LATEST CV
NAME
Dr.Hamidullah Marazi
(Alias Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi)
PARENTAGE
Late Gh. Ahmad Marazi
PERMANENT ADDRESS
Doabgah Sopore, Kashmir
PRESENT ADDRESS
Shah-I-Hamadan Institute of Islamic Studies, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Kashmir–190 006.e-mail=hamid001@rediffmail.com
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
20 Years
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
8 Years (as Lecturer) 10 years
(As Reader) and from March 2005 as Professor, continuing
PRESENT OCCUPTATION
Lecturer since 1989 &
Reader since 1997 &
Head of the Department
Islamic Studies
since May 2001, Professor since March 2005, continuing
University of Kashmir, Srinagar.
SPECIALIZATION
Comparative Religions and Orientalism.
DATE OF BIRTH
19-5-1958
LANGUAGES KNOWN
Arabic, Persian, English, Urdu, Hindi and Kashmiri.
EXPERIENCE OF GUIDING RESEARCH SCHOLARS
18 years
RESEARCH SCHOLARS
S.
No
Year
Name of the Candidate
Degrees
Topics of Research
1
1995-1997
Mir Jamshid Hussein
M.Phil
Islamic Response to Nationalism
2
1995-1997
Nazir Ahmad Dar
M.Phil
Anjuman-I-Nusrat-ul-Islam Kashmir
3.
1997-2001
Sheikh Jamil Ali
Ph.D.
Trends in Islamic Thought – A case study of Maulana Maududi and Abul Hassan Ali Nadvi
4.
1997
Mir Jamshid Hussein
Ph.D.
Islamic Response to Inter-Religious Dialogue
5.
1999-2000
Nazir Ahmad Dar
Ph.D.
Educational Institutions of Kashmir.
6.
1999-2001
Mohammad Ibrahim Mir
Ph.D.
Ali Shariati’s Approach to Understanding of Religions.
7.
2002
Zahoor Ahmad Shah
M.Phil
Hadith Criticism with reference to Maulana Taqi Ameeni.
8.
1998-2000
Ashiq Hussein Facktoo
M.Phil
Ibn Taimiyah’s’ Conception of Tawhid
9
2002
Lubna Jan
M.Phil
Islamic Perspective on Feminism.
10
2001-2002
Ifat Farooqi
M.Phil
The Position of Woman in Islam with reference to Ali Shariati.
11
2000-2001
Tariq Masoodi
Ph.D.
Iqbal and Ghazzali – a study of their Educational Philosophy.
12
2000-2001
Mohammad Shaffi
M.Phil
Iqbal and Abul Kalam Azad.
13
2002-2003
Shahnaz Iqbal
M.Phil
Iqbal’s conception of Youth
14
2004
Miss Mahbooba Akhtar
Ph.D
Islamic Response to the western thought ---A Study of Muhammad Iqbal and Dr. Ali Shariati
15
2005
Mohammad Abdullah
Ph.D
Islamic Response to the western Civilisation a Study of Maulana Mawdudi and Sayyid Qutb
16
2005
Zahoor Ahmad
M.Phil
Challenges to Islamic Dawah in Modern Times: A Study
17
2005
Iram Ara
M.Phil
Feminist Perspective on Women in Context of Islam –Challenges and Responses
18
2005
Rozi Bano
M.Phil
Development and Socio-Religious Impact of Suharwardi Order in Kashmir
19
20
2004-
2005-
Shahnaz Iqbal
Shafiq Ahmad
Ph.D
Time in modern physics and Iqbal’s conception of Time
Islamic perspective on Peace and social justice
ACADEMIC RECORDS:
YEAR
EXAMINATION
UNIVERSITY
DIVISION
SUBJECTS
1978
BA (with 70% marks in Arabic)
Kashmir
IInd
Arabic, Political Science, Urdu & General English
1981-82
Bachelor of Theology
AMU, Aligarh
Ist Position II
Tafsir wa Asooli Tafsir, Fiqh-wa-Asooli-Fiqh, Hadith-wa-Asooli-Hadith.
1981-82
M.A.(Philosophy)
AMU, Aligarh
Ist Position
Muslim & Greeks Philosophy, Ghazzali & Modern Philosophy, Indian Philosophy and Iqbalian Philosophy.
1982-83
Master of Theology
AMU, Aligarh
Ist Position
Comparative Religion, Sufism, Quranic Studies, Fiqh-I-Islami etc. and Dissertation on “Concept of Hijrat in Islam”.
1984-85
Pre-Ph.D.
JNU, New Delhi
A - grade
Methodology of Science and Logic. The Modern Western Philosophy, Area of Research
1986-87
Advanced Diploma in Mass Media
JNU, New Delhi
A-grade
Journalism, Radio, T.V & Film Programming, Editing and Documentation.
1993-95
Ph.D.
Kashmir
…
Ph.D. (in Islamic Philosophy); Topic – The Philosophy of Ghazzali and its impact on Western Philosophers.
Books and Translations
YEAR
TITLE
PUBLISHING COMPANY
SUBJECTS
PAGES
1976
Maulana Maududi & Youth
Publishing Academy Srinagar
Islamic Studies
20
1986
The Concept of ‘Hijrat’ in Islam (Urdu)
Maktaba Huda Deoband U.P. India
Islamic History
200
1989
Revised 2nd Edition “The Philosophy of ‘Hijrat’ in Islam” (Urdu)
Classic Arts Delhi
Islamic History
225
Ist edition
1996,2nd edition,2006,3rd edition,
2007
English Edition “The concept of Hijrat’ in Islam”as Hijrah –A Turning Point in Islamic Movement
Adam Publications, Delhi
Islamic History
200
1987
Assam From Agitation to Accord
Genuine Publications New Delhi
Islam in India and Indian Muslims,Reffered as source book on Assam in Encyclopaedia Britanica,on line
175
1989
Islamic Ideology (Urdu)
Classic Arts Delhi
Islamic Studies
130
1990
Tareekh-e-Nazool-I-Quran
Classic Arts Delhi
Quranic Studies
60
2003
‘Afkar-I-Taza’ (A selection of Jamaluddin Afghani’s Maqalat, translated into Urdu)
J&K publishers ,Srinagar
Islamic Studies
150
1991
Some Aspects of Islamic Thought
Sayem Publications, Kashmir
Islamic Studies
200
1991
‘Kashmir ore Iqbal’
Sayem Publications, Kashmir
Islamic Studies
33
1994
‘Harf-i-Aakhir’ Translation of Ibn Rushd’s ‘Fasl-al-Maqal’.
Dar-ul Fikir Kashmir
Islamic Studies & Muslim Philosophy
60
Ist edition,2000,2nd edition2007
Al-Ghazzali & Western Thought
Adam Publications, Delhi
Islamic Philosophy
200
2008
Under -publication
‘Islamic Beliefs and Ideals’ (Urdu)
(under publication)
Vanguard, Publishers, Kashmir
Asool-I-Din ,Islamic Studies
350
1997
Muslim Philosophy and Science
Cosmos Computers and Publications Kashmir
Islamic-Philosophy
500
2001
Muslim philosophy ,science and Mysticism(second revised edition)
Sarup Publishers, Delhi
Muslim philosophy
(Reviewed by Prof. Yaseen Qadri,Prof. Agha Ashraf, Prof. M .I Khan,Dr.M H Zaffar,and Dr. Hayat Aamir in a book release function ,14th, July 1998,and S Mukhtar in Kashmir Times ,Jammu,1999)
350
2002
Emerging from Darkness-The Impact of Ghazzali on Western Philosophers
Sarup Publishers, Delhi
Islamic Philosophy
(Reviewed by Dr. Badruddin Bhat ,GreaterKashmir,Augst,03) Referred as source book on Ghazzali in Encyclopaedia Britanica,on line
400
2003
‘World Religions’ and Islam –A Critical study! (Ed. With introduction) – Two Volumes
Sarup Publishers, Delhi
Comparative Religion
550
2008
Intellectual Legacy of Ibn Taimiyah
(under publication)
Adam publishers New Delhi
Islamic Thought
200
2002
Edited and introduced Kashmir under the Sultans
by Prof.Mohibbul Hassan
Sheikh Usman and Sons, Srinagar
Kashmir History
400
2002
A Critical study of Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam by Dr.Iqbal(Urdu)
Iqbal Institute ,University of Kashmir,Srinagar
Muslim Thought
(Reviewed by Prof. V.N Datta,Islam &Modern Age, New Delhi,2005
in The Tribune,June,02, Prof. Qadus Javid in Bazyaft, Urdu Dept.Kashmir University,Rashid Afaque Greater Kashmirr,Dec,2002 )
Literature
300
2002
Adai Izhar Ki Tammana(poetical collection in Urdu)
Aamina Sayem,Publications Srinagar
(Reviewed By Prof. N Datta in The Tribune, July 2003,and R K Bharati in Kashmir Times,May,03 ,Tariq Kabli,Greater Kashmir,Jan,02,
The Monthly Maarif ,Azamgarh,2006),Reviewed in Itihad-i-Millat ,Urdu Magazine ,New Delhi, May 2008
300
2003
Translation of Fasl al Maqal of Ibn Rushd (Averroes) as Attitude of Islam towards philosophy and science
(From Arabic into English with annotated notes and detailed introduction)
Sarup and Sons
New Delhi
Philosophy and science in Islam
350
2003
The Quran Illustrated,
Quranic sciences and commentary of Bismillah
Ashraf Book Center ,Srinagar
Quranic studies
200
2008
Sarmai –I-Hayat
(collection of Essays on Ethics and moral teachings )
(under publication)
Vanguard publishers ,Srinagar
Ethics
100
2008
Nigarshat (collection of literary essays )
(under publication)
Vanguard Publications ,Srinagar
Literature
300
2003
The Role of Syed Ali Hamadani in the promotion of Arts and Crafts in Kashmir in
Ali Hamadani -----Life and Achievements, edited Prof. Wasim Shah
Kanishka Publishers
Delhi
Islamic Studies
400
2007
2007
2008
2008
Challenges to Religions and Islam (,A study of Muslim
Movements ,Personalities,trends and issues)
Impact of Media on Society
Incarnation in World Religions
Sociology of Religions
Sarup and Sons
New Delhi
Nadwatul al Ulama Lucknow India
Philedelphia USA
Printice Hall Delhi
Islam, West and Religions
Introduction on the Book of Nazrul Hafiz
Foreword to the Book of M Ghulati
Prologue to the book of Dr Mir Ibrahim
1500
3,volumes
200
250
300
Research papers and Articles
1984
A Comparative Study of Methods of Doubt of Ghazzali & Descartes
Quest for News Science, A book published by Center for Studies on Islamic Sciences, Aligarh.
1987
Al-Ghazzali’s Method of Doubt
Accepted for a Mansuel Publication, London Issues in Islamic Science. Edited by Prof. Munawwar Anees.
1984
Islamic Revolutionary Thought and Orientalism (Study of Khomeini, Ali Shariati & Syed Qutb)
Journal of Islamic Studies Society, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
1984
Dr. Noor u-Nabi
The Monthly Burhan, New Delhi.
1987
Kashmir Aur Iqbal
Iqbal Magazine, Aligarh Muslim University.
1988
Assam Muslims
The Weekly Takbeer Lahore
1988
‘Descartes Method and Sources of Knowledge with special reference to Ghazzali’s approach to philosophy’.
Islam and Modern Age, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
1988
Religious Identity in an Increasingly Secular Society
A world council of Churches Geneva Publication on Multi Religious Dialogue, Edited by Keneth Kracknell, Geneva.
1989
‘Philosophical Colloquy at Lucknow’
Islam and Modern Age, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
1989
Ethics in Islam
American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, New York, U.S.A.
1993
Religion and Secularism, Some Theoretical Issues’
Journal of Religion and Law Review, I.O.S, New Delhi.
1994
Iqbal’s Concept of Ego
Kashmir University Publication DSW, Kashmir University
1994
Iqbal’s Sources of Inspiration
Iqbal Studies, Iqbal Institute Kashmir University.
1994
Ali Shariati’s Critique of Existentialism
Iqbal Studies, Iqbal Institute, Kashmir University.
1995
Al-Ghazzali’s Skepticism, A prelude to his theory of Knowledge
Journal of Centre for Central Asian Studies, Kashmir University.
1996
Syed Ali Hamadani and Tawhid
Dean Students Welfare Office Publication, University of Kashmir.
1996
Sistan’s Transition to Islam
Baluchistan and Sistan University, Iran Publication.
1997
Social Philosophy of Dr. Ali Shariati
Danish, Department of Persian, University of Kashmir
1997
Critical Analysis of the Review Books on Iqbal’s Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam.
Iqbal Studies, Iqbal Institute, University of Kashmir.
2000
Al-Farabi’s Philosophy
Studies on Central Asia, published by CCAS, University of Kashmir.
2000
Islam in Sistan
Indian History Congress Proceedings volume, 1999, Aligarh.
1999
A Tour to the land of Rustam - Sistan
Danish, Department of Persian, University of Kashmir.
2000
Nizamiyah Madrasas
Danish, Department of Persian, University of Kashmir.
2000
Educational Development of Al-Ghazzali
Insight, Department of Education, Journal, University of Kashmir.
May, 2000
Birth Control and Islam, a balanced view point,
The Monthly “The New Hope”, Srinagar.
Dec. 24, 1998
“Dynamism of Dissent in Philosophical perspective with reference to Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd”
Presented a paper entitled in an International Seminar organized by the Department of Philosophy, AMU, Aligarh.
October 2000
Imam-Ghazzali and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
The Monthly Tahzibul Ikhlaq, AMU Aligarh.
1999
Ghalib ka Mahooliyati Sha’oor
Tasalsul, Journal of Urdu Department Jammu.
2001
2002
2003
2002
Rational Sciences in India
Ghazzali’s approach to philosophy and Natural Sciences
Woman between Religions and Feminism
Mullah Sadra Ghazali and Ibn Sina
Islam and Modern Age, New Delhi
Hamdard Islamicus,Pakistan
Adult Education publication ,university of Kashmir Srinagar
Digest Center for Central Asian Studies, university of Kashmir
2003
Medical Contribution of Ibn Sina
Islam and Modern Age ,New Delhi
2003
Islam Allows Religious Freedom
World Fellowship of Inter-Religious Councils publication,Kerala
2003
The Religious Status of Poetry in Islam
Gulala,University Magazine , university of Kashmir Srinagar
2003
Ibn Taimiyah’s critique to Greek Logical categories
Insight Islamicus,Rresearch Journal of Islamic studies ,
university of Kashmir Srinagar
2004
Islamic view point on Religious freedom
World Forum of Inter Religious-Councils,Kerala
2005
The Background of The Maktubat of Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi
Pakistan Historical Review
Karachi
2008
Rationality and Philosophy In Medieval India
Accepted for Govt.of India Ministry of Culture and History publication under Religions of India project
2005
Inter religious Dialogue and Islam
Islam and Modern Age ,New Delhi (Urdu)
2006
2008
2008
Ghazzali and Sir Syed
Kashmiri Naat Khawani
Sufism and Rishiism in Kashmir and social reforms
Tahdibul al Ikhlaq,Aligarh
Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts ,
New Delhi
Sanskrit Journal ,University of Kashmir
Conferences / Seminars / Orientation and Refresher Courses Attended and papers presented
Year
Papers
Held by
Mode of Contribution
1983
A Comparative study of Method of Doubt Ghazzali & Descartes
Centre for Studies on Science, Aligarh
Paper
1983
Human Nature and Islam
Theological Society, AMU, Aligarh
Paper
1983
Descartes and Ghazzali
Islamic Studies, Department, AMU Aligarh
Paper
1984
Contemporaries of Ghalib
Ghalib Institute Delhi
Participation
1984
Buddhism and Indian Cultures
Vigyan Bhawan Delhi
Participation
1985
Sulaiman Nadvi (Urdu)
Taraqi Urdu Anjuman Delhi
Speech
1985
Descartes’ Epistemology
Indian Philosophical Congress Hyderabad
Paper
1986
Al-Ghazzali’s Method
Indian Philosophical Congress Calcutta
Paper
1987
Religion and Peace
IRLA World Council, Ashoka Hotel, Delhi.
Participation in Symposium
1987
Ghazzali’s theory of Causation
Indian Philosophical Congress, Kashmir University
Paper
1988
Hijrat and Orientalism
Institute of Objective Studies, Madras
Paper
1989
General Orientation Course – ASC
Kashmir University, Srinagar
Participation
1989
Sociology & Kashmir Studies
Kashmir University, Srinagar
Participation
1989
Social Structure of Muslims in India
Institute of Objective Studies New Delhi.
Participation
1989
Abul Kalam Azad
Jamia Millia Delhi
Participation
1990
Sufism and Islam
Sufi Centre, New Delhi
Speech
1991
Islamic concept of Religious Dialogue
WFIRC, Kerala
Paper
1992
Refresher Course in Islamic Studies
Academic Staff College Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Participation
1992
Ali Shariati’s Concept of Islamic Social Change
Department of Political Science, Kashmir University
Paper
1992
Role of Religion in post Communist Era.
Humanities, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
Paper
Dec 27-29, 1999
“Rational Sciences in Medieval India”.
60th Indian History Congress
Paper
Jan 6-9, 2000
“Zoroastrianism and Indo-Iranian Cultures”
Second International Congress
Participation.
22-26 Jan, 2000
“Hope in Harmony in Islamic Perspective”
International Seminar, World Fellowship of Inter-religious Councils, Cochin, Kerala.
Paper
1993
Muslim Philosophy from Mutazalities to Iqbal – A brief survey.
CCAS Kashmir University
Paper
1993
Al-Ghazzali and Natural Sciences
University of Kashmir Seminar on Islam and Science
Paper
1993
The Sources of Inspiration of Dr.Iqbal
Iqbal Institute of University of Kashmir
Paper
1994
Ali Shariati’s Critique of Sartre’s Existentialism
Iqbal Institute of University of Kashmir
Paper
1994
Some Reflections on Ibn Sina’s Kitab-ul Najat
CCAS Srinagar at Jammu
Paper
1995
Ghazzali’s Skepticism – A prelude to his theory of knowledge.
Institute of Objective Studies Aligarh Chapter
Paper
1995
Some Spiritual Dimensions of Nahjul-Balaghah
International Congress on Nahjul-Balaghah, Iran culture House, New Delhi
Paper
1994
Semantic Philosophy and the Quranic sciences
Seminar of Institute of Objective Study, New Delhi
Paper
1995
Al-Farabis’ Contribution to logic
International Seminar on Indo-Iranian Contribution to Islamic Culture, Department of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Paper
1995
Aurad-I-Fatihiah and Tawhid
Seminar on Life and Contribution of Shah-I-Hamadan, Islamic Study Circle Srinagar, Kashmir.
Paper
1996
Approaches and methods to study Religions – an Islamic Appraisal!
Workshop on “Methodology of Social Sciences in an Islamic Perspective” Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi.
Paper
1995-96
Refresher Course in Islamic Studies
Academic Staff College Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Participation
1995
International Conference on Sistan and Baluchistan
Baluchistan and Sistan University, Iran
Paper
1991
Iqbal’s Concept of Ego (Khudi)
Doordarshan, Srinagar, Kashmir, Literary Programme, Shahkar.
Participation
1991
Social Issues and Literature
-do-
-do-
1992
Prem Chand – and his literary contribution
Doordarshan, Srinagar, Kashmir, Literary Programme, Shahkar.
