Afkar-e-Taza ThinkFest online starts

LAHORE : The summer 2021 online series of Afkar-e-Taza ThinkFest conversations started with the book launch of "The Prophet’s Heir: The Life of Ali Ibn Abi Talib," by Hassan Abbas, a distinguished professor of international relations at the National Defense University, USA.

According to a press release, in conversation with Prof Abbas was Haji Syed Salman Chishty, the 26th custodian of Dargah Ajmer Sharif, India.

Explaining his reasons for writing the book, Prof Abbas said lack of biography of Hazrat Ali (RA) in English pushed him to fill this critical gap.

Prof Abbas explained that at a time when there was so much dissension and discord among

Muslims, and with extremism becoming the face of Muslims for the West, he wanted to highlight how the life and legacy of Hazrat Ali (RA) could not only refocus the attention of the world on humanity, but also end sectarian conflicts among Muslims. “Ali (RA) is a uniting factor not just for Muslims but for the whole humanity,” Prof Abbas emphasised.

Syed Salman Chishty said, “We need to engage the youth first in understanding and then in following the life of Ali (RA). Ali’s life brings to us lessons of dialogue and understanding, not debate, and that is what we must emphasise in the torn world of today.”

Prof Abbas noted, “Ali (RA) spoke of egalitarianism, freedom of speech and freedom of religion — these are the critical issues of today.”