Shakil Auj

Last updated

Shakil Auj
Born1 January 1960
Karachi, Sindh, West Pakistan
Died18 September 2014 (aged 54)
Nationality Pakistani
Alma mater University of Karachi
Occupation(s)Scholar, reformer, writer, quranist

Hafiz Muhammad Shakil Auj TI was a Pakistani Islamic scholar and author. He also served as a professor and dean at Karachi University's faculty of Islamic Studies. During his career, Auj taught at the Karachi University for nineteen years, including heading the Islamic Studies department between 1 February 2012 until his assassination on 18 September 2014 by Al-Qaeda. During this time, Auj authored fifteen books on Islamic studies. [1] Auj had received Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (English: Medal of Excellence) from the President of Pakistan for his contributions to the field of Islamic education. [2] Auj was noted as an Islamic reformist for his liberal interpretation of Islam. [3]

Contents

Auj held a PhD in Islamic jurisprudence from the University of Karachi. [4] [5] Prior to his assassination, Auj had been accused of blasphemy. [6]

Career

Auj was the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at the University of Karachi. He also was director of the Seerat Chair at the University of Karachi, [7] ex-director of the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre, [8] [9] and a member of the Senate of Federal Urdu University. [10] He was a disciple of Shah Ahmad Noorani.

Auj published fifteen books and more than one hundred research articles on issues pertaining to the immediate needs of the society, in accordance with Quranic interpretation. [11] He was part of numerous religious and social awareness programs on different television channels. [12]

Auj was a strong advocate of women's rights. He wrote his book Nisaiyaat; (meaning Issues pertaining to women) which was labelled by The New York Times as the first feminist book in the context of the Quran. [13] In the book, he argues that Muslim women are allowed to marry non-Muslim men, and that girls should be both mentally and physically mature before they are married. He received threats from extremists, and was stopped from launching the book. [14] He was strongly criticized by the orthodox clergy for this book.

Auj's book Tabeerat relates to the Islamic principles in the contemporary world. In one chapter, he elaborates on the way non-Muslims may be accepted by God if they remain committed to universal human values. He also explains the way the Quran encourages a moderate society based on universal human values, and how Islam can very easily connect to the modern world.[ citation needed ] His book Sahib E Quran is about the honor and attributes of the Prophet Muhammad. He started the book with the Na`at. In one chapter, he expresses the view that there is only defensive holy war in Islam.[ citation needed ]

Auj was founder and editor-in-chief of HEC's research journal Al-Tafseer. [15] He was a member of the Editorial Board of journals; [16] JIHAR;IJTIHAD; FIKR-O-NAZR; Peace and Peshawar Islamics. He was a member of the Committee on Development of Social Sciences and Humanities (CDSSHR), [17] Pakistan and the Board of Trustees, International Islamic University, Islamabad, the sub-committee of Islamic Studies & Arabic, HEC, Islamabad, and chair of the Tahqeeq-o-Tafseer Welfare Association. [18] He was a member of the Institute of Education and Research, Islamabad. [19]

Auj was honoured with the honorary degree of Ijaza in Hadith by Shaik-ul-uHadiths Mufti Anwar Ullah of Aleemiyah Institute of Islamic Studies, Karachi. He was awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan. [20] [21]

Controversy

Auj had been a moderate in the context of the Quran and established Sunnah. He suffered a backlash from the orthodox majority in his department and in Pakistan. [22] By assuming power as the Dean of Faculty of Islamic studies, [23] he cracked down extensively on faculty members involved in academic and moral corruption. [24] He was reluctant to let Dr. Jalaluddin Ahmed Noori rejoin as a faculty member after his suspension on the basis of having plagiarised his PhD thesis and several research papers. [25] HEC declared him blacklisted as well. [26] However, the Karachi University Syndicate, under pressure from several religious and political figures, let him rejoin. [27] He also restrained seminary students from enrolling in MS programs without a proper channel. Director Sheikh Zayed of the Islamic Centre and Dr. Noor Ahmed Shahtaz were declared ineligible by the inquiry committee on the basis of forged degrees. Auj took charge as director on 28 June 2012 [9] but was unable to take office immediately due to a court order. [28]

Death

Auj was killed on 18 September 2014 [29] by al-Qaeda (AQIS) [30] while going to an event at an Iranian cultural centre [31] organized in his honor for his contribution and services to Islam.

