By Shafee Ahmed Ko,
Chennai: The Friday sermon spoken in a mosque in Chennai on July 6, 2012, sparked commotion on next Juma Prayer on Friday July 13. What remained as a provocative speech felt by certain sections of Muslims, it resulted in ruckus and tumult with each party clashing with one another on the arterial hub of Chennai, Anna Salai on Friday 13 after the Juma prayer.
The Chief Imam Shamsuddin Qasmi of Makka Masjid, Anna Salai, spoke against what he considered as interpolated dogma on Islam. The Imam went in length against the practice of innovations that were alien to Islam such as Dargah worship, hero worship which is widely pervasive in Kerala, the Imam observed. He further said that preaching talismanic powers and such customs are now peeping and have footing in Tamil Nadu. He cautioned devotees to be wary of such menace. He extolled Islam’s positive approach and rationality, Islam as a way of life that stands opposed to the mystery cults and a religion against mysterious dogmas, whose acceptance is generally claimed on the basis of blind faith. He said some mystics are feigning as virtuous and holy persons, are popular in Kerala, and few such people are practicing the cult and their followers are existing in Tamil Nadu also, and they are kissing the hands of pseudo saints, throwing themselves to their legs as “Peers, and Walis”, said the Imam.
Thus his speech resulted in squabble and a bitter clash by a section of Muslims.
The Chief Imam Shamsuddin Qasmi of Makka Masjid, however, has vowed that he will conduct the Friday Sermon on 20 July 2012 throwing light on the same subject.