-do-
1997
Rehmatan-lil-Aalmeen
On the Prophet Mohamad’s Birthday, T.V.Srinagar
Special Guest Speaker
1996
Life and Teachings of Guru Nanek – A survey
Radio Kashmir Srinagar – Non-formal Educational programme (Pragash)
Participation
1996
Ibn Sina
Radio Kashmir Srinagar – non-formal Educational Programme (Pragash)
Guest Speaker
1997
Aurobindo Gosh
Radio Kashmir Srinagar – Non-formal Educational Programme (Pragash)
Guest Speaker
1997
Zoroaster
Radio Kashmir Srinagar – Non-formal Educational Programme (Pragash)
Guest Speaker
2000
Islamic Caliphate and Husayn (RA)
Radio Kashmir Srinagar
Guest Speaker
1997
The Revelation of the Quran
Educational Trust Kashmir, Srinagar
Guest Speaker
1997
Gender Discrimination in Kashmir Valley
Organised by UNICEF India Country Office and Department of Sociology, University of Kashmir.
Speech
May 5, 1998
“Vicegerency on Earth of Adam”
Hyderia Hall Dalgate in a programme on Ashura.
Speech
Sep. 16, 1998
Sheikh Noorudin as a Missionary
Seminar under the auspices of Kashmir Images Forum Srinagar.
Paper
Nov 24, 1998
“Muslim Contribution to Medical Sciences”
Refresher course for the Unani medicine researchers at ASC, Kashmir University, Srinagar.
Lecture
Nov 27, 1998
“Contribution of Ibn Sina to Medical Sciences”.
Reorientation course of Unani medicine researchers and doctors.
Lecture
March, 1999
“Rational Sciences in Medieval India” at Advanced Centre of History, AMU Aligarh.
3 weekly visitorship UGC sponsored research project.
Research Visitorship
Jan-Feb, 2000
A Research Project on Islam and Zoroastrianism.
Sponsored by Kashmir University Srinagar under UGC Scheme at Zoroastrian College and Cama Oriental Institute, Bombay.
Researcher
Sep 6, 1999
“The Status of Missing persons according to Islamic Jurisprudence”.
Interview with Mr. Krishnan Guru Swamy, Staff Writer, Associated Press
Resource person
August 19, 1999
“Prophet (SAW) as the Benefactor of mankind” – State College of Education Srinagar.
a Conference on Sirah of the Prophet (SAW).
Presidential Address
July 27, 1999
“Euthanasia from Religious point of view”
Countrywide UGC Programme AVRC, Srinagar
Participation as a resource person
July 30, 1999
“Cleanliness of Environment from philosophical and Religious point of view”.
3 days Awareness Generation Camp at Zazwoora Zewan sponsored by J&K Social Welfare Board.
Resource person
June 29, 1999
“Intercession in Islam”
Iqbal Khomeni Hall, Shri Bhat, Srinagar.
Paper
July 3, 1999
“Islamic View of Education”.
3 day Educational Conference at Iqbal Khomeni Hall
Paper
October 2000
Agenda for New Millenium
3 day Workshop, India Peace Centre Nagpur
Consultative expert
October 2000
Approaches to Religion
UGC Sponsored National Seminar on Dara Sukhoh, Deptt. Of Philosophy, AMU Aligarh
Paper
December 2000
Ilm-al-Kalam of Shah Wali Allah Dehlalvi
International Seminar on Shah Wali Allah, Dehalavi, Deptt. Of Islamic Studies, AMU.
Paper
December
2000
February
,2001,
Dec.2001,
Dec.2001
2002
June 2002
May 2002
October
2002
January,
2002
October,
2002
October,
2002
17
Sufism in Kashmir- Some Lesser known aspects
The Role of Kashmiri Sufis for economic
Advancement of Kashmir
Peace and Harmony from Islamic point of view
Muslim contribution to Medical Sciences
Ibn Sina’s contribution to Arab Medicine
Islam in India –the history of Muslim Rationalist scholars
Central Asian Medicine during medieval Period
Faith based Reconciliation
Approaches to the study of Religion
Gender Discrimination law and Religion-from an Islamic View point
Sistan and Afghanistan-historical perspective
Indian History Congress Session 2000, at Calcutta University.
Indira Ghandhi Centre for Arts and Culture New Delhi
World Forum for Inter-religious Councils,Kerala
17th Historians of Asia Congress,Dhaka Bangladesh ,
India History Congress, Amritsar
Culture and History project sponsored by Ministry of Culture ,Aligarh
Center for Central Asian Studies,Kashmir ,University
S.H Inst. Islamic studies ,Kashmir University ,Srinagar
Workshop, Organized by Center for Religion and Diplomacy ,Washington
Asia Hotel ,Jammu
Dept. Law ,university of Kashmir Srinagar
National Seminar on Afghanistan ,CCAS,Kashmir University
Paper
Paper
Paper
Paper and presided over a session on medical history
paper
Subject Expert
Paper
Paper
Expert on Faith and comparative religions
Paper
paper
December 2000
Sufism in Kashmir- Some Lesser known aspects
Indian History Congress Session 2000, at Calcutta University.
Paper
Dec.
2001
2002
2002
June 2003
Sept.2003
Rational Interpretation of History of Kashmir
Ibn Sina’s contribution to Medicine
Muslim contribution to Medical sciences
Rational sciences in Medieval India
Critique of Iqbal’s Lectures
Indian History Congress Session,2001,Bhopal,India
Indian History Congress Session,2002Guru Nanak University ,Amritsar Punjab
International Association of Historians of Asia (IAHA),Dhaka, Bangladesh
National seminar ,History and Culture Department ,Indian Government
Iqbal Institute, Kashmir University,Srinagar
Paper
paper
Paper & presided over session on Medical History
Paper Contributed or of the book on development of Islam in India
Paper
Oct.2003
October,2003
October2003
January,30,2004
October,2004
Dec.2004
Dec.2004
January ,9,2005
17th October to 20th, 2005
15th—18th January 2004
November 10-15, 2005
Feminists, Religions of World and Islam
Semantic philosophy and Quranic Sciences
Various Approaches to Religion an Islamic Appraisal
Muslims and Medicine –A Study of Psycho-
Therauopartic Cure Methods.
Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd
Urdu Language and its cultural significance
Muslim philosophy in India –A survey
The Contemporary Challenges and the Quran
Inter –Faith Dialogue and Islam
Kashmiri Rishism –A Meeting ground Between Islam and Hinduism
The Psycho-therapist methods of Ibn Sina
The first Kashmir Bridge building Meeting (Representatives from Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam belonging to USA ,UK ,Pakistan,Ladakh,Jammu and Kashmir participated)
Dept. Law , Kashmir University,Srinagar
Dept. Linguistics , Kashmir University,Srinagar
S.H Inst. Islamic Studies, Kashmir University,Srinagar
Aquarian Age World Congress ,Zoroastrian Mumbai
International Seminar on Ibn Rushd,Deptt.of P[philosophy
AMU Aligarh
All India Poetess Congress, Hyderabad
Indian History Congress Session,2004,Rohilkhand University ,Bareilly U.P
The Quran Learning School ,Kerala
Dept.of Islamic Studies,Jamia Millia Islamia,New Delhi
National Seminar on Islam and Hinduism, Samvad, Mathura, U.P.India
Panacea 2004, Body, Mind and Soul, International Exhibition and Symposium Nehru Center Mumbai India
presided over a session on Healing in Ayuruvedic, Unani and Chinese System of Medicine
The International Center for Religion & Diplomacy,
the Summit Hotel in Katmandu, Nepal
Paper
Paper
Paper
Paper
paper
Guest of Hounor speech
Paper
Inaugural speech
Extension Lecture
Paper
Paper
Participated as a core group member
October2003
Various Approaches to Religion an Islamic Appraisal
S.H Inst. Islamic Studies, Kashmir University,Srinagar
Paper
January,30,2004
Muslims and Medicine –A Study of Psycho-
Therauopartic Cure Methods.
Aquarian Age World Congress ,Zoroastrian Mumbai
Paper
December 5, 6, and 7th
,2005
ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM ---BRIDGE BUILDING AND RECONCIALIATION
“Drop by drop: Building a Community ”: A Conference on Inter faith Collaboration , Aman Shanti Nilayam, Hyderabad, India Henry Martyn Institute (HMI) International conference, Platinum Jubilee celebration (1930-2005)
Paper
October,2004
Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd
International Seminar on Ibn Rushd,Deptt.of Philosophy
AMU Aligarh
paper
Dec.2004
Urdu Language and its cultural significance
Muslim philosophy in India –A survey
All India Poetess Congress, Hyderabad
Guest of Hounor speech
January ,9,2005
The Contemporary Challenges and the Quran
The Quran Learning School ,Kerala
Inaugural speech
Dec.2004
Muslim philosophy in India –A survey
Indian History Congress Session,2004 Rohilkhand University ,Bereily U.P
Paper
January 25,2005
January,27,2005
Inter –Faith Dialogue and Islam
Islamic Movements in West Asia-Wahabbiyah,Salfiah,and Ikhwanul al-Muslimoon
Dept.of Islamic Studies,Jamia Millia
Centre For West Asian Studies, School of International Studies,Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi
Extension Lecture
Extension Lecture
February9,2005
Feb,11,2005
Ilm al Kalam the substance of Islamic
Thought and Philosophy,
The Impact of Shah Wali Allah on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
Dept.of Urdu,Mawalan Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad
Dept.of Urdu,Mawalan Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad
Extension Lecture
Extension Lecture
January 28 & 29, 2006
Chaired the Session 9: on Shared Spaces and Sites of Devotion: A Journey through Jammu and Kashmir in which the Speakers were Dr Yoginder Sikand,Mr. Javeed Shah, and Ashima Kaul, Conference Hall I, India International Center New Delhi
2-day Inter-faith Workshop facilitated by WISCOMP (Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace, an initiative of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi)
Presided as Expert on Islam and World Religions
Sep 5-8 , 2006
Sent my paper to Henry Martyn Institute Hum Safar: Woman-Centred Interfaith
Methodologies in Conflict Transformation and
Peace-Building in the Global South
Henry Martyn Institute (HMI) International Hyderabad, India
paper
December,2006
Sufism and Humanism in Kashmir
2-day seminar on Kashmiri Sufism at IMPA Kashmir
paper
Feb .25-26,2006
3rd June 2007-10June 2007
The Nature of Kashmir Problem
Faith Based Reconciliation Workshop
Two Day Inter-Regional Dialogue of Understanding ,Jammu
Organised by Centre for Dialogue & Reconciliation India
Kargil Kashmir
Organized International Center for Religion and diplomacy Washington USA
Panelist
Resource Person on Islam
May 2007
July 2007
12 -February ,2008
January 2008
January 2008
19,February 2008
Feb ,2008
April,2008
October 2008
Preparation of Arabic Course books for Adult Education Classes
Islam in Kashmir
The Contribution of Arabic Language to World
Responsibilities of Ulama in modern era
The Religious Milieu of Present day Kashmir
Islam in Kashmir –the role of Ulama and Sufis
Contribution of Arabic Literature to World Civilisation
The Naat Khawani and it history in Kashmir
Faith Based Reconciliation
Workshop conducted by State Resource Centre University of Kashmir
Seminar of Sanskrit Dept Kashmir University
Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Dept of Arabic ,Kasragod Post Graduate College Kerala
Al-Jamah- al - Islamia Medina ,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Al-Tawasul Jism al Wahid Al Tawiah al Islamia Azeeziyah ,Ministry of Religious Affairs Makkah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dept .of History ,Jamia Millia Islamia ,New Delhi
Kasragod College Kerala
Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts, New Delhi
International centre for religion and diplomacy USA
Resource Person
Paper
Chief Guest read
Paper in Arabic
Extension Lecture
Guest Speaker
Extension Lecture
Extension Lecture as chief Guest
Paper
Paper
Prizes, Awards and Posts Held
1978
Sheikh-ul-Alam prize of the Cultural Academy, Kashmir
1981-82
Seminar-Secretary, Department of Philosophy, AMU, Aligarh
1982-83
Vice President of Theological Society, Department of Theology, AMU, Aligarh
1982
University Medal for securing first position in M.A. (Master’s degree) in Philosophy
1983
Gold Medal for securing first position in Master’s degree in theology
1984
First Prize in an easy competition organized by Theological Society AMU, Aligarh.
1985
3rd Prize in Essay competition, Organized by Islamic Studies Society, AMU, Aligarh.
1990-2000
Member Committee for Philosophy, Institute of objective Studies, New Delhi.
1991-2000
Member World Council for Inter-religious Councils, Kerala.
1994-96
Executive Member of Kashmir University Teachers Association.
1995-96
Member Indian Association of Muslim Social Scientists, New Delhi.
1995-96
Member Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.
1994-97
Member of Indo-Art Cultural Society, Calcutta, India.
1996-2000
Youth Convener World Council for Inter-religious Councils Kerala.
Oct 3, 1998
Awarded a Certificate of appreciation and a Shawl for Literary Contribution by Halq- a- Arbabbi-Dhauq Barmulla.
Nov 5, 1998
Included in Directory of Distinguished leadership Biography by ABI,.USA
July 26, 1998
Selected for inclusion in the Directory of American Biographical Institute, USA.
March, 2000
Appointed as an Honorary member of Research Board of Advisors, American Biographical Institute, USA.
May 2000
January ,2002
,2002
January
2002
Appointed as the Head of the Department of Islamic Studies, University of Kashmir Srinagar.
Diploma D’ Honneur De Naturale (HONORIS CAUSA)awarded this Honorary Diploma by Zoroastrian College Mumbai(Affiliated to Open International University,USSR,Srilanka,and Central America in Collaboration with UN Peace University ) for scientific and Educational Research.
Award of Appreciation by ‘for presenting a scientific paper at the world congress and the invaluable services rendered to the cause of education and establishment of Inter –Faith Peace on Earth’ .Religious Zoroastrian College Mumbai(Affiliated to Open International University,USSR,Srilanka,and Central America in Collaboration with UN Peace University ) for scientific and Educational Research.
Silver Jubilee Award Medal, (‘in appreciation of the invaluable services rendered to the cause of Education as a Guest Lecturer and Speaker of the Zoroastrian College Mumbai, Affiliated to Open International University, USSR, Srilanka, and Central America in Collaboration with UN Peace University, on the Day, 20 of January 2002.’)
2002
The University of Kashmir suggested my name for the prestigious Institute of Objective Studies New Delhi, Shah Walliullah Award, which is meant to honour eminent scholars who have done outstanding work in Social sciences.
2003
Member International Association of Historians of Asia
2003
Core Group Member ,International Center For Religion and Diplomacy ,Washington
2004
Editor ,Insight Islamicus,Institute of Islamic Studies University of Kashmir Journal
2004
Ph D,Examiner ,Theses of Jamia Hamdard ,New Delhi
2005
Director Islamic Relief and Research Trust(Regd) Jammu & Kashmir
2005
Member All India Milli Council ,New Delhi
2005
2007
2007
2009
2009
Member Board of Studies ,Maulana Azad National Urdu University ,Hyderabad
Member Executive Body All India Milli Council ,New Delhi
Trustee Shama Foundation Kashmir ,A Women's Concern (Registered)
Convener Academic Committee for Philosophy, Institute of objective Studies, New Delhi.
