Conference on Islamic charity and social development concludes at QAU

Islamabad

Social scientists have called for better understanding of Islamic charity system to reduce the poverty and socio-economic inequalities in the community. Islamic charity and social development as an important social phenomenon was thoroughly discussed in a two-day international conference on ‘Islamic Charity and Social Development in Pakistan,’ organised by the Department of Anthropology, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU).

While addressing the concluding session Professor Dr. Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Co-Principal Investigator of the Project and Conference Coordinator said that the system of charities in Islam has its own significance, impacts and objectives.

“Like other religions of the world, Islam is opposed to great inequalities in the distribution of material resources. Some of its key teachings related to reducing poverty and socio-economic inequalities in the community are the redistribution of wealth at individuals and collective levels through Sadaqa, Khyrat and Zakat” said Dr. Hafeez-ur-Rehman.

Dr. Waheed Chaudhry, chairman of Department of Anthropology and Principal Investigator of the Project said that the conference has well served the purpose of bringing together scholars, researchers, policy makers and the representatives of national and international organisations to deliberate and share their most important opinions, views, reflections and expertise on various issues pertaining to Islamic charity and social development in Pakistan. During the conference the scholars also discussed the contemporary practices of charity in Islam. “The valuable knowledge and the intellectual experiences that have shared and gained from participants of the conference would be helpful to have deeper insights of future research on Islamic philanthropy” he added.

Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, a converted American Muslim, guest of honour, delivered a lecture on “Islam and the Cultural Imperative”. Shaykh Muhamed from Gambia, Abdus Samad Romero from Spain, Abdul Azeem from UK, Sidi Faozi Konate from Ivory Coast also attended the concluding session.

Dr. Waheed Chaudhry, chairman of Department of Anthropology and Prof. Dr. Mian Ghulam Yasin, chairman of Sociology and Dean Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences University of Sargodha distributed the certificates among the participants.