By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Famous Darul Musannefin, conceived by Allama Shibli Noman,i has launched its website on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of its founder.
On June 3rd 2007, management of Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy officially launched the website www.shibliacademy.org . On this occasion, Ziauddin Islahi, secretary of the Academy said that “Allama Shibli’s name is prominent among Indian Muslims of the nineteenth and twentieth century.� Calling the establishment of Darul Munsannefin “his last and greatest accomplishment,� Mr. Islahi was pleased that the academy’s website is being launched on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
The website will make the work and thoughts of Allama Shibli Nomani accessible to all. It also intends to keep people informed of activities and the functionings of the Academy.
Dr. Salman Sultan, a descendent of Allama Shibli Nomani, was pleased about the launch of the website. Talking about Darul Musannefin, which literally means house of writers, he said “Shibli Academy is a place where scholar’s needs are catered to, from a full fledged library to a printing press, and a place where they are free to live and think in a calm and quiet environment, is a unique idea.� Dr. Sultan is the vice-principal of Shibli National College of Azamgarh and a member of the management committee of the Academy.
Prof. Ishteyaq Ahmad Zilli who was associated with the Department of History of Aligarh Muslim University, said that the Shibli Academy is a realization of dreams and visions and an endeavor to accomplish the mission of Shibli Nomani. According to Prof. Zilli Shibli’s mission “was to effectively respond and provide satisfactory answers to the challenges posed by the western ideological and scholarly onslaught against Islam and Muslims.� Recalling that for 90 years Shibli Academy had an enormous contribution towards this mission, in the present environment “the task must be taken up with renewed determination and earnestness.� Dr. Zilli said further “[the] launching of the website will go a long way in helping us achieve this arduous task.�
The website of the Academy provides information about its founder, patrons and management. There is an online facility for people to become its member. It also lists the names of books published by the academy. In future plans, an online book store is in the works according to Mr. Afzal Usmani, an engineer in Texas and the brains behind this website.
Allama Mohammad Shibli Nomani is among the greatest Islamic scholars of all time. His famous books, like Seeratun-Nabi, Al-Farooq, Al-Mamoon, Al-Ghazali, Seeratun-Noman and Sherul-Ajam are among the legendary pieces on their respective subjects. Other than an Islamic scholar, Allama Shibli Nomani was also an educationist, nationalist and social reformer of his time and has his own legacy in the fields. He is among the most prominent figures of the Aligarh Movement and also the founder of Nadwatul-Uloom, National College (Shibli National P.G. College) and his dream project Darul Musannefin (Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy) in Azamgarh.
Syed Hamid, chancellor of Jamia Hamdard is also a member of the management committee of the Academy. He also sent his message of support for the website suggesting that the Academy should continue on mission envisioned by its founding fathers. However, he suggested adding translation to its publication service.
Syed Hamid, who is former VC of Aligarh Muslim University, suggested forming a fund to finance the important work done by the Academy. He was of the opinion that “in order to restore to this institution its pristine image and to attract and promote talent, it is imperative that it should be insulated from financial worries.�
Most importantly, Mr. Hamid suggested “immediate infusion of fresh blood in the management.�
Link:
www.shibliacademy.org