MANCHESTER: Stressing on need of communal unity and cohesion, prominent Shia cleric Allama Syed Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi, British MP M. Afzal Khan CBE and other speakers have said that unity and cohesion are basic principles of the best religion of Islam. They were addressing an event hosted to celebrate the 14th anniversary of Hidayat TV channel at Manzil Hotel, Manchester on Friday, 12th October.
Allama Syed Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi stated that the theological differences between the communities best left for Allah to judge, as He knows best and has said in the Quran that He is the final judge of religious disagreements.
“The principle of “no compulsion in matters of faith” is not just limited to Muslim-non-Muslim relations. It applies to Muslim interpretations of Islam as well. This instruction of God serves as a guideline for the Muslim community to not impose one’s interpretation on others”, he stressed.
“The concept of ‘amiri and gharibi’ (richness and poverty) is well deliberated in Holy Quran and we all need to understand the philosophy of this open secret, he referred.
Highlighting the role of media, Allama Syed Shahenshah Hussain said that when human beings sit down and talk to each other, they learn to respect each other. Dialogue allows parties to understand each other better by allowing participants to acquire direct knowledge about beliefs instead of relying on propaganda and stereotypical images. Dialogue will isolate the extremist fringe. It is a major sin to kill a human being. Killing a human being is like killing the whole of humanity. By talking to each other, people will be able to save lives, which is like saving the whole of humanity.
Referring the prevailing international situation, he advised that the Muslim nations should stay vigilant and should not underestimate the enemy, its plots, or even its small moves. They should stay vigilant and awake. Today, Islamic nations and governments must get united and develop unanimity among themselves.
Labour leader and Member of British Parliament M. Afzal Khan said that we all believe in Islam, the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.), and Kaaba. We all say prayers, go to Hajj, and believe in jihad and Sharia. The matters over which we disagree are much less than those we agree upon.
“Every verse of the Holy Quran is equally important and binding on all Muslims. One cannot be a true Muslim even if he or she skips a single verse of the Holy Quran. When the Holy Quran itself lays emphasis on unity, then how can a person who tries to create a divide among the Muslim Ummah be called as a Muslim”, M. Afzal stated.
Syed Adil Hussain (Chairman Imamia Mission, London), Syed Faryad Hussain Bukhari (Chairman, Azadari Council, Brtain), Syed Imtiaz Hussain Kazmi, Syed Abid Rizvi, Syed Abrar Hussain and a number of other prominent personalities attended the reception and lauded the programmes and especially the religious slots of Hidayat TV.