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The Hindu
41 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mohan Bhagwat meets Muslims religious leaders in Delhi to promote dialogue between communities
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat held a closed-door meeting with Muslim religious leaders in Delhi on Thursday (July 24, 2025). Organised by Ahmed Ilyasi, chief imam of the All India Imam Organisation (AIIO), the meeting saw the participation of around 60 Muslims clerics, chiefs of mosques and intellectuals from the minority community from across the country. The discussion lasted for over three hours at Delhi's Haryana Bhawan in which both Mr. Bhagwat and Muslim leaders exchanged thoughts and ideas to promote 'communal harmony' and 'end hatred'. Terming it as unique initiative, Mr. Ilyasi told The Hindu that more such meetings are expected to follow in the days to come. 'This meeting is unique as it happened in the year when the RSS is celebrating its 100th anniversary and the AIIO is entering its 50th year. Our discussion was focused on topics of communal harmony and national interest. Both sides agreed to the fact that dialogue is the only way to clear misunderstandings,' he said. Mr. Ilyasi, who had once termed Mr. Bhagwat as 'Rashtrapita', said that it was high time that communication channels were established between all the communities in India to end hatred. 'In the meeting, we have proposed that imams and clerics of mosques and priests of temples should initiate dialogue within their communities. The idea was welcomed by Mr. Bhagwat,' he added. The RSS chief has met a couple of Muslim delegations in the last few years, including a closed door meeting held with a delegation led by former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi in 2022. He also held a meeting with Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind head Maulana Syed Arshad Madani at the RSS office in 2019.
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Muslim bodies condemn Pahalgam attack; Madani says terrorism contradicts Islam's policy of peace
NEW DELHI: Prominent Muslim organisations on Wednesday strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind asserting that it is wrong to give a religious colour to the incident as terrorism is a "cancer" that contradicts Islam's policy of promoting peace. The terror attack at a prime tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Tuesday left at least 26 people, mostly tourists, dead and several injured. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) condemned the terror attack and decided to pause its ongoing protest programmes against the new Waqf law for three days, starting Wednesday, in solidarity with the victims' families. As a mark of solidarity with the bereaved families, the board has suspended its campaign against the "controversial amendments" to the Waqf Act for three days, it said. SQR Ilyas, national convenor of the Majlis-e-Amal for the protection of Waqf under the AIMPLB, said in a statement that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam is deeply tragic and strongly condemnable. Therefore, the board has decided to suspend its protest programmes under the Waqf Protection Campaign for three days as an expression of mourning and sympathy for the victims' families. Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, the head of the All India Imam Organisation, said the imams of more than 5.5 lakh mosques in the country will give a strong message against terrorism, along with praying for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, during the Friday prayers this week. After a meeting with the officials of his organisation and representatives of many other religions, Ilyasi said killing innocent people on the basis of religion is not only against Islam, but against humanity. "Prayers will be offered at mosques for the innocent people who have been killed in Pahalgam and their families. During the Friday prayers, the imam will give a strong message against terrorism during his khutba (religious sermon)," he said. "Our demand from the government is that no terrorist should be allowed to be buried on the soil of India," Ilyasi added. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani strongly condemned the cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam. He expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the victims' families and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured, a statement issued by the Jamiat said. Madani said those who kill innocent people are not humans but "beasts." "There is no room for terrorism in Islam. Terrorism is a cancer that contradicts Islam's policy of promoting peace. It is essential for every believer to raise their voice against it," he said. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind considers criminal acts, especially those based on religion, to be a cause of destruction for the country and its peace and security, Madani said. While this heinous act by terrorists is causing great concern, at the same time, the common people of Kashmir are also expressing their hatred and disapproval of this terrorist act, he noted. "The condemnation of such acts from the mosques indicates that the common people of Kashmir desire to promote peace and harmony in the region," the Jamiat chief said. This also indicates that the government will have the full support of the Kashmiri people in maintaining law and order, Madani added. He asserted that it is wrong to give this tragedy a religious colour. "Among the deceased was not only a Muslim, but according to the reports coming from there, during the attacks, local people risked their own lives to save many tourists and took the injured to the hospital. After the attack, no official assistance arrived for a while and there were no vehicles available to transport the injured. In such a situation, local residents came out of their homes and saved the lives of many people," he said. "In doing so, they set an example of humanity. And while doing so, they did not ask anyone about their religion. The common people of Kashmir are deeply shocked and angry over this tragedy. They have expressed their feelings by holding torch marches at various places," he said. This is a sign that the common people of Kashmir desire peace, unity and development in the region, and do not support any form of extremism, Madani said. