Understanding Islam, Javed Ghamidi, Shariah and the Establishment - Muhammad Hassan Ilyas - #TPE 353

The Pakistan Experience

Muhammad Hassan Ilyas, Director of Research at Ghamidi Center, USA, comes on The Pakistan Experience, to discuss the wrong notions of Islam made popular by Youtubers in Pakistan. On this episode, we discuss, how to understand Islam, Multiplicity of Opinions in the Islamic tradition, TLP, The role of the Establishment, Shariah, Women in Islam, Slavery and more. Muhammad Hassan Ilyas is a young passionate theologian, researcher and expert in ancient Arabic language and literature, greatly inspired by the famous Islamic scholar Javed Ahmed Ghamidi. He is a close associate and son in law of Javed Ahmed Ghamidi and is part of his ground breaking research project on the historical record of the sayings of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (P.B.U.H), with an aim to rid the prevailing Islamic ideology of common misconceptions in order to counter religious extremism. He is a young, passionate researcher and educationist. Director of Research at Ghamidi Center USA. He has been actively engaged in initiatives for educational reform since his formative years with Organisation for Research and Education (2009-2012). Later, in his early adulthood he went on to deliver special lectures on ancient Arabic language and literature to PhD and Master students of International Islamic University, Islamabad (2011-2012). He was the research head of the research department of Al-Mawrid, an Institute for Islamic Research and Education. More than a dozen PhD and Masters students working on theology have worked under his guidance during their dissertation. He was also a pioneer teacher and curriculum developer for Al-Mawrid’s education program for children and adolescents in the United States. He completed his bachelors at Medina International Islamic University, Malaysia, and is currently enrolled in University Technology Mara, Shah Alam in Masters of Research working on his groundbreaking project on Oaths as a literary device in the Qur’an. Alongside, he is working as a personal research and literary assistant of Javed Ahmed Ghamidi representing his works in academic circles and engaging in public meets to propagate and educate the public on his views. He is invited all over the world for lectures on theology, jurisprudence and his expertise on Ghamidi school of thought. He has been making television appearances in programs on social and legal implications of the prevailing Islamic thought in Islam. His works are frequently cited in academic papers and has been interviewed by many PhD scholars for his expertise in theology and particularly in Ghamidi school of thought. At this young age he has achieved many accolades including a gold medal at an international academic conference for his model research work on Oaths as a literary device in the Qur’an, and several awards for his academic articles and public speaking achievements from Medina International University, Malaysia. In future, he plans to further his research work on theology, and ancient Arabic language and literature, he plans to set up an institute for reform in religious education and advanced learning in Ghamidi school of thought. He further wants to design ventures for massive outreach of Ghamidi school of thought to masses with an aim for reconstruction of religious thought of the common Muslims. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 How to understand Islam 6:19 Multiplicity of opinions in Islam and Translation differences 19:00 Understanding Islam in context and use of Islam in Pakistan in politics 23:00 TLP and the Establishment using religion for violence 29:40 Javed Ghamdi on Pervez Musharaf and Zia-ul-Haq 36:00 Are laws in Pakistan Islamic? 47:00 Can Shariah Law be applied in Pakistan? 49:44 Women in Islam 52:34 Do men have 'Fazeelat' over women? 59:14 Concubines and Slavery 1:04:00 Domestic Violence 1:07:20 on Hazrat Aisha (RA)'s age 1:11:25 Conclusion