The Ittehad-e-Millat Conference also calls for better relations with non-Muslims in the country
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — Prominent Muslim leaders on Sunday gathered at Jamia Nagar in Delhi for a conference on Muslim unity and adopted a resolution which urges Muslims “to adopt all the ways for striving Muslim unity and abstain from such conversations which hurt the adherents of any sect and school of thought”.
The Ittehad-e-Millat or Muslim Unity Conference was addressed by prominent leaders – Maulana Rabe Husaini Nadwi, President, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB); Arshad Madani and Mahmood Madani, Presidents of their respective factions of Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind; Sayyid Saadatullah Husaini, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind; Navaid Hamid, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat; and others.
Talking to Clarion India about the little-publicised conference, Hamid, the Mushawarat president, said the main focus of the meeting was to narrow down the differences between different sects and schools of thought.
“Sectarian differences are the biggest hurdle in the way of unity within the community. A course of action has been chalked out for achieving it. One of the plans among many is to engage in conversation with people on this at state level and to campaign for it,” said Hamid.
He also said that there was no talk on political issues in the meeting. Another meeting will soon be held to discuss other issues.
A committee consisting of 22 members from different sects and schools of thought was formed. This committee will hold a ‘Wahdat-e-Millat Conference’ (Muslim Unity Conference) every year and prepare people from different institutions for this goal so that Muslim unity is achieved.
Apart from focusing on unity, the resolution says that Muslims should develop better relations with non-Muslims in the country. The attention of Muslim students should be drawn to the knowledge which benefit the community. The oppressed should be helped and Muslims should play their role in the development of the country.
The resolution also says that Muslims should protect their lives and properties and courageously fight against anti-social elements according to the laws of the land.
Dr. Mohammed Manzoor Alam, general secretary of All India Milli Council, is believed to be the main organizer of the conference. He said he had been making efforts to hold this meeting for a long time. His son Mohammed Alam and Ajmal Farooq Nadwi toured across the country and met all leading personalities. They welcomed the idea of meeting and emphasized the need for it.
He said that there were four fundamental goals behind the meeting. First, appreciation. It is necessary to appreciate people who are working in any area; second, coordination among those who are working in any field as they are assets for the community; third, cooperation. Those who are active in any field should be helped; and fourth, collaboration between different people.
Addressing the meeting online, Maulana Rabay Hussaini Nadwi said that it is the need of the hour that all kinds of people should sit together to solve the issues of the community. Whatever hurdles come in the way of Muslim unity should be removed and Islamic scholars should be come at one platform.
Maulana Khaleelurrahman Sajjad Noumani, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Professor Akhtarul Wasey, Maulana Asghar Imam Mahdi Salfi were also among the religious leaders addressed the conference.
