Sharjah Public Libraries Celebrates Centennial With Panel On Islamic Governance And Heritage

Sharjah Public Libraries (SPL) marked its 100th anniversary with a panel discussion titled "The Cultural Mission" at the Holy Qur’an Academy in Sharjah. This event was organised in collaboration with Al Qasimia University and the Academy itself. The session attracted academics, intellectuals, and university students, including Dr Abdullah Khalaf Al Hosani, Secretary-General of the Holy Qur’an Academy.

The discussion featured Dr Nasser Al Falasi from Zayed University and Dr Abdul Hakim Al Anis from the Holy Qur’an Academy. Moderated by Dr Rashid Al Naqbi, it was part of SPL’s initiative to revive Arab and Islamic intellectual traditions. The event aimed to highlight libraries as vital cultural and knowledge centres.

The dialogue delved into Islamic governance and literary heritage. Speakers compared early Islamic financial and administrative systems with Roman and Western models, focusing on equity and inclusion. They celebrated Arab scholars' contributions in fields like philosophy, health, and social sciences.

Dr Al Falasi discussed the evolution of Islamic governance, emphasising historians' roles in shaping historical narratives. He highlighted the fairness of Islamic taxation systems, noting that taxes were lighter than Roman ones, with exemptions for women, children, and the elderly. Non-Muslims received protection without conscription.

Dr Al Falasi cited early tax records from the second century Hijri to stress that Islamic fiscal policy was pragmatic. It considered factors like distance and agricultural conditions. Some Western historians have recognised the jizya as a sophisticated financial model supporting non-Muslim economic welfare.

Dr Al Anis focused on Arab literary traditions' richness, highlighting lesser-known works on themes like grief, hunger, health, and ageing. He noted that early Arab scholars explored concepts now seen as modern, such as emotional well-being and interpersonal ethics. These writings reveal Islamic civilisation's intellectual vitality.

The event concluded with a workshop on Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation. Participants engaged with artistic expressions defining Islamic heritage.

With inputs from WAM