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) president Syed Sadatullah Husaini also strongly condemned the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam. In a statement, the Jamaat president expressed deep sorrow and outrage at the tragic loss of lives and called for immediate justice. "We strongly condemn the deadly terror attack that took place in Pahalgam, south Kashmir. The loss of innocent lives, including foreign tourists, is deeply saddening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their grieving families. There can be no justification for such a barbaric act," he said. It is completely inhuman and deserves absolute and unequivocal condemnation, Husaini said, asserting that those responsible must be brought to justice and given the harshest punishment. The JIH chief stressed that no cause -- political, ideological or otherwise -- can ever justify such barbaric violence. "This was an inhuman act that defies every moral and ethical code," he said. He urged state and central authorities to take decisive and transparent steps to ensure justice for the victims, bolster security measures and safeguard vulnerable communities. He also called on the civil society, faith leaders and the media to act responsibly and refrain from narratives that may further inflame tensions or target innocent groups.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Anti-terror message at 5.5 lakh mosques': Muslim bodies condemn Pahalgam terror attack
Prominent Muslim organisations on Wednesday strongly denounced the Pahalgam terror attack. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind said that giving the incident a religious angle is misguided, emphasising that terrorism is a 'cancer' that goes against Islam's message of peace. The attack, which targeted a popular tourist spot in Pahalgam, Anantnag district of South Kashmir on Tuesday, claimed the lives of at least 26 people, most of them tourists, and left several others injured. Head of the All India Imam Organisation, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, said imams at over 5.5 lakh mosques across India will deliver a strong anti-terror message during Friday prayers and pray for the victims of the Pahalgam attack. After meeting officials from his organisation and representatives of other faiths, Ilyasi said that killing innocent people in the name of religion is not only against Islam, but also against humanity. 'Prayers will be offered at mosques for the innocent people who have been killed in Pahalgam and their families. During the Friday prayers, the imam will give a strong message against terrorism during his khutba (religious sermon),' he said. 'Our demand from the government is that no terrorist should be allowed to be buried on the soil of India,' Ilyasi added. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam, calling it a cowardly act. In a statement, he expressed deep sorrow, extended solidarity with the victims' families, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. Madani said those who kill innocent people are not humans but 'beasts.' 'There is no room for terrorism in Islam. Terrorism is a cancer that contradicts Islam's policy of promoting peace. It is essential for every believer to raise their voice against it,' he said. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind views criminal acts, particularly those committed in the name of religion, as a serious threat to the nation's peace and security, Maulana Arshad Madani said. He added that while this horrific terrorist attack is deeply troubling, it is heartening to see ordinary Kashmiris strongly condemning the violence and expressing their disapproval. 'The condemnation of such acts from the mosques indicates that the common people of Kashmir desire to promote peace and harmony in the region. It shows that the spirit of brotherhood, compassion and unity is strong and alive in their hearts irrespective of their religions,' the Jamiat chief said. Madani added that this also shows the government can count on the full support of the Kashmiri people in maintaining law and order. He stressed that it is wrong to give this tragedy a religious angle. 'Among the deceased was not only a Muslim, but according to the reports coming from there, during the attacks, local people risked their own lives to save many tourists and took the injured to the hospital. After the attack, no official assistance arrived for a while and there were no vehicles available to transport the injured. In such a situation, local residents came out of their homes and saved the lives of many people,' he said. 'In doing so, they set an example of humanity. And while doing so, they did not ask anyone about their religion. The common people of Kashmir are deeply shocked and angry over this tragedy. They have expressed their feelings by holding torch marches at various places,' he said. This is a sign that the common people of Kashmir desire peace, unity and development in the region, and do not support any form of extremism, Madani said. 'Therefore, the media should avoid one-sided and biased reporting. This is not the time to fuel hatred, but rather a moment to come together to heal the wounds ... and to promote unity, love and brotherhood,' he said. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) president Syed Sadatullah Husaini strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, expressing deep sorrow and outrage over the tragic loss of lives. In a statement, he called for swift justice for the victims. 'We strongly condemn the deadly terror attack that took place in Pahalgam, south Kashmir. The loss of innocent lives, including foreign tourists, is deeply saddening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their grieving families. There can be no justification for such a barbaric act,' he said. Husaini said the act was utterly inhuman and must be condemned without any ambiguity. He called for those responsible to be brought to justice and given the strictest punishment. The JIH chief emphasised that no cause, whether political, ideological, or otherwise can ever justify such brutal violence. 'This was an inhuman act that defies every moral and ethical code,' he said. He appealed to both state and central authorities to take firm and transparent action to deliver justice to the victims, strengthen security measures, and protect vulnerable communities. He further urged civil society, faith leaders, and the media to act with responsibility, avoiding narratives that could escalate tensions or unfairly target innocent groups.
