KARACHI: “Perusal of a few constructive books, written with a perspective of literature, history and culture of the Muslims of South Asia, got me out from the influence of socialist ideas promoted by progressive literature in the subcontinent in the middle of the 20th century.

“As compared to Islamic scholars of the early 20th century and before, a large number of contemporary clerics are not acquainted with Urdu literature and other basic pure and social sciences.”

Eminent critic, author and linguist, Prof Dr Moinuddin Aqeel expressed these views while speaking at a literary sitting held at the Faran Club on Sunday.

Daera Ilm-u-Amal, Karachi, organised the sitting in honour of Prof Aqeel, who acquainted the participants about his strong association with books and publications that encouraged a thirst for knowledge. It is worth mentioning that Prof Aqeel has served as a head of the Urdu department, University of Karachi. He also headed the university’s bureau of composition, compilation and translation. As an academician he has also served many foreign and national universities. As an author he owns many famous books to his credit. Prof Aqeel completed Doctor of Literature in 2003, PhD in 1975, and MA in 1969.

Describing his relation with books, he said that when he was five years old he started reading books.

“My whole life is associated with books and publications,” he said. He added that the strong relationship with books guided him to the “right path” against the secular ideas of socialism.

He was under the influence of the movement for progressive literature which was established in the subcontinent with the objective to promote socialism in Pakistan. The liberal and revolutionary thoughts of progressive literature usually fascinated a large number of people, especially youth like him, in the country, he maintained.

“Fortunately, I became familiar [with] the writings of prominent Muslim scholars like Prof Dr Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi, leading historian, writer, scholar and Karachi University’s former vice chancellor, and famous scholar Mr Aziz Ahmed. These scholars have written thought provoking books on some crucial issues like Islamic culture, Millat-i-Islamia, history of Muslims of South Asia etc,” he added.

The experience of reading a few books, written by these scholars on basic Islamic ideas, culture, and history of Muslims in the subcontinent, has been an eye-opener for me and many others, he said.

Describing the names of books and their authors who played a pivotal role in getting him acquainted with Islamic ideas and culture, he said that Prof Qureshi was the author of some great works. Names of some foremost books, written by Prof Qureshi, include The Muslim Community of the Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent, Adminis­tration of the Sultanate of Delhi, Akbar, the Architect of Mughal Empire, and The Administration of Mughal Empire.

Conversely, Aziz Ahmed’s works speak volumes when scholars go through an understanding of his books like Studies in Islamic Culture in the Indian Environment, Islamic Modernism in India and Pakistan and Self Statement in India and Pakistan, he pointed out.

“Despite the fact that my area of interest in research, studies, and teaching was linked with socio-cultural themes and disciplines associated with the Muslims of South Asia, but reading of these books really allowed me to perceive facts from a real perspective of Islam,” he said.

He also highlighted the research work of some foreigners like Francis Robinson, Barbara Daly Metcalf, Professor Emeritus of history at the University of California, and German scholar Annemarie Schimmel who wrote some wonderful books covering various aspects of Islamic socio-economic culture, history and society.

Names of their books include The Ulama of Farangi Mahall and Islamic Culture in South Asia by Francis Robinson, Moral Conduct and Authority: The Place of Adab in South Asian Islam by Barbara Daly Metcalf, and History of Islam in India by Annemarie Schimmel. He pointed out that the opportunity to read these foreign scholars had really worked as food for his thoughts.

To a question, he said that now the time had come to strengthen the writing abilities of our children and youth by stimulating them towards reading books which is fading in the country.

Book reading was the salient feature of our early society, which needs to be revived at any cost in the country, he said, and added that high-quality books not only feed our curiosity but also help us to broaden our intelligence.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2019