CUK holds discussion on book by Padma Shri awardee

Ganderbal, Oct 14: The School of Social Sciences at the Central University of Kashmir (CUK), in collaboration with the departments of Politics & Governance and Religious Studies, organised a book discussion on "Fault Lines in the Faith," authored by former Pro-Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard and former Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University, Professor Iqbal S Hasnain, a Padma Shri awardee.

The author of the book, Prof Iqbal S. Hasnain, along with Dean of Academic Affairs, Prof Shahid Rasool; Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Prof Fayaz Ahmad Nikka; Dean of the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Prof. Muhammad Yusuf; faculty members; scholars; and students were present on the occasion.

While presenting the main highlights of the book, Prof. Iqbal S. Hasnain noted that the year 1979 witnessed three significant events in the Middle East that shaped the contemporary Muslim world.

“The first was the Iranian Revolution; the second was the seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by Juhayman al-Otaybi; and the third was the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, followed by U.S. support for Afghan resistance against Soviet subjugation.” He revealed that Salafi ideology was instrumental in bringing about drastic upheavals in the Islamic world, in contrast to Sufism, which has the flexibility to accommodate local and cultural practices without compromising its core principles. Prof. Hasnain discussed the radicalization of Muslim youth in Europe and America through social media, suggesting this was likely an unintended consequence of American support to Afghanistan. “The result was that the rest of the world had to suffer in the years to come,” he added.

In his address, Dean of Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, stated that the core tenets of all religions emphasize love, unity, and the importance of fostering harmony and goodwill among people. He further noted that the book discussion highlighted the significance of mutual love and bonding as universal principles that can serve as guiding forces for peace, tolerance, and understanding in today’s world.

In his presidential address, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Prof. Fayaz Ahmad Nikka, while appreciating Prof. Hasnain’s efforts to document the impact of various upheavals on the Islamic world, highlighted areas that suggest scope for further research to gain a complete understanding of cause and effect. He suggested that content and context need to be understood simultaneously, as one without the other can sometimes lead to misleading conclusions. He further stated that all religions carry a uniform message of love, brotherhood, harmony, mutual respect, peace, and dignity, while fault lines may exist in the beliefs of individual sects due to interpretations, perceptions, lack of research, or geopolitical considerations.

Prof. Nikka emphasized that Prof. Iqbal S. Hasnain’s “Fault Lines in Faith” offers a profound and timely exploration of the challenges and contradictions surrounding faith in the modern world. He noted that the book explores the core principles of Sufism, emphasizing its teachings of love, unity, and harmony as a foundation for fostering brotherhood and global peace. “The book sheds light on how Sufi thought leverages local context to promote peace and mutual understanding in today's world,” he added.

Other discussants included Prof Nazir Ahmad Zargar, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, Ashima Kaul, and Affan Yesvi, who provided a detailed analysis of various issues discussed in the book and highlighted further areas for study in this context.

Prof Iqbal S Hasnain also responded to queries posed by students and research scholars. Earlier, Assistant Prof Dr Khalid Waseem from the Department of Politics and Governance presented a detailed review of the book and provided a critical analysis of various issues discussed therein. The event was conducted by Asst Prof Dr Rigzin Gurmet, and Dr Muzaffar A. Ganaie presented the vote of thanks.