By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Lucknow (UP) : With an aim to bridge the Sunni-Shia gap in the country, this Eid-al-Adha, devout from both the sects are set to offer Eid prayers together at the congregation at Imambara Sibtainbad Lawns, Hazratganj, Lucknow here on Friday.
The initiative is being organized under the banner ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’, whose idea was conceived at Jamia Nagar by some alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia, last Ramadan. They organised a similar Eid prayer at the Jamia Mosque for Eid;-al-Fitr two months back.
The event has garnered huge support from all the Muslims quarters of India and abroad. Everyone from Grand Ayatollah Al-Sayyid Ali-Sistani to All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat has extended its support to the event.
The extraordinary event to be held at the Imambara Sibtainbad Lawns, Hazratganj, Lucknow is being organized in the back drop of growing hostility between the two sects in West Asia.
“This initiative is a part of our movement which intends to bridge the gaps between two sects of Muslims in the back drop of growing hostility in west Asia. So our group of friends had conceived this idea to organize joint Eid prayers, in which Muslims from both Sunni and Shia sect will participate,” Asad Haider, one of the organisers told TwoCircles.net.
The group had organized the joint prayers in Jamia Nagar, Delhi two months back on eve of Eid ul Fitar which was marked by presence of 10,000 devout from Shia and Sunni sects who offered Eid prayers together – for the first time. The prayers will be lead by an Ahle Sunnat Imaam.
“Our joint prayer initiative in Jamia Nagar was a huge success after which we were continuously receiving messages from sunnis and shias and even from our Non Muslim brothers across India who appreciated our cause and asked for similar joint prayers event in their cities. This time the Lucknow event is being coordinated by our friend who is a Jamia millia Alumni and prayers will be lead by an Ahle Sunnat Imaam,” Asad told TCN.
The group intends to make Shia-Sunni joint prayer a permanent feature in every city in the coming months.
“We plan to take this forward and make Shia-Sunni joint prayer a permanent feature in every city. We are also looking to take initiative in other spheres. From namaz to other humanitarian gestures, we will bridge the gap between the two sects until both the sects are shoulder to shoulder,” another Organizer, Mazin Khan, told TwoCircles.net.
The prayers will be held on Friday, September 25, at Imambara Sibtainbad Lawns, Hazratganj, Lucknow here at 8:00 am.