Selected bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi</span> Urdu humorist

Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi D.Litt. (HC), SI, HI was a Pakistani Urdu satirist and humourist. Yousufi also served as the head of several national and international governmental and financial institutions. He received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award in 1999 and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award in 2002, the highest literary honour given by the Government of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Karachi</span> Public university in Karachi, Pakistan

The University of Karachi is a public research university located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Established in June 1951 by an act of Parliament and as a successor to the University of Sindh, the university is a "Sindh Government University" and designed by Mohsin Baig as its chief architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taqi Usmani</span> Pakistani Islamic scholar and judge (born 1943)

Muhammad Taqi Usmani SI, OI, is a Pakistani jurist and a leading scholar in the fields of Qur'an, Hadith, Islamic law, Islamic economics, and comparative religion. He was a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology from 1977 to 1981, a judge of the Federal Shariat Court from 1981 to 1982, and a judge in the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1982 to 2002. In 2020, he was selected as the most influential Muslim personality in the world. He has been conferred the title of Shaykh al-Islām for his knowledge in Islamic studies. He is considered a leading intellectual of the contemporary Deobandi movement, and his opinions and fatwas are widely accepted by Deobandi scholars and institutions worldwide, including the Darul Uloom Deoband in India. Since 2021, he has been serving as the Chairman of Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia. His father, Shafi Usmani, was the Grand Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband and migrated to Pakistan with his family after the partition of India in 1948.

Muhammad Rafi Usmani was a Pakistani Muslim scholar, jurist and author who served as the President of Darul Uloom Karachi. He was an alumnus of Darul Uloom Deoband, University of the Punjab and the Darul Uloom Karachi. He authored books including Ahkām-e-Zakāt, Al-Tālīqāt al-nāfi'ah alā fath al-mulhim, Islām mai aurat ki hukmrāni and Nawādir al-Fiqh. He was a syndicate member of the University of Karachi, vice-president and a member of the executive council of Wifaq-ul-Madaris. His brother Muhammad Taqi Usmani is also a senior scholar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Islamic University, Islamabad</span> Public university in Pakistan

The International Islamic University, Islamabad, or IIUI, is a public research university located in Islamabad, Pakistan. It was established in 1980 and restructured in 1985, and remains a valuable source for Higher Education in Pakistan. The university is regularly listed among the most recognized universities and prestigious degree awarding institutions of Pakistan by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. The university ranks joint second in the 2022 top university rankings of Times Higher Education World University Rankings in Pakistan. It also constantly ranks among the best universities in the country for the general category by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karam Shah al-Azhari</span> Pakistani judge and scholar (1918–1998)

Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari was an Islamic scholar of Hanafi jurisprudence, Sufi, and Muslim leader. He is known for his magnum opus, Tafsir Zia ul Quran fi Tafsir ul Quran, meaning “The light of the Quran in the Exegesis of the Quran." It is commonly referred to as Diya ul Quran or Zia ul Quran. He also authored Zia un Nabi, or “Diya al-Nabi," Life of Prophet Muhammad, a detailed biography of Muhammad in seven volumes.

Ghulam Mustafa Khan, SI was a Pakistani researcher, literary critic, linguist, author, scholar of Urdu literature and linguistics, educationist and religious and spiritual leader belonging to Naqshbandi order of Sufism.

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, also spelled as Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, is a state-organised honour of Pakistan. It is given to any civilian in Pakistan based on their achievements. While it is a civilian/military award, it can be bestowed upon officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces and worn on their uniform. It can also be awarded to foreign citizens who have performed great service to Pakistan.

Aslam Farrukhi was an Urdu author, literary critic, linguist, scholar, and radio scriptwriter from Pakistan. He is also known for writing children's books. He remained associated as a professor and chairman with the Department of Urdu, University of Karachi, for many years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atta-ur-Rahman (chemist)</span> Pakistani chemist

Atta-ur-Rahman, h-index 75, with 36,000 citations is a Pakistani organic chemist and is currently serving as Professor Emeritus at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi and as Chairman of PM Task Force on Science and Technology. He has twice served as the President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences. He was the Federal Minister of Science and Technology (2000-2002), Federal Minister of Education (2002) and Chairman Higher Education Commission with status of Federal Minister (2002-2008) He is also the President of the Network of Academies of Sciences in Countries of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (NASIC). After returning to Pakistan from Cambridge after completing his tenure as Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, he contributed to the development of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi, and transforming the landscape of higher education, science and technology of Pakistan. He is Fellow of Royal Society (London), Life Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, UK., and Professor Emeritus at University of Karachi

Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi was a Pakistani jurist and scholar of Islamic Studies, shariah and fiqh. He was a professor at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, judge at the Federal Shariat Court and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs in Pakistan. He completed his dars-e-nizami at the age of 16 and later obtained a PhD in Islamic Studies from Punjab University. He was fluent in Urdu, English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish and French. He authored numerous works in Urdu and English, and translated Persian poetry Payam-e-Mashriq of Muhammad Iqbal into Arabic.

