Foreign Students of the University Preparing Research Papers on Islamic Civilization

AISHA ALI MOHAMMED AL MUGHEIRY (Tanzanian)

College: Economics, Management & Information Systems

Topic: Oman’s Socioeconomic Contribution to Zanzibar

Facts about the era of Omani rule on Zanzibar continue to remain buried deep beneath the sheets of obscurity. Many of those who have written about it, have unjustly shadowed it with a negative connotation as if Oman had been an occupying force in the Eastern Africa with hardly any mention of how Omanis earnestly strived to developed it as their own homeland.

I have chosen to address this topic because I do believe that there is more than what meets the eye, and the Omani contributions are worthy of bringing to the light. Omanis played a pioneering role in socio economic development of the region and uplifted the masses through social justice, agriculture, trade and Islamic enlightenment, not only in Zanzibar proper but deep inside Eastern Africa too.

FATIMA MUAHMMAD AYUB ASSI (Pakistani)

College: Economics, Management & Information Systems

Topic: Human Rights in Islam

The reason I am carrying out research on this subject is to bring about awareness about the Islamic teachings about treating all human beings with dignity. Amidst the media hype not may only non-Muslims strongly suspect Islam’s attitude towards human rights, but at times many uninformed Muslims get carried away with inferiority complex. Mine will be a modest effort to bring the compassionate laws of Islam into light so as to assert that through Islam and its comprehensive code of conduct Allah the Almighty wanted to uplift the humanity and to treat every individual with dignity and that Prophet Muhmmad pbuh was sent as nothing but mercy to all creatures. The Holy Quran says: “O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware. 49:13)

MASHOOD KHALID SULTAN (Pakistani)

College: Engineering & Architecture

Topic: Contribution and Achievements of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs

I am doing my research on four of the most virtuous iconic personalities of the humankind, the Khulafa ar-Rashidun (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, the Rightly Guided Caliphs of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh) who following the guidance and footsteps of their beloved guide devoted their lives to complete his mission of bringing out the humankind out of darkness to light. Who within a short span of time not only brought peace, stability and prosperity to the Arabia but laid solid foundations for spreading its virtuous message beyond Asia and Africa. They lived unassuming and righteous lives and strived hard for the religion of compassion and mercy. They truly were the beacons of justice and liberation of mankind.

NAYLA HASSAN ABDUL (Kenyan)

College: Economics, Management & Information Systems

Topic: Islamophobia, Reality Versus Perception

It is bewildering how the “Ummah of Iqra” has turned to be perceived as a major threat to the peace and harmony of the world. The once most esteemed and influential religion that stood well-grounded, while Europe battled through the gloomy “Dark Ages”, is now  being looked upon as an enemy of the civilized world and civilization. Islamophobia, so to say, is a new expression of an old fear, which continues to create headlines across the global media outlets. Like all societies and nations, misdeeds have been committed by Muslim individuals and groups under pressures of horrendous injustices perpetuated to them. But the media, instead of looking at the causes of this phenomenon has been portraying the whole Muslim nation and their religion of mercy as devilish. The core objective of me opting for this topic is to clear the misconceptions and to call a spade a spade.

PAULA DIANNA ANOT ZAPLAN (Philippines)

College: Pharmacy and Nursing

Topic: Oman and the Traditions of Tolerance

The purpose of this research is twofold. First, the study will determine the origin and the development of traditions of tolerance, and describe the traditions of tolerant practices in the Sultanate of Oman throughout its known history regardless of its political system. Second, the study will determine the awareness of Omanis regarding their spontaneous tradition of tolerance, and describe the impact of this unique phenomenon on the social and moral integrity that is vividly evident in Omani culture. To support my study, I will be collecting data through questionnaires randomly distributed to people from different walks of life.

QAMAR IQBAL IQBAL RIFFAT (Pakistani)

College: Economics, Management & Information Systems

Topic: Muslims Contributions to Modern Scientific and Technological Advancement

Few of us realize that the present day powerful and prosperous West had once passed through a long gloomy period called the Dark Ages. It lasted for more than a thousand years of stagnation and backwardness extending from the 5th century A.D. to Renaissance in the 15th Century.

It was during this period that the Islamic civilization started with the advent of Islam in 610 AD. With its various ups and downs, from Baghdad and Central Asian to North Western Africa and Spain Muslim scientists and intellectuals ushered brilliant and groundbreaking accomplishments in all possible areas including medicine, chemistry and algebra, vision and optics, pharmacology, crankshaft, physics, whereby they laid the foundations of what the world has been witnessing now in terms of scientific advancement. According to Phillip Hitti "no other people made as important a contribution to human progress as did the Arabs. From the IXth to the XIIth century there were more philosophical, medical, historical, religious, astronomical and geographical works written in Arabic than in any other human tongue."

RUMEYSA CEYRAN MEHMET (Turkish)

College: Arts and Sciences  (Department of Arabic Language)

Topic: Sufism Between Criticism and Its Adherence

In the Turkish society Sufism has always played an important role. It is like the heart of the Islamic life there. Away from the material hustle and bustle of life people need to take refuge in the spiritual world for cleansing the inner self and to transcend high. Throughout the history of Muslim civilization Sufism has played a very important role of not only conveying the merciful massage of Islam but to keep Muslims connected with Allah.

