Praising Islam for its message of peace and harmony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said none of Allah’s 99 names stands for violence and asserted the fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion and the two should be delinked.

Addressing the first World Sufi Forum, he said, “This is an extraordinary event of great importance to the world, at a critical time for humanity. At a time when the dark shadow of violence is becoming longer, you are the noor, or the light of hope. When young laughter is silenced by guns on the streets, you are the voice that heals.”

Emphasising advancing of the message of Sufism that stands for the principles of Islam and the highest human values, he chose the occasion to stress that the fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion.

“The fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion. It cannot be. It is a struggle between the values of humanism and the forces of inhumanity. It is not a conflict to be fought only through military, intelligence or diplomatic means.

“It is also a battle that must be won through the strength of our values and the real message of religions. As I have said before, we must reject any link between terrorism and religion. Those who spread terror in the name of religion are anti-religious,” he said.

Terming Sufism, a spiritual quest that traces its origin from the Holy Prophet and the fundamental values of Islam, which literally means peace, Modi said, “And, it reminds us that when we think of the 99 names of Allah, none stand for force and violence, and that the first two names denote compassionate and merciful. Allah is Rahman and Raheem.”

Earlier Modi was welcomed with the chant of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ at the forum convened by the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board, to discuss the role of Sufism in countering rising global terror.

Modi’s message came at a time when his government has been facing Opposition flak on the issue of communalism and amid a raging debate on nationalism.

The four-day event, beginning today is being attended by over 200 delegates, including foreign delegates from 20 countries.

Spiritual leaders, scholars, academicians and theologists from Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, the UK, the US, Canada and Pakistan, among other countries are coming for the event.

During his around 30-minute speech, Modi quoted a number of Sufi scholars to drive home the message of unity of mankind preached by all religions.

“When the spiritual love of Sufism, not the violent force of terrorism, flows across the border, this region will be the paradise on earth that Amir Khusrau spoke about... Terrorism divides and destroys us.

“Indeed, when terrorism and extremism have become the most destructive force of our times, the message of Sufism has global relevance,” he said.

Noting that every year over 100 billion dollars are spent on securing the world from terrorism, he said that the money should have been spent on building lives of the poor instead.

In an oblique reference to Pakistan, which has often been accused of harbouring terrorists, Modi said, ”there are forces and groups that are instruments of state policy and design. There are others recruited to the cause in misguided belief.”

In the backdrop of youths from many countries having joined the ISIS with radicalisation happening through Internet, Modi said while there are some who are trained in organised camps, “there are those who find their inspiration in the border less world of cyber space“.

“Terrorism uses diverse motivations and causes, none of which can be justified. Terrorists distort a religion whose cause they profess to support.

“They kill and destroy more in their own land and among their own people than they do elsewhere. And, they are putting entire regions to peril and making the world more insecure and violent,” he said.

He said that advance the message of Sufism that stands for the principles of Islam and the highest human values is a task that states, societies, sages, scholars and families must pursue.

Noting that the message of Sufism is not just confined to combating terrorism, the Prime Minister spoke of the “rich diversity” of India stressing that the values of harmony, welfare, compassion and love for human beings are the foundation of a just society.

He said this is the principle behind his idea of ‘Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikaas’

“And, these values are important to preserve and nurture diversity in our societies. Diversity is a basic reality of Nature and source of richness of a society; and, it should not be a cause of discord.

“We need just not constitutional provisions or legal safeguards, but also social values to build an inclusive and peaceful society, in which everyone belongs, secure about his rights and confident of her future,” he said.

Speaking on the challenge of violence, the Prime Minister underlined the need to remember the teaching of Holy Quran that if anyone slew one innocent person, it would be as if he slew a whole people and if anyone saved one life, it would be as if he saved a whole people. He also underlined the message of non—violence propagated by Lord Buddha and Mahavira.

“In many parts of the world, there is uncertainty about the future, and how to deal with it as nations and societies. These are precisely the times that the world is most vulnerable to violence and conflicts,” he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the global community to be must be more vigilant than ever before and counter the forces of darkness with the radiant light of human values.

In his speech, he quoted profusely from the Bible and the Quran apart from Hindu scriptures and referred to Sufi saints and scholars including Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti, Persian Sufi poet Saadi Jalaluddin Rumi to drive home the message of unity.

Modi also hailed India as “land that is a timeless fountain of peace, and an ancient source of traditions and faiths, which has received and nurtured religions from the world” and its people “with an abiding belief in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the World is one family”.

Related Topics