By V.A.Mohamad Ashrof
Muslims form about 26% of the Kerala population and comes over 8 million in number. Internal schism is the major problem confronting Kerala Muslims. Each and every Muslim religious organization are competing each other on trivial issues. The anti-Muslim forces are brilliantly utilizing this opportunity to vilify and demonize Muslim community and Islam per se. The latest of the anti-Muslim campaign is Love-Jihad. With mere figment of imagination pro-fascistic media with the connivance of the police department fabricated ‘evidence’ for Love Jihad and created wide Islamophobia.
Forum for Intellectual Dialogue, a new venture intended for intra-faith and interfaith dialogues conducted its first official programme of intra-faith dialogue on 10 January 2010 at 9.30 am to 4.30 am at Kerala Waqf Board Auditorium, Kochi.
The meeting highlighted initially, the concept of Islamic unity as described by the Qur’an. Secondly, Islamic unity in history; thirdly, the significance of unity in protecting identity, confronting challenges and unifying religious edicts. It will also underline the responsibilities of governments, scholars and Islamic organizations in fostering unity. Fourthly, the obstacles facing Islamic unity and ways to overcome them. Fifthly, practical programs to achieve unity. As Allah declared, “The believers are but a single brotherhood. Make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers and fear God so that you may receive mercy Qur’an.” (49:10)
As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, you have no part in them in the least: their affair is with God. He will in the end, tell them the truth of all that they did Qur’an (6:159). All races are equal in Islam; black, white, yellow, red, or any combination of that. For the sake of Muslim unity all sects are acceptable and equal and we should learn to tolerate each other, different sects are just different flavors of the same principle.
Justice K.A. Abdul Gafoor presided over the meeting.
Prof. K. M. Bahauddin (former Vice-chancellor of Aligarh University) inaugurated the function. He said that within Congress and within administration there are elements that have been communalized.
Jb. Abdusssalm Faisi, Mekkalady (leader of SYS) presented a paper on Theological Roots of Environmental Ethics in Islam.
K. A. Abdul Haseeb Madani (former ISM vice-president) presented a paper on Contemporary Environmental Problems and Ways to Overcome Them. He argued that, Tawhid is the fundamental statement of the oneness of the Creator, from which everything else follows. It is the primordial testimony to the unity of all creation and to the interdependence of the natural order of which humanity is an intrinsic part.
Jb. K.F. Mohammed Aslam Moulawi (president of DKMYF) made a speech on Historical Roots of Islamophobia
Jb. K T. Hussain (executive committee member of Solidarity) made a presentation on Remedial Measures against Islamophobia.
Prof. Omanoor Mohammed (leader of Sunni and former principal of MAMO College, Malappuram) presented Theological Basis of Pluralism
Advocate P.K. Habiburahman (State treasurer of ISM group) presented Ideal Muslim Life in a Plural Society: An Indian Perspective. India’s pluralism and its ability to “draw the circle wide enough to be inclusive” have greatly contributed to stability and development, Habiburahman said. The unprecedented anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002 with which the Gujarat state government openly connived, and the subsequent total loss of recourse to justice for the Muslim victims of the carnage shook me to my bones.
Justice P.K.Shamsudheen presented the communiqué of the conference. It pleaded the various community organizations to unite for goodness, virtue and righteousness.
There occurred detailed deliberation on each topic after their presentations.
Advocate P.K. Ibrahim made vote of thanks.
The final communiqué read as follows:
Most often difference of opinion, acts as a hindrance to Muslim unity. Anti-Islamic forces misuse it, at an optimum level, to spread the message that Muslims are all extremists and Islam per se, in terrorist in nature. This negative image against a community, which is intended to guide mankind towards righteousness, morality and liberation, would alter the moral balance of the earth and lead the mass into darkness. We, who are assembled here with the theme of “moving unitedly in righteousness” wants o declare our intention to move more closely, and intimates in virtue. We reiterate the Qur’anic dictates wherein says that Muslims shall hold fast to the rope of GOD, all of you, and do not be divided (3:103). We do recognize that we have difference of opinion among us and wish to maintain them. Keeping these differences, we intend to move unitedly, for issues of common interests. We declare to intensify this spirit of unity further in the coming future.
1. Justice K.A.Abdul Gafoor
2. Justice P.K.Shamsudheen
3. Prof. K.M.Bahauddin
4. K.T.Hussain
5. Prof.Omanoor Muhamed
6. Abdul Salam Faisy
7. K.A.Abdul Haseeb
& seventy others
V.A. Mohamad Ashrof is the executive committee member of Forum for Intellectual Dialogue, Vanchinad Residency, P.B # 4239, Kochi-682017. Email:[email protected]
Email of the organization is: [email protected] website: www.alharmony.com