Naat Research Center International

Founded in 1995 in Pakistan as a Charitable Trust, the Naat Research Center (NRC) is a world-leading international institution committed to producing authentic classical and modern literature that promotes the Islamic tradition of literary Naat poetry. A unique organization, it has focused only on the Naat genre within Urdu poetry with a mission to collect, organize, explore, and promote Naat literature, also offering academic support and research opportunities to researchers and their mentors. Since its establishment in Karachi, it has made a significant impact on the literary Naat activity all over Pakistan and abroad. By 2012, NRC had expanded its activities across the world and established its presence in India and the United Kingdom.

A year later, he got his bearings to find out where he had reached and in what direction he would tread to reach the destination. In his editorial to the 21st issue of Naat Rang, he recollects what he did in 1995:

Naat was neglected in getting its literary status amongst other literary genres for the sole reason that no literary criticism was proposed or practised to carve it into real art. I terribly felt this deficiency of analytical insight and resultant critical evaluation of Naat in 1994 on the eve of annual Sira Conference organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. There I spoke my heart to all the distinguished poets who were there to attend the conference. They included Hafeez Taib, Dr Aasi Karnali, Hafiz Ludhyanwi, Muzaffar Warsi, Dr Aftab Ahmed Naqwi, Bashir Hussain Nazim and Syed Al Ahmed Rizvi. Then in 1995, I instituted Aqleem-e-Naat to bring out Naat Rang book serial. Aziz Ahsan, Rasheed Siddiqui and Anwer Hussain Siddiqui volunteered to stand with me. Its first issue was "Tanqeed (criticism) Number". Never in Urdu literature were presented such all-inclusive critical write-ups as Naat Rang first issue published. Its dawn spread light in the world of Urdu poetry, which was unprecedented. It illumined the paths of applying literary yardsticks in Urdu poetry. Total 21 issues have come out so far and the caravan that set out to promote Naat literature as pure literary genre has by now encompassed the entire Urdu world.

Aqleem-e-Naat had also to print reference books to develop a reservoir for research work by researchers in various universities. It took up this project and by 2002, it produced a handsome number of books that would prove helpful in research and critical assignments. Sabih Rehmani writes:

In 2002, the Aqleem-e-Naat was renamed as Naat Research Center to publish Naat Rang and literary books to promote criticism and research. One of its major objectives was to extend Naat identification and comprehension and its flow towards higher academic institutions and universities.

Naat Research Center has galloped to reach out to the sources and raise the library facilities in this regard. Work on indexes too was taken in hand to maintain the speed threatened in the absence of these books.

Sabih Rehmani then produced a list of books that the Center was able to publish so far. Branches of Naat Research Centers were also established in India and England (Leeds), with famous Naat poetess Samiya Naz in Leeds and Zubair Qadri in Nasak (India) to look after these facilities. The Naat Research Center India also started bringing out Naat Rang there as well. The Indian literary circles appreciated the 20th issue of the journal published there. In view of the increasing popularity of internet, four websites were also launched:

NRC organizes seminars, lectures, and certified courses in multiple languages to spread awareness of Naat. It also works with academic institutions to support students and researchers by offering guidance, recognition, and stipends, promoting Naat through media channels, including television and the internet, supporting the delivery of educational and informational lectures and certificate courses on the subject and field of Naat in multiple languages.

Along with its literary work, NRC also aims to promote interfaith understanding by using the themes of love and respect found in Naat to connect people from different backgrounds and beliefs.

• Promote the study and growth of classical and modern Islamic literature, especially the literary Naat genre.
• Publish academic content and multimedia material to raise awareness of Naat.
• Organize local and international events, lectures, and conferences to support research.
• Build partnerships between educational institutions in Pakistan and around the world.
• Provide scholarships and stipends for students involved in Naat research.
• Encourage interfaith dialogue, cultural unity, and inclusive education.
• Promoting Naat works in all forms.
• Providing assistance and guidance to students and awarding stipends and scholarships to qualifying students engaged in research of Naat.
• Publicizing critical and academic research undertaken on Naat anywhere in the world.
• Working with institutions to promote Naat in particular and education in general.
• Setting up and supporting the establishment of educational and research institutions for Naat with public and private organizations holding similar aims and objectives.