Shaykh Zayed Islamic Center

Introducation: The Shaykh Zayed Islamic Centre, University of Peshawar is one of the three eductional Centres financed by his Excellency Shayh Zayed Ibne Sultan Al-Nahyan,Emir of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The other two Centers are located at Karachi and Lahore on the Campuses of the respective universities.The entire cost of the project was borne by the Government of U.A.E while the land was donated by the University of Peshawar.The Emir of U.A.E has established a trust for the developmental expenditures of the Centre,while recurring cost is borne by the fedral Government of Pakistan.

The Islamic Centre of the University of Peshawar is a prestigious institute which has been designed to provide facilities for an Auditorim,a Language Laboratory, a Computer Laboratory and a well-stocked Library for research work in Islamic Studies and Arabic.

Websit address: http://szic.upesh.edu.pk

Programmes:

BA(Hons) programme:

Islamic Centre which started proper functioning in 1988,runs a unique Honours Program in major Social Sciences and Computer Science with special emphasis on Islamic Studies and Arabic.An education in Computer Science was considerd a necessity for graduates of the centre in order to equip them with contemporary disciplines of knowledge.The purpose being to create real scholars enlightened with the true spirit of Islam, as no Muslim can have a complete comprehension and understanding of the Holy Quran and teachings of Islam until and unless he/she is well-grounded in the modern disciplines of knowledge. The students enrolled in this job-oriented programme not only specialize in Islamic and Arabic Studies but also receive additional intensive courses in Computer Science,Economics,English,Sociology,Political Science and Arabic Language.The course work meets the purpose of combining traditional subjects with modern areas of knowledge.

This programme leading to the Master's Degree in Qur'anic Studies (to be awarded by the University of Peshawar) is run under semester system. Statutes/Regulations of the University of Peshawar are approved by its Academic Council and Syndicate. The programme consists of at least 20 courses (a total of 60 credits) to be completed in four semesters. The course also includes the writing of a thesis by the students under the guidance of faculty members. The topics for the thesis shall be selected in consultation with the faculty members concerned by the end of the Third Semester.The medium of instructions are Urdu/Arabic/English.

The Islamic Centre feels proud in contributing to the academic world with three research journals of distinction published in Arabic,English and Urdu, in which articles of quality are published.

We are happy to report that the graduates of this Centre are performing very well in different departments of the Universities of Pakistan including Journalism, Sociology, Library Science, Education,English, Pakistan Studies, Public Administration, Computer Science, Arabic and Islamic Studies.

It will not be inappropriate to mention that the University of Peshawar is the degree awarding body of the centre , and its degree has also been properly accredited by the Higher Education Commission(HEC), of Pakistan.

Religion has played a vital and decisive role in the history of man kind.No span of human history has ever lost religious thinking.Any concept, nevertheless being revealed or un revealed relates to unity and uniformity,to disintegration or to dilapidation has been, to some extent reflected by religious influences. Religion has proved to be a bed-stone for the growth of such major civilizations which played eminent role in the formation and evolution of human-history.

S.P Hingting has, in his current book titled "the Clash of Civilizations" deliberted the theory that the coming century will bear national and geographical clashes on the basis of civilization and that comming century will be the era of reaching compromise between Isalm and the followers of Confucius. Interfaith Dialogue is springing up as a scientific disilipine.The establishment of big Centres with allocation of huge amount for the said purpose is being carried out in the western-Universities. The scernario by itself demands for the general vigilance regarding religion in Pakistan as well.A group of researchers comprising even of a minor number should be formed to receive information about the contemporary religions. Furthermore, as the world has been turned in to a global village and is being populated jointly by the followers of various religion and faiths- hence, as required by peace and mutual understanding, the solution of certain combined issues is inevitable through dialogue with followers of other religions. To achieve the said goal Shaykh Zayed Islamic Centre has framed a Syllabus for M.Phil (Religion & Theology) under the status of M.Phil courses already introduced by University of Peshawar containing 25 credit hours in two semesters.

Out of the said 25 cr hrs 21 cr hrs will be specified for required/ major subjects as revealed in the syllabus while the remaining portion of cr. hrs will be allocated for Elect/Minor subjects.