University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

This research article provides a detailed analysis of the punishments for alcohol consumption, adultery, and slander (Qazf) during the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and examines them in a comparative framework with the interpretations and ijtihad of contemporary Islamic jurists. During the period of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the limits prescribed by Shariah were not only clear and strict but were also intended to ensure social discipline, moral training, judicial transparency, and the protection of human dignity. The prohibition of alcohol, the punishments for adultery, and the strict evidentiary requirements in cases of slander formed the foundation of judicial and social policies of that era. Their enforcement promoted fear of God, justice, and moral upbringing in society.The study also highlights that contemporary jurists, while preserving the spirit of classical limits, have provided ijtihadi interpretations suitable for addressing complex social, legal, and ethical issues of the present era. Modern scholars suggest that in the implementation of punishments for alcohol, adultery, and slander, flexibility, consideration of social conditions, and respect for human rights should be taken into account. In this way, Islamic limits can be harmonized with contemporary judicial systems, international laws, and human rights standards, ensuring justice, morality, and peace in society.The comparative analysis of classical policies and contemporary jurisprudence indicates that while the principled stability of Islamic law is maintained, practical implementation is possible through ijtihad. This review also shows that Shariah is not merely a legal code but a practical and flexible system that promotes social balance, moral development, and judicial justice. Furthermore, ijtihadi interpretations have the capacity to implement Islamic limits effectively, ethically, and practically in accordance with contemporary global challenges, international laws, and social circumstances.This study critically examines historical and contemporary jurisprudential sources, including Hadith, Quranic verses, classical fatwas, and modern fiqh literature, providing an academic foundation for understanding how the limits on alcohol, adultery, and slander in Islamic law remain effective in promoting social justice, judicial transparency, and ethical conduct across eras.

This study aimed to evaluate the behavioral and biochemical effects of synthesized flavonols (1-10) as potential nootropic, antidepressant, and antistress agents. Behavioral assessments were conducted using animal models to evaluate memory impairment, depression, and stress responses. The cognitive effects of flavonols were analyzed using spontaneous alternation, discrimination ratio, and step-down latency tests, while antidepressant activity was determined through forced swim (FST) and tail suspension (TST) tests. All synthesized flavonols (1-10) significantly improved spontaneous alternation and discrimination ratios and increased step-down latency compared to the amnesic group. These compounds also markedly reduced immobility time in both FST and TST, indicating strong antidepressant-like effects. Biochemical analyses supported these behavioral outcomes by revealing enhanced cholinergic activity and reduced oxidative stress. Molecular docking studies against acetylcholinesterase (PDB IDs: 4EY7 & 6O4W) showed strong binding affinities, particularly for flavonol derivatives, through key hydrogen-bonding and π-π interactions. Flavonols (1-10) demonstrated significant behavioral, biochemical, and computational evidence of neuroprotection, suggesting their therapeutic potential in managing cognitive dysfunction, depression, and stress-related disorders.

Background: The mountain communities of the Pakistani Himalayas possess rich ethnobotanical traditions centered around high-value medicinal plants such as Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don, Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo, Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle, and Podophyllum hexandrum Royle. These species play vital roles in local health care, livelihoods, and cultural identity. Despite this significance, systematic documentation is limited, posing risks to both traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and biodiversity conservation. Methods: From May 2024 to June 2025, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted across 24 mountain villages in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Neelum, Leepa, and Hattian) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Kaghan, Siran, and Galliat), at altitudes of 2,000–3,300 m. Using purposive and snowball sampling, A total of 120 respondents were engaged, including 98 household respondents and 22 key informants (10 forestry officers and 12 herbal traders) interviews were completed. Field observations and gender-segregated focus groups provided complementary insights into plant use, harvesting practices, and trade. Voucher specimens were authenticated at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History. Data were analyzed thematically for TEK, gender, and governance dynamics, alongside quantitative summaries of market dependence. Results: Community governance structures revealed extensive reliance on TEK for species identification, collection timing, and sustainable use. However, weak institutional enforcement and rising market demand threaten traditional management systems. Conclusions: Integrating indigenous knowledge and women’s participation into formal conservation and livelihood policies is essential for safeguarding both cultural resilience and Himalayan biodiversity. Keywords: Ethnobotany; Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK); Trillium govanianum; Dactylorhiza hatagirea; Aconitum heterophyllum; Podophyllum hexandrum; Gender roles; Community governance; Biocultural conservation; Pakistani Himalayas

