The First-Ever International Inter-religious Conference on "Sufism and Brotherhood" at Srinagar, Kashmir Goes Down Well in History of the Valley!
Voice For
Peace And Justice Organization Hosted An International Interreligious
Conference On "Sufism And Brotherhood" In Srinagar, Kashmir
Main
Points:
1. 2. Global Peace Ambassador Sufi Master Sheikh
Esraf Efendi, Founder of the World Peace Institute of Sufism based in Berlin,
Germany and Ambassador of the High Sufi Council of Jerusalem and Holy Lands,
Istanbul, Turkey, in his remarks known as Sohbat (Sufi discourse), commended
the conference for accentuating the peace building processes in the valley,
which he called the heavenly homeland of Sufism.
2. Sheikh Eşref
Efendi further stated that India is a multilingual, multicultural, and
multireligious melting pot where various faiths, languages, and languages all
peacefully coexist.
3. It was the
first-ever international conference at SKICC in Srinagar, Kashmir which brought
together leading Ulema and Sufi masters from around 18 countries and spiritual
leaders of all faith traditions-Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism- from
the valley. Kashmiri Pundits were also represented by their social and
humanitarian activists.
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By
New Age Islam Staff Writer
9 January
2023
Kashmir hosts first ever International
Conference on Sufism (Photo/ ANI)
------
Voice
for Peace and Justice,
Kashmir's leading youth-oriented organization,
hosted the first-ever international conference on "Sufism and
Brotherhood". It was attended by the leading Sufi scholars from across
the country and living spiritual masters from Germany, Switzerland, Turkey,
France, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and other neighbouring
countries.
Prominent
faith leaders of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and their spiritual
leaders and representatives of all Indian religions, religious experts and
faith-based organizations based in the valley of Kashmir took an active
participation in the conference organized by Voice for Peace and Justice, a
prominent NGO, which has been proactively engaged in the peace building
processes in the valley.
The
conference was organised for the benefit of not just the Kashmiri peoples, but
for the global community. It attempted to reconnect Kashmiriyat, Rishi-Sufism
and Indian culture with the international community through the spiritual
message of Indian Sufi Mystics who were known for their syncretic traditions.
The conference was well attended by people from all walks of life from Ulema
and clerics to academia, theologians, policymakers, international affairs
experts and progressive Islamic scholars from more than nine countries
including Germany, Turkey , France, Turkey, Tanzania , Maldives , Sri Lanka , Bangladesh
and Nepal.
The
conference placed a greater emphasis on the revival of Sufism in Kashmir as it
is the only way forward for the re-imposition of peace in the Valley. Kashmir
had been a hotspot for conflict and violence for decades. Extremists and Radical
Islamists worked hard to ruin the very basic and old tradition of coexistence
of various communities, communal harmony, and the brotherhood for which Kashmir
is historically known.
It was an
immersive exhibition of our pluralistic philosophy and syncretic ethos, and
hence it was an immense pleasure for us to conduct this international
conference, first of its kind in Kashmir, said Shahryar Dar, senior
vice-president, Voice for Peace and Justice, in his welcoming address. He
hailed all the guests of the international repute for their precious time and
participation in the conference.
The deputy
vice chancellor of the Islamic University of the Republic of the Maldives, who
spoke at the event, commended the conference. He said it would send out a message
to the world that mutual respect for humanity at large is important in the
modern world without which people cannot live in harmony and peaceful
coexistence.
In his
speech, Shri Syed Tayabul Bashar, a Sufi leader from the Republic of
Bangladesh, stated that there is a greater need today to save humanity and
that this message should be passed on to future generations. Following these
teachings, one can find a solution to the issues and sufferings of today's
magical era. The message of Sufism is one of peace, security, love, tolerance,
and service.
