On Tuesday, 4 October 2022, Professor Dr. Shah Muhyuddin Hashmi from the Allama Iqbal Open University of Islamabad visited the head office of Al-Azhar Alumni UK, located at the Jamia Al-Karam campus in Retford, Nottinghamshire, where he also delivered a lecture on the “Islamic Code of Ethics for Academia.”
Professor Dr. Shah Muhyuddin Hashmi is a distinguished research scholar and experienced educationist. He serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Arabic & Islamic Studies at Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad, Pakistan. Additionally, he is the Chairman of the Department of Islamic Thought and a Board Member of the Seerat-un-Nabi Chair. Throughout his academic career, he has spearheaded the development of numerous courses and degree programs, as well as coordinated the establishment of various specialist departments within the broader field of Islamic Studies. Dr. Muhyuddin Hashmi is also routinely invited to deliver the Friday Sermon at the mosque in the Presidential House, which is aired live on national television and attended by the President of Pakistan.
Dr. Muhyuddin Hashmi was warmly welcomed by the President of the UK Branch, Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada, and the Vice-President, Bakhtyar Pirzada al-Azhari. Accompanying him during his visit was Dr. Zahid Majeed, Director of the International Collaboration & Exchange Office of the university.
In his lecture, Dr. Muhyuddin Hashmi elaborated on the theory of knowledge and epistemology, comparing religious and secular perspectives. He emphasized the holistic approach embedded within Islamic knowledge, particularly focusing on the code of ethics for academia, scholars, and scholarship. Highlighting the broader objectives of life in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah, he explained methodologies of research, analysis, and the etiquettes of intellectual discourse. During the Q&A session, Dr. Muhyuddin Hashmi further explored the thoughts of the poet-philosopher of Islam, Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and their relevance in the modern age.
The visit concluded with a meeting between Dr. Muhyuddin Hashmi and Shaykh Pirzada, attended by the teachers of Jamia Al-Karam and Board Members of the UK Branch. Dr. Hashmi was briefed on the ongoing projects of the UK Branch and expressed his joy and admiration for the work being carried out in the UK.
