Picking up gun won’t take anyone to paradise: Mehbooba
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 18: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today urged religious leaders to stop preaching Jihad in Masjids and said that there are no short cuts to paradise.
Mehbooba urged the Imams not to teach the children short route to paradise. “There are no shortcuts to paradise. Picking up gun won’t take anyone to paradise. The paradise lies beneath the feet of parents,” she said here while addressing the Imams, religious scholars and executives of J&K Muslim Wakf Board.
She said Kashmir is a political issue and not a religious one and urged the religious leaders should stop preaching Jihad in mosques. She asked them to teach the youth what they teach their own children at home.
She urged Imams of the Masjids to preach real Islam and told them that they can make a huge contribution as they are directly interacting with the people on daily basis.
The Chief Minister appealed to religious scholars, Imams and custodians of shrines to lead the society in getting it out of the difficult issues by showing the right path as they have been ordained.
Mehbooba said Islam is a religion of peace which laid down guidelines not for Muslims alone but for entire humanity and even for flora and fauna. She said Islam has laid ample emphasis on seeking knowledge and the Ulema should spread this message so that Muslim community is able to get itself out of the difficulties it has been in for quite a time.
The Chief Minister appealed the Imams and Ulema to come forward and help the younger generation by showing them the right path as enshrined in the Holy Book and the teachings of the Prophet (SAW). “Unfortunately Muslims around the world have been caught in a web of violence and it is utmost responsibility of the religious scholars to help the society from getting drifted on a wrong track”, she said.
She appealed them to teach and guide people on the issues plaguing the society like dowry deaths, harassment of women and other issues.
Giving emphasis on planting trees, Mehbooba said that colour of Islam is green, so all should spread greenery by planting more and more trees.
Terming Wakf Board as a community institution rather than an affiliate of any political party or group, the Chief Minister said she intends to develop the Board on most modern lines with the use of technology. She said many projects of massive community help are under consideration of Wakf Board which she hoped would be of great help to humanity.
The Chief Minister sought support from people in retrieving the Wakf properties from encroachments and putting them to proper community use. She said if the assets of the Muslim Wakf Board are properly maintained it can generate enough resources to fund many big community welfare initiatives. She reminded the audience that it was the then Government in 2005 which carved out two universities and a nursing college out of the Wakf resources which have now prospered as leading institutions in the State.
Mehbooba said that having herself been raised in the family of preachers and ulema, she is well aware of the respect and command they ought to have in the society. She said the loss of respect for the religious scholars in the society has led to societal decay and erosion of social values in the system.
The Chief Minister assured the Imams and employees of the Muslim Wakf Board that she is aware of their problems pertaining to honorarium, salary and other benefits and she would shortly be addressing the same.
Vice Chairperson, Muslim Wakf Board, Nizamudin Bhat in his address outlined the measures his organization has taken for streamlining its activities particularly retrieving the assets and their proper upkeep.
Earlier, several leading Islamic scholars including Prof. Mohammad Tayyab Kamili and other ulema highlighted the role, importance and responsibility of Imams in bringing about a positive change in the society and getting people away from the prevailing evil deeds like dowry, drug abuse and other ills.
Earlier, the Chief Minister launched a plant drive by the Muslim Wakf Board. She also launched the logo and insignia of the Wakf Board on the occasion.
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