For a change....

The News, July 6, 2005
Ulema hope outgoing US CG will take home positive image of Islam

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Religious scholars belonging to different seminaries bade farewell to the outgoing US Counsel-General in Karachi, Douglas C Rohn, with a ‘heavy heart’ hoping that the envoy would take home positive image of Islamic seminaries in Pakistan.

The Jamia Islamia, Clifton, on Tuesday hosted a farewell reception in honour of Rohn at a local hotel, where the outgoing diplomat did not offer any comment on the so-called positive image of the Islamic seminaries projected by his hosts.

However, he said, people started learning more about Islam in the post-9/11 world. He said the US Consulate under a grant commissioned Karachi’s Teachers’ Development Centre to complete a 13-part Digital Video Conference (DVC) series on Passing on Islam between religious teachers from the US and various Karachi schools.

"We offer to you our digital video conference facility as a tool for programmes on interfaith dialogue or interaction with other scholars in the US," he maintained. "We want to continue our interaction with religious scholars in order to better understand Islam and Muslim thoughts."

According to the US Counsel, there is a wealth of materials and research being generated by Muslim and other religious scholars in the US as a two-way transfer of such materials to and fro from Pakistan and the US could go a long way in building bridges and better understanding between the two countries.

Referring to Fourth July celebrations, the US envoy said his country believes in freedom of religion making it part of basic values in the US system of governance. "We’re a nation of immigrants having 7 million Muslims involved in business and politics of the United States of
America."

Mufti Abu Hurera Mohiuddin, vice-president of Jamia Islamia Clifton, said the mission of Islamic seminaries is to inculcate humanitarian spirit amongst mankind sharing the bloodline of Adam. "Mission of Ulema is also to promote the very mission pledging adherence to the cause of
humanity."

Mufti Abu Hurera said the clouds of skepticism with regard to the role of Pakistan’s Islamic seminaries have been hovering over Pak-US relationships due to lack of communication. He said dialogue between Ulema and diplomats would help demolishing misconception about Islam and Muslims.

According to the religious scholar, Ulema are not against America or anybody as such, because we seek friendly relations. He gave Douglas Rohn a pedestal for serving in Pakistan and working to generate peace and harmony in the country.

"We appreciate Douglas C Rohn’s services saying him goodbye with a very heavy heart," Maulana Abu Hurera added. "We hope that the envoy will convey his best remarks regarding Islamic seminaries and iron out misconceptions surrounding the significant role of seminaries."

Shaikul Hadees Mufti Shaikh Habibullah said the curriculum being taught at the Islamic seminaries rely heavily on human welfare and peace. He said teachers of different school of thoughts prescribe acts of goodness and students have been learning the knowledge revealed to the mankind through the Prophet (PBUH).

Maulana Tanveer-ul Haq, president of Jamia Ehteshamia Jacoblines, said such get-together would help people of both countries jettison their misunderstandings and differences. He urged people not to prolong misunderstandings, as they might be harmful for the future. He appreciated Jamia Islamis Clifton for hosting such an event.