Srinagar, Oct 30: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday was conferred with doctorate for his thesis based on the book on political thought in Islam by the famous saint Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (RA) popularly known as Amir-e-Kabir.
The doctorate has been conferred upon Mirwaiz by the University of Kashmir for his thesis ‘Mir Syed Ali Hamdani’s Dhakriratul Muluk: An Annotation and Translation’
Elated over the feat, Mirwaiz credited his mother for motivating him to pursue higher studies. “I express gratitude to all those including people of Jammu and Kashmir who directly or indirectly helped me achieve the feat,” Mirwaiz told Greater Kashmir.

TURNING POINT
An alumni of missionary Burn Hall School, 37-year old Mirwaiz wanted to be become a computer engineer. But the assassination of his father, Moulvi Muhammad Farooq in 1990, proved to be a turning point in his life.
In a bid to take over his father’s mantle, Mirwaiz had to shun his dream and pursue his education in Islamic Studies and Sufism. In 1993 when the Hurriyat Conference was constituted, he became its first chairman.
“My father’s killings changed the course of my life. I wanted to become a software engineer but as destiny would have it,” Mirwaiz said.
Balancing his time between the Conglomerate’s chores and education, Mirwaiz did his graduation in 1998 with Political Science and English Literature. Simultaneously, he completed his Moulvi-Fazil and Moulvi Alim, the degrees mandatory for a priest.  In 2002, he did his M.Phil.

THE INSPIRATION
“My mother motivated me to pursue higher studies in Islamic Studies. The other reason is that my father could not pursue higher education in Islam as he was assassinated. I went ahead to fulfill my mother’s wish and father’s unaccomplished job. During the course of my studies, I was immensely impressed by the works of Syed Ali Hamdani. I traveled his birthplace Hamdan in Iran and did lot of research on his life and works,” Mirwaiz said.
He said during the course of his research he learnt that Syed Ali Hamdani had made immense contribution towards the society. “People only knew him as a saint. But he was instrumental in spreading Islam and even development of shawl-weaving and carpet manufacturing. I wanted to highlight all the aspects of his life and I applied for doctorate on it,” he said.
Mirwaiz said he took the Shah-e-Hamdan’s book ‘Dhakritul Muluk: An Annotation and Translation” as reference point for the doctorate. Nearly 5-years ago, Mirwaiz pursued his doctorate from KU’s department of Islamic Studies.

THE CHALLENGES
But it was not a smooth job for Mirwaiz. The Amarnath land Row in 2008 and the political situation in the Valley hindered his research. “But I managed to spare some time for writing the thesis. As I remained under house arrest most of the time during trouble in the Valley, I used to concentrate on my thesis,” he said.
Mirwaiz could not go for advanced research abroad as the authorities denied him the travel documents. “Due to these hindrances, it took me 5-years to complete the thesis,” he said.

TAKING CUE
Mirwaiz said the book is a complete guide for governing the Islamic State. “The book is old but is relevant in the present times. It gives us the highest vision of the Islamic State. I will try to draw relevant paradigms from the book and utilize them whenever necessary for the ongoing movement,” he said.
Mirwaiz said the book has been translated in many languages except English. “The book is political theory and ethical doctrine for the kings. All I can say is that it is a must read for the rulers who believe in effective governance and giving justice to people,” Mirwaiz said adding he plans to publish his thesis in a shape of a book.

GUIDE SPEAKS
Prof Naseem Ahmad Shah of Shah-e-Hamdan Institute of Islamic Studies under whose supervision the thesis has been completed was in all praise for Mirwaiz.
“Mirwaiz passed all the examinations as a regular student. For his endeavor, he even learnt Persian. Infact the team of experts which examined his thesis were impressed. Mirwaiz thesis will help the English knowing Muslims including Kashmiris to know about the life of Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (R.A.),” Prof Shah told Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST