Eliminate terrorism from world: Muslim scholars

Mumbai, Mar 26 (UNI) Coming down heavily on terrorism, Muslim intellectuals and religious scholars vowed to root this menace and urged the need to involve school children in this purpose.

At the special lecture organised by the National Islamic Foundation at the Jabir Hall of Islamic Gymkhana in Marine Drive yesterday, special prayers were also offered for world peace and it was resolved to work with full force against terrorism.

In a thought-provoking speech on ''Islam, Jihad and Terrorism'', renowned religious scholar Maulana Usaid-Ul-Haque Mohammed Asim Qadri said terrorism is against the tenets of Islam.

''Human beings have always condemned wars that bring death and destruction,'' he said .

Mr Qadri, who is a post-graduate from Al Azhar University of Cairo in Egypt, said in his address to the huge gathering that most wars during the lifetime of holy Prophet were waged around meching. That revealing they were of defensive nature. Only two wars were waged near Mecca. In one, a peace treaty was contracted and in the other, a general amnesty was declared.

He said that what is referred to as ''Jihad'' is only a defensive war, that too with certain conditions -- the children, the old, the sick and the women and those who are not warring, should not be targeted.

''The word Jihad in holy Quran does not generally signify war, rather it implies struggle in the way of Allah. Jihad in Islam is waged only for the sake of Allah's pleasure and not for booty, land or other mundane profits. There are three kinds of Jihad: Jihad with an oppressive enemy, Jihad with the Satan and Jihad with one's self,'' he said.

He made it very clear that Islam does not permit or justify terrorist activities that are being carried out by certain groups.

''There should not be any double standard in dealing with terrorism,'' he said and added that the Indian Muslims were with their compatriots in fighting against terrorism.

The Maulana said, ''We are with others to fight terrorism. But to do so, we must think over the causes and factors that lead some people to terrorist activities.'' He also appealed to teachers to teach their students to be united and fight terrorism. A large part of the audience comprised teachers from different schools and ''madarsas'' across the city.

A special inter-religious prayer was also held at the conclusion of the event which was also attended by Christian priest Reverend Dr Francis Swami and noted Jain Guru Yativarya Gorji Sushil Kumar Maharaj Saheb.

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