By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Delighted with the meeting and appreciation of Sufi way of life by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly address to the nation, All India Ulama & Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) has offered expressed gratitude for such special mention.
The board has sent a letter on Sunday to Modi thanking him for giving an audience to the members of board and listening them patiently on Muslim issues. It has also thanked Modi for describing the meeting dated August 27 in his “Man Ki Baat” program on August 30.
Addressing the nation on Sunday Modi applauded Sufi culture and expressed hope that people from all religions will understand it.
“Few days back I had an opportunity of meeting a Sufi saints and scholars. I tell you honestly that the experience with which they spoke, the way they spoke, it was like music to the ears”, Modi said in a Radio program on Sunday morning.
Modi had met a delegation of 40 Sufi saints and scholars on Thursday and said the ideology propounded by Sufi saints was integral to Indian ethos but forces of extremism are trying to weaken it.
The approval of Sufi culture by Modi has earned him favor of Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kichhowchhawi, President & Founder of AIUMB, an organization of Barelwi Muslims, that wrote to Mr. Modi saying that delegates and board members were thankful to the government because it has demonstrated sincerity in hearing the problems of Indian Muslims including “state of Muslim representation in Muslim bodies and Government bodies requiring Muslim representation, use of Waqf properties against the will of endower, steps to control growth of extreme forces and the contribution of Sufi culture in promoting and protecting composite culture of the country.”
Hazrat Kichchawchvi said in this letter that it is a matter of satisfaction that Modi was well aware of Sufi Tradition and its contribution in maintaining peace and harmony in the society.
The delegation got the impression that “the government is ready and willing to take up all the Muslim issues and making this section of the society a partner in development and its benefits.”
Thanking Modi for helping nation know about Sufism and the distinctive attributes of its followers the letter reads,“Your description of the touch of generosity, softness in the voices and approach of delegation members, commands more words of thanks.”
Full copy of the letter is attached here (pdf link) with.
Members of the delegation that met the Prime Minister described their reaction of the meeting:
Hazrat Syed Mohammed Ashraf Kichhowchhawi said the meeting was successful. He said the real changes can be brought in the society only by interacting and seeking intervention of the top level administrators and authority of the country. He mentioned that he was happy that delegates told him separately that they were glad that The Prime Minister was taking keen interest in the demands presented and was personally taking notes. This shows his seriousness towards making real changes. He said the interaction with the Prime Minister was very Positive and friendly. He later said that Sufism is an international phenomenon. It has a following of millions across the world. And India can relate to this International appeal very well As India has rich Sufi background. He appreciated the Prime Minister’s comment that Globally where Sufism is strong ,Peace is strong and where Sufism is weak, terrorism is strong . Prime Minister rightly said that Wherever Sufism is Strong Terrorism could never place foot. Also mentioning Kashmir in his remarks he said When Sufism went weak there Terrorism got strong. And this statement from the Honourable PM was very appreciated by the AIUMB Sufi delegated from across the Nation.
Hazrat Syed Mehdi Miyan Chishty (Ajmer Sharif) said after the meeting that it was beyond comprehension. PM demonstrated courtesy and has extended to the Sufi delegates a sense of being recognized through their philosophy of Unconditional Love and Loving the Country unconditionally. Hazrat Mehdi Miyan Chishty said Shri Narendra Modi was admirably receptive to the Sufi individuals and their ideas. Honourable PM had a considerable understanding of the Sufi Philosophy and he was very comfortable and home to the idea of Sufi Islam and its relevance in today’s India.
Hazrat Syed Jalaluddin Ashraf (Makhdoom Ashraf Mission) said we must thank PM Shri Narendra Modi for the patience he demonstrated while listening to the representatives of Indian Sufi Muslims putting forward their ideas, thoughts and suggestions.
He said this meeting was successful beyond our imagination. PM Shri Narendra Modi endorsed our well established belief that Sufism has contributed to pluralistic culture of India.
Hazrat Shah Ammar Ahmad Ahmadi (Sajjadah Nashin Dargah Makhdoom Abdul Haq Rudauli) said that PM Shri Narendra Modi knew that hardliners can be controlled through propagation of the Sufi Culture in India, as the case is everywhere around the globe.
Syed Salman Chishty (Chishty Foundation) said his insistence on promoting Sufi literature and Sufi music across India is remarkable. As well as sharing the Sufi heritage of India with the world on priority basis is needed to lead the world towards Peace and Unconditional Love for all. He was of the view that the delegation was well received by Honourable PM Narendra Modi sahib and PM was kind enough to listen and learn about the problems on Indian Muslims. We greatly appreciate His keenness of taking notes of connecting leading Sufi cities of India like Ajmer Sharif and Kichchawcha Sharif to Konya in Turkey and Philadelphia in USA.
Hazrat Syed Ahmad Nizami(Sajjadah Nashin Nizamuddin Aulia) said Hope has come to remove despair because Shri Narendra Modi took interest in the problems and also responded well. Hazrat mentioned that the President of AIUMB Hazrat Maulana Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kichchawchchvi must regularly meet Honourable PM Shri Narendra Modi and His official representatives to express our gratitude towards his statement about “The ideology propounded by Sufi saints is integral to Indian ethos but forces of extremism are trying to weaken it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi heard the Sufi scholars with patience who asked him to work for development irrespective of caste, community or religion. Hazrat Nizami said that this truth was never earlier accepted by any Prime Minister of India. We expect to have a regular correspondence with the PMO through the office of AIUMB.
Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmed Musliar (Kerala) said that PM Shri Narendra Modi knew the truth and that is why he clearly said. “The ideology propounded by Sufi saints is integral to Indian ethos but forces of extremism are trying to weaken it,” and this assertion vindicates the much publicized stand and voice of AIUMB.
Mr Nisar Ahmad (Ex President ICSI) was happy from the meeting. He said that as he spoke to the Prime Minister about the importance of educational reforms for the Indian Muslim and also emphasized on Skill development programs for Indian Muslims, he was amazed by the thoughts and vision of Honourable PM Modi.
Honourable Prime Minister gave a lot of Insight on the great Craftsmanship skills Indian Muslim always had. PM said we can use this inbuilt skill to better use by harnessing this talent to make India prosperous nation. He said government will take initiative to make this a reality and government is already launched many policies, schemes and will work on more.
Hazrat M.K. Chishty (Gujarat) said that now our self discovered and practiced mission has at least one backer that is Prime minister of India because in course of discussion, Shri Narendra Modi was candid that we will have to counter such extreme forces through various avenues including on social media, so that the ideology of extremism does not take root in India.
Khawaja Farooq Renzushah from Kashmir said that Prime Minister has rightly diagnosed that tradition of Sufism has kept evil at bay, wherever it has continued to flourish. He was also appreciative of the statement of PM in which Shri Narendra Modi exhorted the Muslim community in India to take maximum advantage of the skill development schemes and programs being initiated by the Union Government. Khawaja Renzu Shah said that the best thing is that Prime Minster was kind and wanted to see Indian Muslims coming up to take part in nation building process and also reap benefits from Government schemes.
Mohammed Salim Ashrafi: Chhattisgarh said the he was very happy to hear from the Honourable PM about the reformations and transformation of the Waqf Board across India giving priority representation to the majority Sunni Sufi Muslims.
Ajmal Nizami ( New Delhi ): underlined the importance of involving youths in nation building activities as the Honourable PM have rightly mentioned that 65% of Indian population in under the age of 35 years and there immense opportunities and possibilities to utilize this huge youth talent pool for state and nation building activities.