Work to remove misconceptions about Islam and Muslims in Europe

Urging scholars to work together to change the 'not so friendly' perspective of the European nations about Islam and Muslims, Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor Riyaz Punjabi said the scholars have a role to play in removing all the misconceptions about the religion.

Addressing academicians, scholars and students at a national-level seminar on Arabic language and literature, he said, when Europe was in utter darkness, the people there resorted to Arabic language to safeguard their knowledge.

It was through the efforts of the Arab scholars that the great renaissance in Europe became possible, he said.

Prof Punjabi, however, said the European scholars accepted and assimilated Islamic knowledge without even properly acknowledging their original beneficiaries.

The European scholars have even distorted the names of many Muslim scholars while refering to them, he said.

The four-day seminar titled ''Contribution of Kashmir to Arabic language and literature'', is organised by the varsity’s Department of Arabic.

Prof Punjabi said Kashmir has contributed immensely to the promotion of Arabic language and literature. He said the scholars must visit the libraries in Kashmir to have a first hand account of this contribution.

In his address noted Arabic scholar, Prof Zubair Ahmad Farooqui from Jamila Milia Islamia University, New Delhi, asserted that Kashmir continued to be a seat of learning and excellence for long now.

''The arrivals from Iran, Turkey and Central Asia brought to the Valley not only the new concerns about the changing paradigms, but also initiated the process of higher learning'', he said, adding, ''Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, Mir Muhammad Hamadani, Sheikh Yaqoub Sarfi, Bulbul Shah and others helped in the upliftment of Kashmir and Kashmiris socially, culturally.

They infused the new spirit of learning and made the minds more inquisitive for attaining more and new knowledge.

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