Ph.D Examiner ,AMU Aligarh ,Viva voce Examiner,AMU Aligarh of two Arab candidates of Doctorate of Philosophy in Faculty of Sunni Theology ,AMU
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Aamina Hamid is the daughter of Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi .She is hardly 9 years of age at this time and has observed whole month of Ramadhan and a party was arranged in her honour on 20 -9-09 at Lasjan in Baitul al Majeed Lasjan .She is favourite student of all her teachers .May Allah bless her.Ameen!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Book Review
THE DAILY GREATER KASHMIR SRINAGAR, SUNDAY, 6 MUHARRAM-UL-HARAM 1430 AH ; SUNDAY, JANUARY 04, 2009 CE
Saints and Saviours of Islam
A good work that need be read seriously
REVIEW BY DR MUHAMMAD MAROOF SHAH
If it is great labour, diligence and indefatigable spirit of work that defines scholarship then Prof. Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi has few rivals in our state. To his credit are more than two dozen books including the present one, viz., Saints and Saviours of Islam (Sarup & Sons, New Delhi) which is here reviewed and dozens of papers in different journals. Despite many repetitions and a great bulk of quotes which characterize his works this is still by all means an enormous output that is enviable for most of his colleagues though qualitatively it may not be so bulky. This prolific output could only be attributed to great passion, zeal and commitment to his work and mission. He is a truly an encyclopaedic scholar who has good command over his subject of Islamic Studies that he teaches. His wide and diverse interests in such diverse fields as philosophy, theology, mysticism, literature, history and even science establish his credentials as a scholar . Staggering labour and deep familiarity with almost all the important fields of Islamic discourse is a perquisite of writing the book under review. It is so easy and fashionable to be a “critic” and so difficult to be a writer oneself. We are habitual of dismissive criticism without bothering to try one’s worth on the subject by writing a similar work on which one gives expert opinion. Combining the diverse gifts of a poet, a journalist, a social worker, a polyglot, and a teacher with deep love for Islamic intellectual heritage and great zeal to breathe fresh spirit in increasingly fossilized thought structures bequeathed to us from our recent past, Prof. Hamid is a voice to be heard. He has been a pioneer in stimulating comparative dialogue in the Shah Hamdan Institute of Islamic Studies and this book is informed by this comparative spirit. He has a rare knack of discerning parallels across traditions and thinkers and foregrounding much neglected dimensions of Islamic thought. It is not easy demanding great concentration and patience which Prof. Hamid is gifted with to sustain a long comparative analysis of as divergent thinkers as Ibn Taymiyah and Ibn Sina, Descartes and Ghazzali. Hamdani, Waliullah and Sirhindi. Prof. Hamid has hardly any negative critical remark for any of the personalities discussed in the book. He can change gears from theologian to a philosopher to a Sufi and it is evidence of his catholicity of thought. Iqbal deserved some space, perhaps the last chapter as he is one of the greatest saints and saviours of Islam in post-Waliullah Islam. The chapter on Hamdani makes the book a study of culture as well rather than personalities only. The chapter on Sufism in Kashmir adds indigenous colour to the history of Islamic revivalist and intellectual tradition. The lesser known Sufis are introduced in it. All the ten chapters of the book are independent essays and most of them treat their subject comprehensively. The last chapter sums up contribution of Muslims to science but one feels it could be enriched by enframing in the distinct perspective of traditional science of which Islamic science is an application. The critical sense which any student of philosophy and comparative religion must cultivate diligently, is not absent in Prof. Hamid and he hardly leaves any orientalist misreading go uncensored. It is difficult to be always consistent for him.Prof Hamid’s book reveals him to be a versatile scholar, a good complier, an informed reader. Though not mystically oriented he respectfully approaches Sufism and though critical of philosophizing religion, he is sympathetic to Muslim philosophers and though not an exoteric aalim he ably defends the formal structure of Islam and though not modernist in his approach to Islam he steers cautiously out of the neofoundationist dogmatist trap and all these things make him an intellectually balanced and to a great extent objective chronicler and critic.It is hoped that he will continue to give us more scholarly works and for that he will continue to read more focussedly, widely, critically and dispassionately. He musters enough energy to devour volumes and volumes of classical works in important classical traditional languages. The book discusses important philosophers, Sufis, theologians and scientists – the saviours of Islamic spirit especially of the Middle Ages. The author discusses life and important works of all the selected personalities which include Ibn Taymiyah, Ibn Sina, Ghazzali, Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi and Shah Waliulllah. Of particular significance is the chapter on Shah Waliullah and Rational Sciences in Medieval India. The chapter on Ibn Taymiyah’s approach to scholasticism and logic is illuminating. An attempt to show that Ibn Taymiyah anticipated Mill and modern critiques of Greek logic is quite interesting contribution. The book provides much more information than criticism. It doesn’t advance a series of theses of its own but primarily limits itself to present the views of the personalities discussed. It is not clear who is his hero and with whom he sides in his interpretation of Sufism, Ibn Arabi, Sirhindi or Shah Waliullah. He seems to concede much of Ibn Taymiyah’s critique of Sufism and has little to disagree with Waliullah or Sirhindi. Certain repetitions, typographical errors, grammatical mistakes have crept in otherwise a good scholarly work that could benefit students of Islam, philosophy and comparative religion and deserves not only to be praised but seriously read as it largely succeeds in presenting a critical review of major thought currents of Islam.(Feedback at marooof123@yahoo.com)
Saints and Saviours of Islam
A good work that need be read seriously
REVIEW BY DR MUHAMMAD MAROOF SHAH
If it is great labour, diligence and indefatigable spirit of work that defines scholarship then Prof. Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi has few rivals in our state. To his credit are more than two dozen books including the present one, viz., Saints and Saviours of Islam (Sarup & Sons, New Delhi) which is here reviewed and dozens of papers in different journals. Despite many repetitions and a great bulk of quotes which characterize his works this is still by all means an enormous output that is enviable for most of his colleagues though qualitatively it may not be so bulky. This prolific output could only be attributed to great passion, zeal and commitment to his work and mission. He is a truly an encyclopaedic scholar who has good command over his subject of Islamic Studies that he teaches. His wide and diverse interests in such diverse fields as philosophy, theology, mysticism, literature, history and even science establish his credentials as a scholar . Staggering labour and deep familiarity with almost all the important fields of Islamic discourse is a perquisite of writing the book under review. It is so easy and fashionable to be a “critic” and so difficult to be a writer oneself. We are habitual of dismissive criticism without bothering to try one’s worth on the subject by writing a similar work on which one gives expert opinion. Combining the diverse gifts of a poet, a journalist, a social worker, a polyglot, and a teacher with deep love for Islamic intellectual heritage and great zeal to breathe fresh spirit in increasingly fossilized thought structures bequeathed to us from our recent past, Prof. Hamid is a voice to be heard. He has been a pioneer in stimulating comparative dialogue in the Shah Hamdan Institute of Islamic Studies and this book is informed by this comparative spirit. He has a rare knack of discerning parallels across traditions and thinkers and foregrounding much neglected dimensions of Islamic thought. It is not easy demanding great concentration and patience which Prof. Hamid is gifted with to sustain a long comparative analysis of as divergent thinkers as Ibn Taymiyah and Ibn Sina, Descartes and Ghazzali. Hamdani, Waliullah and Sirhindi. Prof. Hamid has hardly any negative critical remark for any of the personalities discussed in the book. He can change gears from theologian to a philosopher to a Sufi and it is evidence of his catholicity of thought. Iqbal deserved some space, perhaps the last chapter as he is one of the greatest saints and saviours of Islam in post-Waliullah Islam. The chapter on Hamdani makes the book a study of culture as well rather than personalities only. The chapter on Sufism in Kashmir adds indigenous colour to the history of Islamic revivalist and intellectual tradition. The lesser known Sufis are introduced in it. All the ten chapters of the book are independent essays and most of them treat their subject comprehensively. The last chapter sums up contribution of Muslims to science but one feels it could be enriched by enframing in the distinct perspective of traditional science of which Islamic science is an application. The critical sense which any student of philosophy and comparative religion must cultivate diligently, is not absent in Prof. Hamid and he hardly leaves any orientalist misreading go uncensored. It is difficult to be always consistent for him.Prof Hamid’s book reveals him to be a versatile scholar, a good complier, an informed reader. Though not mystically oriented he respectfully approaches Sufism and though critical of philosophizing religion, he is sympathetic to Muslim philosophers and though not an exoteric aalim he ably defends the formal structure of Islam and though not modernist in his approach to Islam he steers cautiously out of the neofoundationist dogmatist trap and all these things make him an intellectually balanced and to a great extent objective chronicler and critic.It is hoped that he will continue to give us more scholarly works and for that he will continue to read more focussedly, widely, critically and dispassionately. He musters enough energy to devour volumes and volumes of classical works in important classical traditional languages. The book discusses important philosophers, Sufis, theologians and scientists – the saviours of Islamic spirit especially of the Middle Ages. The author discusses life and important works of all the selected personalities which include Ibn Taymiyah, Ibn Sina, Ghazzali, Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi and Shah Waliulllah. Of particular significance is the chapter on Shah Waliullah and Rational Sciences in Medieval India. The chapter on Ibn Taymiyah’s approach to scholasticism and logic is illuminating. An attempt to show that Ibn Taymiyah anticipated Mill and modern critiques of Greek logic is quite interesting contribution. The book provides much more information than criticism. It doesn’t advance a series of theses of its own but primarily limits itself to present the views of the personalities discussed. It is not clear who is his hero and with whom he sides in his interpretation of Sufism, Ibn Arabi, Sirhindi or Shah Waliullah. He seems to concede much of Ibn Taymiyah’s critique of Sufism and has little to disagree with Waliullah or Sirhindi. Certain repetitions, typographical errors, grammatical mistakes have crept in otherwise a good scholarly work that could benefit students of Islam, philosophy and comparative religion and deserves not only to be praised but seriously read as it largely succeeds in presenting a critical review of major thought currents of Islam.(Feedback at marooof123@yahoo.com)
BOOKS BY PROF. HAMID NASEEM RAFIABADI)
World Religions and Islam: A Critical Study/
Edited and introduced by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. New Delhi, Sarup & Sons, 2003, 2 Vols. 568 p., $65 (set). ISBN 81-7625-414-2.Rs.1600/, 2 volumes Contents Vol. I: Preface. Introduction. 1. Concept of religion—an analysis!/Mir Mohammed Ibrahim. 2. Typology of religions/Mir Mohammed Ibrahim. 3. Nature of ultimate reality in the Upanishads and the Quran/V.N. Sheshagiri Rao. 4. Dara Shikoh and comparative study of religion/S.P. Dubey. 5. Study of Islamic impact on Raja Rammohan Roy/Reeta Baghchi. 6. Islamic resurgence in Indonesia : the case of the Islah and Irshad Movement (1914-1943). 7. Spiritual economy—Syed Ali Hamadani and his role in the advancement of arts and crafts in Kashmir/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 8. The notions of divine being in various religions/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 9. Religious identity and security society/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 10. Sistan, Zoroastrianism and Islam—a socio—historical background/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 11. Islam, Christians and the west/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi.12. Islam and the west early history and political relations/Sheikh Jameil Ali. 13. An Introduction to the Bahai faith/Shoghi Effendi. 14. The meaning and significance of Bismillah/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 15. What does Ism—mean?/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 16. What the word Allah signifies?/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 17. What do the terms Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim mean?/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 18. Whether Bismillah is to be regarded as a verse/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 19. Revelation of the Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 20. Muhkamat and Mutashabiat verses of the Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 21. Asbab-i-Nazool—or the background of the revelation of the Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 22. Nazm principle in the Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 23. Abrogation in the Quran—some reflection on old and new perspectives!/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 24. Concept of knowledge in Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 25. Quranology—in world wide scholarship/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. Index.Vol. II: 1. Civil liberties and Islam—some reflections on the freedom of conscience in Islam/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 2. Muslim contribution to medical sciences/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 3. Miskawayh on society and government/Badruddin Bhat. 4. Ibn Taimiyah-revisited—a study of his Ar –Raddo’Alal Mantaqiyin/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 5. The background of the Maktubat of Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi—a study in historical perspective/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 6. Shaykh Ahmad Sarhindi’s concept of Universe/Afroz Ahmad Bisati. 7. Ilmul-Al-Kalam of Shah Wali Allah of Dehalawi/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 8. The philosophy of Mulla Sadra with special reference to Eschatology of Ibn Sina/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 9. The Epistemology of Baqir-as-Sadar and his critique of modern western empiricist theories of knowledge/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 10. From Judaism to Zionism—a legacy of human rights violations/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 11. Islam and the contemporary ecological crisis with reference to population control/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 12. The phenomenon of education, Islam and women—a critical preview/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 13. Hope in peace and harmony from an Islamic perspective/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 14. World wide scholarship on Seerah/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 15. Rational sciences in medieval India/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 16. Women, world religions and Islam/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 17. Issues in the translation of religious texts/Aadil Amin Kak. 18. Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd—conflict and concord/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 19. Biotechnology—some issues and challenges?/Firdous A. Wani. 20. Values and ethics : the Islamic perspective/Ishtiyaqh Danish. Index, and researchers and teachers of Islamic studies. The book is also mean to cater the requirements of the students of comparative religions and Islamology" (jacket)
2-Saints and Saviours of Islam/
Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. New Delhi, Sarup and Sons, 2005, xix, 344 p., ISBN 81-7625-555. Contents: Preface. 1. Ghazzali and revival of Islamic sciences. 2. Ibn Taimiyah--an introduction. 3. The attitude of Ibn-Taimiyah to philosophy and Ilm Al Kalam. 4. Ibn Taimiyah's critique of Greek logic--a study of Ar-Raddo 'Alal-Mantiqiyin. 5. Ilmul-Al-Kalam of Shah Wali Allah of Dehalawi. 6. The background of the Maktubat of Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi. 7. Rational sciences in medieval India. 8. Sufism in Kashmir. 9. Spiritual economy--Syed Ali Hamadani and his role in the advancement of arts and crafts in Kashmir. 10. Muslims contribution to medical sciences. Appendices. Index. "The history of Islam is full of such events, which have left their imprints on the pages of world history. Moreover, such Islamic personages have emerged on the scene from time to time, at various places of the vast Islamic world, who have rejuvenated not only the forgotten ideals and lessons of Islam, but transformed their societies as well, and left behind the legacy of great social and intellectual even scientific reformation and epistemological renaissance. The present book deals with the least known reformative, academic and social service related matters where Muslims have contributed clandestinely." (jacket)
Emerging from Darkness: Ghazzali’s Impact on the Western Philosophers/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. New Delhi, Sarup, 2002, viii, 392 p., Rs.1250/ISBN 81-7625-310-3.
Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Life and times of Al Ghazzali. 3. Ghazzali’s philosophical credentials. 4. Ghazzali’s philosophy. 5. Ghazzali’s method of doubt and his views on epistemology with special reference to Rene Descartes. 6. Ghazzali’s impact on medival western philosophers. 7. Ghazzali’s impact on Ibn Tufayl. 8. Ghazzali’s impact on Ibn Rushd. 9. Ghazzali’s impact on modern western philosophers. 10. Conclusions.
"While there is no dearth of books on Ghazzali the interest in his thought is growing with unqualified recognition. Dr. Hamid’s study of Ghazzali is not confined to the subject, but covers the whole range of Muslim thought and can serve as an introduction to Muslim thinkers as a whole. Unlike the all too common tendency of scholars to take recourse to secondary sources, the author has utilized the original texts and has availed himself of books in English, Arabic and Persian with equal facility. The material that he has amassed is truly amazing. He has convincingly brought out the fact that western thought is more indebted to Islam than is generally recognized. Now it is for the Muslim scholars to move forward with their heritage and produce work of their own with zest integrity." (Jacket)
KASHMIR UNDER THE SULTANS
(3rd Enriched edition)
Prof. Muhibbul Hasan,
Introduced by Dr. Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi.
GULSHAN PUBLISHERS, SRINAGAR, RS.825
“Kashmir under the Sultans” is a book, which has survived the vagaries of time and after about four decades, when it was first published; it has remained as a source book for the scholars, researchers and students of medieval Kashmir history; especially on the Sultanate period. The scholars have published several books after this book was published, but the authentic, objective and balanced approach, which singles this book out, has mainly been found lacking in most of these books. The reliance on sources, both Sanskrit and Persian, astute utilization of folk tradition, and comprehensive treatment of controversial episodes of Kashmir history, have achieved for this book a unique place in Kashmir Historiography.
One of the important characteristics of Muhibbul Hasan’s book is its objectivity and impartiality. The author has honestly tried to adhere to the principle of a cool and unbiased mode of research, where facts speak on their own. He has attempted to put forward a holistic assessment of the events, which unfounded in the juxtaposed political and social environs of medieval Kashmir.
“Mohibbul Hasan ‘Kashmir under the Sultans is the first scholarly attempt at producing a better understanding of the social, economic and particularly, political conditions of Kashmir under the Sultans. His brief analysis of the spread of Islam and its influence on Kashmir is useful.” (Prof. Ishaq Khan Kashmir’s Transition to Islam – The Role of Muslim Rishis” (Published by Manahor Publication Delhi, 1994, and 1999 p-17).The new edition of the book contains a detailed introduction of the editor, which includes the history of Islam in Kashmir, the role of Sufis and Rishis, new research books on Kashmir history and their analysis and the correct rendering of various names of villages and places which have been mentioned by Prof.Muhibbul Hassan.Thus this edition is a very enriched one of the already very important source on Sultanate period of Kashmir.
The Attitude of Islam Towards Science and Philosophy:
A Translation of Ibn Rushd’s (Averroes) Famous Treatise "Faslul-Al-Maqal"/translated by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi and Aadil Amin Kak. New Delhi, Sarup and Sons, 2003, xii, 207 p., $23.Rs 450/ ISBN 81-7625-413-4.Contents: Preface. 1. Biography of Ibn Rushd/Aadil Amin Kak. 2. Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 3. Conflict and concord: translation of Fasl-Al-Maqal. Appendix: 1. The question mentioned by the Shykh Abul-Walid in the decisive treatise. 2. Some reflections on thought and works of Ibn Rushd. Index.
"In the book, Ibn Rushd has attempted to discuss the problem of relation between religion, science and philosophy from Shariah point of view of Islam. The author has proved on basis of sound and substantial arguments that religion and philosophy, (science included,) are complementary to each other and philosophy is the ‘foster sister’ of religion of Islam. Ibn Rushd bring an important jurist of Islam himself has proved judgment about the affinity of philosophy and science to Islam. The positive attitude of Islamic Shariah towards philosophy and science can not be elucidated in any better way than that of Ibn Rushd, as he has done in this important classical Islamic treatise." (Jacket)
Muslim Philosophy Science and Mysticism/Hamid Naseem. New Delhi, Sarup and Sons, 2001, iv, 349 p., ISBN: 81-7625-230-1.Rs.1250/
Contents: Introduction. 1. Intellectual discussions in the early days of Islam. 2. Philosophy of Al-Kindi. 3. Philosophy of Al-Farabi. 4. Philosophy of IBN Sina. 5. Ghazalli’s philosophy. 6. Ghazalli’s impact on IBN Tufayl. 7. Ghazalli and IBN rushd-conflict and concord. 8. IBN Taimiyah—an introduction. 9. Philosophy of IBN—Taimiyah. 10. Rational sciences in medieval India. 11. Social philosophy of Ali Shariati. 12. Semantic philosophy and quranic studies. Appendices-I: The sources of Iqbal’s thought. II. Ghazzali and natural sciences. III. Indo-Iranian relations. IV. Sufism in Kashmir. Bibliography.
"Muslims have been provided by Allah a complete code of conduct in the form of Holy Quran. In Quran there are two types of verses i.e. allegorical (Mutashabiat) and categorical (Mukhamat). The Mutashabiat verses of Quran are mostly pertaining to the essence of Allah and his attributes, predestination, soul and life here after death etc. etc. Since these verses are outside the purview of human reasoning, much hair splitting and question begging has not been encouraged in this regard. Yet many of the Muslim thinkers and philosophers have ventured to enter into detailed discussions in these matters."In the first stage we find that the Muslims are engaged in explanation and elaboration of various Islamic doctrines in the light of Quran. Mutazilites, Asharites, Maturidians, Qadarites and Jabarites etc are the representatives of the period. In the second stage Muslim scholars (in some cases Jews and Christians as well ) started translating the transmitting Greek philosophy into Arabic Ishaq Ibn Hunayn, Hunayn Ibn Ishaq, Al-Kindi and many others were engaged in this process."In the fifth stage we observe that a critical appraisal of the Greek thought started. Al-Ghazzali criticised Greek philosophy and its Muslim adherents. In the sixth stage we observe that a revolt took place against all sorts of philosophy. Ibn Taimiyah criticised Muslim philosophers including Ghazzali for their indulgence in Greek thought. He highlighted the religious aspects of Islam to the extent, where logic or philosophy cannot work. Iqbal in a sense continued the same trend but with a specialized manner and compared Muslim philosophy to the Greek and Western philosophy". (Jacket
THE QURAN ILLUSTRATED
(A COMPREHENSIVE COMMENTARY ON THE QURAN)
VOL.1
THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF BISMILLAH
&
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE QURANIC SCIENCES
DR. HAMID NASEEM RAFIABADI, ABC, PUBLISHERS, SRINAGAR, RS.300/
For the preparation of this book, I have tried to avail from the exegesis of past and present commentators of the Quran belonging to various schools of thought provided the subject under discussion was not controversial. I have tried to avoid the personalized and sectarian views expressed by many commentators although I have availed from their technical expertise wherever possible. Unlike most modern commentators of the Quran, I have consulted the books on Qur’anic commentary written by both by Sunni and Shia scholars apart from taking assistance from non-Muslim scholars who have written on various aspects of Quran like its lexicography and glossary. However my over all approach has been non-sectarian to the Qur'anic exegesis and I have tried to be loyal to the spirit of Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet. Here I want to reiterate that I have not written any individual Tafsir of Bismillah on my own, but I have tried to present the views of old and new mufassirûn in my own way with out, however, passing value judgments, which is beyond my capacity and competence. Nevertheless, I have tried to make my position clear wherever I have found ostensibly any contradiction or conflict among the views of commentators or scholars. Thus this is a type of compilation rather than a full-fledged Tafsir, which also was aimed at safeguarding oneself from the admonitions of the Prophet, which he has made about the commentators of the Quran who indulge in guess work about Qur’anic contents.
The necessary sciences that are needed as prerequisites for the study of Quran have also been dealt with in some detail in this introductory book. A chapter on compilation and preservation of the Quran has been added for the beginners and the students who want to know the history of the sacred text. Moreover, the worldwide scholarship on Quranology has been dealt with briefly to bring home the trends in Tafsir writing both in east and the west.
CONTENTS1-The meaning and significance of Bismillah 2-What does Ism—mean 3-What the word Allah signifies?4- what do the terms Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim mean? 5-Whether Bismillah is to be regarded as a verse6- Revelation of the Quran7- Muhkamat and Mutashabiat verses of the Quran 8-Asbab-i-Nazool—or the background of the revelation of the Quran9- Nazm principle in the Quran10- Abrogation in the Quran—some reflection on old and new perspectives!11- Concept of knowledge in Quran/ 12-Quranology—in world wide scholarship
AFKAR-I-TAAZA
(MUNTAKHAB MAQALAT-I-SAYED JAMMALUDDIN AFGHANI)
Translation of the selected Maqalat of SYED JAMALUDDIN AFGHANI,.PRICE RS.250/
Jamaluddin Afghani was one of the pioneers of Islamic Renaissance in modern period. He has been described by Ali Shariati as “ the first herald of revolution in the East that had been caught in the drowsiness”, and Iqbal calls him the leader of the Sadat and a man who gives life to dust and stones by his innovative revolutionary ideas and thought. He authored a famous journal named Al –Urwatul -al–Wuthqa along with his one of the most illustrious students, Muhammad Abduh .The Journal was being published from Paris and created great strides in the lives and thoughts of Muslims through out Islamic world by its astute and timely appeal to the conscience of Muslims and also exposed the Imperialistic designs of the West in the context of Muslim world. He tried to bring unity in the rank and file of Muslims by this academic but bold initiative. There were several articles devoted to this purpose and the journal remains relevant for the Muslims of today, as they face the same challenges the period of Jamaluddin was facing. He discussed issues of Determinism, freedom of will, the divine principle of change, virtues and vices and their social base and impact, contributions of Muslims to science and knowledge etc.etc. This revolutionary journal was being published in Arabic. There was long back an Urdu translation available of the articles of the journal, but now for a quite long time no translation of Maqalat or articles of Al –Urwatul –Wuthqa was available in Urdu. Therefore the present translation of some most revolutionary Maqalat of Al –Urwatul -al–Wuthqa with detailed introduction of Jamaluddin Afghani’s life, philosophy and works has been published to cater the needs of students scholars and readers in general who are interested in the life inspiring, revolutionary and reverberating ideas of Syed Jamaluddin Afghani.
