As part of its effort to promote unity and proximity among various Islamic schools of thought, Taghrib team, headed by Bureau chief Taghrib News Agency (TNA) Indian sub-continent bureau, and member of World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Hujjatul Islam Wal-Muslimeen Abdulhussain Kashmiri, visited Magam in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday and offered congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid.

Addressing the congregation, Abdulhussain Moosvi Kashmiri said that God is merciful and mighty who calls His people to mercy.

“God sent His last messenger, Prophet Mohammad (SAWW), as a mercy to all mankind,” Abdulhussain said. “But the question is, have we (Muslims) really been the ambassadors of the faith of Islam in light of God’s mercy and the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) and Quran.”

Abdulhussain Kashmiri said that he had participated in the Friday congregational prayer at Jamia Masjid Beerwa on May 4, and got the opportunity to interact with Mirwaiz central Kashmir, Moulvi Syed Abdul Lateef Bukhari, who also happens to be the Friday prayer leader of the Beerwa Jamia Masjid.

“Mirwaiz said a very nice sentence that ‘Islam is a blessed tree and by bearing fruits it reflects its substance. If all Islamic schools of thought adopt such a constructive approach, that will ensure a constructive society. We should expect every school of thought to yield useful fruits, not the vice versa’,” Abdulhussain said, adding that Muslims are visionary and always keep account of good and evil of both the worlds.

He said non-Muslim schools of thought spent millions of rupees only to find out how man originated and what will be his ultimate destiny.

“But Muslims have been given a clear guidance by Quran and Prophet Mohammad (SAWW). That’s why we say ‘To Allah we belong and to Him is our return’,” he said. “But unfortunately, instead of solving the greater issues, Muslims have been kept engaged in blaming and castigating each other.”

Abdulhussain Kashmiri said that out of six billion world population, there are more than two billion Muslims, which is a sign of a great mercy.

“But are we living as examples of God’s mercy? Not exactly! Because we have turned this grace into inconvenience for us. How can we become a source of blessing for others,” Abduhussain rued. “Shias are told that Sunnis do not like the Ahlulbayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWW). Sunnis are told that Shias give the status (God forbid) of God to the Ahlulbayt. Consequently, both are forced to use their skills to prove their point.”

He said that worldwide there is a conspiracy going on to cause infighting between Muslims.

“In Kashmir, Sunnis used to believe that Shias kill Sunnis on Nauroz, or Shias have horns or they spit in tea. These are part of imperialistic conspiracies,” he said. “Instead of questioning or undermining each other’s faith, we must actively and strictly pursue our own faith, and like the true followers of Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) fulfill our duty of being the ambassadors of Islam.”

The member of World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought said that two Islamic scholars - Ayatullah al-Uzma Boroujerdi (grand Iranian Shia cleric) and Allama Sheikh Mahmoud al-Shaltout of Egypt - had taken an initiative to unite the Muslim world some six decades ago.

“World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought is taking their mission forward by promoting inter-sectarian peace and harmony. The lovers of Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) have been giving full cooperation in spreading this message,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Friday prayer leader of Jamia Masjid Magam, Moulvi Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, emphasizing the need for Muslim unity, urged the Muslims to thwart all the conspiracies of anti-Muslim elements.

He thanked Abdulhussain and assured him that Jamait Islami Jammu and Kashmir is actively promoting the message of Muslim unity.

He said we should think beyond the sectarian divisions and try to forge unity.

Moulvi Ghulam Mohammad Bhat condemned the Narbal incident and described it as a conspiracy of the enemies of Islam.

Pertinently, unidentified miscreants had set ablaze furnishings and copies of Quran at Narbal in Budgam district on May 9, 2012.

“We must strongly condemn the unfortunate incident that has taken place in Narbal. The need of the hour is to remain united and foil the nefarious designs of anti-Muslim elements,” he said.

Cautioning Muslims against the divisive forces, he said, “Kashmir Muslim, irrespective of the sect he belongs to, should always remain a torchbearer of Muslim unity.”

Seeking judicial inquiry into the Narbal incident, he asked government of Jammu and Kashmir to expose all those miscreants who were involved in such heinous crime, and bring them to book.

“Some people are trying to create infighting and dissention among Muslims, so we need to be careful and should not play into the hands of enemies,” he said.