Professor Zaheer's contributions to research on Islamic history praised

The participants of the seminar on Serious Issues of Teaching Islamic History organised by Pakistan Institute of National Affairs (PINA) in Lahore highly appreciated the valuable contribution made by Professor Nigar Sajjad Zaheer in organising research and producing standard books on Islamic History.
The intellectuals, academic and literary figures urged upon the government and Higher Education Commission to strengthen universities for introducing the subject of Islamic history in higher education institutions and translating original in Urdu and other regional languages. They emphasised that scholars should make serious efforts to dispel the invalid impression of Orient lists about Islamic History.
The seminar was presided over by veteran jurist, politician and author S.M. Zafar. Elite intellectuals participated in the seminar. They included Shahid Ali Khan Editor literary magazine Al-Hamra, Javed Nawaz international investor from Pakistan in Oman, Dr Hussain Ahmad Piracha, Sajjad Mir, critic of English/Urdu and anchor on current affairs, Dr Shahida Parveen, Farooq Ahmad Tasneem, Farooq Chohan, columnist, Qayyum Nizami, author and political columnist, Professor Dr Amanullah, Salman Abid, senior columnist and commentator Dr Jamila Shaukat, Professor of Islamic Studies, Bushra Rehman, author and columnist Salma Awan, novelist and short story writer Dr Imrana Mushtaq, Professor of Geography, Mohsin Farani, Chairman Encyclopaedia on Seerat-un-Nabi (SAW) Professor Muhammad Yahya, Professor of Arabic among other.
In his brief presidential remarks, S.M. Zafar, said that it was appreciable that so many books are being produced on Islamic History and it was significant that the publishing of these books is being done by a scholarly. He warned that when history repeats, it is tainted with punishment on lapses. A number of college/university teachers and students also attended the seminar.
Altaf Hasan Qureshi, Secretary General PINA said in his opening remarks that, on the occasion of most auspicious day of our Prophet arrival in this world, today on 12th Rabi-ul-Awal, were a befitting opportunity to talk on a subject relating to Islamic History. National Conference on Seerat was held on this day at which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made a speech urging to adopt a life in the love of the Prophet and following his example.
Qureshi said that Professor Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer retired Chairperson Department of Islamic History Karachi University has come to Lahore to attend the conference. Professor Nigar has already received President Award on "The concept of slavery in Islam". PINA has arranged a luncheon in her honour at Executive Club, Punjab University. The prime aim of PINA is to foster integration and innovative ideas among the youth. At this special gathering of eminent intellectual, literati, poets, writers, recalled her amazing experience in the perspective of Islamic History. After retirement from Karachi University as Chairperson Department of Islamic History Professor Dr Nigar, is poet, trade writer and above all a scholar of Islamic History. Out of 8 books on Islamic History authorised by Dr Nigar she has won awards of 4 books. She entered into the domain of publishing books 12 years ago and has chosen Islamic History to focus upon the production instead of going for books en vogue and fiction. Now she is running her Publishing House named Qirtas, which is also, bring out a shadfly magazine Al-Ain.
Professor Dr Nigar said that although she was student of science, she got admission in Islamic History at Karachi University. She was lucky to have teachers of eminence who taught the subject in such a way that she was lured to its horizons, and because a rodent students of Islamic History. This led her to the rostrum of teaching the same subject. This journey led her to accentuate her understanding of the subject and its contemporary stands in the realm of history. She with the passage of time developed the feeling that books in Islamic History were at the verge of extinction. Whenever she suggested her students to study scholarly works of Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Nadvi, Allama Shibli Naumani, Maulana Ghulam Rasool Mehar, the general response world be that the books of these scholars are not amicable.
Professor Dr Nigar said that she had the fortune of learning from Professor Mohsin Ali Siddiqi, a great teacher of Arabic, Persian and English. He had rendered the translation of "Al-Maaraf" on epitome of great historian Ibn-e-Qutaiba. Whenever I inquired him of the cause of not publishing his contribution, he would speak disparaged of the publishers. Later Professor Mohsin Siddiqi agreed to publish the work under my publishing house. It was in fact her debut venture and she arranged funds out of her Provident Fund. She claimed that so far she has published more than 300 titles, many of which touched 4th edition mash. This invalidates the impression that the number of bibliographies are in receding.
She is making earnest efforts to make available as many books on Islamic History, as possible in the given resources. She corrected that it was since quo no for us to have awareness about Islamic History. It is the great need of the times to contemporarily review of Islamic History. Our ancestors have played great role in developing and enriching human civilian but our young generation is unaware of this great. Heritage and is suffering from inferiority complex for the past.
We should highlight the works of our great scientist, mathematicians, philosopher and thinkers. We should review the lapses of our rulers in the correct perspective. We have to dispel the misunderstanding and bias about Islam caused by the orientation. This is a conspiracy to tar distort Islamic History.
The seminar ensured lively discussion on different aspects of Islamic History. The participants rejected the allegations that Nasim Hijazi's novels, created in the background of Islamic History, are the cause of encoring terrorism. His works were the inspiration for the youth to work for Pakistan. His novels spurred interest in the Muslim History.-PR