Shahbaz urges Ulema to help eliminate religious hatred

LAHORE: In a unanimous declaration, participants in an Ulema Convention organised by the Punjab government stated that the belief in the finality of the Prophethood and everlasting love for Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is the foundation of their religious identity, survival of all of them and the national solidarity.

The declaration proclaimed unshakable belief in the finality of the Prophethood as an inevitable basic part of the religion of Islam and part of belief of 210 million people of Pakistan. It stated that current parliament and the government were ready all the time to defend this belief. The declaration resolved to strengthen the country with patience, determination and wisdom to make it a peaceful place.

Respected personalities from all Muslim schools of thought participated in the Ulema Convention held at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif chaired the event. Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Zaeem Qadri, Syed Ali Gilani, members of the Punjab Assembly, senior officers of the Punjab government also participated in the event.

The religious scholars, who participated in the convention, included Allama Ghulam Muhammad Sialvi, Maulana Abdul Wahab Ropri, Allama Muhammad Hussain Akbar, Maulana Muhammad Amjad Khan, Allama Syed Riaz Hussain Rizvi Najafi, Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Pir Mahfuz Ahmed Mashadi, Maulana Muhibullah Noori, Inamul Haq Shah, Hafiz Asad Obaid Al-Azhari, Maulana Muhammad Abdul Mateen, Pir Chiraghuddin Shah, Maulana Muhammad Naeem Butt, Mian Mehmood Abbas, Syed Atiqur Rehman, Maulana Irfan Ullah Sinai, Maulana Muhammad Yasin Rahi, Prof Abdul Rehman Shariq, Shafqat Hussain Malik, Maulana Syed Sibte Haider Sabzwari, Syed Noor Bahadur Shah, Allam Rashid Turabi and Mualana Afzal Haidri.

In the declaration, it was stated that the role of Ulema and esteemed religious personalities in the creation and solidarity of Pakistan was a bright chapter in the country’s history. The current situation in the country requires that Ulema, religious scholars and spiritual personalities continue to play their basic and vital role in the unity, solidarity and religious harmony in the country, and in the overall law and order situation.

Allam Syed Riyaz Hussain Najafi said CPEC was a great blessing and so was the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for he had taken revolutionary measures in all social sectors, including education and health. The revolutionary steps taken by him will produce fruits when there is peace and national harmony in society, he added.

Maulana Ilyas Chinoti said the exemplary development in Punjab was praised inside and outside the country. Allama Dr Muhammad Hussain Akbar said some people adopted a wrong way for their personal benefits regarding the situation on the finality of Prophethood and it caused a loss of billions of rupees to the country.

Allama Syed Chiraghuddin said Shahbaz Sharif was an undisputed personality and he had made Punjab an exemplary province in terms of development. Maulana Muhammad Khan Leghari said the convention expressed complete confidence in the chief minister. He said Shahbaz Sharif and his family were serving as soldiers of the religion.

Mufti Intekhab Ahmad Noori said political game was being played on the issue of the finality of Prophethood. He paid tribute to Shahbaz Sharif for raising voice on the issue first of all. Maulana Muhammad Amjad said Shahbaz Sharif raised his voice on the matter of the finality of Prophethood first of all and he rightfully played the role of custodian of belief of the finality of the Prophethood.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said, “The belief in the finality of Prophethood is the basic part of our religion and those who do not believe in the finality of the Prophethood are considered to have been expelled from the religion and they are non-Muslims and are creating fitna in the religion. He paid tribute to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for holding a successful convention. He added this was a welcome step and the government took timely measures to tackle the situation created in connection with the finality of the Prophethood.

Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif delivered a forceful and emotional speech on the matter of the finality of Prophethood, and on the Tweet of the US president. He said Allah, the Almighty had given countless abilities to the Ulema who were the great people and could play a great role in changing the destiny of nation as a teacher, Khateeb, Aalm and Mufti.

He said Ulema had a great role to play in ending confusion prevailing in the country and resolving minor religious differences.

He said the role of Ulema in eliminating religious hatred could not be ignored. He said every Muslim is ready to sacrifice his/her life for the respect of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). He said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had given the message of forgiveness and patience. He said equal distribution of wealth was also the message of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He said Pakistan could become an example of love, sacrifice and justified distribution of wealth if Ulema promoted this message of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

The chief minister said Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had signed the Madina Accord for peace and protection of the non-Muslims. “The record is a great example for us,” he added. “The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah gives us the message to settle matters with consultation, wisdom and acumen,” he said. He said Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal also gave this message in their teachings. He said, “Unfortunately, disparity between the rich and the poor is increasing in our society.” He asked the Ulema to play their role in meeting the challenges.

He said in the current situation unholy plots were being hatched to destroy the national unity, and some foreign forces also had their role in it. He said the US president had insulted the sacrifices given by Pakistan. He said the army, police and every segment of Pakistan had given historic sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

The chief minister said, “On the one hand, foreigners are insulting us, while on the other hand, the politics of sit-ins started in Pakistan in 2012 is strengthening these nefarious acts.” He said, “We have rendered sacrifices not for dollars but for peace in Pakistan and the whole world.” He said, “The political, judicial and military leadership of the country should sit together and decide whether we have to live a respectful or a disrespectful life.” He said, “If we do not sit together today to decide to change the destiny of the country, we will be taunted like this till the doomsday.” He said “The martyrs are our heroes.”

He said Rana Sanaullah had presented his point of view on the finality of the Prophethood with clarity and there was no room for discussion on this topic any more. He said, “Now instead of giving this a political colour, we should move forward for the welfare and progress of the country.”

He said, “The US president has asked about the details of $ 33 billion and we will provide them, but I want to make it clear that this was the coalition support programme that was meant for joint efforts for the elimination of terrorism.”