Message of peace on solemn Eid

Kolkata: When Quari Maulana Fazlur Rehman rose to speak to the Eid gathering at Red Road on Friday morning, little did he know that terrorists would strike a similar gathering 408km away at Kishoreganj in Bangladesh. Yet, the maulana spent a large part of his Eid sermon criticizing those who justify their acts against humanity in the garb of Islam.
With a heavy heart the Quari reflected on the series of violent attacks in the Middle East and Bangladesh during the holy month of Ramzan, the latest being the blasts outside Medina mosque and the suicide attack in Baghdad that killed 215 people."What is happening across the world? It is distressing. These are acts against humanity. Islam doesn't endorse such acts. Hazrat Mohammad and his followers were forced to endure inexplicable torture and suffering. It is painful to even recollect them. Yet, he never told his followers to seek revenge. Killings and bloodshed are anti-Islam. People who use Islam to justify such acts are actually doing a great harm to Islam. Nowhere in the religious texts or edicts will one find any justification of terror. On the other hand, Islam extols the value of sacrifice and self-control. Terror is now spreading its fangs not only in Bangladesh but even in Medina. People should come out in protest," the Quari said.
The maulana who is known for speaking out home truths even if it goes against the government, focused on the terror strikes that hung heavy on the hearts of the namajis who had gathered at Red Road on Friday. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who attended the gathering like she does every year, also sent out a message of peace. Recalling Muhammad Iqbal's poem 'Saare jahaan se achha', the CM said: "Hindustan is home to all religions. Mazhab nahi sikhata apas mein bair rakhna. I am confident that you will do good deeds and forge unity," she said.
About 3km away, in central Kolkata, Maulana Shafique Qasmi was delivering his sermon at Nakhoda Mosque. "Allah has given everyone the right to freedom, to speak and live. But this freedom ends when it hurts another. In Bangladesh, in Saudi Arabia, it is innocents who are being killed. Little children, helpless women ... it hurts everyone," he said, visibly moved. "It is time for collective introspection. We need to delve much deeper to find out the reasons. Have the mass hangings in Bangladesh triggered such restiveness? Is there a bigger design to keep the oil-rich Middle-East disturbed? Who gains, who loses? It is time we sought the real answers. Terrorism can have no religion. No killing can have a religious sanction. Religion in fact preaches just the opposite - to value life," he said.
At Red Road, Rehman reminded the CM to keep her promise to the downtrodden. "I congratulate chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party for winning the elections. She must remember this mandate wouldn't have been possible without the support of the Muslim populace. She was voted with hope that she will continue to work for their development, something she has started. A lot remains to be done. She has started a few things but the benefits should trickle down to the downtrodden and those in need," he said.