In recognition of his distinguished contributions in education for decades, and of his efforts to spread moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence within and outside OIC member states, the International Crescent School has selected H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, on the evening of Saturday 21 Dhul Quidah 1444, corresponding to June 10, 2023, as guest of honor at this year’s annual graduation ceremony, at the renowned Yuchatan Hotel in Bangkok.

The ceremony began with the Thai national anthem, followed by the recitation of the Holy Quran by one of the school’s students. Next, Dr. Ibrahim Naiti, the DG, delivered a welcome speech, in which he expressed the thanks of the members of the board and executive management, to His Excellency for honoring the school by responding to their invitation, and for accepting their choice as guest of honor for this year. He added, “Today, I feel very proud to honor Your Excellency, to attend this ceremony, during which we celebrate together the awarding of diplomas to distinguished students who have passed with excellence the internationally recognized general secondary school examinations, and I feel a special gratitude, because I am one of the fruits of your education and solid training when you were a professor and educator at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, you have been for me, and for many foreign students like me in general, a generous father, a wise mentor, a great support and a strong backer. You have spared no effort to uplift, teach, guide and direct us. This is possible with determination and a strong will. You also taught us that our success is in our own hands, after Allah the Almighty, if we take the right steps. You taught us that day never to give in to despair, and not to be fooled by success, but rather to have confidence in our abilities, and to invest in our abilities to realize our dreams in life. I say to you, on behalf of myself and my colleagues, thank you for your upbringing, thank you for your instruction, thank you for your willingness to succeed, and I ask Allah to reward you on our behalf, and to prolong your life and health…”

After this impressive speech, His Excellency delivered the following address: On this occasion, beginning with thanks, praise and gratitude to the Creator, and may blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of God, as well as his family and companions. The students, parents and all the school staff, including the bus drivers, cooks, cleaners, guards, etc., would like to thank you all. Thank you all so much for inviting me and giving me the honor of participating in this timeless historic occasion, which I consider one of the most cherished occasions, and one that I love myself, because it brings back beautiful memories of a world that I loved with all my love, and still love very much. It’s the world of science, learning and teaching, the world of knowledge, education and acclaim. I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, the parents of these students whose success and graduation we’re celebrating after years of your monitoring, orientation and guidance, I congratulate you for the most expensive and noble investment you’ve made, a generous and grandiose investment in your children’s education. It is a lasting investment in the future, in society, in countries and in the world. The remarkable sacrifice of your time and health for the education of these young people, and if it hadn’t been for God and then your efforts, sincerity and dedication, they wouldn’t have achieved what they have today. Congratulations, thank you, and may God reward you well. I’d like to underline the commitment of the school, the wisdom of the management and as well as creation of such an ideal and wonderful atmosphere of harmony, integration, communication and harmony between the different components of the educational process, may God increase it in success and achievement. As for you, graduates, I congratulate you on your graduation, for bringing happiness and joy to the hearts of your families and relatives, for your assiduity and diligence, and the famous proverb “He who seeks glory stays up all night” has come true in you. However, with this great success, I would like to remind you that this graduation is nothing more than the beginning of a new journey of many life courses, and a new stage of life full of challenges and difficulties in a world that shows no mercy to the lazy, no compassion to the hopeless, and no concern for the negligent. A total and permanent trust in your Creator, and then in your ability to turn challenges into opportunities, to make good use of and invest the potentials and opportunities available to you, be they large or small. I am convinced that if you continue to show what you have shown before in terms of determination, eagerness and acceptance of reasons, you will achieve greater and more important successes than those you have achieved throughout your studies in this school. I ask Allah to take you by the hand, to help you and to make success your ally. Finally, I call on you, graduates, not to forget all those who have been of service to you, to remember your parents, your tutors, the support, sacrifice and vigilance they have given you, to thank them at all times…. Remember your honorable teachers and thank them for their dedication to your education and for sacrificing their time to ensure your success and excellence. Remember your school’s administration and thank them for their undeniable efforts in planning, guiding and streamlining, which have had a clear impact on your success… Don’t forget this beautiful country, the Kingdom of Thailand, which has offered you an atmosphere of security, safety and stability, which has enabled you to study in a safe and stable atmosphere, with ease and comfort… The success you have achieved would not have been possible without the safety and security enjoyed by this hospitable country…… I conclude this speech by saying, may Allah’s praise and blessings be upon him and his family: If the son of Adam dies, his work ends with three things: permanent charity, beneficial knowledge and a virtuous son who makes duas for him.

His Excellency then added: “Congratulations to those who founded this school, in particular His Excellency the former ambassador of Qatar to Thailand who is the current ambassador to Spain, as well as the businessman Sheikh Fofana, and others, in order to educate the younger generations about their religion and their world, those children who will pray for you as long as they are alive, as well as their offspring…. I have great hope in Allah, and then in all of you, to spread the message of love, brotherhood and humanity… God takes care of you, and rewards you in my name for this honour, and for this honouring of my modest person, and pray to Allah for me, for it is a difficult task that I am about to undertake. It’s about helping our girls in Afghanistan to return to schools and universities. I believe that education is an innate sacred right for every human being, man or woman. God is with you.”

The celebration then continued with the presentation of the Shield of Honor to His Excellency by the Executive Director and the representative of the Board of Directors, as well as graduation certificates to graduates and medals of excellence to students who had distinguished themselves by their excellence. H.E. Prof. Jaran gave a speech on behalf of the Board of Directors, in which he thanked His Excellency for attending and for his wise speech and guidance, and then gave piecs of advice to the new alumni. On the students’ side, Muhammad Afif Habib Allah gave a speech on behalf of all students, in which he expressed his thanks to all parents, the teaching staff and the school administration. The ceremony ended with a dinner in honor of His Excellency and the students’ parents.