News DeskAbu Dhabi, UAE – The Embassy of Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, hosted an enlightening lecture featuring Professor Dr. Waleed Ziad, Associate Professor of History at Georgetown University’s Qatar Campus. The session, titled “Lives of the Female Scholars/Saints of the Afghan Empire from Peshawar to Bukhara,” drew a distinguished audience, including ambassadors, diplomats, professionals, and prominent members of the Pakistani community.
Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi warmly welcomed Dr. Waleed Ziad and lauded his extensive research on female Muslim scholars of the subcontinent and Central Asia. He commended Dr. Ziad’s passion and commitment, highlighting the scholar’s dedication, which involved traveling to remote and challenging regions across multiple countries. Ambassador Tirmizi emphasized the importance of cultural and intellectual exchanges, noting that embassies play a vital role in fostering knowledge, art, music, and culture to bring people from diverse backgrounds together.
In his lecture, Dr. Waleed Ziad expressed his gratitude to the countless individuals from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey who assisted in his research for his forthcoming book, “Sufi Masters of the Afghan Empire: Bibi Sahiba and Her Sacred Networks.” He shared insights from the book, including an excerpt from a diploma issued by Khwajah Saif-i-Ullah, a leading scholar and Sufi of Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and Sindh, which recognized Bibi Sahiba Kalan as the greatest saint of her era. Bibi Sahiba was honored as the first female inheritor of a vast Sufi network spanning North-Western Pakistan, Afghanistan, and extending to Western China.
Dr. Ziad’s research spanned over ten years and involved more than 140,000 kilometers of travel across Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. During the session, he shed light on the lives of female saints during the Afghan Empire, many of whom are featured in his upcoming book, “The Extraordinary, Enchanted Lives of the Female Scholar-Saints of the Afghan Empire.” He highlighted their spiritual leadership, dedication to Islam, and the profound impact they had on guiding thousands of followers.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Tirmizi praised the exceptional story of Bibi Sahiba and her immense influence across Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn about this extraordinary figure through Dr. Ziad’s remarkable research.
The event served as a celebration of the rich legacy of female scholar-saints, offering a unique perspective on their contributions to Islamic history and their enduring relevance in the contemporary world.
