LAHORE: Sufis like Mevlana Rumi and Sultan Bahoo are real preachers of human friendship, peace, tolerance and peaceful co-existence in the world. Through their poetry, they are bringing humans close.
These were unanimous words of participants of a two day international conference organized by MUSLIM Institute, in collaboration with University of the Punjab, at university’s campus.
The conference titled as ‘Mevlana Rumi & Hadrat Sultan Bahoo: Preachers of Human friendship, Peace, Tolerance and Coexistence in the world’ was chaired by. Dr. Naushad Ali Khan, VC, Islamia College, Peshawar and among distinguished speakers including Dr. Muhammad Osman, President Sudanese Community in Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Faleeha Zahra Kazmi, Chairperson Persian Department LCWU Lahore, Abdul Rehman Mehmood Charge d’Affairs Embassy of Sudan Islamabad, Nadeem Bhabha Poet Writer & Critic, Dr. Z. A. Awan Author of books on Hadrat Sultan Bahoo USA, Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza VC Lahore College for Women University, Prof. Dr. Zakaria Zakar VC, Okara University, Prof. Dr. Zia ul Qayyum VC AIOU, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali VC, QAU, Islamabad and concluding remarks were presented by Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali Chairman MUSLIM Institute, Islamabad.
Speakers highlighted that Sufi teachings have the capacity to address the widening gap between the West and Islam as their teachings aim to promote peace, tolerance and moderation. Along with interfaith harmony, inter civilizational cooperation has also become indispensable with respect to today’s growing prejudices among societies.
Historically, Sufis have played a crucial role in spreading Islam not only in the subcontinent but also across the globe. Through their pluralistic vision of Islam, they propagated peace love and interfaith harmony among societies encompassing diverse socio-cultural values.
Expert of inter civilizational studies, Dr. Piotr Klodkowski from Poland emphasized that in 21st century, Sufi message should be conveyed in the way that people should understand the essence of their message. However, creativity and innovation in the propagation of Sufi message is the need of the hour.
It is for the first time that the two people from Pakistan Dr. Muhammad Akram Shah sb and Dr. Saleem Azhar who rendered valuable service to the Persian language is granted life time membership by the Academy of Letters Tehran, Iran. A Sufi empowers local masses to better deal with the menace of extremism and sectarianism very effectively. Man is the combination of body and soul. However, growth and development of both is inevitable for a balanced life. How a man can achieve the status of self-actualization?
A Sufi through his kalam and thought helps us in achieving the status of self-actualization. By dint of their invaluable services and literary contribution, they are present today among ourselves and guide us in every walk of life. They not only guide masses during their time but also guiding us today by dint of the universality of their message.
They are the true ambassadors of the message of Quran and Sunnah. Even after the lapse of eight centuries, Sufi message is as relevant today as this was decades ago. It is high time that we should make the teachings of these Sufi an integral part of our syllabus. Such conferences must be result oriented.
Speakers encouraged the Youth to play an active role in the propagation of Sufi message.
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