The third gathering of the Telangana Muslim Consultative Council took place at the Media Plus Auditorium in Hyderabad on October 22.
Mr. Abdul Majeed Shoaib, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Telangana, outlined the objectives of Muslim Consultative Council of Telangana. He emphasized that the primary goal of this council is to arrive at unanimous decisions through discussion and consultation on matters encompassing religion, society, and economics within the Muslim community. It aims to take a unified stance on the challenges and formulate action plan.
The council serves as a forum for representatives from various schools of thought and ideological perspectives, contributing to the betterment of the nation. Importantly, this council does not have traditional positions such as a president or trustees; instead, different individuals are responsible for facilitating each session, a determination made at the outset. Mr. Niamatullah, State President of Jamiat Ahle Hadith, was nominated to oversee this particular meeting.
Maulana Khaleel Ahmed Nadvi, President of Samdani Educational Society, suggested that the council should work towards transforming mosques into centers of reform and education.
Maulana Hafiz Rafiq Nizami proposed that each month, mosques of all sects and schools of thought should deliver a Friday sermon on a common theme. The participants concurred with this proposal, and it was decided that the pivotal role of mosques in Islam and their significance should be a focal point.
Maulana Obaidur Rehman Athar Nadvi, Khateeb of Masjid Tin Posh, recommended the formation of a core committee comprising members from different Schools of Thought to propose and consult on the meeting’s agenda. This suggestion was accepted.Mr. Abdul Qadeer of Rashtriya Muslim Morcha proposed five persons for consideration in this committee.
Sufi Aqeel Sahib expressed his support for all decisions of the council, particularly one related to Friday sermons. He suggested that Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Engineer be entrusted with composing the sermon content and disseminating it to participants via messaging platforms. Sufi Aqeel’s proposal to convene the council meetings on the third Sunday each month was approved.
While some council members, including Salim Sahib of Muslim Declaration, advocated the council’s role to be included in future elections, Maulana Obaidur Rahman Athar Nadvi advised the council to refrain from engaging in electoral politics. Mr. Abdul Majeed Shoaib expressed concern that introducing political matters, especially electoral politics, at this early stage could divert the council from its objectives and potentially breed mistrust. The consensus was that electoral politics would not be part of the council’s agenda.
Several participants suggested that the agenda should include discussions on societal reform and the issue of Palestine. Professor Ansari proposed discussing the Palestine issue and organizing a protest at Indira Park.
The suggestion to establish branches of the council in other districts of the state will be considered in the next meeting.
Notably, the meeting was attended by Dr. Usman, Secretary of JIH Telangana; Mr. Zaeemuddin Ahmad, Khateeb of Gulshan Colony; and Masood Saheb, a social activist and scholars from various political backgrounds.