By TCN News,
New Delhi: In a welcome move, Muslim religious leaders, clerics and intellectuals have come out to keep the community and society from AIDS/HIV and curb the rising trend of discrimination and untouchability against those affected with the deadly disease. The initiative to bring them on a platform was taken by Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi.
Jamia Millia organized a high-level two-day conference of Muslim religious leaders and intellectuals on the issue in cooperation with NACO, UNICEF and UN-AID and some other organizations on December 20-21.
Najeeb Jung and S.Y. Quraishi in the centre while Prof. Akhtrul Wasey speaking
Inaugurating the conference at the campus of JMI, Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi called upon the distinguished gathering to jointly fight against the deadly disease.
“HIV/AIDS has now become an epidemic affecting all sections of the society; particularly youth, children and women are the most affected. It is seen more as a stigma than disease, which gives birth to discrimination and untouchability. We should jointly fight against the disease. Disease should be hated, not the patients,” said Quraishi. He further said: “Islamic teachings and Islamic way of life are the best vaccine against HIV.”
Prof Akhtarul Wasey, Director, Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, JMI, played key role for the conference. CEC Quraishi appreciated the efforts of Prof Wasey, saying that the campaign among Muslims against HIV was first launched under Prof Wasey’s leadership. “I am happy that today also this big conference of Muslim leaders is being held under his leadership.”
Presiding over the inaugural session of the conference, Dr Najeeb Jung, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, also condemned discrimination against HIV/AIDS affected people. “There was a time when people hated and discriminated against leprosy patients, which has now ended. Atmosphere will change against HIV/AIDS affected people also. I hope the movement launched under the leadership of Prof Wasey at Jamia Millia will reach other educational institutions.”
While welcoming the guests and participants Prof Wasey threw light on the history and present scenario of HIV/AIDS. “AIDS is a silent message of death. It is not only affecting individuals but disintegrating family and society also.”
He lauded the coming together of the Muslim religious leaders on the issue. “It is really encouraging that Muslim religious leaders and clerics are coming up to fight against it.” Referring to Islamic teachings he said: “The main source of HIV/AIDS can be blocked if one limits his/her sexual relationship with only spouse.”
“We are not against fear from AIDS, but our campaign is against the discrimination and untouchability against the affected people. We do not oppose precautionary measures in sex but these measures should only be for protection,” he added.
In his message, Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari appreciated the move and appealed to clerics and religious leaders to line up against the fatal disease and the discrimination caused by it.
In his speech Maulana Rafiq Qasmi, secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said if man fears God, threat of such diseases is minimized. Maulana Sultan Ahmed Islahi, Aligarh Muslim University, stressed that research on HIV should be expanded. “Uuntil cure is found, practicing on Islamic Sharia is the best way to keep safe from AIDS,” he said.
A number of religious leaders, and Islamic scholars attended the conference including Maulana Rafiq Qasmi, secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi, general secretary, Jamiat Ahle Hadees, Maulana Yaqoob, Imam of Masjid Khalilulah, Maulana Hannan Maulayee, secretary, Shaheed Mathari Society, Maulana Mumtaz Qasmi, Himachal Pradesh, Maulana Sajid Rashid, Maulana Abbas Raza, Mufti Nadirul Qasmi, Islamic Fiqh Academy, and Maulana Maqsoodul Hasan Qasmi, Imam Council of India.
Among academicians were Prof. Khalid Mahmood, Head of Urdu Department, Jamia Millia, Prof. Ishtiyaq Danish, Head of Faculty of Islamic Studies, Jamia Hamdard, Prof Razi Ahmed, Theology Department, JMI, Uzra Abidi of Muslim Women Forum and Prof. Hasina Hashia, Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.