GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION
On 7-8 February 2004, the Graduate School of Philosophy and Religion, in conjunction with the Cultural Center, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran organized the captioned seminar at Hua Mak campus. The main objectives of the seminar were to:
For Islamic mysticism known as Sufism representing the mystical dimension of Islam has played a significant role in the spread and growth of Islam in Southeast Asia for centuries. The Muslim mystics or Sufis had employed their notion of loving relationship with God in dealing with the relationship between humans. Iranian Sufis such as Bayazid Bistami, al-Hallaj, al-Ghazzali, Shihab-aldin Suhrawardi, Jalaluddin Rumi and Mulla Sadra have played a significant role in the shaping and forming the essential nature of Islamic mysticism. Their influence reached as far as Southeast Asia as the mystics played an important role in the growth and spread of Southeast Asian Islam as evidenced by the presence 0 f Iranian Muslims at the court of Ayuthaya and a local Sufi master known as Hamzah Fansuri. The seminar was opened by presentation of areportbyAsst. Prof. Dr. Warayuth Sriwarakuel, Dean of the Graduate School. Rev. Bro. Dr. Prathip Martin Kamolmas, President Emeritus made his welcoming remarks to delegates of the seminar followed by an opening address by H.E. Mr. Rasoul Eslami, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Next Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Member of Parliament and former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thaialnd presented a keynote address on the topic "Sufism in Southeast Asia". The seminar patticipants were also entertained to a recital of traditional Iranian music presented by the Samava group which was especially flown in from Iran for performing at the seminar. The following are some of the research papers presented at the seminar. "The Persian Presence in Southeast Asia" Dr. M. Ismail Marcinkowski, ISTAC, International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur. "Persian Love of Mysticism and its Presence in Southeast Asia" Prof. Nasrollah Pourjavady, University of Tehran. "al-Ghazali's Intellectual Influence on Malay Thinkers" Prof. Ahmad Kazemi Moussavi, ISTAC, International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur. "This Flowing Exchange" Dr. John Giordano, Assumption University. "Contribution of the McGill Institute of Islamic Studies, to the Recognition of Iranian Mysticism" Prof. Mehdi Mohaghegh, University of Tehran, Iran. "The Contribution of Hamza Fansuri" M. Nasrin, ISTAC, International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur. "Controversy and Opposition to Wahdat al-Wujud; Discourse on Sufism in the Malay-Indonesian World in the 17th and 18th Centuries" Prof. Azyumardi Azra, Universitas Islam Indonesia. "Dialogue Between Sufism and Buddhism: al-Insan al-Kamil and Bodhisattva" Dr. Imtiyaz Yusuf, Assumption University. "Toshihiko Izutsu's View on Sufism and Buddhism" Prof. Masataka Takeshita, University of Tokyo. "The Rumi Doctrine in Indonesia" Prof. Mulaydhi Kartanegara, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Indonesia. Reported by Dr. Imtiyaz Yusuf. |
Iranian Ambassador H.E. Rasoul Eslami, President Emeritus Dr. Komolmas and Romanian Ambassador at the seminar on February 7.
The Iranian Ambassador presents literature on' Sufism' to Dr. Surin Pitsuwan after his keynote speech.
The Iranian Ambassador, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Dr. Komolmas and Dr. Yusuf of the Graduate School of Philosophy leaving the seminar hall.
Members of the Samava group from Teheran performing a musical score at the special seminar held at the Hall of Fame on February 7-8,2004