Prominent Shia scholar Maulana Kalbe Sadiq floated the proposal that Shias and Sunnis should offer prayers together. On May 30, a delegation of 25 Sunni Muslims took up the offer and prayed along with Shias at the Asifi mosque at Bada Imambara in Lucknow. The delegation was led by Kalilmullaha Khan, an influential mango orchard owner in Malihabad. The prayers were led by Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, nephew of Maulana Sadiq.
Maulana Khalid Rashid, Naib Imam of the Eidgah at Aishbagh, said, “This is a good move. I believe offering prayers together will make the two communities friends. Forces that thrive on the bad blood between the two sects will be deterred if they see prominent scholars and ulema praying together.”
Maulana Abul Irfan Mohammed Naimul Halim Firangi Mahli also had positive words for the proposal. He said, “When members of both these communities offer prayers together at the Harmain Sharif in Ka’aba, what is the harm in being together here?”
“We differ on several issues, but Allah, the Prophet and the Qur’an are one for both communities. Our concerns spring from different interpretations and understanding of the divine message,” he added.