Haripur ceremony launches book on misconceptions about women

HARIPUR: A ceremony was held at a private school in Haripur the other day to launch Prof Abdul Muhaiman’s Urdu book Baat Shanasai Ki, which the author has dedicated to women.

District Police Officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur attended as the chief guest, while Ms Fozia Taj, Commandant of the Prison Academy Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, presided over the event. The gathering was also attended by members of academia, civil society organisations and government officials.

Introducing his fifth Urdu book, Dr Muhaiman, who teaches Islamic Studies at the University of Haripur, said the title was taken from a well-known verse by the late poet Parveen Shakir:

Koo bakoo phail gaee baat shanasaee ki-Us ne khushbu ki traha meri pazeerai ki

He said the book draws on research-based intellectual work to explain the position of women in the light of the teachings of the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Quran.

Author explains purpose of the book

Speaking at the event, Dr Muhaiman said he had sought to address what he described as persistent and unfair portrayals of women in society.

I dedicated my efforts to clarifying the true status of a women, who are frequently and unjustly portrayed as naqs-ul-aqal (intellectually deficient) and inherently flawed through the metaphor of the “crooked rib (tehri pasli).”

He questioned how a woman could be described in such terms while society also recognises that a mother’s lap is the first school for a child. He said that if women are assigned the responsibility of being a child’s first teacher and of providing moral upbringing, then such negative depictions stand in contradiction to that role.

Dr Muhaiman said society had not made sufficient efforts to present what he called the true and complete message of the teachings of the last Prophet (PBUH) and the Quran on the subject. He added that through the book he had tried to remove the impression that women were unwise or a product of a crooked rib, and instead emphasised their place as the first school for a child and a centre of moral training.

Speakers discuss women’s role in society

Ms Fozia Taj and DPO Haripur Shafiullah Khan Gandapur were among those who shared their views during the ceremony. They spoke about the book as well as the role of women in shaping the future of societies.

The event brought together participants from academic, official and civil society circles around a discussion focused on women’s status and social contribution, as presented in Dr Muhaiman’s newly launched work.