The News, 24th May 2001-Reviewed by Anjum Ahmed
"And amongst you, there should be groups of people calling you to follow the path of righteousness and guiding you towards good and away from what is bad and evil" (Aal-e Imran - ayet-104).

What brings about all this love in one place is the fact that we are knit in the strong bond of 'Iman' with absolutely no discrimination. The only sect (religion) here is Islam - our only identification is of a Muslim" said one of the women students of Al-HudA. A teacher is judged by the performance of his/her students and a preacher by the character of followers. Dr Farhat Hashmi has opened a graceful chapter in Pakistan for teaching women the meaning of the words of the Quran and enlightening them with the deeds of the Prophet (pbuh). She has both the quality and qualification to reach out to the literate women of Pakistan. Somehow, her method of teaching, her style of delivery and the content of her lectures has managed to attract students from classes that never felt satisfied with madressah type approach and thus deprived themselves of an awakening on the path of faith and deeds.

In pursuit of knowledge about Islam and first hand experience of Muslims in different countries and their societies Dr Farhat Hashmi has traveled far and wide. She and her husband both have done their Ph.D. in the Quran and Hadith Sciences from Glasgow University, (UK). Islam in the light of the Quran's interpretation and guidance from hadees has been her quest for many years before she felt she was ready for guiding other Muslim women to claim their rights - their rights to live a life by following Islamic faith. And a way of life of their own choosing and not the one dictated to them by the vested interests of western designs. I have not met Dr. Farhat but I was fortunate to meet two of her students having very high regard for Dr. Farhat Hashmi.

One, a woman born and bred in the United Kingdom and a degree in Economics from the University of Manchester, U.K. who was in Karachi on vacation happen to meet Dr. Farhat Hashmi. This is how she describes her first meeting (gist of what she said and also wrote it down for me; "I was a bit skeptical in the beginning but gradually I saw the unusual working style of the people in this institution. Up till now I had always runaway from 'Deen' (and the word 'Dars') because it had become so over burdened, polluted and scary on the way. Here, with Dr. Farhat it was different. The explanation of pure words of Allah, and its practical demonstration by the Prophet (pbuh), this actual, pure Deen turned out to be so easy and loveable and not something to run away from. Not one day was I forced to do something (like cover myself) but so intensely was the love of Allah ... that I myself changed slowly. It was a conscious, un-hypocritical choice so it remains constant and satisfying. I owe unlimited thanks to Allah and also the means by which He granted me this favour - Al-Huda (hidayat)."

Two, a woman in a local college attending graduate classes had this to say of her experience. "The meeting took place in a most unlikely place; the pool-side of a 5-star hotel where my mother took me one fine morning to attend the 'Daura-e Quran of one, Dr Farhat Hashmi." It is what she said next that may surprise many a good Muslims who may have not yet experienced the overwhelming power of the words of God when recited and explained in a loving and caring way and specially in an 'involved' manner. "I was curious, hungry, tired - not a very viable listener but very soon the captivating voice of this lady reciting the Quran in a manner I had never heard before, brought the whole scene to life. After that I was caught up in the powerful current of Allah's words and the softly, lovingly uttered interpretation by this beautiful lady whose appearance radiated energy - Dr. Farhat Hashmi."

From the two women, one a foreigner, and the other educated through an English medium, an elite system of education, the words came from their hearts, fully conscious of their newly discovered meaning and purpose of life. One working and the other studying both fully interactive in male dominated social environment felt quite comfortable with their male colleagues. This is what the 'true' education meant to the two women; not detaching themselves away from the main stream of life but more assured and full of self-confidence to handle, through their newly-acquired education (enlightenment), situations considered for men's domain only. There were many enlightening conversations with the two women, pertaining to Al-Huda, the institution and the classroom atmosphere, subjects taught and the manner of teaching.

"Today I love my class, the rooms, the people, the atmosphere and the peace like my own home." And, "It works like magic pulling at your heart, bidding your feet to hurry." "One of the greatest assets of our class are the staff members who are unlike any I teachers I have ever had. Kind, loving and helpful, they are willing to help out with any personal or class problem we might have. Taking personal interest in every individual they expect nothing in return but exclusively Allah's pleasure and are a source of great inspiration and character building."

"A great addition to our class has been the computer department which prepares and shows slides on the projector on different subjects discussed in the Quran. Such as the Egyptian Pharaohs, embryology etc and we often receive excellent scholars from outside who give us lectures on subjects ranging from 'time management' to 'destiny' to 'must.'

One of the students I referred to above had the last words:
"In sura-e Tauba I had found my calling."

Dawn- Features- 20th December, 99-Reviewed by Karachian
Every day, around mid-morning, women from all parts of Karachi start flocking inside a local hotel. The road outside is chock full of cars filled with anxious-looking women who do not want to be late by even a second. Getting a parking is indeed a Herculean effort.

Enter the hotel's foyer and voila - women seem to be crawling all walking fast towards one of the conference rooms with cloth bags to carry their shoes in (no plastic bags as they create noise which can disrupt the concentration of all those present). And if they leave their shoes just anywhere, something like 2,000 pairs of shoes (approximately) can cause a bit of a problem when being located!

The crowd is interestingly diversified. From the regular houswives to hoity-toity insleeveless shalwar kameez to those in hijaab or even purdah. There teenage girls in skin-fitted lycra tops, with glittery lipstick and shocking blue nail colour, sans anything covering their head. And if that's not enough, there are mothers of newborns, carrying their little bundles of joy with them.

Yet, nothing seems to stop them, as they are drawn by the words uttered by Dr Farhat Hashmi in her Fehm-i-Quran classes, specially held for the holy month. She translates and explains at length one paara of the Quran everyday. Hearing Dr Hashmi is a cerebral experience. Even those, who have read and re-read the Quran's translation before, say that coming from her, it seems new. She is tolerant, abreast with what is going on in the world today and most of all not racist at all. Her teachings are liberal, yet strictly within the Islamic framework.

She seems emancipated. Dr Hashmi's English and Urdu is flawless, but it is her Arabic that is special. In a mellifluous voice, she recites the holy ayats with such beauty that it's mesmerizing. All present sit spellbound.

Yet, the idea is not meant to praise Dr Hashmi only. This is to observe how starved, for a logical explanation of Islam, we all are.