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Thiruvananthapuram: Hundreds of thousands of Muslims
took the pledge against terrorism at the end of the marathon
prayers on Lailat Al-Qadr, the night of power, overnight Monday.
Believers started pouring into Swalath Nagar in Malappuram
district well before the breaking of fast at a mass iftar after
which the prayers began. The annual event was organized by Ma’dinu
Ssaquafathil Islamiyya, which runs a group of religious and
educational institutions.
“We, the servants of Allah and
followers of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), affirm in good faith that we
will strive for the virtue and well being of our family, friends,
teachers and the entire humanity. We will be in the forefront of
giving a helping hand to the poor and the oppressed,” worshippers
repeated the pledge administered by Sayyid Ibrahimul Khaleelul
Bukhari, chairman of Ma’din.
Apart from the main venue, people were accommodated in other 10
grounds, spread across 10 km on either sides of the highway. Of
these, five were reserved for women and all were linked with
closed-circuit TVs.
“We have assembled here upholding forbearance and abstention from
everything that Allah has forbidden, to rededicate ourselves in
the service of humanity and to lead a life afresh devoid of sins
and transgressions,” read the pledge The believers gathered from
far-flung places in India and abroad reaffirmed that usurping the
rights of fellow-beings is a grave offence to humanity and that
the Muslims would continue to honor the dignity of others.
The organizers said more than half million people had been
gathering at the venue for the past three years. The size of the
gathering is estimated by the number of food packets distributed
to the guests.
“And we praise God for blessing us with an Islamic life. Even when
we take pride in being a Muslim, we respect and honor all other
faiths and their followers. We will keep a continuous vigil
against forces that work to destroy the oneness of humanity,” the
pledge said.
It said the Muslims are duty-bound to protect India’s integrity,
wealth, values and legacy. “We once again reaffirm that we will
uphold and safeguard the integrity and unity of the country, and
will distance ourselves from all actions and moves that may
jeopardize the nation.”
Reiterating that terrorism, extremism, subversive attempts,
factionalism and discrimination on the basis of religion,
community, caste, politics and language are sure to destabilize
India they took the solemn oath to reach out to others with the
message of peace.
In his inaugural address, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar,
general secretary of the All India Jamiyyathul Ulema, said Islamic
scholars and leaders always upheld the message of harmonious
coexistence of different faiths in the country.
A.K. Abdul Hameed, Central Haj Committee member, welcomed the
gathering following which Sayed Ali Bafaqi Thangal led the initial
prayer. Sayed Abdurahman Bukhari Thangal, president of the
Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, presided over the congregation.
Sayed Mohammed Ba-Alavi, Quran scholar from Yemen, who led
Tharaveeh prayers earlier, was the chief guest.
The congregation stayed up throughout the night chanting prayers
for peace and salvation. It reached a crescendo as the gathering
said “there is no God but Allah” a thousand times in unison
anticipating that the night greater than a thousand nights in
sanctity and rewards from Allah falls on 27th night of Ramadan.
The mass prayers were telecast live by television channels while
special video-screening were held at centers in Chennai,
Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi in India and major cities in the
Middle East. Several people abroad joined the congregation
utilizing the online video streaming, live telecast and screening
facilities, making it truly global.
Ma’din started organizing the annual prayer meet with a view to
spreading peace and communal harmony in a small way 24 years back
and the number started swelling year after year.
(Courtesy: Arab
News)
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