All India Muslim Personal Law Board President Maulana Syed Rabey Hasani Nadwi drew the attention of Muslims towards making the best possible use of media in making the world a better place to live in.
“The day when Muslims will hold command over media will definitely be a better day not only for Muslims but for the rest of the world,” the AIMPLB president said while delivering his keynote address in a conference on “Towards a Better World: The Role of Muslims” organised by Urdu monthly Afkar-e-Milli to mark its completion of 20 years, at India Islamic Cultural Centre in the Capital on June 10.
Speaking from the presidential chair, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Ameer Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri shared the view expressed by Maulana Rabey Nadvi.
“Those who hold command over media today make a mountain out of a mole hill. Unless we leave an impact on media, we cannot influence the society,” he said.
The day-long conference was inaugurated by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan, who underscored the need for a healthy and civilized society for a peaceful life.
“Muslims have to play their role in the establishment of a healthy society, otherwise the next generations will not forgive us,” he said.
“Sixty years have passed since we got independence but the social life of Muslims from educational and economic points of view has not improved to the extent it should have been by now,” rued Mr. Khan.
“Now when Muslims are being projected as terrorists all over the world, it is the duty of Muslims to make collective and concerted efforts to devise a strategy, and by acting upon which it can be proved that Muslims can be messengers of peace for the entire humanity but can never be terrorists. We will have to act to change the present scenario, and this we can do only when we play a distinguished role in the fields of education and technology,” he stressed.
Speaking on “Negative Attitude of Media against Islam and Muslims,” Editor Milli Gazette Dr. Zafrul Islam Khan refuted the general feeling that the mainstream media discriminates against Islam and Muslims.
“The fact is that Muslims do not know the art of presenting their case before the media,” he said.
Editor Afkar-e-Milli Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas threw light on the achievements of his magazine during the past 20 years.
Other speakers included Hujjatul Islam Allama Syed Zeeshan Hidayati, Safinatul Hidaya director Allama Syed Aaqil Al Gharavi and renowned Islamic economist Professor M. Nejatullah Siddiqui.