The 'Gift of Knowledge: Empowering Lives Through Islamic Philanthropy'

The Habib University (HU) premiered a thought-provoking documentary on the gift of knowledge in Muslim heritage, exploring the rich legacy of cultivating intellect in Islamic societies at Arif Habib’s Residence on Sunday.

The documentary, titled Gift of Knowledge: Empowering Lives Through Islamic Philanthropy, delved into the invaluable contribution of Muslim heritage towards knowledge creation, prosperity and scientific advancements, positioning Islam as a true catalyst for progress.

Featuring philosopher and educationist Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, Associate Professor Comparative Humanities at Habib University Dr Nauman Naqvi, Associate Professor of African Religious Thought and Democracy at the University of Virginia Dr Oludamini Ogunnaike and other renowned Islamic scholars — the documentary underscored the significance of channelling our Zakat towards higher education to empower Muslim societies.

The documentary was lauded by leading philanthropists and community leaders like Amir Peracha, Ehsan A Malik, Jawad Khan, Syeda Leghari, Ali Naqi Taqi, Shamoon Sultan, and Hanif Gohar, and other esteemed guests who gathered in support of the varsity’s mission to ensure no deserving Pakistani student is deprived of quality education due to socio-economic reasons.

“Our founding community's generosity, sacrifice, and empathy, along with our devoted supporters worldwide, have paved the way for our achievements. Like us, they believe that with the right opportunities, talented Pakistani youth can contribute significantly to the country's development," HU President Wasif Rizvi said in acknowledgement of their support.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, host Arif Habib appreciated the university as a “conduit between magnanimous people and students who cannot afford higher education”.

The evening culminated with remarks from HU Chancellor Rafiq M Habib and HU community members Tariq Rafi and Amir Peracha, who stressed the need to invest in higher education for the country's youth today to secure future prosperity.