THE POETICAL COMPOSITIONS OF DR HAMID NASEEM RAFIABADI
ADAI IZHAR KI TAMANNA.
The book comprises on the Urdu Naats, Hamd, Ghazzals and Nazams apart from the introduction of Jenab Iftikhar Imam Siddiqui, the renowned Urdu poet and the editor of the famous Urdu literary magazine SHAYIR MUMBAI and the preface of Jenab Shabib Rizvi, a noted poet of Kashmir. The Dean Academics, Prof.Adus Salam Bhat released the book in July 2002 at the Iqbal Auditorium of Kashmir University and the noted literary stalwarts of Kashmir, Prof.Rahman Rahi, and Jenab Hakeem Manzoor, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Nahvi and Dr. Rashid Majrooh presented their scholarly papers while dealing
with the various aspects of the book. Professor Rahi described the book very unique and appreciated some of its verses like:
Sitara door tha khada tamasha been ki tarah
Wahan hoon aaj main khada jahan tha woh sanam kabhi
Hakim Manzoor described Hamid Naseem as the poet of Urdu Nazam and he highlighted several of his verses like
RANGO NOOR APNI NAZAR KA DAYKAR
IN DAEREECHOON KO SAJAYA JAYAA
While explaining this couplet the learned speaker related it to the global scenario where men have been led to destruction and the palatial houses they have left behind present a deserted look which speak volumes about the conflicting situation world over especially in the world of Islam.Dr. Bashir Ahmad Nahvi described Hamid Naseem a man of diverse intellectual and aesthetic tastes. According to Dr. Nahvi Naseem Rafiabadi has combined cool intellectual objectivity with the warm poetical romanticism of Urdu poetry.
Dr. Rashid Majrooh highlighted critically some of the literary dimensions of the book.
Professor Adus Salam said that Hamid Naseem has received wide recognition outside valley and “whenever I visit universities like Jamia Millia, people ask me whether I know Hamid Naseem?”
The book has been reviewed in Tribune Delhi, Kashmir Times Jammu, The Greater Kashmir, Srinagar and elsewhere by Prof. V.N.Datta, RK.Bharati, and Afaque Rashid respectively and has been reviewed on Door Darshan Srinagar also. A Delhi based scholar is transcribing the book into Hind script for its wide circulation.
“A well established scholar of Islam, with several works on the Islamic history to his credit, Rafiabadi is [was] Head Department of Islamic Studies, University of Kashmir.
In a short introduction to his poetical work, the author acknowledges his debt of gratitude to the stalwart
Urdu poets such as Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz from whom he has drawn inspiration. Ghalib’s saddest thoughts, Iqbal’s philosophy of action and Faiz’s well -tempered revolutionary fervor worked as a stimulus to his poetical composition.
The first two poems are invocation to God, expressing his utter helplessness in the immensity of the universe and then surrendering to His will in complete faith .The next three are addressed to the prophet
Muhammad (saw) whose charming personality and achievement invoke in the poet feeling of respect and
Reverential awe. A major portion of his work consists of the poems of varied moods, expressing anguish, sorrow, aspiration and ecstasy over the vicissitudes of life. There persists in three poems a continuous quest for the apprehension of beauty, but the entire mood is sober, serious and even grave-- there is seldom the lightness of touch, except in a few short love poems. It seems that there is a constant tension and coils within are tightly strung.
Free from moral exhortation, his poetry is tinctured with a moral sense devoid of any trace of sectarianism and narrow –mindedness. Quite unobtrusively, some intimation of the disturbing conditions in Kashmir is reflected in his poetry. Writing on the blood, toil, and tears in the valley of Kashmir, the poet writes (translation): “what a strange city and a strange people that they continue to live in the midst of death and destruction” .The last section of this work contains a number of poems on various themes such as Mona Lisa, Aligarh and Hyderabad. This highly promising poetical work reflects Rafiabadi’s sensitivity to beautiful things, his wide-ranging interest and lucidity in expression”. Professor V N Datta, Spectrum, The Tribune, Delhi, August 3, 2003
“Dr. Naseem is above sectarian feelings and restricted thought---the diction in his poems is a standard quality. The selection of themes is timely. Where he expresses the emotion of love, which is the basic quality of a Ghazal, he includes social demands of our times in his themes. Ghazal in its original sense means ‘talking to women’ or ‘praising the beauty of women.’ But Dr. Naseem ids much preoccupied with the pain of society that has engulfed human life…The book is divided into three parts, religious encomiums, ghazals and poems. There are five encomiums, 59 ghazals and 32 poems in the book. A few poems are of only four couplets. The writer is very hard working (kohna mashq) and it is hoped that he will make his mark in Urdu poetry one day. People like Dr.Naseem are engrossed in moderernizing the Muslim community and introducing true Islam to the world and preach the philosophy of universal brotherhood and concept of coexistence to mankind as enshrined in Islamic lore.”(R .K. Bharati, The Kashmir Times, Jammu, April 24, 2003)
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GHAZZALI AND WESTERN THOUGHT
Publisher: Adam Publishers & Distributors-India, Rs.165/=
“Al-Ghazzali was well versed in philosophy and the Latin West knew him as "Algazel" the philosopher. Al-Ghazzali influenced Jewish, Christian and Western thought and thinking by way of those writers of the Thirteenth Century who wrote in Arabic, and by translating his works into Hebrew. Jewish writers in Spain gained and acquired great knowledge from this Moslem theologian. Thus Arab Medieval thought had a great impact on the western thought and inspired Jewish Medieval thought clandestinely, and the role of Ghazzali was tremendous in this respect. In this book such all influences have been brought to fore and detailed discussions have been made to analyse the relations between West and Islam in the medieval period”. The foreword by S.Ausaf Ali, the Former Director Indian Institute of Islamic Studies New Delhi.
Assam from Agitation to Accord
By H.N.Rafiabadi
When Mr.Rajiv Gandhi signed the Assam Accord,the nation believed the stormy days of agitation were over.Unfortunately this was not so .This only provided a new basis for the turmoil to continue.In Assam from 'Agitation to Accord'.Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi has done a signal service by presenting the lessor known side of the Assam Agitation;the disastrous implication of the Accord on the state minorities,especially the Muslims.The first half of this investigation details the background to the agitation ,makes the introduction to the Muslim predicament in Assam and discuss the implication of the Accord. The fourth chapter present specific instances of the misuse of the provision of the Accord.In the second half of the book are reproduced the actual documents concerning Assam Accord itself and the various reaction to its implication. Rafiabadi's study and analysis must make the discerning reader wonder where we as an Indian heading for The accord between Central Government and the Govt. of Assam the position of two million Muslims has been put in the stake. Their lives culture civilisation and even survival are in danger. That is why the IOS has taken up this issue and made critical analysis of the issue.
Contents : Preface Introduction, Chapter I Background of the Assam Agitation Chapter II Muslims in Assam -A brief Introduction Chapter III Implications of "Assam Accord" Chapter IV Some Practical Implications of the Accord Conclusion ,Appendices, Bibliography
PRICE : INRs 125($) Back PAGES: 149
KHUTBAT-I-IQBAL KA IK TANQEEDI JAYZAH ISLAMI TAILEEMAT KI ROSHNI MAIN
”SIR Muhammad Iqbal is easily one of the greatest of Urdu and Persian poets in India. He still continues to be read, but not so widely as he was in the pre-Partition days when he was much popular in North India. A spate of literary works has appeared on his poetry, philosophy and on his political role in the creation of Pakistan. It is calculated that more than 2,000 books have been published on him, but a great deal of it is hagiolatry, lacking critical rigour and dispassionate appraisal. However, Iqbal's religious thought has received little attention, and it is to this theme that Dr Hamid Nasim Abadi deals with in his book entitled Khutbate-e-Iqbal Ka Tanqidi mutaleya (Iqbal Institute, Kashmir University, Srinagar. Pages 176, Rs 50).
In his introductory chapter, Abadi has given historographical survey of the literature published on some aspects of Iqbal's religious thought. In this connection, he has specifically mentioned the contributions of Syed Nazir Niazi, Khalifa Abdul Hakim, Syed Akabarabadi, Professor Sharif Baqa and Syed Wahiduddin. According to the author, Syed Wahiduddin has raised some of the fundamental problems relating to Iqbal's religious views, and he endorses Wahiduddin's view that though
Iqbal was influenced by Islamic thought and western ideas, he had an independent voice of his own, and was grappling with issues of cardinal human importance on his own terms—fearlessly. Abadi holds the view that despite some shortcomings, Wahiduddin's remains the best work on the subject.Dr Rafi Ahmed emphasizes that Iqbal's conception of God differed from the pantheistic Sufism as unity of existence (Wahdat ul Wajid) or Vedantic duality. Iqbal rejected the Marxist notion of determinism. He exhorted man to play his independent role unrestrained by the compulsions of necessity or conditioning circumstances. According to him, God had created the whole universe so that 'he (man) should play his creative role with passionate zeal for the higher ideals of truth, justice, and social good. He expected man to reach such a height that he might stand up and say, 'Here I have time with God'. In the final chapter of his study, Abadi deals with the notion of time and space which Iqbal regarded as a question of life and death for the Muslims, and to which he gave much importance in his lectures and poetical works. He wrote: 'Space and time are interpretations which thought puts upon creative activity of ultimate ego'. He provided an integrated view of God, time and space. He emphasized that beyond His (God's creation), there was no time and no space. In the final chapter of his study, Abadi deals with the notion of time and space which Iqbal regarded as a question of life and death for the Muslims, and to which he gave much importance in his lectures and poetical works. He wrote: 'Space and time are interpretations which thought puts upon creative activity of ultimate ego'. He provided an integrated view of God, time and space. He emphasised that beyond His (God's creation), there was no time and no space.Iqbal examined the vitality of time in the light of Sufism and modern philosophical and scientific systems of thought. He made a clear distinction between a serial and pure time which he called 'pure duration', a genuine creative moment, a life force, which in T. S. Eliot's expression, is 'an intense living experience of self-illumination'. In other words, to Iqbal 'time is conquered in time’. For Iqbal, time is not alien to man. It forms an integral part of human activity. He believed that time is God's attribute, and even God. The Prophet had warned, ‘Do not abuse time.’ Iqbal's theory of time is in accord with the Quran and the latest philosophical and scientific thought. In the 10th Discourse Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad-Gita, 'I am everlasting time.’ Lord Rama, whom Iqbal claimed as Imam-e-Hind, spoke on the value of time: For the whole world of life time is the most potent entity'. In Khizr-I-Rah (The Guide) in Bang-I-Dora Iqbal expressed in a poetical rhythm the concept of time as a ceaseless duration. The same message he delivered in his poem Saqi-nama.According to Iqbal, time is free and is a process of change but not deterministic. The reality of change is the acceptance of the reality of time. Time, being an independent and restless activity, begins to influence man who apprehends the negative and positive features of it. Iqbal expounded his views: 'History is not the unfoldment of reason, absolute or infinite, but a continuous creative activity of the ego, both the absolute ego and finite ego.' In short, Iqbal regards time as an instrument of conquering finitude and infinitude. Thus human life comes to acquire a higher and nobler purpose circumventing limitations and difficulties, and by widening intellectual horizons and strengthening moral fervour it seeks to attain the supreme bliss for which Ishq (love) serves as the key to open the whole wonder of the world! In this small and unpretentious work of outstanding scholarship written with verve and judicious restraint, Abadi has shown remarkable insights in analyzing some of the fundamental issues of life that had agitated the poet-philosopher Iqbal's mind. This is bound to become a standard work on the subject.(V.N DATTA)
S MUKHTAR SRINAGAR
I remember when a famous Kashmiri educationist Prof. Agha Ashraf released the first edition of Muslim Philosophy and Science ---An Introduction authored by Dr Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi on 14th July 1998 in the Ghandi Bhavan auditorium of the university, he congratulated the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir Prof Yasin Qadri that such a book was written by one of the scholars of his university during his tenure of Vice chancellorship.
A hard working and dispassionate Kashmiri scholar of Islam and Comparative religions has yet come out with an encyclopaedic series on contemporary Islam
Entitled CHALLENGES TO RELIGIONS AND ISLAM, (A STUDY OF MUSLIM MOVEMENTS, ISSUES TRENDS AND PERSONALITIES), published by Sarup & Son, New Delhi, 2007, so beautifully and professionally that the three volume book seems to be a rich edition to the existing literature on cotemporary Islam.
This is really a good omen for the present vice chancellor of the University Prof Wahid Qurayshi whose leadership has inspired researchers like Prof Rafiabadi to rub their shoulders with the world renowned scholars of Islam like Hossein Nasr and M. M. Sharif who have preceded with voluminous books on the similar themes as the one under review. Though Prof. Naseem has broken fresh ice and has stolen a march on these stalwarts even as can be evident by cursively glancing through the themes of this marvelous book.
This voluminous book deals with the unexplored areas of research and scholarship on the very important and significant developments which took place in the wake of tremendous and unprecedented challenges posed in modern times to Religions in general and Islam and Muslims in particular from different quarters. The present era was especially tumultuous for the Muslims and their religion.
From the beginning of the 20th century till date, on the one hand, Muslims were face to face with unprecedented challenges from the imperialist west, as most of the Muslim countries were either grabbed or dominated by its brute forces, well equipped with all possible modern sophisticated weaponry and intellectual backup, or were brought under its control overtly or covertly through the agency of stooges and mercenaries in a big way, and on the other ,after the sack of Baghdad in medieval period the greatest blow to Muslims was the debacle of the Ottomans of Turkey, then the occupation of Palestine by the Israeli forces working in tandem with the western and communist blocks, and finally the occupation of Afghanistan by Soviet Union and the bloody war which ensued in its after math culminating in the emergence of Mujahideen and Taliban cult and the mechanizations of USA making its entry into Afghanistan under diplomatic garb, and finally the second Sack of Iraq by the American and allied forces .These are some heart rendering events in recent history of Muslims and Islam.
But the positive side of this, otherwise, gloomy picture of state of affairs is that great stalwart thinkers reformers, revolutionaries, scholars, visionaries and luminaries emerged to face these challenges individually, and by launching great movements through out the Islamic world. These movements were meant to rejuvenate the Islamic spirit and create a great fervour in the Islamic world and bring new hopes to fore after a great spell of dormancy in the world of Islam.
The book profiles the seminal epoch making efforts made by the personages of Islam like Sayyid Jamaluddin Afghani,Dr .Iqbal, Mawlana Mawdudi, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Mawlana Abul Kalam Azad, Mawlana Anwar Shah Kashmiri, Mawlana Sonaullah Amritsari, Shaikh Nasiruddin Albani , Dr Sayed Hossein Nasr and Dr Ziauddin Sardar etc.
The Islamic Movements which emerged to address these challenges have been discussed in this book in light of their signal work to rejuvenate Islamic spirit, are Jamaat-i-Islami, Tablighi Jamâ’at, Jamiet-i-Ahl-i-Hadith, Ikhwan –al –Muslimûn of Egypt , Islah and Irshad Movement (1914-1943) ,Indonesia,etc.The issues and trends which have been discussed in great detail in substantial portion of this book visa viz Islam are touching upon the subjects like Education, Birth Control, Media, women empowerment, orphanage, secularism and religious identity, science and Technology, Human Rights and civil liberties, Uniformity in Islamic Calendar, History writing,ecology,religious dialogue,Khilafat,meditation,Marxism,and peace etc. The challenges posed to religions in modern times and the possible responses have also been analysed in a scholarly and lucid manner by the erudite scholars hailing from USA to Malaysia.
Among the many contributors to these volumes mention may be made ,as a special case of, P.K.Justice Shamsuddin, (a retired Judge of Kerela High Court, a prominent social worker and the President of World Forum for Inter Religious Councils Kerala), S Ausaf Ali, (a renowned scholar of Islam, the former Director of Indian Institute of Islamic Studies New Delhi, and present Director Hamdard Archives, Jamia Hamdard), Reverend Canon Brian Cox , (Senior Vice-President of the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy in Washington DC) ,Dr.Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Shouk,( Associate Professor, Department of History and Civilization, International Islamic University, Malaysia),Dr. Yoginder Sakind,( former Reader Faculty of Islamic Studies and Social Sciences, Hamdard University, New Delhi and a renowned scholar of Islamic studies and Comparative Religion, presently working in Jamia Millia Islamia and has formally confessed his faith in Islam now named as Noor Muhammad ), Prof. Bashir Ahmad Dabla ,(professor and Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work University of Kashmir, Srinagar),and Professor Noor Ahmad Baba,( professor and Head of Department, Political science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar).
Dr Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi the editor of the book has established himself in the academic field with more than 25 research publications and more than 100 scholarly papers on the themes of Islam, Islamic luminaries Comparative Religions and philosophy, Quranic studies, Islamic history etc to his credit which have been published from New York, Geneva, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Deoband, Delhi and Srinagar. He is the editor of Insight Islamicus, S.H Institute of Islamic Studies University of Kashmir. Among his important academic contributions, Muslim Philosophy, Science and Mysticism, (two editions), Hijrah –A turning Point in Islam (five editions), Emerging from Darkness, Ghazzali’s impact on Western philosophers, World Religions and Islam –A Critical study (two volumes) , The Illustrated Quran(a comprehensive Tafsir of Bismillah) , and Saints and Saviours of Islam are worth mentioning.
Dr. Rafiabadi was appointed as the Director of the prestigious Shah -i–-Hamadan Institute of Islamic studies, University of Kashmir in 2002, and he has visited several Muslim countries like Iran, Bangladesh, and UAE apart from visiting almost all major universities of India in connection with his academic programmes and deliverance of lectures and reading of research papers. He has presided over important academic seminar sessions at Jamia Millia New Delhi and Dhaka University on Syed Ali Hamadani and Medical History of Asia respectively. He was invited to an International workshop on Religion and Ecological Crisis by the Institute of Religion and Science California ,USA in 2002 and International Center for Religion and Diplomacy Washington in 2003 respectively .
Coming again to the book under review it can safely said that this is a serious academic effort on the part of Professor Rafiabadi that he has single handedly produced a commendable encyclopaedia on Contemporary Islam and its various dimensions. The contributors to these three volumes are well established scholars and the themes selected for deliberations are timely and rewarding. Although there are scores of books written on Islam by the western scholars or the westernized Eastern intellectuals who have faithfully toed the trodden path of their Orientalist mentors .But to write something on Islam from an insiders point of view has had been eluding the readers for last several decades now.Prof.Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Prof. M Sharif are at least the two Islamic scholars who have edited books on Islamic thought ,philosophy and culture .But they too have depended mostly on the write ups of the Muslim scholars working in the Western countries or at times attempted to avail the scholarship of the Christian and western Orientalists for writing on Islam and its various intellectual aspects. The names of Alessandro Bausani, H G Farmer, Z Ulken, William Chittick ,Oliver Leanman, , Parviz, Morewedge, Henry Corbin, Deborah L. Black, David Burrell, Kiki Kennedy-Day and Norman Calder are among the scores of writers these two stalwart scholars have relied upon for providing “insights” into Islamic ethos and scholarly enterprises. But Professor Rafiabadi in his earlier books on Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism as well as in this voluminous book has consciously selected the researchers from amongst the Muslims themselves and has not trusted the penmanship of orientalists for systematically presenting an authentic picture of Islamic thought and Philosophy ranging from Spirituality to Media. There is only one American Scholar whose contribution adorns this book that too on the subject of Abrahamic faiths .Moreover unlike the earlier scholars Rafiabadi has expanded the canvass of his book to cover the most recent themes touching upon women’s empowerment, environmental concerns, Bio-ethical and educational issues, matters pertaining to dialogue and peace, Ijtihad, and media onslaught and Muslims and finally the genesis of Taliban etc.
