قاضی سلیمان صاحب منصور پوری
وہ مشرقی فاضل جس کی موت پر آج ہم کو ماتم کرنا ہے وہ قاضی محمد سلمان منصور پوری سابق جج پٹیالہ اور سیرت کی مشہور کتاب ’’رحمۃ للعالمین‘‘ کے مصنف ہیں، وہ علم و عمل، زہد و کمال اور فضل و ورع دونوں کے جامع تھے، روشن دل اور دماغ تھے، ان کے جدید و قدیم دونوں خیالات حداعتدال پر تھے، عربی زبان اور علوم دین کے مبصر عالم تھے، توراۃ و انجیل پر فاضلانہ و ناقدانہ نگاہ رکھتے تھے، غیرمسلموں سے مناظرہ کے شائق تھے، مگر ان کے مناظرہ کا طرز سنجیدگی، متانت اور عالمانہ وقار کے ساتھ تھا، مسلکاً اہل حدیث تھے، مگر اماموں اور مجتہدوں کی دل سے عزت اور ان کی محنتوں اور جانفشانیوں کی پوری قدر کرتے تھے۔
وہ ندوۃ العلماء کے دیرینہ رکن تھے اور اسی وساطت سے ان سے تعارف حاصل ہوا، اور تعارف نے باہم انس و مودّت کی صورت پیدا کی، جب مل جاتے دیر تک ہم ذوقی کا لطف قائم رہتا، سیرۃ، جدید مناظرات و کلام اور محاسن اسلام کے مختلف پہلوؤں پر گفتگو رہتی، اور اس لطف میں تھوڑی دیر کے لئے ہر چیز فراموش ہوجاتی، چند سال ہوئے کہ دارالمصنفین بھی ان کے فیض قدوم سے منور ہوا تھا، بلند قامت، خوش رو، خوش لباس، وجیہ، گھنی داڑھی، سپید صافہ باندھا کرتے تھے۔
ان کی مستقل تصنیفات میں رحمۃ للعالمین، الجمال والکمال (تفسیر سورۂ یوسف) اور سفرنامۂ حجاز، یادگار ہیں، ان کے علاوہ چھوٹے بڑے بیسوں رسائل ان کے قلم سے نکلے، مگر سب سے زیادہ ’’رحمۃ للعالمین‘‘ نے قبولیت حاصل کی، اسلامی مدرسوں میں داخل ہوئی، کورسوں میں شامل ہوئی، لوگوں نے ذوق و شوق سے پڑھا، خدا رحمۃ للعالمین کے مصنف کو اپنی رحمت عالم سے نوازے۔
سات آٹھ برس ہوئے کہ وہ ایک دفعہ...
This research work investigated the interfaith harmony and social cohesion between two different religious followers of Hinduism and Islam in District Swat of Pakistan. The current world is facing various kinds of issues and challenges regarding interfaith harmony, peace and social cohesion. This is need of the time to establish a peaceful and harmonised day to day life standard for all the segments of society. This research was an effort to analyse the willingness among the Hindus and Muslims for enhancing their tolerance towards each other’s social and cultural activities. It also aimed to highlight the positive approach of the respondents towards the participation in the socio-cultural activities of each other. The results of association of social cohesion showed nonsignificant relationship with an opinion that Hindu and Muslim communities should take part in socio-cultural activities particularly the sports. Similarly, non-significant relationship was found based respondents’ data with an opinion that relations between Hindus and Muslims shall enhanced through participation in cultural and religious ceremonies. The result further concluded that there was peaceful and harmonised environment between Hindus and Muslims being living in the target area. The minorities were fully enjoying freedom and equality in District Swat. Based on the findings of the study, positive social interaction, mutual respect, positivity in thinking and positive role of local media have been recommended as policy guidelines for promoting inter-faith harmony.
One of the main purposes of education is to develop critical autonomous individuals, so that they could construct their own knowledge and promote their thinking skills and become more active citizens. On the other hand, there is a general impression about the two major systems of schools, the Madrasa and the Government schools, that both discourage students' critical thinking (CT) skills. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to explore the ground realities by conducting a comparative case study in a Madrasa and in a Government school in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. This study aims to explore the perceptions and practices of both schools' teachers' about CT. For this purpose, one teacher from each school was selected as a primary research participant. Both the schools' head teachers and two students from the schools were selected as secondary research participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the entire primary as well as the secondary research participants. Moreover, teachers' classroom teaching, the nature of co-curricular activities, and the practice of punishment and reward were observed. Similarly, some documents, such as textbooks and examination question papers, were also analyzed to see the application of CT. The findings revealed that both schools' teachers are of the view that CT is a crucial component for students in order to deal with the modem challenges. Though the teachers of both schools appreciated the significance of CT, their practices were often dominated by the transmission method teaching. In contrast, the findings found the Madrasa structure and practices more conducive to CT primarily because of the Madrasa having fewer students, and closer interaction between the teachers and the taught. But, in Government schools, where there are more students in the class and there is burden on teachers of taking more periods, then these factors hinder in creating conducive relations between teachers and the taught regarding the development of CT. The findings of this study seem unusual as secular schools are very often seen as better suited for fostering CT, while Madrasas are blamed for indoctrination. However, the research showed an interesting finding that the Madrasa opened both the doors of religious and secular education to its students, and provided a soothing environment for building students' self-esteem and confidence.