Prince Charles hosts reception to celebrate Oxford Centre's historic achievement

Prince Charles hosts reception to celebrate

Oxford Centre’s historic achievement

Dr. Mozammel Haque

HRH Prince Charles, an heir apparent to the British Throne, hosted a reception at St. James Palace, London, on Tuesday, the 15th of May, 2012, to celebrate the historic achievement of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS).

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies was granted the Royal Charter for its scholarly study of Islam and it has become the first Islamic organisation to receive this honour.

Prince Charles, the patron of the Centre, was joined by 150 guests at the reception including a number of foreign dignitaries and British politicians. It is reported that Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, Universities and Science Minister David Willetts, Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Minister of State Oliver Let win mingled with the Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak and others. Jack Straw, one of the members of the Centre’s Advisory Committee, also attended the reception.

Royal Charters, granted by the sovereign on the advice of the Privy Council, have a history dating back to the 13th century. They are now normally granted only to bodies that work in the public interest and which can demonstrate pre-eminence, stability and permanence in their particular field.

The University of Oxford, and many of the Oxford Colleges, as well as a number of other leading British academic institutions, are similarly incorporated by Royal Charter.

At the celebrating reception, Prince Charles said, it is reported, “It was ‘absolutely right’ that we should do all we can to nurture an institution which not only promotes a better informed understanding of Islamic culture and civilisation but also reminds both the Islamic world and the West of ‘those timeless, universal principles of harmony enshrined within Islam’”.

“He admitted that ‘many of the potential problems’ he warned of in his speech to the centre in 1993, entitled Islam and the West, has come to pass,” the report said and mentioned, “In that speech he cautioned against sliding ‘into a new era of danger and division because of governments and peoples, communities and religions, cannot live together in peace in a shrinking world.’”

On this auspicious occasion, Dr. Farhan Nizami, CBE, Director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, issued a press release, saying: “This is a most important and welcome moment and I would like, on this occasion, to thank warmly all those who have encouraged and assisted the Centre’s development over more than 25 years. As well as contributing strongly to the intellectual and academic life of Oxford, by focusing on the study of Muslim culture and civilization, the Centre has developed active global links with leading academic institutions internationally.”

Dr. Nizami mentioned about different programmes of the Centre. “These are underpinned by our scholarship and fellowship programmes, which attract scholars to Oxford from around the world and widen access to those who wish to research and study at Oxford. Many leading international figures, from the academic world and wider public life, have lectured here,” he said in the press release.

Dr. Nizami is confident that the contribution, and importance, of the Centre will grow in the years ahead and that it has the opportunity to make a unique contribution to greater understanding of the Muslim world, and more positive international dialogue, based on strong academic foundations.

The Centre promotes multi-disciplinary teaching, research and publication at Oxford related to Muslim culture and civilization. Its Fellows teach in a range of faculties across the University of Oxford. Through its international outreach, and links with academic institutions worldwide, the Centre provides a meeting place for scholars studying all aspects of contemporary Muslim societies.

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) is a Recognised Independent Centre of the University of Oxford, founded in 1985. HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, the Centre’s patron, has been enthusiastic supporter since its foundation in 1985. He has twice delivered lectures at the Centre and visited the 3.25 acre site where building work on its new home began work in 2002. Prince Charles took a prominent part in the design of the Islamic garden.

Dr. Naseef, the chairman of the Centre

expressed his satisfaction

Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, the chairman of the Centre’s Board of Trustees, who came from Saudi Arabia to attend the reception hosted by The Prince of Wales, expressed his satisfaction and said to me, “This is very good news. This shows that the British government, the Queen, and the whole state are very much aware that the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is doing very well to make relations between the Islamic world and the Western world closer and to bring Islam and its role in the international arena.”

He said, “There is now this general awareness that we are now become one small village. Every nation, every culture and every religion has to co-exist with others; to cooperate, to try to bring better harmony. By honouring this Royal Charter to the centre makes it a British organisation.”

Referring to this historic achievement of the Centre, Dr. Naseef said, “It is really the collective work of the whole of the Board of Trustees and the Director General of the Centre, Dr. Farhan Nizami, to approach governments and organisations mainly to contribute and it is well said that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Late King Fahd and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, had contributed great deal, may be the majority of the funds came from them. We don’t deny that there was big funds also came from Kuwait; from Emirates; from the Sultanate of Oman. But you know the support gradually built up by the hard work of 27 years or more of the centre under the chairmanship of late Maulana Hassan Nadwi (popularly known as Ali Mia) started at that time to meet people.”

