[opdirorg]

Visiting Iranian prominent cleric Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri here Monday stressed need for unity among Muslim Ummah (nation) to counter conspiracies hatched against Islam.

Addressing a seminar on Inter-Faith Harmony, organized by “Idara Taqreeb-e Mazahib, Pakistan, as a chief guest, Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri, said that Muslims should shun their differences because it is the only solution to their success.

The head of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WFPIST), said that main challenge the Muslims are facing today is that they are divided.
The religious leader lauded the efforts of Pakistan for holding the seminar on inter-faith harmony regularly. He said that it is good to see that the people from all schools of thought are attending the seminar.

Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri went on to say that people of Pakistan love peace and their actual face is Islamic. He strongly believed that by following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (P) the Muslims will be able to achieve their deserved blessed destiny.

“Unity is the only weapon which can prove useful in countering the conspiracies against Islam”, Ayatollah Taskhiri added.

He said that enemies of Islam would fail to accomplish their evil designs. The ayatollah said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is making all out efforts to unite the Muslims of the world.

Minister of National Regulations and Services Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan on the occasion welcomed Ayatollah Taskhiri for visiting Pakistan to attend a seminar on Ummah unity.

She praised the efforts made by the Iranian cleric in promoting interfaith harmony.

The minister said that Ayatollah Taskhiri is trying to portray the true face of Islam. Federal Minister said Pakistan has no ambiguity in its policies regarding war against terror and peace in the region.

She said that government was committed to solving all the problems related to interfaith harmony and also committed to drag out the religious extremism in the country. “We have to indentify our enemies, enemies of Iran and Pakistan are actually the enemies of Islam,” said the minister.

Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan warned that the enemies of Muslims are taking advantage of the Muslim nations' differences.

However, she said religions must not be politicized. She urged the political and religions leadership of Pakistan to become trend setter.

The former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, said that the Muslims should adopt the principles laid by Prophet Muhammad. “We must unite on our communalities,” he added.

Highlighting the agenda of National Solidarity Commission, a platform launched to promote sectarian harmony and resolve disputes in Pakistan, he said that the commission is trying its level best to unite the people of Pakistan.

Shi'a Scholar Allama Hafiz Syed Riaz Hussain Najafi on the occasion praised the efforts of Imam Khomeini (P) for establishing an Islamic state in Iran. “We are also thankful to Imam Khomeini (P) for giving us a leader like Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamene'ie,” he said.

Riaz Hussain Najafi said that Muslims should follow the footsteps of Imam Khomeini (P) in their lives.

Khanam Tayyaba Bukhari a religious scholar stressed the need for unity in Muslims. She said that Shi'as and Sunnis can talk on commonalties to promote interfaith harmony.

She was of the view that Islamic Revolution of Iran is a beacon light for the Muslims of the world.

Bukhari said that ‘we have to put aside all our differences and should be united only than we can have respect and can register our sacrifices.’

Allama Izhar Bukhari was of the view that terrorists are hiding under the cloak of religion.

Speakers on the occasion called for promoting interfaith harmony in Pakistan adding that Muslims should practice Islam rather to love it.

They said Muslims are far away practically from the spirit of Islam, which resultantly divides them into groups and sects.

Earlier the seminar was started with the recitation of Holy Qur'an. The Seminar was divided into two sessions. Large number of religious scholars from various schools of thoughts attended the program.

The program was also attended by Deputy Ambassador of Iran, Muhammad Hussain Ravish, Deputy Cultural Counsel Aqa-Ali Dosti and other diplomats from Iranian Embassy. (IRNA)