His introduction to the book is very exhaustive and has covered the dimensions of almost all the subjects discussed in the subsequent three volumes of the book and has provided vital inputs on the authority of the world famous writers on Islam and its contours. Thus the introduction serves the purpose of locating everything in the context of present Islamic world and Muslim predilection.
We find a mine of informative data in several articles of the book especially the statistical figures when the issues related to women and orphans are discussed .The end notes of the articles add the utility and elucidation of the book tremendously. What is more important Prof Rafiabadi has put the articles of established and world renowned scholars side by side with the articles of young researchers of Islam. Significantly the budding scholars of Kashmir University find place in the book along with their teachers and well established men of letters, thus generating a hope that a new band of researchers will get inspiration to explore heretofore un-explored areas of research.
The serene, intellectually oriented editor of the book has thus done a pioneering work by venturing this academic pursuit which will go a long way in paving the way for the rejuvenation of the age old penmanship of kashmiri intellectual fertility for which Kashmir was renowned world over. The book is relevant to the students of Islam in modern age, the researchers on Muslim movements and general public who want to discover the epoch making vitality of Islamic thought. Moreover, it contests plethora of stereo types about Islam, Muslims and their history which have bee set in motion by the unscrupulous western scholars and the enemies of Islam that my be.
Thus the contents and printing of the book both are excellent in all respects and demand the serious attention of the scholars both of Islam and other religions especially the researchers academicians, and general public. However, there are some spelling mistakes here and there which need to be corrected in the next edition of the book. It is hoped that the book will become a standard work on the subject and will receive warm welcome from the fraternity of scholars world over as other books of the editor of the book have received. It is a matter of pride for us Kashmiris that in the present tumultuous times ,there are some of them who are wholeheartedly engaged in search of the light at the end of the tunnel when everything ostensibly seems to have relegated to the oblivious position and a sense of disillusionment and gloom prevailing every where in the Muslim world. May Allah provide him with more energy to serve Islam in general and humanity at large, as both are synominous.Ameen
World Religions and Islam: A Critical Study/
Edited and introduced by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. New Delhi, Sarup & Sons, 2003, 2 Vols. 568 p., $65 (set). ISBN 81-7625-414-2.Rs.1600/, 2 volumes Contents Vol. I: Preface. Introduction. 1. Concept of religion—an analysis!/Mir Mohammed Ibrahim. 2. Typology of religions/Mir Mohammed Ibrahim. 3. Nature of ultimate reality in the Upanishads and the Quran/V.N. Sheshagiri Rao. 4. Dara Shikoh and comparative study of religion/S.P. Dubey. 5. Study of Islamic impact on Raja Rammohan Roy/Reeta Baghchi. 6. Islamic resurgence in Indonesia : the case of the Islah and Irshad Movement (1914-1943). 7. Spiritual economy—Syed Ali Hamadani and his role in the advancement of arts and crafts in Kashmir/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 8. The notions of divine being in various religions/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 9. Religious identity and security society/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 10. Sistan, Zoroastrianism and Islam—a socio—historical background/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 11. Islam, Christians and the west/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi.12. Islam and the west early history and political relations/Sheikh Jameil Ali. 13. An Introduction to the Bahai faith/Shoghi Effendi. 14. The meaning and significance of Bismillah/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 15. What does Ism—mean?/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 16. What the word Allah signifies?/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 17. What do the terms Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim mean?/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 18. Whether Bismillah is to be regarded as a verse/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 19. Revelation of the Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 20. Muhkamat and Mutashabiat verses of the Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 21. Asbab-i-Nazool—or the background of the revelation of the Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 22. Nazm principle in the Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 23. Abrogation in the Quran—some reflection on old and new perspectives!/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 24. Concept of knowledge in Quran/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 25. Quranology—in world wide scholarship/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. Index.Vol. II: 1. Civil liberties and Islam—some reflections on the freedom of conscience in Islam/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 2. Muslim contribution to medical sciences/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 3. Miskawayh on society and government/Badruddin Bhat. 4. Ibn Taimiyah-revisited—a study of his Ar –Raddo’Alal Mantaqiyin/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 5. The background of the Maktubat of Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi—a study in historical perspective/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 6. Shaykh Ahmad Sarhindi’s concept of Universe/Afroz Ahmad Bisati. 7. Ilmul-Al-Kalam of Shah Wali Allah of Dehalawi/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 8. The philosophy of Mulla Sadra with special reference to Eschatology of Ibn Sina/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 9. The Epistemology of Baqir-as-Sadar and his critique of modern western empiricist theories of knowledge/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 10. From Judaism to Zionism—a legacy of human rights violations/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 11. Islam and the contemporary ecological crisis with reference to population control/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 12. The phenomenon of education, Islam and women—a critical preview/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 13. Hope in peace and harmony from an Islamic perspective/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 14. World wide scholarship on Seerah/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 15. Rational sciences in medieval India/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 16. Women, world religions and Islam/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 17. Issues in the translation of religious texts/Aadil Amin Kak. 18. Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd—conflict and concord/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 19. Biotechnology—some issues and challenges?/Firdous A. Wani. 20. Values and ethics : the Islamic perspective/Ishtiyaqh Danish. Index, and researchers and teachers of Islamic studies. The book is also mean to cater the requirements of the students of comparative religions and Islamology" (jacket)
2-Saints and Saviours of Islam/
Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. New Delhi, Sarup and Sons, 2005, xix, 344 p., ISBN 81-7625-555. Contents: Preface. 1. Ghazzali and revival of Islamic sciences. 2. Ibn Taimiyah--an introduction. 3. The attitude of Ibn-Taimiyah to philosophy and Ilm Al Kalam. 4. Ibn Taimiyah's critique of Greek logic--a study of Ar-Raddo 'Alal-Mantiqiyin. 5. Ilmul-Al-Kalam of Shah Wali Allah of Dehalawi. 6. The background of the Maktubat of Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi. 7. Rational sciences in medieval India. 8. Sufism in Kashmir. 9. Spiritual economy--Syed Ali Hamadani and his role in the advancement of arts and crafts in Kashmir. 10. Muslims contribution to medical sciences. Appendices. Index. "The history of Islam is full of such events, which have left their imprints on the pages of world history. Moreover, such Islamic personages have emerged on the scene from time to time, at various places of the vast Islamic world, who have rejuvenated not only the forgotten ideals and lessons of Islam, but transformed their societies as well, and left behind the legacy of great social and intellectual even scientific reformation and epistemological renaissance. The present book deals with the least known reformative, academic and social service related matters where Muslims have contributed clandestinely." (jacket)
Emerging from Darkness: Ghazzali’s Impact on the Western Philosophers/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. New Delhi, Sarup, 2002, viii, 392 p., Rs.1250/ISBN 81-7625-310-3.
Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Life and times of Al Ghazzali. 3. Ghazzali’s philosophical credentials. 4. Ghazzali’s philosophy. 5. Ghazzali’s method of doubt and his views on epistemology with special reference to Rene Descartes. 6. Ghazzali’s impact on medival western philosophers. 7. Ghazzali’s impact on Ibn Tufayl. 8. Ghazzali’s impact on Ibn Rushd. 9. Ghazzali’s impact on modern western philosophers. 10. Conclusions.
"While there is no dearth of books on Ghazzali the interest in his thought is growing with unqualified recognition. Dr. Hamid’s study of Ghazzali is not confined to the subject, but covers the whole range of Muslim thought and can serve as an introduction to Muslim thinkers as a whole. Unlike the all too common tendency of scholars to take recourse to secondary sources, the author has utilized the original texts and has availed himself of books in English, Arabic and Persian with equal facility. The material that he has amassed is truly amazing. He has convincingly brought out the fact that western thought is more indebted to Islam than is generally recognized. Now it is for the Muslim scholars to move forward with their heritage and produce work of their own with zest integrity." (Jacket)
KASHMIR UNDER THE SULTANS
(3rd Enriched edition)
Prof. Muhibbul Hasan,
Introduced by Dr. Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi.
GULSHAN PUBLISHERS, SRINAGAR, RS.825
“Kashmir under the Sultans” is a book, which has survived the vagaries of time and after about four decades, when it was first published; it has remained as a source book for the scholars, researchers and students of medieval Kashmir history; especially on the Sultanate period. The scholars have published several books after this book was published, but the authentic, objective and balanced approach, which singles this book out, has mainly been found lacking in most of these books. The reliance on sources, both Sanskrit and Persian, astute utilization of folk tradition, and comprehensive treatment of controversial episodes of Kashmir history, have achieved for this book a unique place in Kashmir Historiography.
One of the important characteristics of Muhibbul Hasan’s book is its objectivity and impartiality. The author has honestly tried to adhere to the principle of a cool and unbiased mode of research, where facts speak on their own. He has attempted to put forward a holistic assessment of the events, which unfounded in the juxtaposed political and social environs of medieval Kashmir.
“Mohibbul Hasan ‘Kashmir under the Sultans is the first scholarly attempt at producing a better understanding of the social, economic and particularly, political conditions of Kashmir under the Sultans. His brief analysis of the spread of Islam and its influence on Kashmir is useful.” (Prof. Ishaq Khan Kashmir’s Transition to Islam – The Role of Muslim Rishis” (Published by Manahor Publication Delhi, 1994, and 1999 p-17).The new edition of the book contains a detailed introduction of the editor, which includes the history of Islam in Kashmir, the role of Sufis and Rishis, new research books on Kashmir history and their analysis and the correct rendering of various names of villages and places which have been mentioned by Prof.Muhibbul Hassan.Thus this edition is a very enriched one of the already very important source on Sultanate period of Kashmir.
The Attitude of Islam Towards Science and Philosophy:
A Translation of Ibn Rushd’s (Averroes) Famous Treatise "Faslul-Al-Maqal"/translated by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi and Aadil Amin Kak. New Delhi, Sarup and Sons, 2003, xii, 207 p., $23.Rs 450/ ISBN 81-7625-413-4.Contents: Preface. 1. Biography of Ibn Rushd/Aadil Amin Kak. 2. Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd/Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. 3. Conflict and concord: translation of Fasl-Al-Maqal. Appendix: 1. The question mentioned by the Shykh Abul-Walid in the decisive treatise. 2. Some reflections on thought and works of Ibn Rushd. Index.
"In the book, Ibn Rushd has attempted to discuss the problem of relation between religion, science and philosophy from Shariah point of view of Islam. The author has proved on basis of sound and substantial arguments that religion and philosophy, (science included,) are complementary to each other and philosophy is the ‘foster sister’ of religion of Islam. Ibn Rushd bring an important jurist of Islam himself has proved judgment about the affinity of philosophy and science to Islam. The positive attitude of Islamic Shariah towards philosophy and science can not be elucidated in any better way than that of Ibn Rushd, as he has done in this important classical Islamic treatise." (Jacket)
Muslim Philosophy Science and Mysticism/Hamid Naseem. New Delhi, Sarup and Sons, 2001, iv, 349 p., ISBN: 81-7625-230-1.Rs.1250/
Contents: Introduction. 1. Intellectual discussions in the early days of Islam. 2. Philosophy of Al-Kindi. 3. Philosophy of Al-Farabi. 4. Philosophy of IBN Sina. 5. Ghazalli’s philosophy. 6. Ghazalli’s impact on IBN Tufayl. 7. Ghazalli and IBN rushd-conflict and concord. 8. IBN Taimiyah—an introduction. 9. Philosophy of IBN—Taimiyah. 10. Rational sciences in medieval India. 11. Social philosophy of Ali Shariati. 12. Semantic philosophy and quranic studies. Appendices-I: The sources of Iqbal’s thought. II. Ghazzali and natural sciences. III. Indo-Iranian relations. IV. Sufism in Kashmir. Bibliography.
"Muslims have been provided by Allah a complete code of conduct in the form of Holy Quran. In Quran there are two types of verses i.e. allegorical (Mutashabiat) and categorical (Mukhamat). The Mutashabiat verses of Quran are mostly pertaining to the essence of Allah and his attributes, predestination, soul and life here after death etc. etc. Since these verses are outside the purview of human reasoning, much hair splitting and question begging has not been encouraged in this regard. Yet many of the Muslim thinkers and philosophers have ventured to enter into detailed discussions in these matters."In the first stage we find that the Muslims are engaged in explanation and elaboration of various Islamic doctrines in the light of Quran. Mutazilites, Asharites, Maturidians, Qadarites and Jabarites etc are the representatives of the period. In the second stage Muslim scholars (in some cases Jews and Christians as well ) started translating the transmitting Greek philosophy into Arabic Ishaq Ibn Hunayn, Hunayn Ibn Ishaq, Al-Kindi and many others were engaged in this process."In the fifth stage we observe that a critical appraisal of the Greek thought started. Al-Ghazzali criticised Greek philosophy and its Muslim adherents. In the sixth stage we observe that a revolt took place against all sorts of philosophy. Ibn Taimiyah criticised Muslim philosophers including Ghazzali for their indulgence in Greek thought. He highlighted the religious aspects of Islam to the extent, where logic or philosophy cannot work. Iqbal in a sense continued the same trend but with a specialized manner and compared Muslim philosophy to the Greek and Western philosophy". (Jacket
THE QURAN ILLUSTRATED
(A COMPREHENSIVE COMMENTARY ON THE QURAN)
VOL.1
THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF BISMILLAH
&
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE QURANIC SCIENCES
DR. HAMID NASEEM RAFIABADI, ABC, PUBLISHERS, SRINAGAR, RS.300/
For the preparation of this book, I have tried to avail from the exegesis of past and present commentators of the Quran belonging to various schools of thought provided the subject under discussion was not controversial. I have tried to avoid the personalized and sectarian views expressed by many commentators although I have availed from their technical expertise wherever possible. Unlike most modern commentators of the Quran, I have consulted the books on Qur’anic commentary written by both by Sunni and Shia scholars apart from taking assistance from non-Muslim scholars who have written on various aspects of Quran like its lexicography and glossary. However my over all approach has been non-sectarian to the Qur'anic exegesis and I have tried to be loyal to the spirit of Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet. Here I want to reiterate that I have not written any individual Tafsir of Bismillah on my own, but I have tried to present the views of old and new mufassirûn in my own way with out, however, passing value judgments, which is beyond my capacity and competence. Nevertheless, I have tried to make my position clear wherever I have found ostensibly any contradiction or conflict among the views of commentators or scholars. Thus this is a type of compilation rather than a full-fledged Tafsir, which also was aimed at safeguarding oneself from the admonitions of the Prophet, which he has made about the commentators of the Quran who indulge in guess work about Qur’anic contents.
The necessary sciences that are needed as prerequisites for the study of Quran have also been dealt with in some detail in this introductory book. A chapter on compilation and preservation of the Quran has been added for the beginners and the students who want to know the history of the sacred text. Moreover, the worldwide scholarship on Quranology has been dealt with briefly to bring home the trends in Tafsir writing both in east and the west.
CONTENTS1-The meaning and significance of Bismillah 2-What does Ism—mean 3-What the word Allah signifies?4- what do the terms Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim mean? 5-Whether Bismillah is to be regarded as a verse6- Revelation of the Quran7- Muhkamat and Mutashabiat verses of the Quran 8-Asbab-i-Nazool—or the background of the revelation of the Quran9- Nazm principle in the Quran10- Abrogation in the Quran—some reflection on old and new perspectives!11- Concept of knowledge in Quran/ 12-Quranology—in world wide scholarship
AFKAR-I-TAAZA
(MUNTAKHAB MAQALAT-I-SAYED JAMMALUDDIN AFGHANI)
Translation of the selected Maqalat of SYED JAMALUDDIN AFGHANI,.PRICE RS.250/
Jamaluddin Afghani was one of the pioneers of Islamic Renaissance in modern period. He has been described by Ali Shariati as “ the first herald of revolution in the East that had been caught in the drowsiness”, and Iqbal calls him the leader of the Sadat and a man who gives life to dust and stones by his innovative revolutionary ideas and thought. He authored a famous journal named Al –Urwatul -al–Wuthqa along with his one of the most illustrious students, Muhammad Abduh .The Journal was being published from Paris and created great strides in the lives and thoughts of Muslims through out Islamic world by its astute and timely appeal to the conscience of Muslims and also exposed the Imperialistic designs of the West in the context of Muslim world. He tried to bring unity in the rank and file of Muslims by this academic but bold initiative. There were several articles devoted to this purpose and the journal remains relevant for the Muslims of today, as they face the same challenges the period of Jamaluddin was facing. He discussed issues of Determinism, freedom of will, the divine principle of change, virtues and vices and their social base and impact, contributions of Muslims to science and knowledge etc.etc. This revolutionary journal was being published in Arabic. There was long back an Urdu translation available of the articles of the journal, but now for a quite long time no translation of Maqalat or articles of Al –Urwatul –Wuthqa was available in Urdu. Therefore the present translation of some most revolutionary Maqalat of Al –Urwatul -al–Wuthqa with detailed introduction of Jamaluddin Afghani’s life, philosophy and works has been published to cater the needs of students scholars and readers in general who are interested in the life inspiring, revolutionary and reverberating ideas of Syed Jamaluddin Afghani.
THE POETICAL COMPOSITIONS OF DR HAMID NASEEM RAFIABADI
ADAI IZHAR KI TAMANNA.
The book comprises on the Urdu Naats, Hamd, Ghazzals and Nazams apart from the introduction of Jenab Iftikhar Imam Siddiqui, the renowned Urdu poet and the editor of the famous Urdu literary magazine SHAYIR MUMBAI and the preface of Jenab Shabib Rizvi, a noted poet of Kashmir. The Dean Academics, Prof.Adus Salam Bhat released the book in July 2002 at the Iqbal Auditorium of Kashmir University and the noted literary stalwarts of Kashmir, Prof.Rahman Rahi, and Jenab Hakeem Manzoor, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Nahvi and Dr. Rashid Majrooh presented their scholarly papers while dealing
with the various aspects of the book. Professor Rahi described the book very unique and appreciated some of its verses like:
Sitara door tha khada tamasha been ki tarah
Wahan hoon aaj main khada jahan tha woh sanam kabhi
Hakim Manzoor described Hamid Naseem as the poet of Urdu Nazam and he highlighted several of his verses like
RANGO NOOR APNI NAZAR KA DAYKAR
IN DAEREECHOON KO SAJAYA JAYAA
While explaining this couplet the learned speaker related it to the global scenario where men have been led to destruction and the palatial houses they have left behind present a deserted look which speak volumes about the conflicting situation world over especially in the world of Islam.Dr. Bashir Ahmad Nahvi described Hamid Naseem a man of diverse intellectual and aesthetic tastes. According to Dr. Nahvi Naseem Rafiabadi has combined cool intellectual objectivity with the warm poetical romanticism of Urdu poetry.
Dr. Rashid Majrooh highlighted critically some of the literary dimensions of the book.
Professor Adus Salam said that Hamid Naseem has received wide recognition outside valley and “whenever I visit universities like Jamia Millia, people ask me whether I know Hamid Naseem?”
The book has been reviewed in Tribune Delhi, Kashmir Times Jammu, The Greater Kashmir, Srinagar and elsewhere by Prof. V.N.Datta, RK.Bharati, and Afaque Rashid respectively and has been reviewed on Door Darshan Srinagar also. A Delhi based scholar is transcribing the book into Hind script for its wide circulation.
