Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
Hon.Shaoquett Moselmane’s Speech
on the Quran Presentations Ceremony at NSW Parliament
(Coverage by: Syed Talal, Deputy Editor Sada-e-Watan
Sydney)
On Tuesday, 21 May 2013, a historical and unique function was held at the NSW Parliament House Sydney where Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane MLC presents a copy of Quran to the Hon. Don Harwin President of the Legislative Council .The host of the evening, Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane welcomes all guests. In his speech he said:
I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and pay my respects to their elders past and present. I also acknowledge:
The Hon. Don Harwin
President of the Legislative Council
The Hon. Thomas George Deputy Speaker
The Hon Luke Foley MLC
The Hon. Amanda Fazio MLC
The Hon. John Ajaka MLC
The Hon. Peter Primrose MLC
The Hon. Helen Westwood MLC
The Hon Greg Donnely
Ms. Barbara Perry MP
Mr Guy Zangari MP
Ms. Tania Mihailuk MP
Ms. Sonia Hornery MP
Local government representatives
Consul General of Egypt, His Excellency Mr Aymen Kamel
Counsellor Community Welfare Pakistan Consulate Sydney, – Sardar Balakh Sher
Khosa
and Mr David Blunt (Clerk of the Parliament).
Presented to The Hon.Don .Harwin President of Legislative Council by The Hon.Shaoquett Moselmane MLC ,Representing Government of Pakistan through Sardar Balakh Sher Khosa Counsellor Welfare Consulate General Sydney Along With Iftikhar Rana The President Pakistan Association and An eminent Businessman Kashif Amjad Senior Vice President Pakistan Business Council .This Historic Ceremony Was Not Possible Without the Efforts of the Hon.Shaoquett Moselmane MLC And The Overseas Pakistanis.
In the history of world OF NON MUSLIM COUNTRIES this is for the first time Holly Quran has not only got recognition but has been taken as part of Sydney Parliament Australia and all Muslim Parliamentarians will take oath under Quran said by Hon.Don HARWIN During presentation of holly Quran in parliment.it is not only a matter of great honour,pride for Muslim umma rather a matter of great great honour for government of Pakistan as this has been arranged by overseas Pakistanis and Mr. Sardar Balakh Sher Khosa Counsellor Welfare Consulate General Sydney services as the first diplomatic officer who has not only honoured Pakistan rather he has proved to be a pride for Pakistan as well as for Muslim umma by presenting holly Quran to the president of legislative council Hon.Don HARWIN Along with. HON Shaoquett Moselmane MLC Member of parliament without whose efforts It was not possible for such a historic ceremony to take place.
Your Eminence, Respected Leaders of Muslim communities, representatives from other faiths, community organisations, Multicultural media,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Alsalamu Aalyakum and Good Evening to you all.
Welcome to this momentous and most auspicious occasion. This is the first time ever ( I think) in the history of any Australian Parliament, and possibly in the parliaments of any Western non-Muslim nation that a copy of the Holy Quran is being presented following a motion I moved and agreed to unanimously by the legislative council of the NSW parliament. This is not just a joyous occasion for the Muslim community, but, if I may say, it is a proud moment for all members of this Parliament.
It is significant because it shows our Hon. Elected representative’s allegiance to upholding principles of multiculturalism, religious harmony, and the importance of promoting the ideals of genuine interfaith. I am proud to be a member of this Legislative Council, and thankful to all my parliamentary colleagues from across the political spectrum for joining us here tonight and in particular to the President of the Legislative Council, the Hon Don Harwin who will formally receive the Holy Quran. Ladies and Gentleman, as I said, the importance of tonight’s event is not only for its religious significance. But it is a great testament of respect to those practicing Islam. It is also reflects the openness of our multicultural society, one that is built on acceptance, tolerance and trust. I truly hope that this is the first of many other holy books my colleagues and I will formally present to NSW Parliament.
The Quran literally means "the recitation” and is the holiest book for Muslims who recite, study and practice as the revealed word of God. The Quran is addressed to all of humanity; transcending all barriers and limitations of race, region or time. Further, it seeks to guide humanity in all walks of life; spiritual, temporal, individual and collective. It is not only Muslims who believe in the beauty of this Holy Book. One of the founding fathers of the U.S, President Thomas Jefferson, read the Quran. In fact he studied it as a Law Book. He kept a two volume copy of it in his personal library complete with initialed pages showing he had read them.
The man who wrote the English translation of the Quran had this to say about it: “The style of the Quran is generally beautiful and fluent, especially where it imitates the prophetic manner, and scripture phrases. It is concise, and often obscure, adorned with bold figures after the eastern taste, enlivened with florid and sententious expressions, and in many places, especially where the majesty and attributes of God are described, sublime and magnificent; of which the reader cannot but observe several instances, though he must not imagine the translation comes up to the original, notwithstanding my Endeavor's to do it justice."
I hope, that any future members of the Islamic faith to enter this parliament will have the opportunity to swear oath on the Quran and swear to uphold the principles in this place, and use their privileges to promote respect for race and religion.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Pakistan Australia Business Council for presenting me and the Hon Amanda Fazio former president of the NSW Legislative Council with this one of the world’s most precious books. It is now indeed a matter of great honour and privilege for me to present the Holy Quran, with my colleague the Hon. Amanda Fazio, to the Hon Don Harwin, President of this noble institution the oldest Parliament in Australia, the Parliament House of NSW.