Grand Mufti
of Nepal, Mufti Mohamad Usman Sufi, said, "The self-serving evil forces with vested interests push
extremism to divide and to cause communal unrest in order to fulfil their
selfish ambitions." But because interfaith conversation establishes
interreligious contacts and gives individuals of different religions a forum to
share their beliefs, dispel misconceptions, and advance interreligious
understanding, it prevents conflicts between religious groups".
Sufism,
according to the grand mufti of Dar Al- Salam, Tanzania, Shri Shekh Al-Alhad
Moosa Salim, is the sole path to future peace, communal harmony, and
brotherhood. The divisive forces of today are attempting to sow discord among
the communities, but we must band together in order to create a global village
and disseminate a message of harmony, peace, and love.
In his
speech, the Grand Mufti of J&K, MUFTI Nasir-ul-Islam, thanked all
the dignitaries from around the world for coming to Kashmir for the conference
and praised Voice for Peace and Justice's efforts. He also said that more needs
to be done to foster intercultural understanding and respect for the religious
beliefs of all the communities.
Head of the
Karwan-i-Islami International, Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami, stated that
India has been the home of mystics of all faiths, including the Rishis, Sufis,
and Saints of Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. In actuality, unity in variety is
the fundamental tenet of Indian culture and spirituality. He requested people
to practise patience, temperance, and fraternity and love among themselves as
well as to develop mutual understanding.
The event's
chief guest was Global Peace Ambassador Sufi Master Sheikh Esraf Efendi,
Founder of the World Peace Institute of Sufism based in Berlin, Germany
and Ambassador of the High Sufi Council of Jerusalem and Holy Lands, Istanbul,
Turkey. In his remarks known as Sohbat (Sufi discourse), Sheikh Eşref
Efendi commended the Voice for Peace and Justice Organization for
hosting such an international conference in Kashmir, which he called the
heavenly homeland of Sufism.
Sheikh
Eşref Efendi further stated that India is a multilingual, multicultural, and
multi-religious melting pot where various faiths, languages, and languages all
peacefully coexist. "India creates a land that accepts and integrates all.
In order to avoid fanaticism, which causes confusion, he continued, interfaith
interaction is important. “Fanaticism is encouraged by self-serving, malevolent
powers with vested interests that want to split society apart and sow discord
among the people. However, interfaith conversation offers a forum for believers
from all faiths to interact, clear up any confusion, advance interreligious
understanding, and forge new relationships. He encouraged people of many
religious backgrounds to collaborate in order to advance peace, communal
harmony, and fraternity and thereby make the world a better place to live.
We want to
take an oath to work as a global family with the objectives of Peace, Harmony
and coexistence, the basic principles of Rishi-Sufism, said Farooq Ganderbali,
a well-known social activist and the president of Voice for Peace and Justice,
in his vote of thanks to the chief guest, Sheikh Esraf Efendi, and all other
guests of global forums who attended the conference.
India now
holds the G20 Presidency and the nation believes in Vasudeva Kutumbakum.
As citizens of a great country, it is our duty to strengthen the national
interests, which are rooted in peaceful coexistence among the communities. The
Voice for Peace and Justice Organization seeks to revive Sufism and its
teachings in Kashmir in order to restore the age-old tradition of coexistence,
communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, and love to the land of Kashmir. He went
on saying that divisive forces constantly have attempted to carry out their
nefarious agenda to divide people on the basis of religion, which paved the way
for the decades-long terrorism, bloodshed, and violence in Kashmir.
In order to
counter Radical narratives of the extremists who have created greater
defamation to Islam and Muslims, the conference jointly declared that the Sufi
literature and practises should be taught in schools and madrassas, according
to recommendations and resolutions made by the Voice for Peace and Justice. In
order to promote Sufi literature, Sufi culture, and Sufi music, they also
advocated for the establishment of Sufi centres throughout all of Jammu and
Kashmir.
The
Conference concluded with Prayers of Peace, Harmony, and Unity across India and
the world. The Dua-e-Roshni ceremony was also observed by all the
delegations.
URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/interreligious-sufism-brotherhood-srinagar-/d/128834
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