Background of the foundation of the Centre

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies was set up in 1985 when Dr. Naseef was the Secretary General of the Makkah-based Rabita Al-Alam Al-Islami (Muslim World League). Late Maulana Hassan Nadwi was the first chairman of the Centre’s Board of Trustees and Dr. Naseef was a member of the Board along with others.

I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Naseef who has been associated with the Oxford Centre from the very beginning and a great supporter of the Centre. In the beginning Dr. Naseef was a member of the Board of Trustees; then he became the vice-chairman and now chairman. Recollecting those days, Dr. Naseef said, “When I was Secretary General of the Rabita, Dr. Farhan Nizami came with a big ambitious project. Alhamdo lillah, it came through and it was a big dream for him and for us. It’s a blessing of Allah the Almighty. He had made it to come through.”

“Maulana Hasan Nadwi came to visit Rabita, the first chairman and then met the Late King Fahd and told him about the centre that this is the centre in the heart of colleges in Oxford. Historically, it is very important and the Late King Fahd gave the support, Alhamdo Lillah,” Dr. Naseef said.

Dr. Naseef attended Centenary

Celebration of Scouting in Lebanon

Dr. Naseef, the former President of the Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz University and also the former Deputy Chairman of the Shoura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a great social worker and philanthropist. He is presently the Secretary General of the Cairo-based International Islamic Centre for Dawah and Relief (IICDR). I got an opportunity to interview him while he was in London about his activities.

Last March, Dr. Naseef met the Prime Minister of Lebanon during the 100 years celebration of scouting. Speaking about his visit, Dr. Naseef said, “I met the Prime Minister of Lebanon. There was a series of celebration for one year now to show that the scouting was started from Lebanon throughout the Arab countries. We were there for two days and there was big cerebration and we saw the people really dedicated scouts of all religions of great. They are very very happy to show us their history. This celebration of the centenary in the Arab world will continue and there will be Arab Jamboree in Lebanon in the coming August.”

Scouting was started in Lebanon in 1912. The celebration of the centenary was started earlier in the beginning of this year 2012. But Dr. Naseef went there to attend the big function in March. “It was really very amazing how the people are working hard to achieve scouting,” said Dr. Naseef

Dr. Naseef met President of Uganda in February

Earlier in February, Dr. Naseef headed a Task Force of the Organisation of Islamic Cohesion (OIC) to meet the President of Uganda in connection with the Islamic University of Uganda. Dr. Naseef said, “The President of Uganda was complaining about the University and we saw him and told him that the University is really one of the best universities in the Muslim world. It has delivering a very valuable job. And I think he was satisfied.”

“I was delegated this authority by the OIC Secretary General who asked me to go for that mission to Uganda,” Dr. Naseef said.

This Task Force was formed by the OIC to support the Islamic University of Uganda and to show the President that he should be fully satisfied by that the university is doing very well.



Royal Charter Granted to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

Royal Charter Granted to the Oxford Centre

for Islamic Studies

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) has been granted the Royal Charter. This will be celebrated at an event hosted by the Centre’s Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, on 15 May, 2012.

Royal Charters, granted by the sovereign on the advice of the Privy Council, have a history dating back to the 13th century. They are now normally granted only to bodies that work in the public interest and which can demonstrate pre-eminence, stability and permanence in their particular field.

The University of Oxford, and many of the Oxford Colleges, as well as a number of other leading British academic institutions, are similarly incorporated by Royal Charter.

On this auspicious occasion, Dr. Farhan Nizami, CBE, Director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, issued a press release, saying: “This is a most important and welcome moment and I would like, on this occasion, to thank warmly all those who have encouraged and assisted the Centre’s development over more than 25 years. As well as contributing strongly to the intellectual and academic life of Oxford, by focusing on the study of Muslim culture and civilization, the Centre has developed active global links with leading academic institutions internationally.”

Dr. Nizami mentioned about different programmes of the Centre. “These are underpinned by our scholarship and fellowship programmes, which attract scholars to Oxford from around the world and widen access to those who wish to research and study at Oxford. Many leading international figures, from the academic world and wider public life, have lectured here,” he said in the press release.

Dr. Nizami is confident that the contribution, and importance, of the Centre will grow in the years ahead and that it has the opportunity to make a unique contribution to greater understanding of the Muslim world, and more positive international dialogue, based on strong academic foundations.

