KARACHI, Oct 27: The department of Qur’an and Sunnah, University of Karachi, on Monday launched its first research journal “Ahya’al-’uloom” at a ceremony held at its newly-built conference hall.

The launch of the journal was also marked with a lecture on the life and thoughts of Sheikh Ahmad Mulla Jiwan, the religious scholar and educationist of India in late 17th century.

Mulla Jiwan, born at Amethi, Lucknow, in 1048 Hijrah, lived for about 82 years and was one of the teachers of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir as well.

Dr Syed Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, former professor of AL Azhar University, Egypt, spoke on the life and services of the renowned Muslim scholar and held that Mulla Nizamuddin and other scholars followed Mulla Jiwan’s footsteps as far as the religious education being imparted through Madressah at that time was concerned.

He said that Mullah Jiwan revived the Islamic education in the India and dominated the era from late 17th century to early 18th century. He memorized Quran at the age of seven, wrote “Tafseerat-al- Ahmadia” at the age of 17, which was followed by another collection of translation and explanation of “Minarul Anwar,” a book on Fiqh by Hafiz Abdullah Bin Sulfi, which was included in the syllabi of Madressahs in the Sub-continent, he informed.

He said that the then Mughal kings benefited a lot from the teachings and religious books of Mulla Jiwan. He opined that the ‘Noorul Anwar’ of the selfless Mulla Jiwan could still guide Muslim countries regarding the framing of a Hanafi constitution.

Dr Zafar Saied Saify, the KU vice-chancellor, who presided over the seminar, said that the noted scholar was a true Muslim, who selflessly worked for the promotion of Islamic teachings and betterment of the then Muslim society in India. Calling for compilation of Mulla’s works, he said these could help face the challenges posed by the West.

The KU member syndicate launched the research journal “Ahya’ al-’uloom” and presented a copy of it to the VC.

Dean of the faculty of Islamic Studies, Dr Abdul RAshid, and Head of the department of Quran and Sunnah, Dr Fazal Ahmad, also spoke on the occasion.