By AIP
Srinagar: A day-long Sirah symposium on “Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and concept of Social justice in Islam” was organised by Shah-I-Hamadan Institute of Islamic Studies Kashmir University today at its Gandhi Bhawan auditorium.
While speaking at the symposium, Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir, said, “Islam has had glorious traditions of social justice and we need to educate the world about these unique traditions”. He asked the young scholars present on the occasion to follow in true spirit the Islamic teachings and be an example for others by their deeds. Prof. Punjabi talked about the significance of the theme in present day world and hoped that the daylong symposium would shed light on various aspects of social justice in Islam. Quoting a number of instances from life of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) wherein orphans and slaves were treated with kindness and equality, VC said that if people follow the teaching of the prophet Muhammad (SAWS) in the true sense, social justice would certainly be a reality.
Head, Shah-I-Hamadan Institute of Islamic Studies, Prof. Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi while delivering the welcome address said, “the main aim of this symposium is to help our youth benefit from teaching of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)”. Terming Islam as a religion of social justice, Dr. Rafiabadi said that all of us must learn from the just system of Islam and its potential to create a just society. Highlighting achievements of his department, Dr. Rafiabadi said that journal of Islamic Studies KU is getting contributions from across the globe and it has carved a niche in the academic world.
In his keynote address, Justice (Retd.) B A Kirmani said that in Islam, social justice is something intrinsic and not a reaction to something from outside. “In Islam the stream of social justice flows the same way for an individual, a group, a larger society, state or even a country” he added. Talking about the status women have in Islam, Dr. Kirmani said that “Women got their due place in society where she could express herself and be heard as well”.
Vice-Chancellor Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Dr. Siddiq Wahid, while referring to Ibn-e-Khaldoon, a 14th Century Islamic Scholar and theologian, said that the fundamental aim of education in Islam is to help our students to research and think critically to acquire new ways of seeing and doing. “The speculative intellect helps our students grow and synthesize before we move to conclusions” added Dr Wahid.
Dr. Mazoor A Bhat and Dr. Nazir A Zargar at Shah-i-Hamdan Institute of Islamic Studies conducted proceedings of the daylong session.
Two books were also released on the occasion. They were “Comparative Study of Maulana Abul Hassan Ali Nadvi and Maulana Maududi” by Dr. Sheikh Jamil Ali and “Da’wah Methodology in Islam” authored by Dr. Nazir A Zargar both from the Shah-i-Hamadan Institute of Islamic Studies.
Earlier the program commenced with the recitation of a few verses from the Holy Quran by renowned reciter of the subcontinent, Qari Sajad Ahmad. A Na’at was also presented on the occasion by Mr. Ghulam Hassan Ghamgheen.
Those who spoke in the second session of the symposium included Prominent Cleric Mufti Nazir A Qasmi, Prominent historian and writer, Prof. Shaykh Muhammad Iqbal, Prof. Bashir A Nehvi, Prof. Ishaq Khan, Dr. Showkat A Dar, Department of Islamic Studies – IUST, Dr. A R Bhat, Dr. Sheikh Showkat, besides other speakers.