A total of 20 individuals – 10 imams and 10 muezzins – will be selected through a transparent lottery system.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – In a show of communal harmony in the face of escalating tensions and accusations of sectarian divide in this city in Maharashtra, a Hindu organisation has decided to sponsor the Umrah pilgrimage of the city’s imams and muezzins.
At a recent press conference here, Bandu Kaka Bachhao, representing the Bara Balotra Mitra Mandal, passionately articulated the organisation’s unwavering commitment to fostering unity and inclusivity.
The initiative, meticulously crafted to promote Hindu-Muslim solidarity, stands as a testament to the mandal’s tireless attempts to serve society’s marginalised sections irrespective of religious affiliations. The organisation underscored the mandal’s illustrious history of humanitarian efforts, ranging from distributing water via tankers, facilitating police recruitment for underprivileged children, to extending aid to hundreds of impoverished individuals.
“We steadfastly believe in the transcendence of communal harmony beyond caste and creed,” declared Baba Bandu Kaka Bachhau, emphasising the mandal’s deeply ingrained ethos of collective welfare. He further elucidated, “In this noble endeavour, the officials of our organisation have obtained fatwas from scholars representing both Shia and Sunni schools of thought, alongside securing permission from revered scholars.”
The decision to facilitate the Umrah pilgrimage for Malegaon’s esteemed imams and muezzins underscores the mandal’s resolute commitment to fostering interfaith cooperation. A total of 20 individuals – 10 imams and 10 muezzins – will be selected through a transparent lottery system.
Addressing queries regarding eligibility, Shafiq Ahmad, a prominent social worker, reassured the community that only imams and muezzins devoid of prior Umrah blessings are eligible to apply.
The registration window will extend over a period of two months, with final selection slated post-Eid (in April). Individuals chosen to embark on this sacred journey will receive guidance from esteemed scholars, thereby exemplifying the unity and solidarity that pervades Malegaon’s vibrant tapestry of diversity.
The press conference bore witness to the esteemed presence of community luminaries, including Sabir Haji, Muzaffar Bhai, Jafar Mirza Jaber Shah, Shafiq Ahmad, Shakeel Fireman, and Pandu Seth, collectively reaffirming unwavering support for the mandal’s noble initiative.
In an era marred by discord and division, the Bara Balotra Mitra Mandal’s visionary initiative serves as a radiant beacon of compassion and unity, rekindling faith in the transformative potency of collective action to surmount societal adversities.
