LUMS Religious Fest

Hujjat-e-Haq (Study Guide)

Day 1: Individual Speeches
Guidelines:
The first day of the event is dedicated to individual speeches, where each participant is given a speaking
time of a minimum of 2 minutes and maximum 3 minutes. The first alert signal will be sounded at the
conclusion of the initial 2 minutes, followed by the second alert at the 3-minute mark. Participants are
kindly advised that any continuation of speech beyond the second alert will result in a deduction of
points. If a participant continues speaking for an additional 30 seconds after the 3-minute mark,
regrettably, they will be disqualified. Your understanding and adherence to these time regulations are
greatly appreciated.

Judging Criteria:
• Content Relevance: How well the speech relates to the chosen topic.
• Delivery: Clarity, fluency, and engagement.
• Originality: Uniqueness and creativity in approach.
• Persuasiveness: The ability to persuade or impact the audience.

Topics of speech:
The speakers are presented with a choice of six different topics:

1- Religion and Governance:

Discuss the role of religion in shaping laws, policies, and governance structures, examining how
religious beliefs influence political decisions and societal norms.
2- Religion and Social Justice:
Analyze how religious principles intersect with movements for equality, human rights, and social
justice, citing examples of religious leaders or organizations advocating for positive change.
3- Religion in Conflict and Peacebuilding:
Explore how religious differences have sparked conflicts and, conversely, how religious
institutions and beliefs have contributed to peacebuilding efforts.
4- Religious Freedom and Rights:
Discuss the significance of protecting religious freedoms while ensuring the rights of individuals
who might not adhere to any religion, emphasizing the need for mutual respect.
5- Emerging Trends and Challenges:
Address contemporary challenges such as extremism, fundamentalism, and the misuse of
religious beliefs for political agendas, discussing strategies to address these issues.
6- Religion and Environmental Ethics:
Consider the role of religion in environmental stewardship and how religious beliefs influence
attitudes towards environmental sustainability.
Participants are encouraged to select any one of these topics and interpret it in their unique way. They
have the freedom to explore any aspect of the chosen topic, presenting their perspectives and insights.

At the end of each speech, the audience may ask questions from the speaker about the ideas presented
by them. The top 3 speakers, based on the cumulative scores from the judges, will be announced at the
end of Day 1.

Day 2: British Parliamentary Style Debate Matches

Guidelines:
On the second day, the event shifts to British Parliamentary style debate matches, each team comprising
two participants. The debate involves four teams of two speakers each, two in favor (Government) and
two against (Opposition) the motion. Each speaker has 3 minutes to present. . The first alert signal will
be sounded at the conclusion of the initial 2 minutes, followed by the second alert at the 3-minute mark.
Participants are kindly advised that any continuation of speech beyond the second alert will result in a
deduction of points. If a participant continues speaking for an additional 30 seconds after the 3-minute
mark, regrettably, they will be disqualified. Your understanding and adherence to these time regulations
are greatly appreciated.

Structure of British Parliamentary Debate:

Judging Criteria:
• Style: 40 marks
• Content: 40 marks
• Strategy: 20 marks

Debate Motions:
1. This house believes that it is in the best interest of Palestinian people to accept a two-
state solution offered by the UN.
2. This house believes that religious narratives are the primary obstacle to peace between
the Israelis and Palestinians.
Participants are given the option to debate on either of the mentioned motions. Once the registration
period is over, we will share an Excel sheet with all registered participants. On the sheet, participants
need to choose their debate topic, language and indicate whether they are in the opposition or
proposition team. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a slot is taken, remaining
participants must select from the available positions. Additionally, a representative from the team can fill
out the sheet on behalf of their entire team (if necessary).

The winning team of 2 participants and the Runner up team of 2 participants will be declared based on
their cumulative marks according to the judging criteria. Participants are advised to prepare by ensuring
a thorough understanding of the structure and rules of the debates. The event promises to be a
challenging and rewarding experience for all involved.

Note: Both the speeches and debates are bilingual (English and Urdu). Speeches and debates will take
place with separate sessions designated for English and Urdu. This ensures that everyone has an
opportunity to participate and express their views in both English and Urdu. All the instructions are same
for both English and Urdu speakers. Good luck to all the orators!

Topics of speech in Urdu

1- ‫مذہب اور حکومت‬:
‫ر‬
‫معاشن اصولوں پر کس طرح اثر انداز ہوت ہی تشکیل می‬ ‫ اور حکمران ےک ڈھانچ ک عقائد سیایس فیصلوں اور‬،‫ پالیسیوں‬،‫قوانی‬
‫ اس بات کا جائزہ لی کہ مذہب ۔‬،‫مذہب ےک کردار پر بحث کریں‬

2- ‫مذہب اور سماج انصاف‬:

‫ اور سماج انصاف ک تحریکوں ےک ساتھ کس طرح ایک دوشے کو جوڑت‬،‫ انسان حقوق‬،‫تجزیہ کریں کہ مذہب اصول مساوات‬
‫ مذہب رہنماؤں یا تنظیموں ک مثالی دیت ہوت جو مثبت تبدییل ک وکالت کرت ہی۔‬،‫ہی‬

3- ‫تنازعات اور قیام امن می مذہب‬:

 ‫دریافت کریں کہ کس طرح مذہب اختالفات ن تنازعات کو جنم دیا ہ اور اس ےک برعکس‪ ،‬کس طرح مذہب اداروں اور عقائد ن‬
‫قیام امن ک کوششوں می تعاون کیا ہ۔‬

‫‪:‬مذہب آزادی اور حقوق ‪4-‬‬

‫باہیم احتام ک ضورت پر زور دیت ہوت مذہب آزادیوں ےک تحفظ ک اہمیت پر تبادلہ خیال کریں اور ان افراد ےک حقوق کو یقیب‬
‫بنائی جو کس مذہب ےک مانن وال نہ ہوں۔‬

‫‪:‬ابھرت ہوت رجحانات اور چیلنجز ‪5-‬‬

‫عصی چیلنجوں جیےس کہ انتہا پسندی‪ ،‬بنیاد پرسب‪ ،‬اور سیایس ایجنڈوں ےک لن مذہب عقائد کا غلط استعمال‪ ،‬ان مسائل س نمٹن‬
‫ےک لن حکمت عملیوں پر بات کرنا۔‬

‫‪:‬مذہب اور ماحولیات اخالقیات ‪6-‬‬

‫ماحولیان تحفظ می مذہب ےک کردار پر غور کریں اور کس طرح مذہب عقائد ماحولیان استحکام ک طرف رویوں کو متاثر کرت ہی‬

‫‪Motions of debate in Urdu‬‬

‫”اس ایوان کا خیال ہ کہ اقوام متحدہ ک طرف س پیش کردہ دو ریاسب حل کو قبول کرنا فلسطیب عوام ےک‬
‫بہتین مفاد می ہ۔“‬
‫"اس ایوان کا خیال ہ کہ مذہب بیانن اشائیلیوں اور فلسطینیوں ےک درمیان امن ک راہ می بنیادی رکاوٹ ہی۔"‬