The third meeting of the Islamic Unity forum which was formed to strengthen unity among Islamic organizations operating in Sri Lanka was held on January 31 at the Sri Lanka Islamic Center, Maligawatta.
Meeting inaugurated with qirath by Al-Hajj Al-Aalim Tajul Munir Attari-Qadiri of Da’wathe Islami. Ash-Sheikh MS Abdul Mujeeb (Gaffoori), one of the founders of Islamic Unity Forum, highlighted the importance of working together to protect the blessings what Sri Lanka posses in his welcome address.
Many issues on Muslim community working together were discussed in this meeting. Al-Hajj Al-Alim Ihsan Iqbal Qadiri, Chairman of Assunna Trust, who participated in the event and commented, says that what is being followed on the basis of Al-Qur’an and Hadith won’t be wrong. Misunderstanding arises when anyone say to follow the foot step of our ancestors is not right.
When somebody starts to respond to these matters, then the problem arises. Unity in the society can be maintained when everybody remain with their thoughts and behaves without interfering with others, he added.
Our tolerance should be extended to organizations that have conflicts in the Aqeedha. Only then can unity be built. This does not mean that one’s policy should be accepted by the other, said Ash-Sheikh Abdul Mujeeb, one of the founders of the Forum, and pointed out that the mission of the Islamic Unity forum is to build unity while maintaining tolerance in each and everyone’s principles.
Speaking on behalf of Sri Lanka Shariah Council, Al-Hajj Maulavi MRM Silmi Noori, Dean of Dharga Town College of Education, said that if we continue to follow the foundations of our traditional Islamic history, we can preserve happiness and prosperity in this country.
We should work towards a common goal by accepting others in this country. All those who act according to the Quran and Hadith can be united and otherwise are not. We should forget the differences in our thoughts, said Dr. Al-Hajj Ash-Sheikh Hasbullah Abdul Qader Bahji, President of the Sri Lanka Sharia Council.
We need not speak of policy differences at this point said Al-Hajj As-sayyid Zulkif Ali Maulana. Everybody has their own places to talk their thoughts and we should only talk about unity here, he added.
When Moulavi Yunus Tabriz, Chairman of All Ceylon Tawheed Jamaat commented, it is not a task that we can do to unite in religious matters. Let everyone use their media to express their views. Let the people decide what is right and wrong. In this place we will refrain from one person presenting religious issues and the other answering them.
Usthaz Ash-Sheikh Uzair Islahi, head of Sri Lankan Jamaat-e-Islami, said that we cannot talk about unity without Islam. Once we start working together there will be no time to talk about differences. Differences of opinion have peaked in the periods when the Muslim community was idle in history. The Unity Forum was also formed during the time of the Prophet. Not debating who is right there. There was talk of building Madinah. Similarly, we Muslims who are members of the Islamic Unity Forum should have a common work plan to build unity.
This Council should guide Muslims in common issues. More than 1600 mosques remain unregistered in the country. More than 300 mosques have been denied registration, Senior Lawyer Al-Haj Shiraz Noordeen, President of the Colombo District Mosjid Federation, said. The Forum should be guided in these matters he added.
Al-Haj Hussain Muhammad, President of the Sri Lanka Islamic Center and Senior Adviser of the Islamic Unity Forum, Al-Hajj Ash-Sheikh ANM Firdous Manbaee, President of the Serendib United organization and others presented their views at the event.
Dr. Al-Haj Asseyyid Hassan Moulana al-Qadiri, One of the founders of the Islamic Unity Forum, emphasized the importance of joining the pioneer organizations of muslim community namely All Ceylon Moors Association, All Ceylon Malay Association, All Ceylon Moulana Association, All Ceylon Memon Association and All Ceylon Samman Association as member organizations of the Islamic Unity Forum. What proposed in the Forum was unanimously accepted.
It was decided to initiate drafting a constitution for the forum following the unanimous acceptance of the opinion presented by Al-Haj Ibrahim Ansar AAL, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Hajj Committee that the objective of the Islamic Unity Forum should be defined and a framework for its functioning should be drafted as a constitution.
Coordinators were also appointed on the day for some institutions where coordinators have not been appointed so far. In that respect, Ash-Sheikh M.R.M. Fowzer on behalf of Sri Lanka Jamathe Islami, MIM Sahim on behalf of the National Shoora Council, Al-Haj Tasleem Moulawi on behalf of Sri Lanka Sharia Council, Al-Haj Moulavi MNM Ijlan Qasimi on behalf of Sri Lanka Waqf Board, Al-Haj Sabri Ghous on behalf of All Ceylon Supreme Council of Thareeqas, Al-Haj Sadiq Shihan on behalf of Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Prof. Inthiqaf Zufar on behalf of the Assunna Trust, Al-Hajj Al-Alim Tajul Munir Attari — Qadiri on behalf of Da’wathe Islami, Al-Hajj Qari Ash-Sheikh Abdul Jabbar on behalf of Sri Lanka Khateeb and Mu’azzin Association, Moulavi Yunus Tabriz on behalf of All Ceylon Tawheed Jamaat were also appointed as coordinators.
A Till box was also introduced that day to manage the expenses of the meeting.
Representatives from Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural affairs, Sri Lanka Hajj Committee, All Ceylon Majalisul Ulama, All Ceylon Union of Muslim League Youth Fronts, All Ceylon Sufi Spiritual Association, All Ceylon YMMA, All Ceylon Tawheed Jamaat, Assunna Trust, Borella Ahadiya, Colombo District Masjid Federation, Da’wathe Islami , Colombo Grand Mosque, Hidmatul Ulama Welfare Association, MEEDS, National Shoora Council, Sri Lanka Jamaate Islami, Salama, Sri Lanka Shariah Council, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Sri Lanka Islamic Center, Serendib United organizations were participated along with Ash-Sheikh NMM Mifli, former Deputy Commissioner of Department of Inland Revenue as invitee.
Al-Hajj Ash-Sheikh Rizvi Mufti, President of All Ceylon Jamiyatul Ulama, contacted the Islamic Unity Forum directly and told that Ash-Sheikh Rifah Hassan Madani will act as the coordinator of the forum on behalf of the ACJU and will provide the full cooperation of the activities of the Islamic Unity Forum, informed the Forum’s Administration officer Fiyaz Mohamed.
The meeting was conducted by Fiyaz Mohamed, Administration Officer of Islamic Unity Forum. One of the founders of the Islamic Unity Forum, Dr.Al-Hajj As-seyyid Hassan Moulana Al-Qadiri delivered the vote of thanks.
The meeting concluded with the Dua of Sri Lanka Sharia Council Chairman Dr. Al-Hajj Ash-Sheikh Hasbullah Abdul Qader Bahji and Salawat.