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) is a Recognised Independent Centre of the University of Oxford, founded in 1985. Its Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.

The Centre promotes multi-disciplinary teaching, research and publication at Oxford related to Muslim culture and civilization. Its Fellows teach in a range of faculties across the University of Oxford. Through its international outreach, and links with academic institutions worldwide, the Centre provides a meeting place for scholars studying all aspects of contemporary Muslim societies.

Ain Zubaida - Symbol of Magnificent Legacy

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

Rehabilitation of Ain Zubaida Project

Dr. Mozammel Haque

There are many historical wonders in the land of Saudi Arabia and one of the wonders is Ain Zubaida. Ain Zubaida is a symbol of the magnificent legacy of a unique historical water project, built during the eighth century, exactly in AD 801 and named after its founder, Zubaida Al-Abbasi, the wife of the Islamic Caliph Haroon Al-Rasheed. Zubaida was a memorable lady who lived in Baghdad from AD 760 to 820.

Ain Zubaida is such a brilliant water system with its fantastic engineering feat that it is still survived after 1200 years. Preservation and rehabilitation of this historical heritage is given utmost importance at a project run by a unit at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah.

Professor Omar Siraj Abu Rizaiza of the King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, who is a native to the region and an established researcher in the field of water resources with extensive expertise in the typography of the Arab peninsula and its resources, gave a lecture on the historical dimensions of Ain Zubaida at a meeting organised by the London Middle East Institute (LMEI) at the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London at the Brunei Gallery, on 30th of April, 2012. The lecture carries the objective of extending the initiative of the Saudi Arabian government to increase the publicity of Ain Zubaida heritage.

Professor Abu Rizaiza, who is Professor in Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Principal Investigator of the Project of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz for the Rehabilitation of Ain Zubaida, gave glimpses of his extensive scrutiny of the engineering works of Ain Zubaina.

Historical background of the Ain Zubaida

Mentioning about the historical background of the Ain Zubaida, Professor Abu Rizaiza said, when Zubaida performed Hajj, she noticed the overwhelming need for proper water supply, especially at the Holy Places. She decided to supply these areas with fresh drinking water. Upon her return to Baghdad, she contacted engineers and briefed them regarding her decision to supply these areas with water. After in-depth studies and research, the engineers explained that the project would be extremely expensive. Her response, quick and straightforward, indicated that people’s lives were of higher value. The engineers designed a brilliant project. They carried out further studies for the construction of an integrated system for collecting, transporting, storing and distributing water around the Holy Places.

The cost of the project was one million dinar pounds, the equivalent of a piece of gold weighing approx. 10 grams. The project took ten years to complete. As a result of such great efforts and tremendous engineering feats, the project has survived to the present day, with large sections still operating efficiently.

Its elements and engineering works

The system consisted of canals (Qanats), manholes, retaining walls, culvert, dams, bridges, pools, ground (and elevated) water storage tanks and distribution outlets embellished with beautifully shaped stone taps. Qanats: Qanats are of two types: (1) Qanats for collection and Transport; and (2) Qanats for Transport only.

Galleries for water collection and transport: They function as water collecting parts; built underground, crown (upper part) is below GW table level. They are designed in such a way that there is enough pressure to push the water to seep into the galleries. .

Speaking about the engineering works of the Ain Zubaida, Professor Abu Rizaiza mentioned, The system consists of canals (Qanats), manholes, retaining walls, culvert, dams, bridges, pools, ground (and elevated) water storage tanks and distribution outlets embellished with beautifully shaped stone taps.

Operation and Maintenance of Ain Zubaida:

Virtually from its inception, the Ain Zubaida System was operating under the auspices of a Trust Fund and Maintenance System (Awqaf), which derived its liquidity from the incomes generated by vast property holdings. This self-financing system (Awqaf) provided capital for the purchase of material, as well as operation and maintenance work performed by a variegated labour force.

Professor Abu Rizaiza mentioned about the main labour force of the Ain Zubaida, which consisted of approx. 500 salaried employees, composed of the following: Full-time staff, part-time staff, and consultants (on call) .There were hundreds of volunteers and working pro bono; these were skilled craftsmen, residents of the Mecca region, who would be rotated to work a number of hours in a so-called “after-shift”.

All salaried employees as well as volunteers would be interviewed by committees. To be appointed candidates have to convince the committee members of their professional calibre, mentioned Professor Abu Rizaiza.