“A well established scholar of Islam, with several works on the Islamic history to his credit, Rafiabadi is [was] Head Department of Islamic Studies, University of Kashmir.
In a short introduction to his poetical work, the author acknowledges his debt of gratitude to the stalwart
Urdu poets such as Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz from whom he has drawn inspiration. Ghalib’s saddest thoughts, Iqbal’s philosophy of action and Faiz’s well -tempered revolutionary fervor worked as a stimulus to his poetical composition.
The first two poems are invocation to God, expressing his utter helplessness in the immensity of the universe and then surrendering to His will in complete faith .The next three are addressed to the prophet
Muhammad (saw) whose charming personality and achievement invoke in the poet feeling of respect and
Reverential awe. A major portion of his work consists of the poems of varied moods, expressing anguish, sorrow, aspiration and ecstasy over the vicissitudes of life. There persists in three poems a continuous quest for the apprehension of beauty, but the entire mood is sober, serious and even grave-- there is seldom the lightness of touch, except in a few short love poems. It seems that there is a constant tension and coils within are tightly strung.
Free from moral exhortation, his poetry is tinctured with a moral sense devoid of any trace of sectarianism and narrow –mindedness. Quite unobtrusively, some intimation of the disturbing conditions in Kashmir is reflected in his poetry. Writing on the blood, toil, and tears in the valley of Kashmir, the poet writes (translation): “what a strange city and a strange people that they continue to live in the midst of death and destruction” .The last section of this work contains a number of poems on various themes such as Mona Lisa, Aligarh and Hyderabad. This highly promising poetical work reflects Rafiabadi’s sensitivity to beautiful things, his wide-ranging interest and lucidity in expression”. Professor V N Datta, Spectrum, The Tribune, Delhi, August 3, 2003
“Dr. Naseem is above sectarian feelings and restricted thought---the diction in his poems is a standard quality. The selection of themes is timely. Where he expresses the emotion of love, which is the basic quality of a Ghazal, he includes social demands of our times in his themes. Ghazal in its original sense means ‘talking to women’ or ‘praising the beauty of women.’ But Dr. Naseem ids much preoccupied with the pain of society that has engulfed human life…The book is divided into three parts, religious encomiums, ghazals and poems. There are five encomiums, 59 ghazals and 32 poems in the book. A few poems are of only four couplets. The writer is very hard working (kohna mashq) and it is hoped that he will make his mark in Urdu poetry one day. People like Dr.Naseem are engrossed in moderernizing the Muslim community and introducing true Islam to the world and preach the philosophy of universal brotherhood and concept of coexistence to mankind as enshrined in Islamic lore.”(R .K. Bharati, The Kashmir Times, Jammu, April 24, 2003)
\
GHAZZALI AND WESTERN THOUGHT
Publisher: Adam Publishers & Distributors-India, Rs.165/=
“Al-Ghazzali was well versed in philosophy and the Latin West knew him as "Algazel" the philosopher. Al-Ghazzali influenced Jewish, Christian and Western thought and thinking by way of those writers of the Thirteenth Century who wrote in Arabic, and by translating his works into Hebrew. Jewish writers in Spain gained and acquired great knowledge from this Moslem theologian. Thus Arab Medieval thought had a great impact on the western thought and inspired Jewish Medieval thought clandestinely, and the role of Ghazzali was tremendous in this respect. In this book such all influences have been brought to fore and detailed discussions have been made to analyse the relations between West and Islam in the medieval period”. The foreword by S.Ausaf Ali, the Former Director Indian Institute of Islamic Studies New Delhi.
Assam from Agitation to Accord
By H.N.Rafiabadi
When Mr.Rajiv Gandhi signed the Assam Accord,the nation believed the stormy days of agitation were over.Unfortunately this was not so .This only provided a new basis for the turmoil to continue.In Assam from 'Agitation to Accord'.Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi has done a signal service by presenting the lessor known side of the Assam Agitation;the disastrous implication of the Accord on the state minorities,especially the Muslims.The first half of this investigation details the background to the agitation ,makes the introduction to the Muslim predicament in Assam and discuss the implication of the Accord. The fourth chapter present specific instances of the misuse of the provision of the Accord.In the second half of the book are reproduced the actual documents concerning Assam Accord itself and the various reaction to its implication. Rafiabadi's study and analysis must make the discerning reader wonder where we as an Indian heading for The accord between Central Government and the Govt. of Assam the position of two million Muslims has been put in the stake. Their lives culture civilisation and even survival are in danger. That is why the IOS has taken up this issue and made critical analysis of the issue.
Contents : Preface Introduction, Chapter I Background of the Assam Agitation Chapter II Muslims in Assam -A brief Introduction Chapter III Implications of "Assam Accord" Chapter IV Some Practical Implications of the Accord Conclusion ,Appendices, Bibliography
PRICE : INRs 125($) Back PAGES: 149
KHUTBAT-I-IQBAL KA IK TANQEEDI JAYZAH ISLAMI TAILEEMAT KI ROSHNI MAIN
”SIR Muhammad Iqbal is easily one of the greatest of Urdu and Persian poets in India. He still continues to be read, but not so widely as he was in the pre-Partition days when he was much popular in North India. A spate of literary works has appeared on his poetry, philosophy and on his political role in the creation of Pakistan. It is calculated that more than 2,000 books have been published on him, but a great deal of it is hagiolatry, lacking critical rigour and dispassionate appraisal. However, Iqbal's religious thought has received little attention, and it is to this theme that Dr Hamid Nasim Abadi deals with in his book entitled Khutbate-e-Iqbal Ka Tanqidi mutaleya (Iqbal Institute, Kashmir University, Srinagar. Pages 176, Rs 50).
In his introductory chapter, Abadi has given historographical survey of the literature published on some aspects of Iqbal's religious thought. In this connection, he has specifically mentioned the contributions of Syed Nazir Niazi, Khalifa Abdul Hakim, Syed Akabarabadi, Professor Sharif Baqa and Syed Wahiduddin. According to the author, Syed Wahiduddin has raised some of the fundamental problems relating to Iqbal's religious views, and he endorses Wahiduddin's view that though
Iqbal was influenced by Islamic thought and western ideas, he had an independent voice of his own, and was grappling with issues of cardinal human importance on his own terms—fearlessly. Abadi holds the view that despite some shortcomings, Wahiduddin's remains the best work on the subject.Dr Rafi Ahmed emphasizes that Iqbal's conception of God differed from the pantheistic Sufism as unity of existence (Wahdat ul Wajid) or Vedantic duality. Iqbal rejected the Marxist notion of determinism. He exhorted man to play his independent role unrestrained by the compulsions of necessity or conditioning circumstances. According to him, God had created the whole universe so that 'he (man) should play his creative role with passionate zeal for the higher ideals of truth, justice, and social good. He expected man to reach such a height that he might stand up and say, 'Here I have time with God'. In the final chapter of his study, Abadi deals with the notion of time and space which Iqbal regarded as a question of life and death for the Muslims, and to which he gave much importance in his lectures and poetical works. He wrote: 'Space and time are interpretations which thought puts upon creative activity of ultimate ego'. He provided an integrated view of God, time and space. He emphasized that beyond His (God's creation), there was no time and no space. In the final chapter of his study, Abadi deals with the notion of time and space which Iqbal regarded as a question of life and death for the Muslims, and to which he gave much importance in his lectures and poetical works. He wrote: 'Space and time are interpretations which thought puts upon creative activity of ultimate ego'. He provided an integrated view of God, time and space. He emphasised that beyond His (God's creation), there was no time and no space.Iqbal examined the vitality of time in the light of Sufism and modern philosophical and scientific systems of thought. He made a clear distinction between a serial and pure time which he called 'pure duration', a genuine creative moment, a life force, which in T. S. Eliot's expression, is 'an intense living experience of self-illumination'. In other words, to Iqbal 'time is conquered in time’. For Iqbal, time is not alien to man. It forms an integral part of human activity. He believed that time is God's attribute, and even God. The Prophet had warned, ‘Do not abuse time.’ Iqbal's theory of time is in accord with the Quran and the latest philosophical and scientific thought. In the 10th Discourse Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad-Gita, 'I am everlasting time.’ Lord Rama, whom Iqbal claimed as Imam-e-Hind, spoke on the value of time: For the whole world of life time is the most potent entity'. In Khizr-I-Rah (The Guide) in Bang-I-Dora Iqbal expressed in a poetical rhythm the concept of time as a ceaseless duration. The same message he delivered in his poem Saqi-nama.According to Iqbal, time is free and is a process of change but not deterministic. The reality of change is the acceptance of the reality of time. Time, being an independent and restless activity, begins to influence man who apprehends the negative and positive features of it. Iqbal expounded his views: 'History is not the unfoldment of reason, absolute or infinite, but a continuous creative activity of the ego, both the absolute ego and finite ego.' In short, Iqbal regards time as an instrument of conquering finitude and infinitude. Thus human life comes to acquire a higher and nobler purpose circumventing limitations and difficulties, and by widening intellectual horizons and strengthening moral fervour it seeks to attain the supreme bliss for which Ishq (love) serves as the key to open the whole wonder of the world! In this small and unpretentious work of outstanding scholarship written with verve and judicious restraint, Abadi has shown remarkable insights in analyzing some of the fundamental issues of life that had agitated the poet-philosopher Iqbal's mind. This is bound to become a standard work on the subject.(V.N DATTA)
S MUKHTAR SRINAGAR
I remember when a famous Kashmiri educationist Prof. Agha Ashraf released the first edition of Muslim Philosophy and Science ---An Introduction authored by Dr Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi on 14th July 1998 in the Ghandi Bhavan auditorium of the university, he congratulated the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir Prof Yasin Qadri that such a book was written by one of the scholars of his university during his tenure of Vice chancellorship.
A hard working and dispassionate Kashmiri scholar of Islam and Comparative religions has yet come out with an encyclopaedic series on contemporary Islam
Entitled CHALLENGES TO RELIGIONS AND ISLAM, (A STUDY OF MUSLIM MOVEMENTS, ISSUES TRENDS AND PERSONALITIES), published by Sarup & Son, New Delhi, 2007, so beautifully and professionally that the three volume book seems to be a rich edition to the existing literature on cotemporary Islam.
This is really a good omen for the present vice chancellor of the University Prof Wahid Qurayshi whose leadership has inspired researchers like Prof Rafiabadi to rub their shoulders with the world renowned scholars of Islam like Hossein Nasr and M. M. Sharif who have preceded with voluminous books on the similar themes as the one under review. Though Prof. Naseem has broken fresh ice and has stolen a march on these stalwarts even as can be evident by cursively glancing through the themes of this marvelous book.
This voluminous book deals with the unexplored areas of research and scholarship on the very important and significant developments which took place in the wake of tremendous and unprecedented challenges posed in modern times to Religions in general and Islam and Muslims in particular from different quarters. The present era was especially tumultuous for the Muslims and their religion.
From the beginning of the 20th century till date, on the one hand, Muslims were face to face with unprecedented challenges from the imperialist west, as most of the Muslim countries were either grabbed or dominated by its brute forces, well equipped with all possible modern sophisticated weaponry and intellectual backup, or were brought under its control overtly or covertly through the agency of stooges and mercenaries in a big way, and on the other ,after the sack of Baghdad in medieval period the greatest blow to Muslims was the debacle of the Ottomans of Turkey, then the occupation of Palestine by the Israeli forces working in tandem with the western and communist blocks, and finally the occupation of Afghanistan by Soviet Union and the bloody war which ensued in its after math culminating in the emergence of Mujahideen and Taliban cult and the mechanizations of USA making its entry into Afghanistan under diplomatic garb, and finally the second Sack of Iraq by the American and allied forces .These are some heart rendering events in recent history of Muslims and Islam.
But the positive side of this, otherwise, gloomy picture of state of affairs is that great stalwart thinkers reformers, revolutionaries, scholars, visionaries and luminaries emerged to face these challenges individually, and by launching great movements through out the Islamic world. These movements were meant to rejuvenate the Islamic spirit and create a great fervour in the Islamic world and bring new hopes to fore after a great spell of dormancy in the world of Islam.
The book profiles the seminal epoch making efforts made by the personages of Islam like Sayyid Jamaluddin Afghani,Dr .Iqbal, Mawlana Mawdudi, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Mawlana Abul Kalam Azad, Mawlana Anwar Shah Kashmiri, Mawlana Sonaullah Amritsari, Shaikh Nasiruddin Albani , Dr Sayed Hossein Nasr and Dr Ziauddin Sardar etc.
The Islamic Movements which emerged to address these challenges have been discussed in this book in light of their signal work to rejuvenate Islamic spirit, are Jamaat-i-Islami, Tablighi Jamâ’at, Jamiet-i-Ahl-i-Hadith, Ikhwan –al –Muslimûn of Egypt , Islah and Irshad Movement (1914-1943) ,Indonesia,etc.The issues and trends which have been discussed in great detail in substantial portion of this book visa viz Islam are touching upon the subjects like Education, Birth Control, Media, women empowerment, orphanage, secularism and religious identity, science and Technology, Human Rights and civil liberties, Uniformity in Islamic Calendar, History writing,ecology,religious dialogue,Khilafat,meditation,Marxism,and peace etc. The challenges posed to religions in modern times and the possible responses have also been analysed in a scholarly and lucid manner by the erudite scholars hailing from USA to Malaysia.
Among the many contributors to these volumes mention may be made ,as a special case of, P.K.Justice Shamsuddin, (a retired Judge of Kerela High Court, a prominent social worker and the President of World Forum for Inter Religious Councils Kerala), S Ausaf Ali, (a renowned scholar of Islam, the former Director of Indian Institute of Islamic Studies New Delhi, and present Director Hamdard Archives, Jamia Hamdard), Reverend Canon Brian Cox , (Senior Vice-President of the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy in Washington DC) ,Dr.Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Shouk,( Associate Professor, Department of History and Civilization, International Islamic University, Malaysia),Dr. Yoginder Sakind,( former Reader Faculty of Islamic Studies and Social Sciences, Hamdard University, New Delhi and a renowned scholar of Islamic studies and Comparative Religion, presently working in Jamia Millia Islamia and has formally confessed his faith in Islam now named as Noor Muhammad ), Prof. Bashir Ahmad Dabla ,(professor and Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work University of Kashmir, Srinagar),and Professor Noor Ahmad Baba,( professor and Head of Department, Political science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar).
Dr Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi the editor of the book has established himself in the academic field with more than 25 research publications and more than 100 scholarly papers on the themes of Islam, Islamic luminaries Comparative Religions and philosophy, Quranic studies, Islamic history etc to his credit which have been published from New York, Geneva, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Deoband, Delhi and Srinagar. He is the editor of Insight Islamicus, S.H Institute of Islamic Studies University of Kashmir. Among his important academic contributions, Muslim Philosophy, Science and Mysticism, (two editions), Hijrah –A turning Point in Islam (five editions), Emerging from Darkness, Ghazzali’s impact on Western philosophers, World Religions and Islam –A Critical study (two volumes) , The Illustrated Quran(a comprehensive Tafsir of Bismillah) , and Saints and Saviours of Islam are worth mentioning.
Dr. Rafiabadi was appointed as the Director of the prestigious Shah -i–-Hamadan Institute of Islamic studies, University of Kashmir in 2002, and he has visited several Muslim countries like Iran, Bangladesh, and UAE apart from visiting almost all major universities of India in connection with his academic programmes and deliverance of lectures and reading of research papers. He has presided over important academic seminar sessions at Jamia Millia New Delhi and Dhaka University on Syed Ali Hamadani and Medical History of Asia respectively. He was invited to an International workshop on Religion and Ecological Crisis by the Institute of Religion and Science California ,USA in 2002 and International Center for Religion and Diplomacy Washington in 2003 respectively .
Coming again to the book under review it can safely said that this is a serious academic effort on the part of Professor Rafiabadi that he has single handedly produced a commendable encyclopaedia on Contemporary Islam and its various dimensions. The contributors to these three volumes are well established scholars and the themes selected for deliberations are timely and rewarding. Although there are scores of books written on Islam by the western scholars or the westernized Eastern intellectuals who have faithfully toed the trodden path of their Orientalist mentors .But to write something on Islam from an insiders point of view has had been eluding the readers for last several decades now.Prof.Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Prof. M Sharif are at least the two Islamic scholars who have edited books on Islamic thought ,philosophy and culture .But they too have depended mostly on the write ups of the Muslim scholars working in the Western countries or at times attempted to avail the scholarship of the Christian and western Orientalists for writing on Islam and its various intellectual aspects. The names of Alessandro Bausani, H G Farmer, Z Ulken, William Chittick ,Oliver Leanman, , Parviz, Morewedge, Henry Corbin, Deborah L. Black, David Burrell, Kiki Kennedy-Day and Norman Calder are among the scores of writers these two stalwart scholars have relied upon for providing “insights” into Islamic ethos and scholarly enterprises. But Professor Rafiabadi in his earlier books on Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism as well as in this voluminous book has consciously selected the researchers from amongst the Muslims themselves and has not trusted the penmanship of orientalists for systematically presenting an authentic picture of Islamic thought and Philosophy ranging from Spirituality to Media. There is only one American Scholar whose contribution adorns this book that too on the subject of Abrahamic faiths .Moreover unlike the earlier scholars Rafiabadi has expanded the canvass of his book to cover the most recent themes touching upon women’s empowerment, environmental concerns, Bio-ethical and educational issues, matters pertaining to dialogue and peace, Ijtihad, and media onslaught and Muslims and finally the genesis of Taliban etc.
His introduction to the book is very exhaustive and has covered the dimensions of almost all the subjects discussed in the subsequent three volumes of the book and has provided vital inputs on the authority of the world famous writers on Islam and its contours. Thus the introduction serves the purpose of locating everything in the context of present Islamic world and Muslim predilection.
We find a mine of informative data in several articles of the book especially the statistical figures when the issues related to women and orphans are discussed .The end notes of the articles add the utility and elucidation of the book tremendously. What is more important Prof Rafiabadi has put the articles of established and world renowned scholars side by side with the articles of young researchers of Islam. Significantly the budding scholars of Kashmir University find place in the book along with their teachers and well established men of letters, thus generating a hope that a new band of researchers will get inspiration to explore heretofore un-explored areas of research.
The serene, intellectually oriented editor of the book has thus done a pioneering work by venturing this academic pursuit which will go a long way in paving the way for the rejuvenation of the age old penmanship of kashmiri intellectual fertility for which Kashmir was renowned world over. The book is relevant to the students of Islam in modern age, the researchers on Muslim movements and general public who want to discover the epoch making vitality of Islamic thought. Moreover, it contests plethora of stereo types about Islam, Muslims and their history which have bee set in motion by the unscrupulous western scholars and the enemies of Islam that my be.
Thus the contents and printing of the book both are excellent in all respects and demand the serious attention of the scholars both of Islam and other religions especially the researchers academicians, and general public. However, there are some spelling mistakes here and there which need to be corrected in the next edition of the book. It is hoped that the book will become a standard work on the subject and will receive warm welcome from the fraternity of scholars world over as other books of the editor of the book have received. It is a matter of pride for us Kashmiris that in the present tumultuous times ,there are some of them who are wholeheartedly engaged in search of the light at the end of the tunnel when everything ostensibly seems to have relegated to the oblivious position and a sense of disillusionment and gloom prevailing every where in the Muslim world. May Allah provide him with more energy to serve Islam in general and humanity at large, as both are synominous.Ameen
Sunday, November 30, 2008
THREE-DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TOWARDS HUMAN UNDERSTANDING THROUGH DIALOGUE(October 24-26, 2008)at India Islamic Cultural Central, New DelhiOrganised byInstitute of Objective Studies
Leaders of major faiths, intellectuals and public figures build a consensus on working together to reduce tensions and promote human understanding, writes AU ASIF.
