He was addressing to the concluding ceremony as chief guest of a two-day workshop titled “Role of Aima & Khutba in establishment of a society with mutual respect and tolerance” organized by the Shariah Academy of International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) and International Forum for promotion of tolerance, Jordan. Vice President IIUI Sahibzada Sajid-ur-Rehman presided over the ceremony while Director General Shariah cademy Dr. Muhammad Tahir Mansoori, staff of Shariah academy and the participants of the workshop were also present.

Maulana Rashdi said that matters which require Ijtihad should be dealt without any bias. “It is a contemporary requirement that Muslims should forget their sectarian differences and get united because it would provide a foundation towards a way of development and peace” he said. He urged Ulema to adopt Ijtihad on collective level instead of individual and also stressed upon them to broaden their thoughts further. He suggested that Ulema should introduce consultation councils to provide guidance to the people on important religious issues while hoping it would further reduce the distances among the public and scholars.

Sahibzada Sajid-ur-Rehman, in his address said that Ulema and Aima are the proud of Muslim Ummah who can be a source of positive change in the society. He urged Ulema to put aside sectarian differences and work for the cause of image building of Muslims. He added that young Ulema have a huge responsibility on their shoulders; they have to bring Ummah under one flag. VP IIUI said that Islam is the religion of peace and Ulemah can play a pivotal role in dissemination of this message.

On the second day of the workshop during various sessions Dr. Ismat Ullah, head department of Fiqh of Islamic Research Institute, Dr. Muhammad Tahir Hakeem, head department of Fiqh of Faculty of Shariah and Law and Maulana Misbah-ur-Rehman Yousfi delivered lectures on important topics of workshop.

At the end of ceremony, Dr. Tahir Mansoori presented shield to Maulana Rashdi while workshop completion certificates were also given to the participants.

VIVA-VOCE EXAMINATION COMMITTEE

External Examiners:

1. Dr. Eatzaz Ahmad, Dean/Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences,
   Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
    
2. Dr. Attiya Yasmin Javed, Professor,
   Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad.

Internal Examiner:
Dr. Arshad Ali Bhatti, Assistant Professor, IIIE, IIUI.

Supervisor:
Dr. Asad Zaman, Professor, IIIE, IIUI.

Co-Supervisor:
Dr. Abdul Qayyum, Professor, PIDE, Islamabad.

On the concluding of course 40 members delegation visited different faculties, central library of new Campus of the university. Additional Director Syed Hassan Aftab briefed the students about history, objective and purpose of establishment of the university. He also gave brief account about the admission process being continue to the students.

Students of delegation also asked various questions and took keen interest in admissions. Addl. Director Protocol & Public Relations were also present during the briefing session.

He expressed these views as chief guest in two-day workshop titled “Role of Aima & Khutba in establishment of a society with mutual respect and tolerance” organized by the Shariah Academy of International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) and International Forum for promotion of tolerance, Jordan.

The workshop, organized for Aima and Khutba of twin cities was presided over by Director General Shariah Academy Dr. Muhammad Tahir Mansoori while renowned scholars including Maulana Mufti Muhammad Zahid of Jamia Imdadia Faisalabad, Maulana Abdul-Aziz Hanif, Khateeb Jamia Masjid G-6 Islamabad and Dr. Sohail Hassan, DG Islamic Research Institute IIUI were also present on the occasion.

Maulana Sheerani said if we don’t impose our views forcibly on others, we can lead our society towards peace and prosperity. “We should renounce sectarianism, lack of tolerance and bias attitude to face the upcoming challenges of the world, Ummah certainly needs unity and in order to achieve this goal Muslims should mould their lives according to the teachings of Islam” he said. He discussed tolerance with the references of various religions in his address and stressed upon the Muslims to apply this salient feature of Islam in their practical lives. He added that Aima can play vital role to produce a tolerant and cooperative society.

Maulana Mufti Muhammad Zahid and Maulana Abdul-Aziz Haneef also delivered speeches on the occasion and enlightened participants with valuable information on the topic. Earlier, Dr Tahir Mansoori in his welcoming remarks said that difference of opinion should not be a source of conflict but the society should discourage rigidity in views. He also highlighted the goals and objectives of the workshop.
Second day of the workshop would start at 9 am today (Tuesday) at Allama Iqbal auditorium of Faisal Mosque campus.

