‘Islamic Studies’ is one the core subjects in the Social Science stream. It was introduced in GDC Sogam (Lolab) in 2018, with the objective to explore Islam as a religion, a history, and a civilization which focuses on the social, political, intellectual, scientific, and cultural dimensions of Islam in a bid to revive its relevance in present times.
Islamic Studies is a subject wherein is taught about Islam and Muslims: Islam as a Religion, Ideology, Civilization, Culture and Muslims and Muslim Societies in all aspects (social, political, cultural, economic, administrative, intellectual, etc.
That is, ‘Islamic Studies’ is not limited to the study of Islam as living (and lived) Faith, but includes and encompasses a variety of fields, including Islamic Civilization, Culture, Religion, History, Islamic Social Sciences, Islamic Scientific Heritage, Rationalism and Philosophy, Sufism and Spirituality, Comparative Religions, Interfaith Dialogue, Gender Studies, Islamic Economics/ Islamic Banking & Finance, Ethics and Human Rights in Islam, Islam vis-à-vis Modernity & Modern Challenges, Islam and/ in West, Contemporary Muslims Societies—from Asia to Arab World—& Muslims living (as Minorities) in West, Europe, India, and elsewhere.
This Subject has a long history, globally, as well as in India. For example, it is taught in world famous (Western) universities, like University of Oxford (UK), University of London (UK), University of Cambridge (UK), University of Chicago (USA), Harvard University (USA), Princeton University (USA), Free University of Berlin (Germany), McGill University (Canada), University of Melbourne (Australia), etc.
In India, it is taught, at UG, PG, and research levels, in Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Milia Islamia, Jamia Hamdard, Osmania University, University of Kerala, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, etc.
In J&K, it is taught in Universities like University of Kashmir, Srinagar (estb. 1989), Islamic University of Science & Technology, Awantipora (2005), Central University of Kashmir (2015), and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri (2018).
At UG level, it is taught in almost all Degree Colleges of J&K, especially in the Kashmir province. At College level, it was first introduced in GDC Boys Anantnag, Amar Singh College, & GDC Sopore. In between 2010—2018, it has been introduced in dozens of colleges of Kashmir Province: like Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, and Shopian in South Kashmir; Ganderbal and Srinagar in Central Kashmir; and Kupwara and Baramulla in North Kashmir. In Kupwara district, it is taught at GDC Boys Kupwara, GDC Women Kupwara and GDC Sogam.
A warm welcome to all those students who have opted, and are opting, ‘Islamic Studies’ as a core subject in the Social Science stream in this College. Dear Students! Studying ‘Islamic Studies’ at UG level will help you in understanding that Islam—which is the lived/ living faith of over 1.6 billion people globally—in its real historical perspective: not only as a faith and religion, but also as a culture, an ideology and as a civilization. It will also help you to rectify all the misconceptions and misunderstandings that you may be having about Islam and its followers (Muslims)—whether living in the Muslim majority countries (like Arab World/ Middle East and Africa), in South and Southeast Asia (like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.), or in other countries where Muslims form a significant minority: be it India, USA, UK, Germany, France, etc.—their beliefs, practices, and above all their contribution to the humanity at large. It is pertinent to mention that Islamic Studies was introduced in GDC Sogam from 2018 academic session. The Department strives to achieve the following objectives: to provide students a clear, comprehensive and accurate perspective about Islam and Muslims; to provide students sound, authentic, and up-to-date knowledge of Islam (as a religion, a history and a civilization) and Islamic literature; to prepare students religious, spiritually, and morally—to be good ‘human beings’ and responsible ‘citizens’; to inculcate a spirit of universal brotherhood, religious tolerance, and amiable relations with major world religions, among students; to acquaint students with the discourses related to Ethics, Human Right, Rationalism and Philosophy, Sufism and Spirituality; and to inculcate the spirit of tolerance and patience among its students in order to promote communal harmony and mutual understanding in a pluralistic society. The major courses that are taught in Islamic Studies at UG level are: Islamic Civilization and Culture; Prophet’s Biography (Seerah); Islamic Religious Sciences (Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh/ Jurisprudence, etc.); Rationalism and Philosophy, Sufism and Spirituality; Comparative Religions; Islamic Economics/ Finance; Ethics; Human Rights; Islam in the Modern World—from Asia to Arab World—& Muslims living (as Minorities as in India), Islamic (social, political, economic) Institutions, etc.
One-Day Seminar on LOCF and Career Counselling (Co-organized): 18th March 2021
[Convener: Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah, AP, Education; Coordinators: Dr Tauseef Ahmad Parray; Dr Ayaz Mahmood, AP, Chemistry]
One-Day Workshop on “Developing Writing Skills” (co-organized with Debates & Seminar Committee, GDC Sogam), 8th April 2021
[Convener: Dr Tauseef Ahmad Parray; Coordinator: Prof. Sajad Ahmad, AP, English]
M.A, NET, Ph.D.
M.A, NET, Ph.D.
Sr. Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
