Updated 4 May 2011

The following article is one of a series of reports of Pakistan Visit April 2011 where Sayyid Aliraza Naqvi, Assistant Secretary General for Islamic Education and Sr. Kaniz Bhimani, Relief Manager for International Relief and Development toured Pakistan’s flood affected areas and visited sites where The World Federation of KSIMC is rebuilding Islamic Centres and new homes for the flood victims.  
 
In addition to visiting the various sites where The World Federation is constructing mosques and imambaras, we also visited 10 Islamic educational institutions.

First on our list of these organisations was Al Kauthar Islamic University (Jamiatul Kauthar) in Islamabad, a renowned University that runs under the supervision of Shaykh Mohsin Ali Najafi. Shaykh Najafi is an eminent scholar, the Patron-in-Chief of Al Kauthar Islamic University and the representative of the Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani in Pakistan. As well, he is the Patron-in-Chief of Hussaini Foundation. 

There are about 375 male students enrolled at this 25,000 square meter campus. In addition to providing higher Islamic education, the centre also plays an important role in reducing and eradicating propaganda against Shiaism across Pakistan. During the tour, we visited the grand library, the Masjid which was under construction and the set where Hadi TV is filmed.  Hadi TV is the University’s own satellite TV station which is the most popular TV network for Shia Muslims in South East Asia.

The University has a large role to play in the secondment of Ulama and preachers to the towns and villages of Punjab. Sayyid Aliraza Naqvi and Shaykh Najafi discussed the possibility of Ulama and preachers being allocated to the newly constructed mosques and imambaras sponsored by The World Federation. This is essential to ensure that the centres are properly utilised, and that people are educated in Islamic teachings. Shaykh Najafi has pledged to support this initiative by selecting and placing these qualified Ulama and preachers in our centres. As well, when Sayyid Aliraza Naqvi was in Najaf recently, he met with Ayatullah Bashir Najafi who also pledged his full support of this initiative for the Punjab area through Shaykh Najafi and his office in Lahore. However, one of the key stumbling blocks to starting this pivotal program is the lack of financial resources. The cost of appointing one such scholar for an entire year in one of these centres is only $1,540 USD per annum.

Sayyid Aliraza stated, "It was excellent to meet with the officials at Al Kauthar. Shaykh Najafi has a very impressive set up and is adding immense value to higher Islamic learning. The World Federation is building lots of new centres, mosques and imambaras, but these all desperately require aalims and scholars in them. For a small amount of $1,540 USD per year, this can be made possible. I urge the community to come forward and make contributions."
 
YOUR DONATION WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
A simple donation will help us deliver urgently needed Islamic guidance to so many men, women and children living in and around the new mosques and imambaras we are constructing in Pakistan. We must keep the progress going. With your contribution, we can allocate aalims and scholars to our new centres where they are needed to spread the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (as). The cost of sponsoring one scholar in one centre is $1,540 USD per year. Please donate today.

To donate online through The World Federation, click here

For more information, please email islamiceducation@world-federation.org