By Mohd Faisal Fareed, TwoCirles.net,
Lucknow: A 20-member delegation of representatives from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, led by Sayyed Jawwad Shahristani, permanent nominee from Ayatullah Uzma Shahristani, the religious head of Najaf in Iraq, was on one-day visit to Lucknow on Saturday.
Clerics in Lucknow took the delegation to a round of various madarsas, religious shrines and other centres of social work in Lucknow. Duing one such interaction with pupils of Sultanul Madaris, the delegation praised the institutions. “Lucknow’s madarsas are doing great work but there is still score for improvement. We (West Asian countries) will offer all help to these madarsas for developing them as centres for excellence,” said Shahristani.
The delegation also interacted with the students and teachers of the institutions and took stock of the work being done. The delegation also included some representatives from England. The delegation, which will leave for Jammu and Kashmir shortly, has already visited Mumbai and Hyderabad.
The tour of the old city started with the delegation being taken to Sultanul Madaris by the Vice-President (V-P), All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, which was followed by their visit to Nazmia madarsa and Hussaini Syed Taqi Madarsa. Maulana Sadiq urged promotion of constant exchange programme among the madarsas. “It is heartening that a team has paid a visit. We will form a core team here which will be in constant touch with them for promoting exchange programmes,” said Sadiq.
The delegation was also taken around Alamnagar Colony set up by Maulana Kalbe Jawwad housing Muslims mostly Shias in Lucknow. The colony boasts of a free residential centre for widows beside free houses provided to the poor from the community. A felicitation function was also held at Dargah Hazrat Abbas where locals joined in good numbers.