ISLAMABAD: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Sunday set up a ‘Seerat corner’ at its central library to provide academic support to students for conducting research work on the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that are relevant to the modern age.
“The Seerat corner, containing updated information in the form of books and journals, will be a source of inspiration and guidance for the young generation in moulding their life in accordance with the sayings and practices of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” said AIOU Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Nasir Mahmood while highlighting the university’s efforts of promoting Islamic studies.
The university has taken a number of other measures laying focus on the promotion of the Quran and Sunnah through academic pursuits in recent years.
It has also been decided that the university will introduce a four-year degree program (BS) on ‘Seerat-un-Nabi’ from the next semester. This degree will be a first of its kind in the country.
The AIOU has achieved many distinctions in the field of Islamic Studies including, winning five national awards on the promotion of Seerat-un-Nabi’ (SAW) through research-based academic work. By winning these awards, it was for the first time that the university was declared the best among higher educational institutions on writing research journal and articles by the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Furthermore, the varsity recently launched a specialised research journal on Seerat studies.
It is most significant that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has awarded three indexing agencies to AIOU for providing free online information to research articles, facilitating researchers and academicians.
According to the Arabic and Islamic Studies Dean, Professor Shah Mohyuddin Hashmi, the university has set up an exclusive department to work on Seerat-un-Nabi that is now actively engaged in disseminating the message of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) through various academic programmes.