احمد میاں اختر جونا گڑھی
ہندوستان اور پاکستان کی علمی دنیا کا یہ بڑا افسوس ناک سانحہ ہے کہ گزشتہ مہینہ مشہورصاحب علم و قلم قاضی احمد میاں اختر جونا گڑھی نے کراچی میں انتقال کیا، وہ اسلامی علوم کے ممتاز فاضل تھے، خصوصاً اسلامی تاریخ پر ان کی نظر نہایت وسیع تھی اور ان کا علمی و تحقیقی مذاق بہت بلند تھا، عربی، انگریزی اور اردو تینوں زبانوں میں یکساں دستگاہ حاصل تھی اور تینوں میں مضامین لکھتے تھے، ان کے مضامین ہندوستان و پاکستان کے تمام سنجیدہ علمی رسالوں میں نکلتے تھے، معارف کے پرانے مضمون نگارتھے، ان کے انگریزی مضامین کا ایک مجموعہ شیخ محمد اشرف تاجر کتب لاہور نے شائع کیا ہے، اقبال پر ان کی ایک کتاب حال ہی میں چھپی ہے، دارالمصنفین سے بھی ان کی ایک کتاب ابن صاعد اندلسی کی طبقات الامم کا ترجمہ عرصہ ہوا شائع ہوچکی ہے، اگر ان کے مضامین جمع کیئے جائیں تو کئی جلدوں میں آئیں گے۔
مرحوم ریاست جونا گڑھ کے جاگیردار تھے، وہاں کے انقلاب میں لٹ لٹاکر بڑی مصیبتوں سے کراچی پہنچے، کچھ دنوں تک انجمن ترقی اردو سے وابستہ رہے، اس کے بعد سندھ یونیورسٹی میں شعبہ اسلامیات کے صدر ہوگئے تھے، طبعاً نہایت شریف، متواضع اور خاکسار تھے، دارالمصنفین سے ان کا تعلق بڑا پرانا اور مخلصانہ تھا ابھی انھوں نے پاکستان میں دارالمصنفین کی کتابوں کے لئے لائسنس دلانے میں بڑی مدد کی تھی، اب اس زمانہ میں ایسے صاحب کمال کی جگہ کابھرنا مشکل ہے اﷲ تعالیٰ اس شیدائے علم کو اپنی رحمت و مغفرت سے سرفراز فرمائے، انتقال کے وقت ۶۰ سال سے اوپر کی عمر رہی ہوگی۔ (شاہ معین الدین ندوی، ستمبر ۱۹۵۵ء)
Human beings are innately filled with prejudices and biases. Interaction of these biases and building alternative views involve dexterous efforts. The dialogue approach could be thought of as positive disposition to others which encourages the virtues of neighborliness, friendship and mutual trust and caring. The current paper discusses the importance of dialogue in every field of life, if there is any misunderstanding or controversies among individuals, communities, societies, and religions. Islam has emphasized on the dialogue for resolving the misconceptions. The present study defines dialogue literally and technically by denoting its legitimacy from primary sources of the Islamic Law. The present study mani-fests the differences of several terms relevant to dialogue such as Jidal and Munazarah. It also denotes some illustrations of dialogue from the Holy Qur’an and Ahadith of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The main focus of the article is on the ethics of dialogue in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah including the conditions and qualifications of a person, who is capable for dialogue in accordance attributes prescribes by Shari‘ah. The conversation must be in a good environment and usage of the words, phrases, and statements have much more importance in the success of a perfect dialogue. The research concludes that an expert and competent person should be selected for such dialogues and recommends that such scholars should be trained in developing strong communication and debating skills in every situation.
The present study investigated the determinants of off-farm employment among small farmers in Peshawar Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa i. A sample of 298 farm households was selected using random sampling technique and data were collected through a pre-tested interview schedule. This study focuses on three selected districts i.e. Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan. Six villages were selected two each from the sampled districts. Analysis showed that the coefficients of household size, level of education of the household head, age of the household head, farm underemployment, income from off-farm employment, access to credit were positively related to the off-farm employment. While farm area operated and income from farm output was negatively but significantly related to off-farm employment. There was a significant difference in the off-farm employment among various sizes of farms. In a similar manner it was also seen that the tenants and owner-cum-tenant were involved less in off-farm activities than owners. It was established that owners operated very small farm size of the study area. There was a significant difference among off-farm employment level in the three districts. More of the sampled respondents were involved in off-farm employment in Peshawar followed by Mardan and Charsadda. Similarly small farmers of developed villages perform more off-farm employment than the small farm households of underdeveloped villages. This could be associated to the developed means of transport and communications, better education facilities, market facilities as well as availability of off-farm jobs locally. In developed villages of three districts, average per month income of small farm households from farm output was higher than the undeveloped villages of these districts due to the high sale price of vegetables grown on large area and more milk production. Similarly, in developed villages income from off-farm employment was more than undeveloped villages. Because large number of family labors of small farm households were working on high paid jobs or employed else or self-employed and thus contributed a good amount to their family’s income. The study suggests that with the lessening in the size of land holding unemployment in the agriculture area is probably going to increment. There is a need to make off-farm employment opportunities. Agro based industries appears to potential area to create employment opportunities. All the while there is a need for initiating skill development programs.