Interfaith harmony ‘best way to promote Islamic teachings’

Islamabad 

Keeping its tradition alive of celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week, Modern Islamic Study Centre (MISC), an umbrella organisation of Universal Interfaith Peace Mission (UIPM) will be organising an array of events in different parts of the country in February 2016. 

As part of post World Interfaith Harmony Week preparations, MISC head Allama Abulfateh G R Chishti spread the message of interfaith harmony in different meetings, seminars and conference around the country making it clear that interfaith harmony is the best way of promoting Islamic teachings. 

While attending a reception hosted by Advocate Ahmad Raza Kasuri in honour of Pir Syed Sarwar Chishti, Sajjada Nasheen, Ajmer Sharif, India at Islamabad Club, Allama AGR Chishti apprised the visiting dignitary about his organisation’s efforts for promoting interfaith harmony in the country. 

Whereas at a condolence reference for former foreign minister Sahibzada Yaqub Ali Khan, Allama Abulfateh G R Chishti had an opportunity to interact with Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and apprised him how he has made promotion of interfaith harmony mission of his life. 

He apprised them that since his return from Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan after receiving first prize in World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) of United Nations bestowed by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan on April 21, 2015, he did not waste a single moment in continuing his mission of spreading the message of interfaith harmony in every nook and corner of Pakistan with renewed interest. 

“After welcoming the receiving of award at a sermon at Jamia Masjid Mai Slaeem Akhtar, New Soan Islamabad on May 8, 2015 the area residents expressed their vote of thanks for Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for conferring the award on a Pakistani organisation, a Thanksgiving Conference was organised by UIPM at Islamabad Hotel on 26 May, 2016,” he added. 

He told Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz that on September 9, 2015 an Interfaith Harmony seminar was organised at a church in Jehlum. Pastor Dr Azeem presided over the ceremony. “On September 21, 2015 International Day of Peace was celebrated by UIPM where Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani was the chief guest,” he added. 

Allama Chishti said that an `Interfaith Peace Conference' was organised by Universal Interfaith Peace Mission on October 13, 2015 to commemorate the 8th anniversary of Common Word Initiative where Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf was the chief guest. Allama Chishti attended United Religions Initiative National Conference at Pace Centre, Lahore, where he apprised the audience about the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) of United Nations award and invited them to compete in it. In December 2015, Allama AGR Chishti received a message from Amman, Jordan that people should register their programmes for the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) of United Nations 2016 and as per competition rules, this message was forwarded to around 500 people though email. During the month of December 2015, Allama AGR Chishti on his weekly TV show Roz-e-Roshan apprised his audience about the World Interfaith Harmony Week.  On January 29, 2016 in his regular show, Allama AGR Chishti conducted a special talk on Interfaith Harmony Week and shed light on Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s efforts for interfaith harmony besides apprising the audience about the procedure of this contest. 

He also apprised them about the future course of action of Modern Islamic Study Centre, which is going to organise different events in first week of February for World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) of United Nations from February 1 to 7. 

On February 1, the celebrations will begin with a ‘Dars-e-Quran’ at Jamia Masjid Mai Saleem Akhtar, New Soan, Islamabad, after ‘fajr’ prayers where food will be distributed among the participants. On February 2 Allama AGR Chishti will attended Interfaith Harmony Conference at Bahawalnagar campus of Islamia University, Bahawalpur, while on February 3, Interfaith Harmony Conference will be organised by Modern Islamic Study Centre, at FC College University, Lahore. Allama AGR Chishti in his weekly show Roz-e-Roshan will present his thoughts on World Interfaith Harmony Week on February 4, 2016 while on February 6; Allama AGR Chishti will deliver a detailed sermon on interfaith harmony at a Jamia Masjid Bhagwari, Murree. On February 6, Allama AGR Chishti along with his team will join members of Hindu community at a breakfast at Balmik Temple, Lalkurti, Rawalpindi, while on February 7, 2016 ‘Peace Progress Conference’ will be organised by
Modern Islamic Study Centre, Islamabad, at Baha’i Com-
munity Hall.