IIUI, Turkmenistan Move Closer to Academic Cooperation in Fiqh, Hadith and Arabic Studies

Turkmen delegation expresses keen interest in partnering with IIUI in Usul-ud-Din, Shariah and Arabic, as university president offers academic opportunities for Turkmen students and scholars.

Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD: The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and Turkmenistan are moving closer to establishing academic cooperation in Islamic studies and Arabic language, with a high-level Turkmen delegation expressing interest in partnering with the university to advance research, higher education and scholarly exchanges in Fiqh, Hadith, Shariah and related disciplines.

In this regard, Atadjan Movlamov, ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan, and Yalkap Hojagulyyev, who is chief Imam of the Spiritual Mosque of Arkadag, rector of the Higher Madrasa and and former Mufti of Turkmenistan, have recently called on Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed, the worthy President and Acting Rector of International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI).

They were accompanied by a high-powered delegation from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Atamyrat Saparmyradov, Specialist at the Office of the Mufti of Turkmenistan, also attended the meeting.

The visiting dignitaries expressed their keen desire to enter into cooperation with IIUI in the fields of Usul-ud-Din, Shariah and Arabic. They acknowledged IIUI as the prime institution of Pakistan offering advanced-level research and study in these disciplines.

Warmly welcoming the guests, the worthy President offered the people of Turkmenistan the opportunity to benefit from IIUI's academic strength and promote education through the university's programmes. He assured the delegation of the university's full support in building academic partnerships that would enable Turkmen students and scholars to pursue higher studies and research at IIUI.

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed, an internationally acknowledged academician, a Hafiz-e-Quran and a prayer leader, took keen interest in the proposal put forward by the Turkmen Ambassador and the former Mufti. The two sides discussed all its details thoroughly.

Later, the delegation attended a presentation by Maj. Gen. (R) Dr. Ghulam Qamar, Director General of Religious Education.

The Turkmen Ambassador and the former Mufti thanked the worthy President for his generosity and for the university's openness to the Turkmen people, and expressed hope that the cooperation would further strengthen educational and religious ties between the two brotherly countries.