasmi's deputy, Maulana Sufyan Qasmi, said he and a delegation examined English, Urdu and Hindi versions of “The Infinite Light” and were very impressed with the book.
Sufyan Qasmi said the number of the books sold till today shows the interest and love of the younger generation towards Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).
The questions for the contest have been prepared in English, Hindi and Urdu by a team of people including academics from leading universities of India, theologians and Islamic Scholars.
The winners of the contest will be presented with awards during the week of the Holy Birth, which marks the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
About the infinite contest
The Infinite Light Contest is organized by seven important opinion makers, intellectuals and institution leaders of Indian Muslim Community.
The first elimination of the exam will start by January 15, 2013 and those who have been successful in this exam will go for the final round which will be held in New Delhi on February 9. A distinguished group of examiners has already started preparing questions from The Infinite Light Book in English, Urdu and Hindi which will be directed to the participants in a multiple choice paper.
The Infinite Light Contest is first of its kind in India by an independent and collective initiation and the large number of the participants who has studied a single book in three different languages.
About the book and author
The Infinite Light Book is originally written in Turkish as “Sonsuz Nur” means Infinite Light as a Prophetic Biography on the character, daily life and time of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) by Turkish Islamic scholar Muhammed Fethullah Gülen who has been named as world’s top intellectual by an international poll conducted by Foreign Policy Magazine of US.
Fethullah Gülen, a popular Turkish author, educational activist, opinion leader, and preacher emeritus, whose commitment to tolerance and altruism has inspired millions to work for peace in Turkey and abroad.
He has been known for his statement after the 9/11 attacks in US: “A Muslim cannot be a terrorist and a terrorist cannot be a Muslim”. Later on NY Times newspaper quoted him.
Gülen lamented that there are people who commit violence and suicide bombings, emphasizing that they don't know Islam well. He said suicide bombings are actions tantamount to barbarism and are not related to Islam.
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