Prominent Hindu Cleric: Hazrat Ali's Vision in Nahjul Balagha About Two Thousand Years Ago Remained Valid Still Today

AhlulBayt News Agency - The Aligarh Muslim university celebrates the birth anniversary of Imam Ali (PBUH) as Ali Day which is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm without any distinction of religion or region. The Ali Day is marked with a book exhibition in the Maulana Azad Library in the day time in which some rare manuscripts including the holy Quran written by Imam Ali a.s 1400 years ago is displayed. The book exhibition is followed by the Ali day function at the kennedy Auditorium but this year due to the renovation work in the kennedy auditorium the function was held at the Athletics ground of the university.

Addressing the Ali Day commemorative meeting at the India Aligarh Muslim University's Athletics Ground on 20th April, noted interfaith ideologue and spiritual leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam, Founder Kalki Foundation, Moradabad said that no religious book teaches against other religions and religious extremism gives birth to separatism, which further breeds terrorism. He said that "we have to fight both kinds of extremism".

Acharya Pramod Krishnam affirmed that the vision that Hazrat Ali presented some two thousand years ago in Nahjul Balagha, remained to be valid still today. He said that Islam teaches love, peace, tolerance and large heartedness and people who are trying to create differences amongst various sections of society need to be denounced at all levels. He said that love to all is the corner stone of a tolerant world.

Urging AMU students to work for universal brotherhood, Acharya Krishnam said, "We resolve today at Sir Syed's land that we will not allow Gandhi's land to be turned into Godse's land". He said that there were international conspiracies to vilify Islam. He said that efforts should be made to popularize Hazrat Ali's teachings amongst common people.

Noted Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad said that service to humanity was the real religion and one would do good only if he serves his country and countrymen with a religious fervor. He said there was no distinction between religious education and modern education in Islam and all streams of knowledge that served people in a constructive way fell in the ambit of religious education.

Chief Guest Mr. Ali Asghar Karbalai, MLA from Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir said that Aligarh Muslim University was founded by Sir Syed who was amongst the descendents of Hazrat Ali, and as long as this institution existed, its founder's name would also continue to encourage people to work for the promotion of education. He said that Hazrat Ali's birth anniversary should be celebrated at international level to popularize his teachings.

In his presidential remarks, AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah said that Hazrat Ali was a brave, intelligent and immensely knowledgeable person and his personal traits were exemplary for the world. He warned Muslims of the hidden enemies of Islam who were trying to create divisions amongst them on the basis of faith and sects. He said Muslims had to remain united and get rid of the sectarian divisions amongst them in the name of Deobandi, Barelvi, Shia, Sunni etc.

Lt. Gen. Shah urged the people to counter terrorism to safeguard humanity from its excesses.

Welcoming the guests, Prof. Pervez Qamar Rizvi, President, Ali Society said that the Ali Society was established by Dr. Zakir Husain in 1953 during his vice chancellor ship and Chancellor Syedna Taher Saifuddin patronized the organization.

Prof. Ali Mohammad Naqvi, Dean, Faculty of Theology proposed a vote of thanks.

Dr. Syed Siraj Ajmali, Naushah Amrohvi and Engineer Meraj Husain Nishat presented poetic tribute to Hazrat Ali.

Syed Abbas of Ali Society presented the annual report and Asim Rizvi conducted the programme. Winners of essay, debate, speech and quiz competitions, held to mark the Ali Day, were also awarded with prizes.

Earlier, AMU Registrar Dr. Asfar Ali Khan inaugurated a Book Exhibition on Hazrat Ali at the Maulana Azad Library.