In a public address attended by hundreds of people from all over the city, renowned social activist, Mr. Nadeem Khan related the sordid tales of mob lynching witnessed in the past couple of years and spoke of the lamentable role played by the administration, the media and the Muslim community in responding to these cases, which he averred were politically motivated to subjugate and suppress those Indians who do not subscribe to the majority community’s religion and culture. The solution, said he, lies in a two-pronged approach of positive Dawah and reactionary legal aid.
This public address was part of a symposium on socio-religious issues that was going on since afternoon at Saki Naka’s Bilal Jama Masjid. The symposium began with a discourse of the Qur’an in which Rashid Khan drew a parallel between our country’s present political situation and the Coptic Nationalist Revolution that had swept Egypt after Prophet Joseph, enslaving the Muslims of that time.
This was followed by a paper presentation on the community’s proposed strategy in the current situation on the political, social and economic fronts. They were presented by Dr. Salim Khan, Siddiq Qureshi and Dr. Shariq Nisar respectively.
Muazzam Naik explained the difference between ritualistic religiosity and actual religiosity from an article written by Mr. Javed Ahmad.
Speaking on our role in a cosmopolitan society, Mr. Muhammad Siraj asked the audience to extend a helping hand to fellow countrymen, irrespective of their religious identities. He suggested ways and means to do the same – like helping patients and neighbours with their paperwork and other mundane tasks.
Just before the public address, Zafar Ansari narrated the inspiring life of Saeed bin alMusayyib, and the programme concluded with the parting words of Haseeb Bhatkar, City President of JIH Mumbai, in which he called upon all Indians to remain resolute in these trying times and strive with all their might against every form of injustice.