Remarkable & memorable events
Rebuttal to Hoodbhoy on Iqbal’s Scientific Consciousness
In 2019, a debate emerged at the Pakistan Academy of Letters concerning Allama Iqbal’s references to science and his understanding of scientific concepts. The discussion was sparked by Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy — a well-known Pakistani critic and social activist — who accused Iqbal of misleading the Muslims of India through what he termed a deceptive use of scientific ideas.
Idrees Azad asked a question to Hoodbhoy during the Q&A session — a question for which Hoodbhoy had no answer.
A few days later, at the same venue and under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, another conference was organized to address the controversy. Professor Idrees Azad presented a detailed rebuttal to Hoodbhoy’s claims, defending Iqbal’s intellectual integrity and philosophical depth.
At the conclusion of the event, several distinguished figures on stage expressed their appreciation for Professor Idrees Azad’s insightful response. Among them was Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik — former Rector of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), a renowned Iqbal scholar and philosopher — who offered the following remarks about Professor Idrees Azad.
At the same event, the Chairman of the Academy of Letters, Dr. Inam-ul-Haq Javed, said that…
IIUI Conference on G Waves
In 2016, the discovery of gravitational waves sparked a wave of excitement across the globe. In Pakistan, the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) hosted a major conference dedicated to this ground-breaking scientific achievement. Professor Idrees Azad delivered a comprehensive two-hour introductory lecture titled “Making Sense of Gravitational Waves,” offering clarity on one of the most complex topics in modern physics.
Beyond the lecture, he also authored a series of accessible articles and newspaper columns to help the Pakistani public understand and appreciate the significance of this scientific milestone. The following images capture moments from that historic conference.
Workshop at Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan
In 2014, Professor Idrees Azad presented an extensive study at a highly prestigious workshop attended exclusively by the Vice Chancellor of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan, along with leading professors of physics and philosophy. His presentation, titled “Phenomenology of Space and Time,” was a profound philosophical exploration that traced the evolution of thought on space and time — from the debates of ancient Greek philosophers to the modern scientific frameworks of Special and General Relativity.
The following images capture moments from that remarkable event.
Lecture at Alhamad University in Qatar
In 2022, Professor Idrees Azad delivered a lecture at Alhamad University in Qatar on the topic “Evidences of the Evolutionary Theory.” The session explored scientific foundations and philosophical implications of evolutionary biology in an engaging and accessible manner.
The following images capture moments from that event.
Online Lecture at Pak High Commission, New Zealand
"Wings of the Soul” is a unique session hosted by Charity NZ
At Muslim Institutes Events
Photos from international confrenecess
At KPK Judicial Academy, Peshawar
Biography
Idrees Azad is a scholar of the Philosophy of Science and Iqbal Studies. Born into a family of religious scholars and leaders, he showed an unusually inquisitive nature from an early age. During his teenage years, his bold and probing questions about existence and reality often challenged conventional thinking and drew strong reactions from his elders.
He received education from both worlds — the traditional religious institutions and the modern scientific system — giving him a rare ability to bridge faith and reason, science and philosophy.
Idrees Azad began his professional journey as a science teacher and simultaneously ventured into the world of creative expression as a poet and fiction writer. His literary works are characterized by debate, and the dialectical method, often revolving around the fundamental questions of existence, reality, and consciousness.
Some of his notable works include:
His fiction is even well known than his philosophical works. He wrote short stories, historical fiction, scicene fiction and social short stories.
He also publishes a journal named “Ab’aad (The Dimensions)” on philosophy, logic, science and iqbal studies in Urdu.
He is 57 years old and a senior university lecturer with extensive experience in the field of philosophy of science. He has served for 14 years at the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), and for 8 years at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Sukkur.
Throughout his professional career, he has been devoted to teaching, lecturing, and actively participating in major contemporary academic debates, particularly those related to the philosophy of science and Iqbal Studies.
As a scholar of Iqbal Studies, he is widely recognized for his deep understanding of The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam. His insightful lectures on Iqbal’s philosophy have gained international acclaim and are available across various online platforms.
His collaboration with the International Iqbal Society (IIS) has also been highly significant. On the IIS platform, he has delivered multiple lectures on Iqbal’s profound and heart-touching themes such as Time and Space and The Self (Khudi).