L- R: Shankaracharya Onkaranand Sarswati, Onkar Dham, New Delhi, Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, President, Shri Ram Janambhumi Mandir Nirman Nyas, Ayodhya,Mr. K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha, Justice A. M.Ahmadi, Former Chief Justice of India, Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS, New Delhi, Rev Baddegama Samitha Thera, chief priest, Rev. Baddegama Budhist Temple, Columbo (Sri Lanka), Gurtej Singh, retired IAS official from Chandigarh (Punjab), Dr M D Thomas, National Director, Commission for Religious Harmony, CBCI, New Delhi
INAUGURAL SESSION
It was a unique occasion. The representatives and experts of different faiths as well as other scholars and social activists gathered on October 24-26, 2008 at New Delhi’s famous India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) in response to a call by Institute of Objective Studies (IOS), a well known think tank; IOS Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies; and Universal Peace Foundation (UPF) to interact and discuss seven issues under the central theme “Towards Human Understanding through Dialogue”. The three-day international conference attracted the attention of thinking persons because this was the first ever serious effort of its kind in the Indian context, providing an opportunity to understand each other through dialogue. IOS Chairman Dr M Manzoor Alam, who conceptualized the central theme, exhorted the participants, particularly the youth, to come out and play a pivotal role in the fight against all kinds of terrorism and the process of dialogue.
L - R : Justice A.M. Ahmadi, Former Chief Justice of India, Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS, New Delhi, Rev. Baddegama Budhist Temple, Columbo (Sri Lanka)
The participants included Shankaracharya Onkaranand Saraswati, Shri Shri Shri Shiva Murthy Sharanaru, Mahant Janamjey Sharan, Swami Tatgatananda Jee Maharaj, Swami Agnivesh, Dr M M Verma, and Prof Ratna Basu from Hinduism; Dr Gurtej Singh and Dr B S Siddhu from Sikhism; Rev Baddegama Samitha Thera, Prof H P Gangnegi, Prof G N Samten and Prof Sanghasen Singh from Buddhism; Swami Dharmanand, Sudeep Jain and Dr Veer Sagar Jain from Jainism; Father Dominique Emanuel and Dr M D Thomas from Christianity; Maulana Abdullah Mughaisi, Maulana Sultan Ahmed Islahi, Prof Mohsin Usmani, Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Prof Hamid Nasim Rafiabadi, Tauqeer Alam, Mufti Zahid Ali Khan, Dr Ishtiyaque Danish, Sufi Jeelani and Prof Ali Mohammed Naqvi from Islam.The star attraction was Prof Samir Qasim Fakhro, an internationally reputed ideologue and Vice Chancellor, Arab Open University, Bahrain. There were also representatives from Kuwait’s Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Ministry---Mohammed Umar Al Qinaie and Mohammed Al Umar.
L - R : Shankaracharya Onkaranand Sarswati, Onkar Dham, New Delhi, Mr.Sirajuddin Quraishi, President India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, , Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, President, Shri Ram Janambhumi Mandir Nirman Nyas
Besides, a number of scholars and social activists were too present on the occasion. Islamic scholar and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Ameer Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri attended the inaugural session while Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson K Rahman Khan was present in the inaugural and valedictory sessions. League of Arab States ambassador HE Dr Ahmed Salem Al Wahishi Ambassador, League of Arab States Mission too expressed his views in a session.Inaugurating the three-day conference on October 24, Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, President, Shri Ram Janambhumi Mandir Nirman Nyas, Ayodhya, said “our blood is of one colour and we all are one. We should live peacefully together.” Warning those playing the mandir-masjid card, he said Ramjanambhumi was a national property and it was not an issue and the solution was that “we should respect each other’s feelings and sentiments.” He declared that humanity was the biggest religion. Agreeing with him, Shankaracharya Onkaranand Sarswati, Onkar Dham, New Delhi said Islam stood for peace and harmony and those who tried to link it with terrorism, actually didn’t know it.
L - R : Dr M D Thomas, National Director, Commission for Religious Harmony, CBCI, New, Swami Tatgatananda Jee Maharaj, Secretary, Ram Krishna Mission, Patna (Bihar),Prof.Sanghasen Singh
Swami Tatgatananda Jee Maharaj, Secretary, Ram Krishna Mission, Patna (Bihar) said that a human being had to be free of one’s biological sphere and come out for dialogue to reach towards the goal of harmony and peace. He further added that every human being was equal in the eyes of the Almighty.Gurtej Singh, retired IAS official from Chandigarh (Punjab), who represented the Sikh community in the conference, emphasized the need of a dialogue for which Guru Nanak himself visited different parts of the world.Rev Baddegama Samitha Thera, chief priest, Baddegama Budhist Temple, Columbo (Sri Lanka), said Buddhism was too for a dialogue among different faiths. He said that Gautam Buddha was of the view that there was no race other than a human race.Swami Dharmanand, Sadhna Kendra, New Delhi, who represented the Jain community, averred such event really provided an opportunity for the followers of different religions to come closer.Dr M D Thomas, National Director, Commission for Religious Harmony, CBCI, New Delhi stated that dialogue was the core value of human life. It was a two-way process and we should see each other as our reflection, he added. “Everybody has got an individual identity, but we also have to share multiple identities. The individual is not confined to a temple or a mosque or any other place of worship and he is everywhere,” Thomas said.
L - T : Mr. Michael Macy Counsellor, Cultural Affairs Office American Embassy, New Delhi, H.E.Dato' Tan Seng Sung High Commissioner Malaysian High Commission, New Delhi, Mr.Harold Adlai Agyeman , Minister Counsellor Ghana High Commission, New Delhi, H.E.Mr.Osama Musa Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Palestine, New Delhi. Moulana Sufi Jeelani, Ajmer
Maulana Abdullah Mughaisi, President, All India Milli Council, opined that the need of the hour was to come out on the streets for a united fight against terrorism. “A basic principle of Islam is that you stop the zaalim (oppressor) from tormenting the mazloom (oppressed),” he said.Sirajuddin Quraishi, President, India Islamic Cultural Centre, said the Treaty of Hudaibiya was before the humanity as a milestone in the world of dialogue.According to him, the dialogue has, however, assumed importance particularly after 9/11.K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha, said IOS deserved compliments for bringing leaders of different faiths at a common platform.Earlier, Dr M Manzoor Alam, in his welcome address, said in the present situation there was no alternative other than a dialogue among different faiths.In his presidential address, former Supreme Court Chief Justice A M Ahmadi said the process of a dialogue was the only way-out to extricate the Indian society which was pluralistic in nature from the pervading chaos perpetuated by the virus of communalism. He averred India was an umbrella of multi-religious faiths where “we should live in peace and tranquility without transgressing and hurting the rights and beliefs of other religions”.He said: “The principle of fraternity as enunciated in the Preamble of Indian Constitution, which has not received attention as it needed, should be adhered to resolve disputes through dialogue and honouring the dignity of an individual and communities at large leading to unity and diversity.” Earlier, IOS Secretary General Prof Z M Khan introduced the theme along with IOS.
BUSINESS SESSIONS
Presiding over on October 25 the first business session under the sub-theme “Relevance and Dynamics of Dialogue in the 21st Century”, Dr Samir Qasim Fakhro said: “Our dialogue should have a common agenda while allowing every body or group sticking to its own identity and respect each other’s faith. For this we need able leaders with grass-root connection, not leaders who have remote control followers.”
L - R : Sardar Gurtej Singh, IAS (retd) from Chandigarh (Punjab), Prof M H Qureshi, former Profess of Geography, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Dr. Samir Q. Fakhro Vice Chancellor, Arab Open University, Bahrain, Prof .A. K. Pasha, JNU, New Delhi
He said the leaders’ role was very important but the problem was that the present leaders didn’t have ability to understand the issues and reach people with a common agenda. A faith needed culture and tolerance, he added.He also said that culture could unite people, not break them. According to him, when a good culture would come, marginalization and injustice would itself go and there would be equal opportunities for new generation everywhere.Dr Fakhro averred good and able leaders could emerge only when good culture would be allowed to flourish. “You can contribute to your nation as a follower of your religion from your own way,” asserted the internationally known scholar and educationist.However, Gurtej Singh, IAS (retd) from Chandigarh (Punjab), opined that the scenario for a dialogue in the 21st century India was grim but there was no alternative and prospects of it must be relentlessly promoted. In his view, this also called for a united effort by other nations and minorities, at least at the academic level, to pursue the aim of establishing a meaningful dialogue.Prof M H Qureshi, former Professor of Geography, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, said there were three kinds of power---power of intellect, power of economy and power of polity. According to him, the power of intellect had a superior role to play, but the problem was that today it had disappeared and power of economy was dominating the scene with power of polity taking a back seat.Dr A K Pasha was of the view that a dialogue should be done between two equal partners but in today’s world it didn’t happen. He also said there was no match between hegemony and dialogue. He said in each and every case whether it was of Afghanistan or Palestine, “we would have to ponder over the root cause”.
L - R : Prof.Hamid Nasim Rafiabadi, Prof. Muhsin Usmani, Father Dominique Emanuel, Director-spokesperson, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, Prof Ratna Basu, chairperson, Department of Sanskrit, Kolkata University, Prof M H Qureshi, former Professor of Geography, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, , Dr B S Siddhu, former Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Punjab University, Chandigarh (Punjab), Dr Veer Sagar Jain, Reader, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi, Prof H P Gangnegi, Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi, Sufi Jeelani
The second business session on “Dialogue among Faith Communities for Peace and Justice (Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Budhism and Jainism)” under the chairmanship of Prof M H Quraishi, former Professor of Geography, JNU, New Delhi, was lively. Prof Ratna Basu, chairperson, Department of Sanskrit, Kolkata University, representing Hinduism, opined that according to the Hindu scriptures, there was no religion like Hinduism.Father Dominique Emanuel, Director-spokesperson, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, representing Christianity, said his religion itself stood for love, peace and brotherhood and was always in favour of a dialogue among different communities.While referring to the sayings of Muslim Sufi Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Dr B S Siddhu, former Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Punjab University, Chandigarh (Punjab), representing Sikhism, averred Guru Granth Sahib’s contents itself showed Sikhism’s accommodation to other faiths.
Prof H P Gangnegi, Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi, representing Buddhism, discussed the teachings of Gautam Buddha and dwelt in detail its attitude towards the followers of other faiths.Dr Veer Sagar Jain, Reader, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi, representing Jainism, said the basic teaching of this religion was nothing but to “live and let live other creatures”. According to him, this philosophy showed much scope for dialogue different faiths.Sufi Jeelani said dialogue among faith communities was the need of the hour and it was possible because all religions had some common points. Prof Hameed Nasim Rafiabadi, S H Institute of Islamic Studies, University of Kashmir, representing Islam, said the Holy Quran didn’t condemn other faiths anywhere. According to him, there was a famous verse in this regard”.Agreeing with Prof Rafiabadi, Prof Mohsin Usmani, Islamic scholar and Dean, School of Foreign Languages, University of Hyderabad, said different faith communities in India had now no alternative now other than to start dialogue for peace and justice, and in this process, the institutions like IOS could play an important and decisive role.The third session revolved around “Information and Communication Technologies as Instruments of Dialogue”. The keynote speaker Dr Samir Q Fakhro, known as father of IT in his own country Bahrain, said this was the age of information technology, therefore, the in the process of dialogue the information and communication technologies could play a decisive role. According to him, unlike past in this era it was easy to interact with each other through these instruments. However, he advised to remain connected to the roots and realize ground realities while sticking to values.Dr Abdul Mateen, Reader, Department of Sociology and Social Work, AMU, Aligarh, dwelt in detail on the topic.Concluding the session, Dr Ausaf Ahmad, former Head, Special Assignment, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Editor, Urdu quarterly “Mutalleat”, New Delhi, said: “We must not exaggerate the role of the Western technology. We all rely on the West which is the producer of technologies and developing countries are the users or consumers of technologies. Some times economists have advocated for developing countries the use of intermediate technologies or appropriate technologies, but such technologies, even if they existed at the time of industrialization of the West have been discarded. So long, as developing countries acquire necessary technical capability to invent the technologies they require, they have to rely on Western technologies. In this connection the Arabic principle “khud ma safa wa da' ma kadar” (Take what is pure and discard what is impure) can be our guide.
WASTIA SESSION
Meanwhile, a parallel session on “Wastia---Middle Path of Peace” was also held. It was presided over by Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Dean, Faculty of Theology, AMU, Aligarh. In his keynote address, Mohammed Umar Al Qinaie from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait, said middle path of peace was the only alternative in the present situation to save the world of conflicts and clashes. Agreeing with him, his colleague Mohammed Al Umar said Islam had emphasized upon it.
L - R :Mr. Mohammed Al Umar from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait, Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Dean, Faculty of Theology, AMU, Aligarh, , Mr.Mohammed Umar Al Qinaie from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait, Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS New Delhi
Prof Mohsin Usmani, Dean, School of Foreign Languages, University of Hyderabad, said it was Islam that always asked its followers to adopt wastia.Tauqeer Alam, Reader, Department of Sunni Theology, AMU, Aligarh, opined that the world was in grip of several problems only due to leaving wastia.Agreeing with him, Prof Ali Mohammed Naqvi, Department of Shia Theology, AMU, said extremism arrived when wastia was said good bye.Mufti Zahid Ali Khan, Nazim-e-Deeniyat, AMU, said the wastia was essential everywhere whether it was the case of individual, group, nation or world.
Book Releasing Ceremony: Dr. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS, New Delhi, Mr. Mohammed Al Umar from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait, Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Dean, Faculty of Theology, AMU, Aligarh, Mr.Mohammed Umar Al Qinaie from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait,
Maulana Sultan Ahmad Islahi, Islamic scholar from Aligarh, discussed the principles of a dialogue and threw light upon its misuse sometimes. Intervening in the discussion, Dr Manzoor Alam said dialogue was not a new phenomenon. Quoting the dialogue between the Creator and Master of the universe, the Almighty Allah and the angels, from the Holy Quran, he said it occurred even at the time of the creation of the human being.
L - R : Prof Z M Khan, former Professor and Head, Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Secretary General of IOS, Swami Agnivesh, eminent social activist and founder of Arya Sabha, Mr.Sudeep Jain, Reader in Prakrit, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi
The fourth business session on “Dialogue among NGOs” was presided over by Swami Agnivesh, eminent social activist and founder of Arya Sabha.Prof Z M Khan, former Professor and Head, Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Secretary General of IOS, in his keynote address, said this was the age of NGOs and their role had become very important in the existing situation everywhere. Sometimes they did what was beyond the reach of the government in many cases of calamities---natural or man-made. Keeping their growing influence, it seemed necessary now to have interaction among themselves. And this was possible only by dialogue, he emphasized..
L - R : Prof Shameem Ansari, Professor of Psychology, AMU, Aligarh, Dr Phool Chand Jain, retired Professor, Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Prof Sanghasen Singh, former Professor of Buddhism, University of Delhi, Prof Qamar Ahsan, Vice Chancellor, Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University, Patna, Prof Vinaysheel Gautam, Chairman, D K International Foundation, Gurgaon, Dr.Abdul Majeed Khan, Reader Islamic Studies,AMU Aligarh
Sudeep Jain, Reader in Prakrit, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi, too felt it necessary to have a rapport with each other. In his presidential remarks, Swami Agnivesh exhorted the NGOs to come to a platform and have a dialogue. He said in the West the NGOs set the directions of the policy in most of the issues and played a key role in the building of the society.
L - R : Dr. Mohd.Manzoor Alam, Dr M M Verma, senior adviser, India-Russia Chamber of Commerce, New Delhi, HE Dr Ahmed Salem Al Wahishi Ambassador, League of Arab States Mission, Dr.Ausaf Ahmad, IOS, New Delhi, Moulana Sultan Ahmad Islahi, former associate of Idara Tahqeeq-o-Tasneef Islami, Aligarh
On the concluding day, October 26, the fifth business session began with a discussion on “Inter-Cultural Dialogue in the Indian Context” under the chairmanship of Prof Qamar Ahsan, Vice Chancellor, Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University, Patna.Prof Sanghasen Singh, former Professor of Buddhism, University of Delhi, in his keynote address, said at a time when the world was talking of inter-faith or inter-civilization dialogue at international level, there was a dire need for an inter-cultural dialogue in the Indian context.Prof Vinaysheel Gautam, Chairman, D K International Foundation, Gurgaon, India was a country of different cultures, therefore, inter-cultural dialogue here was a must.Dr Phool Chand Jain, retired Professor, Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi, and Prof Shameem Ansari, Professor of Psychology, AMU, Aligarh, endorsed the views and suggested how to move.Concluding the session, Prof Qamar Ahsan said India was a multi-cultural country. So, a dialogue was imminent to remove misunderstandings about each other and help create a congenial atmosphere.In the sixth session, the participants pondered over “Creation of a Humane Society through Dialogue: Challenges and Opportunities”. Dr Ausaf Ahmad presented his keynote paper and pointed out a number of challenges and opportunities.HE Dr Ahmed Salem Al Wahishi Ambassador, League of Arab States Mission said there were, no doubt, challenges but opportunities are also a lot. While dealing with the practical difficulties, “we would have to march towards creating a humane society through dialogue,” he asserted.Dr M M Verma, senior adviser, India-Russia Chamber of Commerce, New Delhi, said a realistic approach to the creation of a humane society could overcome the challenges.Maulana Sultan Ahmad Islahi, also a former associate of Idara Tahqeeq-o-Tasneef Islami, Aligarh, was of the view that there were many challenges in the creation of a humane society through dialogue.An interactive session was addressed by Prof Z M Khan, Dr Ishteyaque Danish, and Dr Ausaf Ahmad, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General and Finance Secretary of IOS, respectively.
VALEDICTORY SESSION
The three-day international conference came to an end with the valedictory session under the chairmanship of Dr Manzoor Alam.
L - R : Mr.K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha ( Upper House), Prof. Z.M.Khan, Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Shri Shri Shri Shiva Murthy Sharanaru, Pontiff of Sri Murugha Muth Chitra Durga, Karnataka
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson K Rahman Khan, in his valedictory address hoped there would be harnessed creative potentials and energies of various religions to foster culture of peace, co-existence and justice among different sections at all levels.Prof G N Samten, Director, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, said dialogue was necessary for a peaceful co-existence.Shri Shri Shri Shiva Murthy Sharanaru, Pontiff of Sri Murugha Muth Chitra Durga, Karnataka, averred that a humane society was needed and it was only possible when the leaders of all religions would gather at a common platform and decide a common strategy through dialogue.
Prof.Z.M.Khan, Secretary General, IOS, New Delhi, Mr. K.Rahman Khan, Deputy Speaker, Rajya Sabha( Parliament), Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS, New Delhi, Shri Shri Shri Shiva Murthy Sharanaru, Pontiff of Sri Murugha Muth Chitra Durga, Karnataka, Prof G N Samten, Director, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, Mr. Mushtaque Ahmad
Dr Manzoor Alam, in the concluding address, emotionally urged the participants in general and youth in particular to come ahead and march towards a human understanding through dialogue.Mushtaque Ahmad, advocate and convener, IOS Committee on Law, proposed a vote of thanks. Earlier, IOS Secretary General Prof Z M Khan presented an eight-point resolution that was passed unanimously.This occasion also saw the release of four books and IOS Calendar 2009, based on facts and data, being brought out for the last over 20 years. The books included “Profile Jews in the Light of Glorious Quran” by Dr Zakir Azmi, “Harmony of Faith and Civilization” edited by Dr M M Verma, “Aapattiyan Ewam Wastawiktaen” by Abdur Rab Karimi, and “Nabi-e-Rahmat Ka Payam-e-Rahmat” by Maulana Abdullah Tariq.
Leaders of major faiths, intellectuals and public figures build a consensus on working together to reduce tensions and promote human understanding, writes AU ASIF.