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of bacterial isolates from sheep and goats in Hyderabad and Tandojam, Pakistan. A total of 100 samples (nasal swabs, fecal matter, wound exudates, and milk) were collected from clinically healthy and diseased small ruminants. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed using morphological, cultural, and biochemical methods. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method against 11 commonly used antibiotics. Results revealed an overall bacterial prevalence of 42%. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli (48%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (45%), Bacillus cereus (32%), Streptococcus pyogenes (30%), Pasteurella multocida (28%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25%), and Micrococcus luteus (18%). High antimicrobial resistance was observed against ampicillin, enrofloxacin, and ofloxacin among most isolates, whereas gentamicin and tetracycline remained largely effective. The findings highlight the significant presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in small ruminants, posing potential zoonotic risks and emphasizing the need for prudent antimicrobial use in veterinary practice in the region.

ABSTRACT Despite sub‐Saharan Africa's vast endowment of energy resources, more than half of the region's population remains without access to electricity, positioning energy poverty as a persistent constraint on sustainable socioeconomic development. Consequently, a growing body of empirical literature has examined the socioeconomic consequences of energy poverty; however, its spatial transmission mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. Therefore, this study investigates the spatial spillover effects of energy poverty on key socioeconomic outcomes, with particular emphasis on health, education, and labor market performance. The analysis employs three spatial panel regressions: the spatial Durbin model, the spatial autoregressive model, and the spatial error model, using data from 25 sub‐Saharan African countries over the period 2000–2021. The results reveal that the spillover effects of energy poverty are more pronounced than the direct effects. The spatial Durbin model results indicate that the total effect of a one‐unit reduction in urban energy poverty is associated with an increase of 0.17 units in life expectancy and a decrease of 0.79 units in infant mortality rates. Furthermore, energy poverty is found to be a significant impediment to educational attainment and labor market development. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for geographical proximity and the equitable distribution of energy infrastructure when designing policies aimed at alleviating energy poverty in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Educational institution more and more give to emphasized teacher collaboration to improve school effectiveness. This study investigated how teacher collaboration and leaders conduct relate to one another at the secondary level in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir the research was supported by theory of planned behavior which \illuminated how individuals intentions were shaped by attitudes and perception. A descriptive quantitative research design was adopted. Data was collected from 174 randomly selected female secondary school teachers across 57 school using a likert scales questionnaire developed by the researcher. The instruments measured teacher perceptions of their principal leadership behavior and the extent of teacher collaboration. Data was analyzed through SPSS using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Conclusion revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between leader’s behavior and teacher collaboration however demographics variables such as age academic qualification and teaching experiences did not show a significant impact on collaboration levels the study confirmed that supportive and participative leadership positively contributed to a collaborative school culture. These finding added to the existing body of literature by highlighting the importance of principal behavior in fostering teacher collaboration the study recommended leadership developments programs that promoted collaborative environments to improve institutional performance and teacher relationship. Future studies were recommended to investigate the long term effects of leadership conduct on student’s efficacy.

Religiosity has been conceptualized as a meaning system that shapes emotional experience and moral orientation. However, its differential associations with compassion and self-compassion remain theoretically unclear. The present study examined whether religiosity predicts compassion, self-compassion, and emotional regulation among Pakistani university students (N = 200). Participants completed measures of mature religiosity, compassion, self-compassion, and emotional regulation. Religiosity was positively associated with emotional regulation (r = .36, p < .01) and compassion (r = .15, p < .05), but was not significantly related to self-compassion. Regression analyses indicated that religiosity predicted emotional regulation and compassion; however, its unique contribution to compassion diminished when emotional regulation and self-compassion were entered simultaneously. Emotional regulation and self-compassion emerged as stronger predictors of compassion in the multiple regression model. These findings suggest that religiosity may promote outward-directed compassion primarily through regulatory processes, while not necessarily fostering self-directed kindness. The results highlight an important distinction between interpersonal and intrapersonal dimensions of compassion within religious meaning systems.

Auditory-driven analgesia through music exposure is emerging as a biologically measurable modulator of pain memory rather than a distraction-based coping tool alone. Latest 2025 neurochemical mapping shows that structured music stimuli activate mesolimbic dopamine release, reduce amygdalar pain-trace reconsolidation, and gate nucleus accumbens–periaqueductal gray pain-memory coupling. These effects reshape nociceptive recall strength without pharmacologic replacement, supporting early auditory therapy integration alongside standard analgesic frameworks.