Minhaj ul Quran holds seminar to promote message of Islam

Seminar aims at conveying message that Islam teaches tolerance, love for other religions

(Staff Report) ISLAMABAD: Perhaps for the first time in history of the federal capital, the Minhajul Quran Women’s League (MQWL) organised a seminar titled, ‘Peace for Humanity Muhammad the Merciful’, in order to convey the message that Islam teaches tolerance and love for other religions at National Press Club on Sunday.

A large number of women representing different faiths, cultures and beliefs attended the seminar besides women religious scholars, peace advocates and others. Ambassador of Norway Cecilie Landsverk, Christian Study Centre Director Dr Christine, Iranian Embassy spokesperson Dr Shugufta Moosvi, Yemeni diplomat Jamal Shamsan, wives of Palestinian and Nigerian diplomats, All Pakistan Muslim League chief organiser Sayyada Firdos and Ministry of National Harmony representative Raheela Farheen were the prominent guests. A grand exhibition of books and lecture DVDs and CDs by Dr Muhammad Tahirul Qadri was also arranged. MQWL President Razia Naveed said that the objective of the conference was to call on women of all religions and faiths to come forward and play their due role to attain durable peace and harmony in the world. “Women of all faiths should strive together to bring an end to the era of extremist terrorism and restore the peace,” she said.

She said at the heart of all religions there was a belief in the sanctity of lives of the innocent and that must be highlighted. She said that through the conference they wanted to give a clear message to the world that terrorism and extremism had nothing to do with Islam and it was unfortunate that actions of a select group of misguided individuals were being linked with Islam, which was unfair. She said Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) was an ideal embodiment of mercy, sympathy, magnanimity, justice, forbearance and forgiveness. “There is not a single instance to show that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) ever used force or preached violence to promulgate Islam or revenge against his foes,” she added. Speaking on the occasion, MQWL General Secretary Noshaba Zia said that after 9/11, the difficulties of Muslims around the globe had increased manifold. She said that terrorism and extremism had affected the Muslims more than the world. Thousands of people, she said, were killed in terrorist incidents, affecting millions of families. “Extremism has divided people and produced pessimism and despondency. The women can play an active role to make this world a peaceful world,” she added. She said that the head of Minhajul Quran International, Dr Tahirul Qadri, started the process of holding peace conferences on September 24 last year to propagate the message of peace, as preached by all religions. She said that Holy Prophet (PBUH) gave the lesson of brotherhood, tolerance, moderation and peace.

“All prophets and religions gave the message of peace and harmony in the world. We must prove ourselves true inheritors of this legacy and dedicate ourselves to establish peace in the world,” she added. She hoped the conference would go a long way in strengthening interfaith ties between Muslims and non-Muslims. Norwegian Ambassador Cecilie Landsverk congratulated MQWL on holding a grand and purposeful conference. She said that the world needed peace, security and brotherhood more than before. Women can play an active role to make this world a peaceful world. Hence, irrespective of their religions they must join hands and turn it into a hub of happiness, she added. Iranian Embassy spokesperson Dr Shugufta Moosvi urged the need to join forces of peace who wanted to eliminate fear, hatred and bigotry from the world. She said women could help their governments to carve out a new direction for humanity where people could live in a harmonious environment and have access to the necessities of life. Christian Study Centre Director Dr Christine asked followers of all religions to unite on the minimum agenda of humanity. She expressed hope that the peace conference would lay the basis for establishment of brotherhood among the followers of different religions. During the conference, the participants signed a declaration meant to promote peace and foster resistance and opposition to extremism.

Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C04%5C30%5Cstory_30-4-2012_pg7_21

Source : http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C04%5C30%5Cstory_30-4-2012_pg7_21