Many people may talk critically about certain practices of Sufis in some countries, but the fact is that the true Sufism is the one that revolves around the Quran and Sunnah.

SADAF IQBAL MUHAMMAD IQBAL ((Pakistani)

College: Economics, Management & Information Systems

Topic: Divorce, a Solution OR a Source of Exploitation

It is said says marriages are made in heavens. The puzzles that remain are: why marriages break and heavenly wed couples they get separated on the Earth? If Islam advocates women’s rights, why then does a woman not have the right to get freedom from her doomed relationship. If Islam promotes the harmonious relationship between husband and wife, then why is it so easy to discard it by uttering just a word of “divorce”!?

In my research assignment, I will try to find out answer of these pressing questions. I will discuss the true spirit of marriage in Islam and what are the right procedures of Talāq keeping in line with the spirit of Islam. I hypothesize that the merciful religion of Islam must have provided for this “most hated option” as a solution and amicable way-out rather than allowing it to be a source of exploitation by men.

SAKHIYA AMOUR RASHID AL MMENDHIRY (Tanzanian)

College: Engineering & Architecture

Topic: Andalusia, the Muslim Spain, Study of a Lost Civilization

Muslim had Spain ruled for more than eight centuries. They had introduced different institutions and excelled in various fields of knowledge. Andalusia remained a source of knowledge and inspiration for many centuries on which modern sciences have been based and it was duly one of the marvelous periods of the Islamic history. Europe learned all its lessons of civilization and respect.

Al-Andalus, which means, "to become green at the end of the summer" is referred to the territory conquered by the Muslim from Southern Spain up until southern France within just a few years. Their purpose was not to conquer land but to liberated people from all suppressions which stood between the people and Tawheed, and calling people to Islam without any compulsion or force. 

A fabulous civilization was established that was a beacon of light in the backward Europe of Dark Ages only to vanish after more than eight centuries. Over time the torch bearers liberation lost their own direction and were subjected to some of the most barbaric procedures of ethnic and cultural cleansing, the notorious Inquisition.  I will study the era to draw some eye opening conclusions about what went wrong.

SANA IQBAL MUHAMMED IQBAL (Pakistani)

College: Engineering & Architecture

Topic: The Contribution and status of Women in Islam

Some people think of women as being the weak creature of God for not being able to physically carry out many things like a man. On the contrary, some believe that women are the back bone of the society and a man is not complete without a woman. In Islam women have a high status and they are treated equitably with man. Women have even proved that they are as powerful as man and in many situations even stronger than men. There are many examples throughout the Islamic history when they have proved that they can be strong as a wall to resist Islam's enemies. And this is the reason why I am writing on this subject to highlight how a Muslim Woman can achieve anything and fight while not crossing any limits set Islam.

SITTI HADIDJA IBRAHIM AHMED (Comorian)

College: Pharmacy and Nursing

Topic: Muslim Contribution to Sciences – a Basis for Modern Scientific and Technological Advancement.

I chose this subject with a strong conviction that Muslims have contributed to the advancement of human civilization in various domains.

Muslim scientists played a crucial role in the transmission of precious knowledge from various lands after sifting, compiling, enhancing and advancing it to new heights. As acknowledged by honest Orientalists and historians, it was Muslims whose genuine contribution laid the foundations of modern sciences, philosophy and humanities. Even European renaissance would not have taken place had Muslims not brought enlightenment to Europe. According to George Sarton's, "It will suffice here to evoke a few glorious names without contemporary equivalents in the West: Jabir ibn Haiyan, al-Kindi, al-Khwarizmi, al-Fargani, al-Razi, Thabit ibn Qurra, al-Battani, Hunain ibn Ishaq, al-Farabi, Ibrahim ibn Sinan, al-Masudi, al-Tabari, Abul Wafa, 'Ali ibn Abbas, Abul Qasim, Ibn al-Jazzar, al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, Ibn Yunus, al-Kashi, Ibn al-Haitham, 'Ali Ibn 'Isa al-Ghazali, al-zarqab, Omar Khayyam. A magnificent array of names which it would not be difficult to extend. "

TAYIBA ZAHOOR MUHAMMED ZAHOOR (Pakistan)

College: Pharmacy and Nursing

Topic:

My topic is of prime importance especially in context of the developments of last two decades. In the era of globalization and open skies, Muslims never cease to interact with non-Muslims..

In the environment of mutual distrust and suspicions which has been further worsened by the ferocious distortion campaign especially perpetrated by Western Media, Islam - the religion of mercy, righteousness and human dignity has been and is being portrayed as being a religion of savagery that know no mercy and values of harmonious coexistence with others.

The environment of mutual suspicions has rendered the relations between Muslims and Others characterized by serious apprehensions and skepticism.  Hence it is very important in the interest of the whole humankind that the true Islamic spirit of positive relations with all sons and daughters od Adam is revealed so that world becomes a better place for all to live in peace and tranquility.