Professor Akbar S. Ahmed appointed Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies
By Dr. Masood Haider

The IIIT (The International Institute of Islamic Thought) held a special program at its headquarters in Herndon, Virginia on May 29, 2001, to accord a welcome to Professor Akbar Ahmed following his appointment as Ibn Khaldun Chair and Professor of Islamic Studies, at the School of International Services, American University, Washington, D.C. The Ibn Khaldun chair last occupied by Dr. Serif Mardin and vacant until now is one of the most prestigious in American academia. Professor Akbar is the first Pakistani to hold this appointment.

Dr. Jamal Barzinji, Vice-President of IIIT, who attended the welcoming event along with the Institute’s president Dr. Abu Sulayman called Dr. Akbar ‘unique’ in his introduction to the capacity audience in attendance. Eminent scholars, editors and personalities attended the function. In introducing him, Professor Jamal shared the information that Dr. Akbar was the first to contribute to IIIT’s emphasis on ‘Islamization of Knowledge’ through his authorship of the book ‘Islamic Anthropology’ some twenty years ago whose Arabic translation is still used today. Dr. L. Safi on behalf of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists remarked that Dr. Akbar gave an excellent keynote in October 2000 to AMSS annual convention and would like to offer the 2002 annual event to the American University because of this appointment.

In the IIIT meeting a round table discussion was held on ‘Past, Present and the Future of Islamic Studies in the U.S. and its link with public policy’ following a presentation by Professor Akbar. He laid out the methodological and theoretical framework to study society, nature of the divine in the 21st century and need for understanding and dialogue. The approach will explore the revival of religions, why religions often take a violent turn and how dialogue between civilizations can be instituted. Professor Salayman Nyang, one of the leading social scientists of America, agreed that this was the way forward in method and theory. Professor Akbar’s courses at American University include ‘World of Islam’, ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’ and ‘Religion in the 21st century’. All people of goodwill pray that interfaith dialogue which is associated with his highly regarded academic books already taught on American campuses and his ‘Living Islam’ videos used to teach about Islam in the West will flourish.

American and Muslim scholars and opinion makers alike have hailed this appointment. Professor Lawrence Rosen, Chairman of the Department of Anthropology, Princeton University said, ‘It is a brilliant appointment … His course on the anthropology of religions consistently elicits the most wonderful accolades from students, not just to me but to our office staff, other colleagues in the department, and people elsewhere in the university - students ‘were uniform ecstatic’. Dr. Riaz Ahmad, president of the Pakistan American Congress, an umbrella organization of 46 Pakistani-American organizations, and one of the seven board members of the American Muslim Alliance (AMA) said, ‘Dr. Akbar S. Ahmad is not only one of the great Pakistanis living in the west, but one of the most able professors on Islam. Like most Muslims in this country, he represents the modern and progressive Islamic thought. He will be instrumental in bringing the Christian, Jewish and Muslim scholars together so they are able to form a bridge between the people of these three great religions. …. He is our hope for a better world bringing greater understanding and friendship between various communities’. Dr. M.A.Q. Siddiqui, another board member of the AMA, echoed similar sentiments .

A press release from the American Muslim Council (AMC) stated:’The American Muslim Council is proud to announce the appointment of Dr Akbar S. Ahmed as the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at the School of International Service of American University, Washington D.C… whose academic excellence and political achievements span international spectrums … The significance of Dr. Ahmed’s appointment is made all the more important when considering the influence of his position vis a vis proximity to the influence-wielding think tanks and other institutions of decision-making in Washington D.C. We are certain that Dr. Ahmed will bring with his three decades of experience as a scholar and media expert a commitment to constructive Muslim engagement in the fields of knowledge and policy in Washington D.C.’

It is indeed tragic for Pakistan that a man whose scholarship and academic eminence are acclaimed all over the world was the victim of the narrow-minded, the petty and the malicious. An examination of some of the official documents leads one to wonder as a Muslim how Pakistan could treat its great personalities in this manner. This is a person who received ‘Sitar-e-Imitiaz’ and ‘Tamgha-e-Imitiaz’ for distinguished services to Pakistan, whom Professor Anwar Dil calls ‘a bridge builder between civilizations of our time’ and who is applauded by the Honorable Lord Weatherill, former Speaker of the House of Commons, in these words: ‘You are universally acknowledged as one of the greatest experts on Islam and there is no one better qualified by scholarship or academic experience to explain to the western world the teachings of Islam, which all too often tend to be distorted and misunderstood. … Your regular radio and TV programmes when you were at Cambridge are still remembered and much missed by those of us who share your interest in the Inter Faith movement and who seek to promote better mutual understanding ... In addition you are also very much missed as one of the very best High Commissioners Pakistan has had in London. Your briefings of Parliamentarians are still remembered with respect and you were also indefatigable in visiting constituencies with Pakistani communities in order to explain the situation in your country at a particularly difficult time in its history … I wish you well in your new post, but I hope you will one day decide to return to the UK where you have many friends and admirers - please!’

Pakistan has not been kind to her poets, writers, scientists, intellectuals, thinkers and scholars. From Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ahmed Faraz, Habib Jalib to Dr. Abdus Salam the first and only Pakistani Nobel laureate, to Dr. Eqbal Ahmed, Dr. Mahboobul Haque, Dr. Fazlur Rehman and to Dr. Akbar is a sad history of turning our backs, for whatever reasons, to the treasures of our country. This has been Pakistan’s tragedy and loss. At least the American Muslims at large and the Pakistani Americans in particular are fortunate to have Dr Akbar at the epicenter of scholarly and political influence. As evidenced above, he has the best wishes and prayers of all Muslims in America.

Professor Akbar S. Ahmed is Ibn Khaldun Chair and Professor of Islamic Studies, at the School of International Services, American University, Washington, D.C.  A former Pakistani ambassador to London and Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge, he is an authority on Jinnah. His works include the script of the film Jinnah, and Jinnah, Pakistan and Islamic Identity: The Search for Saladin (Routledge, 1997).

Read more articles by Professor Ahmed here.