L- R: Shankaracharya Onkaranand Sarswati, Onkar Dham, New Delhi, Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, President, Shri Ram Janambhumi Mandir Nirman Nyas, Ayodhya,Mr. K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha, Justice A. M.Ahmadi, Former Chief Justice of India, Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS, New Delhi, Rev Baddegama Samitha Thera, chief priest, Rev. Baddegama Budhist Temple, Columbo (Sri Lanka), Gurtej Singh, retired IAS official from Chandigarh (Punjab), Dr M D Thomas, National Director, Commission for Religious Harmony, CBCI, New Delhi
INAUGURAL SESSION
It was a unique occasion. The representatives and experts of different faiths as well as other scholars and social activists gathered on October 24-26, 2008 at New Delhi’s famous India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) in response to a call by Institute of Objective Studies (IOS), a well known think tank; IOS Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies; and Universal Peace Foundation (UPF) to interact and discuss seven issues under the central theme “Towards Human Understanding through Dialogue”. The three-day international conference attracted the attention of thinking persons because this was the first ever serious effort of its kind in the Indian context, providing an opportunity to understand each other through dialogue. IOS Chairman Dr M Manzoor Alam, who conceptualized the central theme, exhorted the participants, particularly the youth, to come out and play a pivotal role in the fight against all kinds of terrorism and the process of dialogue.
L - R : Justice A.M. Ahmadi, Former Chief Justice of India, Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS, New Delhi, Rev. Baddegama Budhist Temple, Columbo (Sri Lanka)
The participants included Shankaracharya Onkaranand Saraswati, Shri Shri Shri Shiva Murthy Sharanaru, Mahant Janamjey Sharan, Swami Tatgatananda Jee Maharaj, Swami Agnivesh, Dr M M Verma, and Prof Ratna Basu from Hinduism; Dr Gurtej Singh and Dr B S Siddhu from Sikhism; Rev Baddegama Samitha Thera, Prof H P Gangnegi, Prof G N Samten and Prof Sanghasen Singh from Buddhism; Swami Dharmanand, Sudeep Jain and Dr Veer Sagar Jain from Jainism; Father Dominique Emanuel and Dr M D Thomas from Christianity; Maulana Abdullah Mughaisi, Maulana Sultan Ahmed Islahi, Prof Mohsin Usmani, Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Prof Hamid Nasim Rafiabadi, Tauqeer Alam, Mufti Zahid Ali Khan, Dr Ishtiyaque Danish, Sufi Jeelani and Prof Ali Mohammed Naqvi from Islam.The star attraction was Prof Samir Qasim Fakhro, an internationally reputed ideologue and Vice Chancellor, Arab Open University, Bahrain. There were also representatives from Kuwait’s Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Ministry---Mohammed Umar Al Qinaie and Mohammed Al Umar.
L - R : Shankaracharya Onkaranand Sarswati, Onkar Dham, New Delhi, Mr.Sirajuddin Quraishi, President India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, , Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, President, Shri Ram Janambhumi Mandir Nirman Nyas
Besides, a number of scholars and social activists were too present on the occasion. Islamic scholar and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Ameer Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri attended the inaugural session while Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson K Rahman Khan was present in the inaugural and valedictory sessions. League of Arab States ambassador HE Dr Ahmed Salem Al Wahishi Ambassador, League of Arab States Mission too expressed his views in a session.Inaugurating the three-day conference on October 24, Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, President, Shri Ram Janambhumi Mandir Nirman Nyas, Ayodhya, said “our blood is of one colour and we all are one. We should live peacefully together.” Warning those playing the mandir-masjid card, he said Ramjanambhumi was a national property and it was not an issue and the solution was that “we should respect each other’s feelings and sentiments.” He declared that humanity was the biggest religion. Agreeing with him, Shankaracharya Onkaranand Sarswati, Onkar Dham, New Delhi said Islam stood for peace and harmony and those who tried to link it with terrorism, actually didn’t know it.
L - R : Dr M D Thomas, National Director, Commission for Religious Harmony, CBCI, New, Swami Tatgatananda Jee Maharaj, Secretary, Ram Krishna Mission, Patna (Bihar),Prof.Sanghasen Singh
Swami Tatgatananda Jee Maharaj, Secretary, Ram Krishna Mission, Patna (Bihar) said that a human being had to be free of one’s biological sphere and come out for dialogue to reach towards the goal of harmony and peace. He further added that every human being was equal in the eyes of the Almighty.Gurtej Singh, retired IAS official from Chandigarh (Punjab), who represented the Sikh community in the conference, emphasized the need of a dialogue for which Guru Nanak himself visited different parts of the world.Rev Baddegama Samitha Thera, chief priest, Baddegama Budhist Temple, Columbo (Sri Lanka), said Buddhism was too for a dialogue among different faiths. He said that Gautam Buddha was of the view that there was no race other than a human race.Swami Dharmanand, Sadhna Kendra, New Delhi, who represented the Jain community, averred such event really provided an opportunity for the followers of different religions to come closer.Dr M D Thomas, National Director, Commission for Religious Harmony, CBCI, New Delhi stated that dialogue was the core value of human life. It was a two-way process and we should see each other as our reflection, he added. “Everybody has got an individual identity, but we also have to share multiple identities. The individual is not confined to a temple or a mosque or any other place of worship and he is everywhere,” Thomas said.
L - T : Mr. Michael Macy Counsellor, Cultural Affairs Office American Embassy, New Delhi, H.E.Dato' Tan Seng Sung High Commissioner Malaysian High Commission, New Delhi, Mr.Harold Adlai Agyeman , Minister Counsellor Ghana High Commission, New Delhi, H.E.Mr.Osama Musa Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Palestine, New Delhi. Moulana Sufi Jeelani, Ajmer
Maulana Abdullah Mughaisi, President, All India Milli Council, opined that the need of the hour was to come out on the streets for a united fight against terrorism. “A basic principle of Islam is that you stop the zaalim (oppressor) from tormenting the mazloom (oppressed),” he said.Sirajuddin Quraishi, President, India Islamic Cultural Centre, said the Treaty of Hudaibiya was before the humanity as a milestone in the world of dialogue.According to him, the dialogue has, however, assumed importance particularly after 9/11.K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha, said IOS deserved compliments for bringing leaders of different faiths at a common platform.Earlier, Dr M Manzoor Alam, in his welcome address, said in the present situation there was no alternative other than a dialogue among different faiths.In his presidential address, former Supreme Court Chief Justice A M Ahmadi said the process of a dialogue was the only way-out to extricate the Indian society which was pluralistic in nature from the pervading chaos perpetuated by the virus of communalism. He averred India was an umbrella of multi-religious faiths where “we should live in peace and tranquility without transgressing and hurting the rights and beliefs of other religions”.He said: “The principle of fraternity as enunciated in the Preamble of Indian Constitution, which has not received attention as it needed, should be adhered to resolve disputes through dialogue and honouring the dignity of an individual and communities at large leading to unity and diversity.” Earlier, IOS Secretary General Prof Z M Khan introduced the theme along with IOS.
BUSINESS SESSIONS
Presiding over on October 25 the first business session under the sub-theme “Relevance and Dynamics of Dialogue in the 21st Century”, Dr Samir Qasim Fakhro said: “Our dialogue should have a common agenda while allowing every body or group sticking to its own identity and respect each other’s faith. For this we need able leaders with grass-root connection, not leaders who have remote control followers.”
L - R : Sardar Gurtej Singh, IAS (retd) from Chandigarh (Punjab), Prof M H Qureshi, former Profess of Geography, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Dr. Samir Q. Fakhro Vice Chancellor, Arab Open University, Bahrain, Prof .A. K. Pasha, JNU, New Delhi
He said the leaders’ role was very important but the problem was that the present leaders didn’t have ability to understand the issues and reach people with a common agenda. A faith needed culture and tolerance, he added.He also said that culture could unite people, not break them. According to him, when a good culture would come, marginalization and injustice would itself go and there would be equal opportunities for new generation everywhere.Dr Fakhro averred good and able leaders could emerge only when good culture would be allowed to flourish. “You can contribute to your nation as a follower of your religion from your own way,” asserted the internationally known scholar and educationist.However, Gurtej Singh, IAS (retd) from Chandigarh (Punjab), opined that the scenario for a dialogue in the 21st century India was grim but there was no alternative and prospects of it must be relentlessly promoted. In his view, this also called for a united effort by other nations and minorities, at least at the academic level, to pursue the aim of establishing a meaningful dialogue.Prof M H Qureshi, former Professor of Geography, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, said there were three kinds of power---power of intellect, power of economy and power of polity. According to him, the power of intellect had a superior role to play, but the problem was that today it had disappeared and power of economy was dominating the scene with power of polity taking a back seat.Dr A K Pasha was of the view that a dialogue should be done between two equal partners but in today’s world it didn’t happen. He also said there was no match between hegemony and dialogue. He said in each and every case whether it was of Afghanistan or Palestine, “we would have to ponder over the root cause”.
L - R : Prof.Hamid Nasim Rafiabadi, Prof. Muhsin Usmani, Father Dominique Emanuel, Director-spokesperson, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, Prof Ratna Basu, chairperson, Department of Sanskrit, Kolkata University, Prof M H Qureshi, former Professor of Geography, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, , Dr B S Siddhu, former Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Punjab University, Chandigarh (Punjab), Dr Veer Sagar Jain, Reader, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi, Prof H P Gangnegi, Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi, Sufi Jeelani
The second business session on “Dialogue among Faith Communities for Peace and Justice (Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Budhism and Jainism)” under the chairmanship of Prof M H Quraishi, former Professor of Geography, JNU, New Delhi, was lively. Prof Ratna Basu, chairperson, Department of Sanskrit, Kolkata University, representing Hinduism, opined that according to the Hindu scriptures, there was no religion like Hinduism.Father Dominique Emanuel, Director-spokesperson, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, representing Christianity, said his religion itself stood for love, peace and brotherhood and was always in favour of a dialogue among different communities.While referring to the sayings of Muslim Sufi Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Dr B S Siddhu, former Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Punjab University, Chandigarh (Punjab), representing Sikhism, averred Guru Granth Sahib’s contents itself showed Sikhism’s accommodation to other faiths.
Prof H P Gangnegi, Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi, representing Buddhism, discussed the teachings of Gautam Buddha and dwelt in detail its attitude towards the followers of other faiths.Dr Veer Sagar Jain, Reader, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi, representing Jainism, said the basic teaching of this religion was nothing but to “live and let live other creatures”. According to him, this philosophy showed much scope for dialogue different faiths.Sufi Jeelani said dialogue among faith communities was the need of the hour and it was possible because all religions had some common points. Prof Hameed Nasim Rafiabadi, S H Institute of Islamic Studies, University of Kashmir, representing Islam, said the Holy Quran didn’t condemn other faiths anywhere. According to him, there was a famous verse in this regard”.Agreeing with Prof Rafiabadi, Prof Mohsin Usmani, Islamic scholar and Dean, School of Foreign Languages, University of Hyderabad, said different faith communities in India had now no alternative now other than to start dialogue for peace and justice, and in this process, the institutions like IOS could play an important and decisive role.The third session revolved around “Information and Communication Technologies as Instruments of Dialogue”. The keynote speaker Dr Samir Q Fakhro, known as father of IT in his own country Bahrain, said this was the age of information technology, therefore, the in the process of dialogue the information and communication technologies could play a decisive role. According to him, unlike past in this era it was easy to interact with each other through these instruments. However, he advised to remain connected to the roots and realize ground realities while sticking to values.Dr Abdul Mateen, Reader, Department of Sociology and Social Work, AMU, Aligarh, dwelt in detail on the topic.Concluding the session, Dr Ausaf Ahmad, former Head, Special Assignment, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Editor, Urdu quarterly “Mutalleat”, New Delhi, said: “We must not exaggerate the role of the Western technology. We all rely on the West which is the producer of technologies and developing countries are the users or consumers of technologies. Some times economists have advocated for developing countries the use of intermediate technologies or appropriate technologies, but such technologies, even if they existed at the time of industrialization of the West have been discarded. So long, as developing countries acquire necessary technical capability to invent the technologies they require, they have to rely on Western technologies. In this connection the Arabic principle “khud ma safa wa da' ma kadar” (Take what is pure and discard what is impure) can be our guide.
WASTIA SESSION
Meanwhile, a parallel session on “Wastia---Middle Path of Peace” was also held. It was presided over by Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Dean, Faculty of Theology, AMU, Aligarh. In his keynote address, Mohammed Umar Al Qinaie from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait, said middle path of peace was the only alternative in the present situation to save the world of conflicts and clashes. Agreeing with him, his colleague Mohammed Al Umar said Islam had emphasized upon it.
L - R :Mr. Mohammed Al Umar from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait, Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Dean, Faculty of Theology, AMU, Aligarh, , Mr.Mohammed Umar Al Qinaie from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait, Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS New Delhi
Prof Mohsin Usmani, Dean, School of Foreign Languages, University of Hyderabad, said it was Islam that always asked its followers to adopt wastia.Tauqeer Alam, Reader, Department of Sunni Theology, AMU, Aligarh, opined that the world was in grip of several problems only due to leaving wastia.Agreeing with him, Prof Ali Mohammed Naqvi, Department of Shia Theology, AMU, said extremism arrived when wastia was said good bye.Mufti Zahid Ali Khan, Nazim-e-Deeniyat, AMU, said the wastia was essential everywhere whether it was the case of individual, group, nation or world.
Book Releasing Ceremony: Dr. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS, New Delhi, Mr. Mohammed Al Umar from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait, Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Dean, Faculty of Theology, AMU, Aligarh, Mr.Mohammed Umar Al Qinaie from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait,
Maulana Sultan Ahmad Islahi, Islamic scholar from Aligarh, discussed the principles of a dialogue and threw light upon its misuse sometimes. Intervening in the discussion, Dr Manzoor Alam said dialogue was not a new phenomenon. Quoting the dialogue between the Creator and Master of the universe, the Almighty Allah and the angels, from the Holy Quran, he said it occurred even at the time of the creation of the human being.
L - R : Prof Z M Khan, former Professor and Head, Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Secretary General of IOS, Swami Agnivesh, eminent social activist and founder of Arya Sabha, Mr.Sudeep Jain, Reader in Prakrit, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi
The fourth business session on “Dialogue among NGOs” was presided over by Swami Agnivesh, eminent social activist and founder of Arya Sabha.Prof Z M Khan, former Professor and Head, Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Secretary General of IOS, in his keynote address, said this was the age of NGOs and their role had become very important in the existing situation everywhere. Sometimes they did what was beyond the reach of the government in many cases of calamities---natural or man-made. Keeping their growing influence, it seemed necessary now to have interaction among themselves. And this was possible only by dialogue, he emphasized..
L - R : Prof Shameem Ansari, Professor of Psychology, AMU, Aligarh, Dr Phool Chand Jain, retired Professor, Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Prof Sanghasen Singh, former Professor of Buddhism, University of Delhi, Prof Qamar Ahsan, Vice Chancellor, Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University, Patna, Prof Vinaysheel Gautam, Chairman, D K International Foundation, Gurgaon, Dr.Abdul Majeed Khan, Reader Islamic Studies,AMU Aligarh
Sudeep Jain, Reader in Prakrit, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi, too felt it necessary to have a rapport with each other. In his presidential remarks, Swami Agnivesh exhorted the NGOs to come to a platform and have a dialogue. He said in the West the NGOs set the directions of the policy in most of the issues and played a key role in the building of the society.
L - R : Dr. Mohd.Manzoor Alam, Dr M M Verma, senior adviser, India-Russia Chamber of Commerce, New Delhi, HE Dr Ahmed Salem Al Wahishi Ambassador, League of Arab States Mission, Dr.Ausaf Ahmad, IOS, New Delhi, Moulana Sultan Ahmad Islahi, former associate of Idara Tahqeeq-o-Tasneef Islami, Aligarh
On the concluding day, October 26, the fifth business session began with a discussion on “Inter-Cultural Dialogue in the Indian Context” under the chairmanship of Prof Qamar Ahsan, Vice Chancellor, Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University, Patna.Prof Sanghasen Singh, former Professor of Buddhism, University of Delhi, in his keynote address, said at a time when the world was talking of inter-faith or inter-civilization dialogue at international level, there was a dire need for an inter-cultural dialogue in the Indian context.Prof Vinaysheel Gautam, Chairman, D K International Foundation, Gurgaon, India was a country of different cultures, therefore, inter-cultural dialogue here was a must.Dr Phool Chand Jain, retired Professor, Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi, and Prof Shameem Ansari, Professor of Psychology, AMU, Aligarh, endorsed the views and suggested how to move.Concluding the session, Prof Qamar Ahsan said India was a multi-cultural country. So, a dialogue was imminent to remove misunderstandings about each other and help create a congenial atmosphere.In the sixth session, the participants pondered over “Creation of a Humane Society through Dialogue: Challenges and Opportunities”. Dr Ausaf Ahmad presented his keynote paper and pointed out a number of challenges and opportunities.HE Dr Ahmed Salem Al Wahishi Ambassador, League of Arab States Mission said there were, no doubt, challenges but opportunities are also a lot. While dealing with the practical difficulties, “we would have to march towards creating a humane society through dialogue,” he asserted.Dr M M Verma, senior adviser, India-Russia Chamber of Commerce, New Delhi, said a realistic approach to the creation of a humane society could overcome the challenges.Maulana Sultan Ahmad Islahi, also a former associate of Idara Tahqeeq-o-Tasneef Islami, Aligarh, was of the view that there were many challenges in the creation of a humane society through dialogue.An interactive session was addressed by Prof Z M Khan, Dr Ishteyaque Danish, and Dr Ausaf Ahmad, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General and Finance Secretary of IOS, respectively.
VALEDICTORY SESSION
The three-day international conference came to an end with the valedictory session under the chairmanship of Dr Manzoor Alam.
L - R : Mr.K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha ( Upper House), Prof. Z.M.Khan, Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Shri Shri Shri Shiva Murthy Sharanaru, Pontiff of Sri Murugha Muth Chitra Durga, Karnataka
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson K Rahman Khan, in his valedictory address hoped there would be harnessed creative potentials and energies of various religions to foster culture of peace, co-existence and justice among different sections at all levels.Prof G N Samten, Director, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, said dialogue was necessary for a peaceful co-existence.Shri Shri Shri Shiva Murthy Sharanaru, Pontiff of Sri Murugha Muth Chitra Durga, Karnataka, averred that a humane society was needed and it was only possible when the leaders of all religions would gather at a common platform and decide a common strategy through dialogue.
Prof.Z.M.Khan, Secretary General, IOS, New Delhi, Mr. K.Rahman Khan, Deputy Speaker, Rajya Sabha( Parliament), Dr. Mohd. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS, New Delhi, Shri Shri Shri Shiva Murthy Sharanaru, Pontiff of Sri Murugha Muth Chitra Durga, Karnataka, Prof G N Samten, Director, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, Mr. Mushtaque Ahmad
Dr Manzoor Alam, in the concluding address, emotionally urged the participants in general and youth in particular to come ahead and march towards a human understanding through dialogue.Mushtaque Ahmad, advocate and convener, IOS Committee on Law, proposed a vote of thanks. Earlier, IOS Secretary General Prof Z M Khan presented an eight-point resolution that was passed unanimously.This occasion also saw the release of four books and IOS Calendar 2009, based on facts and data, being brought out for the last over 20 years. The books included “Profile Jews in the Light of Glorious Quran” by Dr Zakir Azmi, “Harmony of Faith and Civilization” edited by Dr M M Verma, “Aapattiyan Ewam Wastawiktaen” by Abdur Rab Karimi, and “Nabi-e-Rahmat Ka Payam-e-Rahmat” by Maulana Abdullah Tariq.
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