Inspection and Maintenance Programme:

Speaking about the inspection and maintenance programme, Professor Abu Rizaiza said, the maintenance programme consists of the following events:

• (1) Weekly inspection (Routine);

• (2) Standard maintenance run (every 6-12 months);

• (3) Special post-flood maintenance work (on average; once every 10 years).

Professor Abu Rizaiza also explained the geographic location of Ain Zubaida in Wadi Naaman, towards the east of the City of Makkah.

Rehabilitation of Ain Zubaida

Speaking about the Rehabilitation of the Ain Zubaida System, Professor Abu Rizaiza, the Director General of the Unit for Ain Zubaida Rehabilitation and Ground Water research at King Abdulaziz University, said, in recent years there has been a renewed interest in traditional water supply systems, such as ains, in the Kingdom, not only as a sustainable source of water, but also as a cultural heritage item of engineering works. Some of these systems, especially the ones located at the Holy Places, are not only important locally but also have global significance.

Professor Abu Rizaiza also mentioned about the shifting from Ain to Well System massive pump operations. He said, due to massive expansion of tube-wells used by public and private parties in the vicinity of Ain Zubaida, the pumping of water for the wholesale market in the Jeddah and Makkah areas became a routine practice. This change in water operations has resulted in a considerable drop in the groundwater table, with the system drying up. This caused the infrastructure of many parts to deteriorate, with facilities becoming almost obsolete.

The provision of water was the most fundamental aspect of looking after the pilgrims. The most important features of the infrastructure, the birak were basically tanks or small reservoirs for collecting rainwater and runoff from the shallow wadis (intermittent watercourses) of northern and north-eastern Arabia. Water from the spasmodic and occasional rains would be challenned into these tanks and, when the system was working at its best, would be stored there until the time of the Hajj when the pilgrims could make use of it. Numerous well-spaced birak were built along the trail in a sophisticated feat of engineering.

The classic Abbasid period birak on the Darb Zubaida were square or rectangular tanks, 30-50m (100-165 ft) along the sides and about 5m (16 ft) deep. They were built of stone, usually coursed rubble, and some were lined with plaster to prevent leakage.

A Brief Note on Zubaida, her background and contribution

Professor Abu Rizaiza gave a brief note on the life, education and famous projects of Zubaida. Zubaida was born in Al-Mussel in AD 762. When she was one year old, her father died and she was taken to the house of her grandfather who raised her most responsibly. After her grandfather’s death, one of her paternal uncles looked after her. He was kind and very helpful.

While at her grandfather’s house, she was taught by famous top scholars. Her preferential subjects were: History, Art, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion and Science. She was considered a talented, intelligent, serious and dedicated learner.

Zubaida was married to Haroon al-Rasheed, the Fifth Abbasid Caliph. She died in AD 831 in Baghdad, 32 years after her husband’s death.

Zubaida’s Famous Projects

Lady Zubaida carried out many famous projects during her lifetime, such as Bait al-Hekma Library, Baghdad, Research and Education Centre, Translation Centre and Ain Zubaida. It is most important to note that a Muslim lady of her stature in those early periods carried out so many educational, welfare and research-oriented translation projects.

The Bait al-Hekma Library, Baghdad

Professor Abu Rizaiza mentioned about the Bait al-Hekma Library. He said, Zubaida along with her husband established the Bait al-Hekma Library at Baghdad, which is the largest and most famous library in the history of Islam. She acquired for the library books and makhtotat (manuscripts) from different countries and written in different languages such as Arabic, Greek, Latin, Persian, Indian and Chinese. Her main concern was to stock the library with as many books as possible no matter what the cost! The library is still operating today, said Professor Abu Rizaiza. .

Research and Education Centre

Another important project which Zubaida established was the Research and Education Centre. Professor Abu Rizaiza said, Zubaida contributed significantly to the establishment of this vast facility. She recruited outstanding scholars and scientists from all over the world to teach there. She paid them high salaries and awarded them prestige beside elevated academic status. She also provided a support structure for the scholars that would handle all of their daily necessities, in order to free them for research and educational activities.

Translation Centre

Zubaida also participated in establishing a translation centre for producing Arabic versions of texts written in principal contemporary languages, [such as (mainly) Greek, Latin and Persian]. This was in addition to extensive work on research reports and other texts, mentioned Professor Abu Rizaiza.