President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the teachings of Prophet Muhammad’s farewell pilgrimage sermon remain highly relevant for all humanity. He made the remarks on Tuesday evening while opening a fortnight-long Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi 1448 Hijri observance at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Islamic Foundation.

He said the sermon’s lessons on human dignity, equality, fraternity, justice and mutual rights are especially important amid violence, conflict, intolerance, inequality, extremism, falsehood and moral decline. The president called for unity to protect democracy, justice, good governance and fundamental rights, saying division, vengeance and retaliation do not strengthen a nation.

He said the government has begun providing monthly honoraria to imams, muezzins and khadems, and has also started work on honoraria for workers at other religious places of worship. He expressed hope that, before 2030, all mosques and other religious institutions would be covered. The president also unveiled a Seerat commemorative publication marking Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi 1448 Hijri.