This was decided after a lucky draw held here in the male campus of the university. President IIUI Dr. Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh, Vice President IIUI, Sahibzada Sajid-ur-Rehman and a large number of the employees participated in the ceremony of lucky draw.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Al-Draiweesh said that every Muslim wishes to perform the Umrah and join the sacred environment of Baitullah and Masjid-e-Nabvi, and today, those who were chosen to avail the opportunity are lucky. “Hajj and Umrah is the omen of unity of Muslims, Baitullah is the place where no concept of discrimination, race or color prevails and same practice we should adopt to deal with the contemporary problems” he said. While congratulating the university welfare fund committee on successfully holding the lucky draw the President IIUI announced that he would provide an opportunity to four employees of IIUI to perform Umrah. He also quoted Hadiths regarding Umrah and its special importance in Ramadan. He urged the participants to act upon on the teachings of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and stressed upon them to shape their lives in the light of Islam. He vowed that IIUI would make this platform more active so that more employees could get the opportunity to see the Holy soil of Makkah.

Those who were chosen through lucky draw for Umrah include Ansar-ur-Rehman, Nazar Hussain, Obaid Ullah, Safiullah Khan, Ashiq Hussain, Dr. Muhammad Shahid Rafie, Shahid Mehmood Sunny and Khalid Hussain. Four of the employees would be sponsored by President IIUI while expenses of the rest of the four lucky employees would be paid from university welfare fund.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Al-Draiweesh said that Arabic is official language of the university and it is a requisite for all the officials to get familiar with it. He said that Arabic is the language of heaven and a great heritage of Muslims is in Arabic, they should explore this enormous treasure by learning it. “Seek for knowledge is prestige of a Muslims, we should always keep striving for seeking knowledge in all parts of our lives” President IIU said. He was of the view that art of learning multiple languages not only helps to interpret culture and thought of a society but it also guarantees success in the various fields of life. He also announced on the occasion that bright performer of next course will be given an opportunity to perform Umrah. Dr Al-Draiweesh also lauded the efforts of Arabic Language Centre for promotion of Arabic.
At the end of the ceremony, President IIU awarded course completion certificates to the participants.

Dr. Al-Draiweesh said that the dynamic socialization process required, along with the formal education in university. He said that there is a need to construct social and moral attitude of the students an idealist on the bases of Islamic values. Dr. Al-Draiweesh instructed to departmental heads that they may give priority to solve out the problems of students, so they may not feel any inconvenience. He expressed his views that the university needs an environment of brotherhood and close interaction between students and teachers.

He wished that the faculty member arrange a secession in which they exchange of views with students. President cleared the point that, miscreants would not be allowed in university and dealt with strictness. Committee discussed the agenda of proposed seminars, workshops and conferences including, seminar on IIUI today & future vision, Donor conference of the Department of Education, IIUI 9th Convocation, International conference on evaluation of family issues in the list of Shariah & Law, 5th International Applied Business Research Conference. The committee agreed on the point that keeping the tradition alive, it stressed on the need to arrange more seminars, workshops and special lectures for the social, moral and mental betterment of the students.

The Association, while lauding the services of Sahibzada Sajid-ur-Rehman for the development of the university, assured that it would fully cooperate with the Vice President for the betterment of the university. Participants of the meeting said that university would achieve its goals and objective in minimum time under the leadership of Sahibzada Sajid-ur-Rehman.

The viva voce examination of Ms. Shazia Sadiq Reg. No.352-FBAS/MSCS/F07 is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2013 at 11.30 am. Dr. Mujahid Alam, PAEC, Islamabad, is the external examiner for the said examination.

The viva voce examination of Ms .Sadaf Arif, Reg. No.152-FBAS/MSSE/F07 is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2013 at 3.30 pm. Dr. M. Ramzan Associate Professor, Foundation University, Rawalpindi, is the external examiner for the said examination. All female students are requested to attend the viva voce examination.

Vice President IIUI, on his arrival, was warmly welcomed by a large number of officers, Deans of Faculties and other university employees. Bouquets were presented to Sahibzada Sajid ur-Rehman by the IIUI employees of male and female campuses of the university, immense joy and excitement was witnessed on the occasion.

Later, addressing to the university employees Sahibazada Sajid-ur-Rehman thanked all for his remarkable welcome after his restoration. He stressed on the employees to devote their selves for the betterment of IIUI and advised them to refrain from personal differences and biasness. “I dedicated 40 years of my life to IIUI, I never took a single decision based on favouritism or personal interest and in future same would continue” VP IIU said. He said he would not take any action of revenge against those who propagated against him. He added that IIUI staff would have to develop a milieu of brotherhood and unity for the progress of the institution. He termed the protection of the ordinance of university as strength of it while saying that it was prime obligation of everybody to maintain and protect the integrity and prestige of the IIU ordinance.

