World sufi forum

Terror fight not against any religion, says PM Modi

Praising Sufism as “a celebration of diversity and pluralism” which “helped shape a distinct Islamic heritage of India”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said “the fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion” and any link between the two should be rejected.

Addressing the World Sufi Forum where shouts of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ rang out repeatedly as he spoke, the Prime Minister said “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”.

“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... You have come from different lands and cultures, but you are united by a common faith. You speak different languages, but they blend together in a message of harmony. And, you represent the rich diversity of the Islamic civilisation that stands on the solid bedrock of a great religion,” he said.

The gathering included, among others, All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board founder president Syed Mohammad Ashraf, Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, Shaykh Hashimuddin al-Gaylani from Baghdad, Syed Minhaj Ur Rahman from Bangladesh and Dewan Ahmed Masood Chishti from Pakistan.

“Terrorism divides and destroys us... Each day brings us terrible news and horrifying images: of schools turned into graveyards of innocence; of prayer gatherings turned into funeral processions; of call to prayer or azaan drowned by the sound of explosion; of blood on the beach, massacres in malls and smouldering cars on streets; of thriving cities ruined and priceless heritage destroyed; and, of parents bearing coffins, entire communities dislocated, millions displaced, and refugees caught between fire and stormy seas.”

He said “The reach of terror is growing and its toll is rising every year... Last year alone, over 90 countries experienced terrorist attacks. Parents in 100 countries live with the daily pain of their children lost to the battlefields of Syria. And, in a globally mobile world, one incident can claim citizens of many nations... The impact cannot be fully captured in statistics alone. It is changing the way we live.”