Islamic culture

Islamic culture is the culture which implies all the internal and external, intellectual and material activities and achievements of the Muslims in the world. It signifies the growth of Islamic lore and learning, Islamic language and literature, art and architecture, the advancement of Islamic political ideas and administrative institutions. In a word, Islamic culture means the Islamic way of life: Islamic culture, in fact, is a particular culture which has evolved on the basis of the teaching of Islam: it is based on the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. It is quite dynamic and forceful in character and spirit.

Archaeological Heritage Harappa and Moenjodaro

 

Harappa in Sahiwal district (Punjab) and Moenjodaro in Larkana (sind) have been excavated in recent times. Their discovery has created a great stir in the world of scholarship. It has given a great impetus to excavation and research. The excavations of Harappa and Moenjodaro have really exposed to modern man the early efforts of human society in organising its social, cultural and political life. The finds at these sites confirm that some five thousand years ago, particular civilization flowered in the Indus valley, which is particularly known as the Indus valley civilization.

The principal remains at Harappa include the citadel, the scattered general city, the granary, the cemetery. The big finds at Moenjodaro consisted of the rampart wall, the citadel, the stupa, the great bath, the great granary and the main drain. The general remains found at the sites consist of seals, statues, house-hold articles, weapons, skeletons of domesticated animals, pictorial writings. It is said that it was destroyed successively and rebuilt no less than seven times. However, today it stands as the most spectacular of all the excavated cities of the Indus valley. At its glory, it was a beautiful city with fine rows of brick houses, pillared, halls, baths, markets, lanes, streets and public places. Almost every house had wells, drains and bathrooms.

Harappa and Moenjodaro were situated about 400 miles apart. Both were great centres of commerce, trade and industry. Communications by the river Indus provided a natural highway between that two capital cities of the Indus valley civilization. We find wonderful similarity in their relics. We find the same rigidity of rules, the same weights and measures, the same system of writing, the same rituals and practices and the same materials of daily use.

          Their general lay-outs show that they were fine cities. It reveals that their inhabitants were highly cultured and civilized people. The brick built houses, lanes, streets, market places and public baths demonstrate the skill of their builders in architecture, engineering and town-planning.

          The inhabitants of these cities were said to have brown complexion, curly black hair, thick lips and flat hollowed cheeks. They used cotton fabrics and warm textiles.  Both men and women wore some ornaments made of gold, silver, ivory, copper and precious stones. The most popular ornaments in use were necklaces, armlets, finger rings and bangles. There was a great variety in the shape and design of ornaments. Some of them were of singular beauty. They used untensils of different size and shape with beautiful paintings on them and followed many professions which included farming, pottery, weaving, carpentry, masonry, metal work (gold, silver, copper, iron, bronze etc.), stone cutting and sculpturing. They had a well regulated life under a social and economic system and had trade relations with communities living in the east and the west. They usually worshipped the mother goddess and a male deity. They also worshipped stones, trees and animals.

          Wheat was the principal article of food. But barley and palm-dates were also familiar. They also used mutton, pork, fish and eggs. They cultivated wheat, barley and cotton, husbanded cattle and used the raw material for producing finished goods. They built granaries for storing grains and kept them clean and free of moisture. The kilns located outside the residential sector of the town were used for burning the bricks and the beautiful clay-pottery.

Islamic system of education

Islamic system of education initiated several centuries ago exists in all parts of the country. It aims at the religious training of the people. The madrasas teach subjects such as Holy Quran, Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic, Persian, logic, philosophy, medicine and astronomy. The students are provided free lodging. In the past, the system used to prepare lawyers, judges and medical practitioners. But some of these functions were taken over by the universities.  The system is still strong in the teaching of oriental classics. The main object of the madrasas is to train religious guides of the people. They are known as maulvies, imams and khatibs. They have a lot of duties to perform. Among other things, they lead prayers and give sermons in Masjids. Some of them learn the Holy Quran by heart and one who has completely memorized the Holy Quran is respectfully known as Hafiz. Islamic system was neglected for long even after independence. But now when we are passing through a process of Islamization, the system has regained its importance. Efforts are being made to improve it. It is being harmonized with the modern system of education. Now madrasas have started qazi classes to prepare qazis for the qazi courts in the country. A net-work of Masjid Schools is being established. It will lessen the burden of primary and high schools.

          Efforts are also being made for the improvement of adult education. Generally, radio, television, museums and press are playing and important role in education the people.

Engineering Education in Pakistan

Education in engineering has also greatly developed in Pakistan. In 1947, there was only one engineering college in the whole country. But at present there are many engineering colleges and many engineering universities in Pakistan. Many more colleges are expected to be established in near future in sind and Punjab. Education in engineering is completed in a period of four years. The engineering colleges and universities produce engineers and higher technologists. Polytechnical institutions train technicians for the developing industries. Some of the polytechnical institutions are being raised to the status of technical colleges to produce technicians of high caliber.

Hill Station Murree In Pakistan

Murree is the most important hill station in pakistan. It is 37 miles from Rawalpindi and 35 miles from Islamabad. It is well connected with Rawalpinid, Islamabad, Abbottabad and Muzaffarabad by metalled roads. It is situated at the Muree spur which is an off-shoot of the Himalayas, at an elevation of 7517 ft. Magnificient view of the snow-clad mountains of Kashmir can be had in the spring and autumn.

The main station stretches between two points, namely, Pindi point and Kashmir point. The two points are connected by a road. The Mall is the main road of Murree. It runs at the top of the ridge in the heart of the station. It extends from the general post office to the Pindi point. Its most important part is the stretch between the post office and the church chauk. The Mall is the beautiful and fashionable avenue. It serves as the commercial centre as well as the meeting places of visitors to Murree.