On the occasion, he also lauded the role of Rector IIUI, Dr. Mazoom Yasinzai and President IIU, Dr. Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh for the progress and betterment of the university. He said IIU was fortunate that it found two high profile and multi-talented personalities who head this institution. He hoped that IIU would achieve its goals within minimum time under the leadership of Dr. Al-Draiweesh. He also assured of every possible support to IIU President in this regard.

The viva voce examination of Mr. Gulzar Mehmood, Registration No.532-FBAS/MSCS/F09 is scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 13, 2013 at 11.30 am. Dr. Hassan Mehmood, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, is the external examiner for the said examination. All male students are requested to attend the viva voce examination.

They analyzed and compared that judicial and justice system with Pakistani and Islamic judicial and justice system and its practices in Pakistan. At the end of the foreign visit participants of the course also performed Ummra. Participants were also awarded certificates on the successfully completion of their course. The course lasted for sixteen weeks.

The Chief Guest of the seminar was Dr. Faizullah Khilji, former Chairman National Tariff commission (NTC). The seminar was presided over by Dr. Zia ul Haq , Dean FSL and Mrs. Samia Maqbool, Chairperson FSL. Among the speakers were Mr. Hamood ur Rauf, Director investigations in NTC, Mr. Salman Farooq, Advocate High Court and Mrs. Nida Zahra Lecturer FSL. All faculty members and a large number of students from LLB and LLM attended the seminar. The coordinator of the programme was Mrs. Nida Zahra, Lecturer FSL.

Speakers and the participants discussed important aspects trade negotiations between the different countries of the world after First World War under GATT and formation and development of WTO, Principles of International trade under WTO and Possibility of Trade Related Human Rights Measures under WTO and limitations.

The participants showed keen interest in all the topics and hoped that the activities would continue in future.

Dr. Zafar’s research focused on as how the American news media covered Muslim reaction to “Innocence of Muslims” a low-budget, anti-Muslim film that sparked protests in several Islamic countries. His subsequent paper, “‘Innocence of Muslims’ in Western Media: Analyzing the Discourses and Developing a Prototype of Response Strategy,” provides an insightful analysis of how and why Americans’ sui generis experiences of diversity, First Amendment “rights,” and secularization may render the US news media—as well as its government and its citizens—unaware of the role of religion to believers worldwide. His research outcome also includes prescriptive suggestions for Muslim interventions to improve American news coverage. Dr Zafar Iqbal has been working on western media discourses for the last over five years. He, earlier, visited United Kingdom as a post-doc scholar and produced quality research in the same area, and is constantly engaged in studying Islamophobia in the West as a media construction.

Jassim Al-Khalidi said that having a long history of bilateral fraternal relationship, the wellbeing of people of Pakistan carries very special importance for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said that the gifted carpet was an omen of everlasting friendship between both the countries. He assured of every possible cooperation with IIUI for the promotion of education while he also lauded the role of the University for providing quality education to the students of Muslim countries.ntries.

Earlier, in his welcoming remarks Dr. Al-Draiweesh thanked Saudi government for the gift of carpet and cooperation with IIUI. “IIUI always strives for providing quality education to students of Muslim Ummah as they are our real asset” President IIU said. He said Mosque has central role in Islamic society which provides a sense of unity among Muslims. He added that Muslims should refrain from extremism and violence and termed sectarianism a root cause of many problems of Muslim Ummah.

It is pertinent to mention that the cost of the gifted carpet is more than 30 million while 30 years back Saudi Government had also gifted the carpet to Faisal Mosque which is now replaced with the new one.

The two days international conference held at IIUI with the collaboration of three international institutions Al-Azhar University Egypt, International Islamic University Islamabad and World Health Organization. In his welcoming address at conference president IIUI Prof. Dr. Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh thanked all participants for gathering to set forth new measures of polio eradication plan. He expressed immense pleasures that Scholars from Al-Azhar University, medical specialists from World Health Organization, religious scholars and medical doctors came across the world to Pakistan, joined hands for this humanitarian cause. President put the stress on the need to have consistent efforts for taking necessary steps for the eradication of Polio.

He said “Ulema e Din should feel responsibility to remove the misconceptions regarding Polio in mind of illiterates and make them aware about the polio virus. He highlighted the fact that Islam teaches about the rights of human body and emphasizes on securing body from such epidemic diseases like polio. President IIU said that the doors of IIUI would always remain open for the scholars and social workers, who are serving for the betterment of the Muslim Ummah. He appreciated the efforts of WHO for Polio eradication and offered full support, cooperation and coordination by all means for the polio eradication.

