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True image of Islam can only be presented by using modern means: Tarar

ISLAMABAD: President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar on Sunday called for making maximum use of the modern means of communication to project the world-view of Islam and present the true image of its past and present.

"With the unprecedented expansion of the new means of acquiring, preserving and disseminating information that the world is now witnessing, the need for projecting the authentic knowledge of Islam has also increased more than ever before", he said.

The president was addressing the 7th meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIU) which was held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Among the distinguished members who attended the meeting were IIU Rector Meraj Khalid, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Irshad Hassan Khan, and Chief Justice of Federal Shariat Court Justice Fazal Elahi.

He said the IIU affords us a unique opportunity to translate our Islamic ideal of a just, progressive, prosperous and contended human society into a living reality through launching resultful academic programmes.

He greatly acknowledged the role of IIU which, he said, has grown into a vibrant, lively and vivacious centre of Islamic research, training and instruction.

He said although this University is physically centred on the soil of Pakistan, "but it is macrocosmically linked to the soul of the Ummah".

"In this capacity, it has taken upon itself the serious task of responding to the needs of the Pakisani society alongside fulfilling its solemn obligations to the whole Ummah", he noticed.

He termed the fusion of the two parallel streams of knowledge and learning Ñ classical and contemporary Ñ as the most formidable of all the challenges, the university is called upon to encounter.

"We must always remember the saying of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) that wisdom was the lost property of the faithful and where it might be found, the Muslims ought to attain it before others", the president emphasised.

He called for making all possible efforts to produce such an accomplished breed of contemporary Islamic scholars who can formulate appropriate answers to the questions posed by modern thought, based on the teachings of Islam.

Earlier, the meeting confirmed the minutes of 6th meeting of BOT held on September 24, 1998 and considered the implementation report of the decisions of the same meeting.

Dr Abdulah Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, Pro-Chancellor presented the welcome address.

Rector IIU, Meraj Khalid made a brief introduction of the Report about the University's academic and other activities before the BOT.

This was followed by a detailed presentation by the President of IIU on the activities which included academic, training and research and financial review of the University.

A committee was constituted to review the recommendations of the board of governors regarding revision of the existing Service Statutes, 1987. The committees was asked to furnish its report in a month's time.

Two special committees were also constituted to look after the various aspects of the university and its activities.

Election of an ordinary member of the BOT as founder member in place of late Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz and election of distinguished scholars and personalities as ordinary members of the BOT were also held.

At the outset of the meeting, Fateh Khawani for Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, founder member of the BOT, and renowned scholar Maulana Abu Al Hassan Nadvi was held and a condolence resolution passed.

Others who also attended the meeting included Sheikh Yousaf Jasim Al-Hijji, Chairman International Islamic Charitable Organisation, Kuwait, Shamshad Ahmad, Secretary Foreign Affairs, Sikandar Hayat Jamali, Secretary Education, Dr Ahmad Omar Hashim, Rector Al-Azhar University Cairo, Egypt, Dr Mohammad Bin Sa'ad Al-Salam, Rector, Al-Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud, Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and other distinguished members. APP