Shakil Afridi, or Shakeel Afridi, is a Pakistani physician who allegedly helped the CIA run a fake hepatitis vaccine program in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, in order to confirm Osama bin Laden's presence in the city by obtaining DNA samples. Details of his activities emerged during the Pakistani investigation of the deadly raid on bin Laden's residence. This account is disputed in a recent account of events which implies Afridi was implicated as a cover for the real CIA operative. Afridi was arrested at the Torkham while trying to flee the country days after the raid. On 23 May 2012, he was sentenced to 33 years' imprisonment for treason, initially believed to be in connection with the bin Laden raid, but later revealed to be due to alleged ties with a local Islamist warlord Mangal Bagh. Lawyers appealed against the verdict on 1 June 2012. On 29 August 2013, his sentence was overturned and a retrial ordered.

Ma'ariful Qur'an is an eight-volume tafsir (exegesis) of the Quran written by Islamic scholar Mufti Muhammad Shafi (1897–1976). Originally written in Urdu, it is the most prominent work of its author.

Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary is a scientist in the field of organic chemistry from Pakistan. He is known for his research in various areas relating to natural product chemistry. He has more than 800 research publications. In 2015 he was recognised as the second most productive scientist in Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asim Hussain</span>

Asim Hussain, SI, NI is a Pakistani-Canadian, active in the fields of health, education, and Pakistani politics. He is chairman of Ziauddin Group of Hospitals in Karachi, and former Advisor of Prime Minister for Ministry of Oil and Natural Resources, Pakistan. He was a member of the Senate of Pakistan as part of Pakistan Peoples Party from 2009 to 2015.

Allama Ghulam Mustafa Qasmi, was a scholar, Sindhi language writer and Sindhologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Ahmed Qadri</span> Pakistani-born political scientist

Mohamed Ahmed Qadri is a Pakistani political scientist having served as the Dean Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Dean Faculty of Islamic Studies at the University of Karachi in Pakistan. Qadri is the former Vice Chancellor of Nazeer Hussain University in Karachi. He is an educator, political scientist, founder of Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center North America and has authored several books about Islam in the contemporary world.

References

  1. ↑ Khan, Asim (18 September 2014). "Dean of KU Islamic Studies department shot dead". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  2. ↑ Ali, Imtiaz (19 September 2014). "KU dean Shakeel Auj shot dead". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Liberal professor gunned down in Karachi". The Nation. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "HEC condoles Dr Shakil Auj's death". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Killing of KU Professor – Pakistan State Times". Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Targeted: KU Islamic Studies dean shot dead – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "President for revival of Prophet's (PBUH) seerat". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  8. ↑ Sheikh Zayed Islamic Center, University of Karachi
  9. 1 2 ‘Controversial’ director of KU centre replaced – Newspaper – DAWN.COM
  10. ↑ FUUAST
  11. ↑ "Cost of Difference of opinion-Dr Hassan Auj speak out | SBS Your Language". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Umm e Habiba & Prof Dr Shakeel Auj in Morning With Hum Tv – P-2 – Vidpk Archived 15 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Ur-Rehman, Zia (18 September 2014). "A Pakistani Scholar Accused of Blasphemy is Shot Dead". The New York Times.
  14. ↑ Dr Muhammad Shakeel Auj: Islamic scholar murdered in Pakistan due to. 24 September 2014.
  15. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.aiou.edu.pk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ↑ Default Archived 25 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ for UPLOADING Archived 12 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ The loss of an institution | Karachi | thenews.com.pk
  20. ↑ "civil award by govt of Pakistan". 25 August 2014.
  21. ↑ President confers awards today
  22. ↑ The power of Fatwa | TNS – The News on Sunday
  23. ↑ "Shakil appointed KU Dean of Islamic Learning | Sindh Study". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  24. ↑ KARACHI: 3 KU teachers face suspension over plagiarism – - DAWN.COM
  25. ↑ HEC blacklists IIUI teacher for plagiarism – Newspaper – DAWN.COM
  26. ↑ Plagiarism Policy Archived 15 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ↑ Karachi university plagiarist professor accuse
  28. ↑ SZIC chief stopped from taking charge – Newspaper – DAWN.COM
  29. ↑ KU Islamic studies dean Dr Shakeel Auj gunned down in Karachi
  30. ↑ Al Qaida (South Asia) Claiming Dr. Shakeel Auj's Killing – Video Dailymotion
  31. ↑ Targeted: KU Islamic Studies dean shot dead – The Express Tribune
  32. ↑ At the Karachi literature festival, books really are a matter of life and death | Books | The Guardian
  33. ↑ "UoK" (PDF). uok.edu.pk.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.