At the end, he prayed for the prosperity and progress of the Muslim Ummah. He articulated of his confidence about the positive outcome of the conference. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman from Inter faith religious Council Balochistan, Dr. Muhammad Wesam from DarluIfta Al Missritya Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abul Qahir Muhammad Qamar from International Islamic Academy Jeddah Saudi Arabia, also shared their views regarding the polio eradication measures. At the end, the conference put certain recommendations and future plans pertaining to excel the polio campaign and vaccination. The notable scholars from Pakistan pledged to deliver a great resolution for the eradication of polio from polio endemic Muslim countries.

These views were expressed by Justice (R) Shakir ullah Jan, Former Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan, in seminar titled “Rampant Corruption in Pakistan and Its Possible Remedies” held at Faculty of Shariah and Law of International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) here on Wednesday. Dean Faculty of Shariah and Law Dr. Zia ul Haq and other faculty members were also present on the occasion.

Justice Shakir ullah Jan said that non-democratic party system, low literacy rate, collapse of accountability system and social acceptance are the main causes of rampant corruption in Pakistan. He was of the view that media can play vital role to curb the hazard of corruption while positive role of the agencies working against corruption can also help to protect society from its effects. “Corruption can be controlled with will and devotion because it’s a pre-requisite to make our society a corruption free society”. Justice Shakir ullah said. He urged that strong governance and transparency must be applied in the institutions which he termed as leading solution of the said problem. He also apprised the audience about Pakistani law against corruption. Later, during the discussion in the seminar, participants and Justice Shakir ullah highlighted the complexities and legal technicalities in the cases of corruption. A souvenir was also presented to Justice Shakir ullah Jan by Faculty of Shariah and Law.

In the press circular released by the Protocol & Public Relation Department of the IIUI, President IIUI Dr. Ahmad Yousif Al-Draiweesh said that new carpets would be memorable gift to the Faisal Masjid by Khadim ul Haramain Al-Shareefain. It is worth mentioning that current carpets were also placed by the Saudi government 30 years before.

Dr. Al-Draiweesh said that IIUI would arrange to send its faculty members and students to Saudi Arabia for their exposures in the said field. He said IIU will left no stone unturn for promotion of Islamic Art and will seek expertise from world fame Islamic Art Institutions. President Dr. Al-Draiweesh highly appreciated the hardworking and devotion of the students and admired their unique and fabulous work. He said that IIU would arrange more exhibitions to promote Islamic Art and to encourage students in this field.

In the same occasion chief guest caretaker Federal Minister Feroz Shah Jamal said that Govt of Pakistan values friendly relations with Egypt and kingdom of Saudi Arabia and all Islamic countries.ntries.

Pakistan gives weight to cooperation with Egypt and Islamic countries in the field of education; we need to encourage cooperation in broad level as like education. Federal Minister also lauded the services of Egyptian teachers for IIUI and thanked to the Govt of Egypt for this generous cooperation in this regard. He also wished to have more frequent relation, educational ties and exchange of students and teachers. Honourable Ambassador of Egypt to Pakistan Saed Hindam wished to strengthen and enhance friendly relations with Pakistan. He said that “He wants that Egyptian Scholars, Teachers play their role for the uprising of education in Pakistan”. He further said that the contribution with Pakistani universities would continue. Saed Hindam praised and appreciated the services of IIUI and said that Islamic university is credibly considered in all Muslim Countries.

Earlier in his welcoming note president Prof. Dr. Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh thanked to all honourable guests for sparing their precious time. President IIUI admired the services of Egyptian teachers for the IIUI. Dr. Al-Draiweesh said “IIU feels proud to have foreign faculty members including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and from many other Muslim countries”. He made the participants aware about the upcoming educational projects that IIU is going to launch soon. At the end of the ceremony in his vote of thanks Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, Rector IIU paid gratitude to all worthy guests and showed strong hope that Muslim countries would continue their cooperation with one another. Later on Dr. Masoom Yasinzai and Dr. Al-Draiweesh presented university shields to Egyptian teachers and worthy guests.

President IIUI added that Almighty has blessed human beings with power of intellect and observation, we should utilize these powers and mold our souls and bodies according to will of God. “Allah has shown the right path (Sirat e Mustaqeem) to people now it’s up to them whether they adopt his given path or enjoy temporary happiness of this world” he said. Dr. Al-Draiweesh said that Allah has announced best reward for those who practice good deeds and termed good deeds as real essence of life.