By Staff Reporter, *Religious scholars call for implementation of Sufi teachings* - Daily Times - Lahore, PakistanSunday, November 21, 2010
Religious scholars on Saturday urged unity among Muslims and practical implementation of the teachings of Sufi saints to promote peace and root out the menace of terrorism from Pakistan, at a national discussion entitled ‘Role of Sufis in Curbing Terrorism’.
The discussion, organised by the National Mashaikh Council (NMC), was addressed by renowned scholars, including Prof Dr Sajidur Rehman, Dr Muhammad Ishaq Qureshi, Khawaja Ghulam Qutubuddin Faridi, Dr Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari, Hamid Mir, Sohail Warriach and Irshad Ahmed Arif, while a large number of religious scholars and students attended it.
Dr Sajid said that majawars and gaddi nasheen – inheritors of saints and Sufis – were not following the teachings of their forefathers and certain groups and people were using tombs for economic interests instead of promoting education, religious philosophy and guidance to the general public. “We have to revive this role of shrines and tombs of Sufis to curb terrorism.”
Dr Ishaq said the word terrorism was very old and whenever the problem came up, it was countered by good deeds, but unfortunately, terrorism was at its peak in Pakistan and people’s voices and deeds had been unable to overpower it.
“We are projecting a distorted picture of Islam before the international community, and Muslims, with their attitudes, are proving that they are promoting terrorism,” he added.
Hamid Mir said the followers of Sufis were in millions while a handful of people were attacking shrines, and the majority had failed to stop them because they had indulged in so much of internal conflicts, thus making the minority stronger.
He said the solution to terrorism should be made in Pakistan and not the US “if we really want to curb this problem”.
He said the 1,200-kilometre long Pak-Afghan border was the main cause of terrorism in the country, adding that the US and Pakistani governments were not focusing on the major problem. He suggested unity among Mulims and practical implementation of the teachings of Sufis to curb terrorism.
Sohail Warriach rejected the idea of making peace deals with terrorist groups and said that during the first Afghan jihad war, Sufis and saints did not participate and later it was proved that the war was useless for Pakistan and Islam.
[Picture: Afghan-Pak Border. Map from World Press]
Religious scholars on Saturday urged unity among Muslims and practical implementation of the teachings of Sufi saints to promote peace and root out the menace of terrorism from Pakistan, at a national discussion entitled ‘Role of Sufis in Curbing Terrorism’.
The discussion, organised by the National Mashaikh Council (NMC), was addressed by renowned scholars, including Prof Dr Sajidur Rehman, Dr Muhammad Ishaq Qureshi, Khawaja Ghulam Qutubuddin Faridi, Dr Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari, Hamid Mir, Sohail Warriach and Irshad Ahmed Arif, while a large number of religious scholars and students attended it.
Dr Sajid said that majawars and gaddi nasheen – inheritors of saints and Sufis – were not following the teachings of their forefathers and certain groups and people were using tombs for economic interests instead of promoting education, religious philosophy and guidance to the general public. “We have to revive this role of shrines and tombs of Sufis to curb terrorism.”
Dr Ishaq said the word terrorism was very old and whenever the problem came up, it was countered by good deeds, but unfortunately, terrorism was at its peak in Pakistan and people’s voices and deeds had been unable to overpower it.
“We are projecting a distorted picture of Islam before the international community, and Muslims, with their attitudes, are proving that they are promoting terrorism,” he added.
Hamid Mir said the followers of Sufis were in millions while a handful of people were attacking shrines, and the majority had failed to stop them because they had indulged in so much of internal conflicts, thus making the minority stronger.
He said the solution to terrorism should be made in Pakistan and not the US “if we really want to curb this problem”.
He said the 1,200-kilometre long Pak-Afghan border was the main cause of terrorism in the country, adding that the US and Pakistani governments were not focusing on the major problem. He suggested unity among Mulims and practical implementation of the teachings of Sufis to curb terrorism.
Sohail Warriach rejected the idea of making peace deals with terrorist groups and said that during the first Afghan jihad war, Sufis and saints did not participate and later it was proved that the war was useless for Pakistan and Islam.
[Picture: Afghan-Pak Border. Map from World Press]
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