By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Acquiring any knowledge, be it religious or modern, for the benefit of oneself or the society at large is not forbidden in Islam. The followers of Islam can gain knowledge from any source even from un-Islamic institutions or non-Muslims for the uplift of society. The religious knowledge in Islam is matter of faith while the pursuit of knowledge of modern science and technology is associated with intellect. In the Holy Quran Muslims have been exhorted a number of times to think, ponder and reflect over His creations, thereby to develop a scientific temperament and thinking to recognize His presence as the Creator of the Universe.
The above observations were made by Maulana Syed Sharafat Ali Nadwi, a senior faculty member of renowned local seminary Darul-Uloom Taj-ul-Masajid, while delivering late Maulana Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari memorial lecture here at Hameed Manzil. The topic of the lecture was “Muslim Millat Ki Tameer Nau Mein Jadeed Taleem Ki Ahmiyat” (the importance of modern knowledge in the rebuilding of Muslim Ummah). The lecture was presided over by Bhopal Shahar Qazi Maulana Abdul Lateef Khan Qasmi. The lecture was organised by local NGO Muslim Educational & Career Promotion Society, (MECAPS).
Maulana Sharafat speaking at length on the topic said Islam has enjoined upon Muslims to gain knowledge of all that is necessary for day to day life apart from acquiring religious knowledge. The secret of success for Muslims lies in the fact that men and women both have command over modern science along with the knowledge of the tenets of Islam. They should be practicing Muslims and not just for name-sake, he remarked.
He said that there is no conflict between the teachings of Islam and scientific knowledge but are complimentary to each other. While Islam is a reality for mankind for all times to come, science is a thing of research which is an ongoing process. The Holy book of Quran over 1400 hundred years ago had mentioned the end results of many scientific discoveries which have been made today, he remarked.
Maulana Sharafat said Quran is a book of signs and not science and Muslims should take cue from it to unravel the mysteries of nature which have not yet been explored up till now.
Earlier, Prof. Mohammad Hassan Khan, son of late Maulana Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari, who is the head of Arabic Department in local Barkatullah University, threw light on the life and works of his father. He said Maulana Imran, who had immense administrative capabilities, at a very young age of 28 years was appointed Mohtamim (Rector) of the Lucknow-based world famous seminary Nadwatul Ulema from where he had graduated. Before taking over this assignment he did his post-graduation from another world renowned Al-Azhar University of Cairo in Egypt.
Later Maulana Imran started seminary Darul-Uloom Taj-ul-Masajid in Bhopal on the orders of Bhopal rulers. He also actively took part in Tabligh movement and was instrumental in the holding of annual Tablighi Ijtema (congregation) which is continuing in Bhopal for last six decades without any break.
Maulana also undertook the epic task of completing the construction of half built Taj-ul-Masajid, the largest mosque in Asia, in 1971 . The construction of Taj-ul-Masajid which Shahjahan Begum, the ruler of Bhopal, got started during her reign remained incomplete for several decades due to her death. The Maulana got it completed by touring the whole world to collect funds for Taj-ul-Masajid construction which was nearly Rs. One crore (10 millions) at that time. ([email protected])