Contemporary Challenges Regarding Muslim-Christian Dialogue and Its Solution in the Light of Nobel Sīrah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ

Islam recognizes the status and respect of other faiths and communities for socioeconomic and sociopolitical development. Therefore, the kind Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمwas the first ever personality in the human history who accepted the identity of other faiths and involved them in state affairs of the city state of Madīnah in 610 CE/1AH. The citizens of the first Islamic State including Jews, Christians and Polytheists were treated as equal and respected citizens. The door of discussion and mutual cooperation were opened for all faiths and communities of the society. For that purpose, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم set out some special parameters and principles of dialogue and interaction with other faiths. These principles may be freedom of religion, mutual respect and cooperation, interfaith tolerance, focus on common issues, active participation in state and social activities etc. The history is eye witness of this conduct that Muslim rulers and public care these principles and promote them in all ages of the Muslim governance. However due to some reason modern era have been observed of not being compatible with minorities in east as well as in the west. Categorically, they are having encounters with many difficulties, challenges and issues for security, rights and peaceful coexistence in all over the world. Unfortunately, Pakistan have also considered to be the part of hyper national and international sociological environment regarding minorities. In order to overcome these issues and challenges then we must follow the Prophet’s Seerahصلى الله عليه وسلم regarding interfaith dialogue and mutual cooperation in a pluralistic society like Pakistan. In this study, the efforts are made to explore contemporary challenges and its solution in light of the Seerah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمfrom current sociopolitical context.

Exploring How English Language Teachers Develop Reading Comprehension Skills of Grade 5 Students in a Private School in Karachi, Pakistan

Reading comprehension skill is an essential component of English language for English language learners. It has a strong link with other skills of English language like writing, speaking and listening. It provides a base for development of these skills through comprehension fluency, critical thinking development, vocabulary enhancement and syntax. Research claims that English language teachers (ELTs) help students to develop their English reading comprehension skills by using different strategies and supplementary materials as well as the role of the teacher is vital. The aim of this study was to explore how ELTs develop English reading comprehension skills of grade 5 students in a private school in the context of Karachi, Pakistan. For this purpose two ELTs and a group of six students were selected as study participants. A qualitative research approach is used to conduct this study. Within the qualitative paradigm an exploratory case study design was used to collect data. Data were collected through various sources such as classroom observations, interviews, FGD, documents analysis and field notes. The generated data were analyzed through making codes, categories, themes and sub-themes and further analyzed in depth. The findings of the data show that the use of reading comprehension strategies, supplementary materials by ELTs and their own understanding and approach towards readings plays a key role in promoting students’ reading comprehension skills . ELTs role was found to be pivotal as a facilitator, monitor and as a guide in promoting the reading comprehension of their learners. The study is significant for teachers, teacher educators, policy makers in general and ELTs in particular to reflect on their teaching practices and to improve the existing practices further. The study recommends that ELTs need to have professional training and experience to have an understanding of accurate strategies, use of supplementary materials which is important to develop students’ RCS.