By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: In its consistent effort for peace and communal harmony, World Institute of Islamic Studies for Dialogue, Organisation of Mediation and Gender Justice (WISDOM Foundation), released a book “Winning The Peace: A Quest” earlier this week at Press Club in Mumbai.
After Art for Peace and Cricket for Peace events, Dr. Zeenat Shaukat Ali, a professor of Islamic Studies in Mumbai’s prestigious St Xaviers’ College has compiled and edited essays and articles by Ulema and Imams of mosques in Mumbai on the topic of Islam and Terrorism.
L to R: Dr.Asghar Ali Engineer, Mahesh Bhatt, Zeenat S Ali, Prof.Ram Puniyani, Maulana Mustaqeem Azmi
Ulema put together their thoughts on the human family in Islam and the Prophet’s legacy of conflict resolution and co-existence of diverse peoples in Urdu language. A few selected essays were awarded and Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer translated these pieces into English. Besides these pieces, to make the book more comprehensive Dr. Zeenat requested eminent scholars of Islam Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan and Rev Dr Hans Ucko, scholar, peacemaker and former member of the World Council of Churches. Their articles were also included in the book.
Division between Muslims and others especially after 9/11 in the USA and Gujarat riots of 2002 in India, motivated Gandhian Dr. Zeenat Shaukat Ali to come up with this book. She praised the Ulema for their hard work and said, “the essays which have been included in the book proliferate anti-terror ideology whereas Ulema have discussed Terrorism and Islam.”
L to R: Mahesh Bhatt, Zeenat Shaukat Ali, Prof.Ram Puniyani
Mahesh Bhatt, a noted film maker, reiterated his point that there is a consistent effort to create Islamophobia. He said, “on the contrary Islam prohibits terrorism.”
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer slammed America for its divisive policies but also condemned the Leaders of the Muslim world. He asked, “Which Muslim leader has dared to question America on its terror policies?”
Dr. Ram Puniyani, Maulana Mustaqeem Ahsan Azmi, and Maulana Shoeb Koti also spoke on the occasion of book launch.