Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi and Endowment Fund Trust for Preservation of Heritage of Sindh united a diverse group of individuals to organize a Panel discussion on “Sufism,” which was held at Ahmed Shah Auditorium II. The session was presided over by Hameed Haroon, and the panel included Noorul Huda Shah, Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed, Hameed Akhund, Munawar Ali Mahesar, Professor K.S Nagpal, and Dr. Rafiq Wassan. This diverse panel, representing various fields and perspectives, was joined by a multitude of scholars and interested individuals from the audience.
President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, expressed his admiration for Kamil Khan Mumtaz, an individual whose exceptional work brings joy. He also announced a forthcoming conference on the centuries-old history of Sindh. Architect, author, and artist Kamal Khan Mumtaz shared his personal journey, from being an architect to his deepening interest in Sufism. He said, “I am not a scholar but an artist. When I felt my lack of knowledge, I decided to pursue education from scratch. At that time, there was not much literature, teachers, or institutions where one could learn about local heritage and culture. Knowledge always troubled me. There was a vacuum that I always felt. Then I sought the path to learn about the reality of Sufism.” This personal journey resonated with many in the audience, who could relate to the struggle for knowledge and understanding.
Noorul Huda Shah said, “Sufism is based on human rights. Religion and Sufism are different things. Scientific knowledge is based on observation and experiments because of this reason usually it is considered accurate and authentic. Name of Rabia Basri and Khwaja Hasan Basri are top of list in Sufism. It is a disagreement with oppression and injustice that is referred to as Sufism. Sufism is about living in love with others.” She said that to acquire knowledge of the truth, one has to become part of it. True Sufism has disappeared into the background, but ‘Peeri Mureedi’ has taken its place.” Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed said, “Sufism is targeted for criticism. We do not see that Sufis are sacred souls. Shah Latif’s message carries the message of harmony. In the modern era, the importance of science cannot be denied. Munawar Ali Mahesar said, “It is unnecessary to prove that one is a human being. Not giving support to injustice is Sufism. Love is the solution to every problem in Sachal Sarmast’s poetry. Love is Sufism.” Jami Chandio said, “Sufism is like various forms of art and literature, better understood as a personal experience. Professor K.S Nagpal, Dr. M Rafiq Wassan, and Hameed Akhund also shared their thoughts.
