Where There Is An Idol, There Is No Namaz: Muslim Rashtriya Manch

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) has initiated a historic step to promote communal harmony and religious tolerance in Indian society.

The organization has appealed to Indian Muslims to respect the statement made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for the welfare of 142 crore Indians and to demonstrate a magnanimous approach towards taking India on the path of progress.

Shahid Sayeed, National Convener and Media In-charge of the MRM, emphasized that while courts are paramount, disputes over religious sites should ideally resolved through dialogue.

This approach fosters unity, integrity, harmony, brotherhood, and reconciliation, eliminating enmity. The MRM advocates for an ‘out-of-court settlement’ whenever legal disputes arise, viewing it as a hallmark of any civilized society.

A Major Decision By The Muslim Rashtriya Manch

The National Convener Council of the MRM called for resolving disputes over sites such as Kashi, Mathura, and Sambhal through dialogue, aiming to restore historical places of worship to the Hindu community.

At the same time, the MRM proposed that abandoned mosques, or those where prayers are no longer conducted, be handed over to the Muslim community to restore and revive them.

Islam Forbids Idolatry

The MRM clarified that idolatry is not permissible in Islam. Islamic principles deem any mosque with broken idols or locations that have historical, social, or direct evidence of being temples as impure for prayers.

Such prayers are invalid. Citing Quranic and Hadith references, the MRM stated that constructing mosques on forcibly occupied land contradicts Islamic teachings.

Support From Muslim Organizations

A major MRM program will likely take place in Lucknow on 4 January. Before this, an online meeting held to discuss the agenda, attended by representatives from 70 locations across 20 states and 6 Union Territories.

The MRM presided over the meeting, which saw participation from several small and large Muslim organizations, intellectuals, and leaders.

Groups represented at the meeting included the Women Intellectuals Group, Sufi Shah Malang Organization, Youth Education and Madrasa Institute, World Peace Council, Bharat First, Hindustan First Hindustani Best, Cow Service Committee, Environmental and Public Life Protection Institute, Jamiat Himayat-ul-Islam, Kashmiri Protection Organization, and Kashmir Sewa Sangh. The national conveners, state conveners, and co-conveners of the MRM supported the resolutions and proposed handing over disputed worship sites to the Hindu community in accordance with Islamic teachings.

Participants In The Meeting

The meeting, led by National Convener Mohammed Afzal, included prominent figures such as Dr. Shahid Akhtar, Padma Shri Anwar Khan, Girish Juyal, Virag Pachpor, Syed Raza Hussain Rizvi, Dr. Shalini Ali, Abu Bakr Naqvi, S.K. Muddeen, Shahid Sayeed, Habib Choudhary, Irfan Ali Peerzada, Shiraz Qureshi, Maulana Irfan Kachochavi, Ilyas Ahmed, Faiz Khan, Imran Choudhary, Bilal ur Rahman, Hafiz Sabrin, Thakur Raja Rais, Tahir Shah, Reshma Hussain, Asif Ali, Imran Hussain, Mansoor Alam, Tahir Hussain, Mohammed Naim, Mohammed Hasan Noori, Abdul Naim Silwat, Abdur Rahman, Abdul Rauf, Abid Sheikh, Tanveer Abbas, Nusrat Jahan, Amir Khan, Kallu Ansari, Anjum Ansari, Chandni Bano, Meer Nazir, Naseeb Choudhary, Ali Zafar, and Tasneem Patel, among over 200 participants.

Prominent Statements

Mohammed Afzal:

“Our goal is to bring harmony to society. For India to progress, collective unity and development are essential. This call reinforces communal harmony and religious tolerance. Our motto is brotherhood.”

Abu Bakr Naqvi:

“Our aim is to respect each other’s religions. This initiative symbolizes the dedication of Indian Muslims to the nation’s progress. We must balance religious principles with social responsibilities for the nation’s welfare.”

Syed Raza Hussain Rizvi:

“Our society must advance while staying connected to its roots. The MRM’s initiative will help preserve Indian culture and rebuild trust among communities.”

Irfan Kachochavi:

“We commit to truth and unity. This initiative promotes goodwill and brotherhood in society. Recognizing historical truths brings us closer to Indian unity.”

Shiraz Qureshi:

“The MRM’s efforts are a strong step towards a prosperous and peaceful India. We emphasize that no religious site should be forcibly occupied. This will eradicate hatred and strengthen humanity.”

Future Direction Of Muslim Rashtriya Manch

The MRM has outlined a robust plan to further its mission of promoting the true teachings of Islam and preserving India’s cultural heritage.

This initiative aims to dispel misconceptions and enhance mutual understanding within Indian society, benefiting both the Muslim community and the broader nation.

Cultural Heritage Conservation

The MRM is actively working to conserve India’s civilization and culture, focusing on the revival of historical monuments, artistic traditions, and literary heritage. These efforts maintain the richness and diversity of Indian society.

Initiative In Meeting On Sensitive Issues

• The Hindu community should receive disputed sites based on historical evidence, traditional and direct proofs, and findings from excavations.
• Encourage Muslims to follow Islamic principles and refrain from offering prayers at disputed sites or those built by demolishing other religious places.
• Urge the government to restore disputed sites through constitutional measures.
• If dialogue or negotiations with the government fail, consider court decisions as supreme, as demonstrated in the Ayodhya case, where the verdict was widely accepted.
• Islam mandates the construction of a mosque only on undisputed land donated (waqf) by an individual or organization.
• Waqf means that the land is entirely dedicated to Allah’s worship and must remain free from disputes, illegal occupation, or unlawful actions.
• Islamic teachings highlight the importance of waqf land for a mosque, which must be established on pure and just grounds.
• Muslims will not consider a mosque as legitimate if built on disputed or forcibly acquired land.
• Islam refers to a mosque as the ‘House of Allah’, and it is every Muslim’s responsibility to ensure its establishment on sacred and just grounds.

‘Connect With Roots’ Campaign

Thakur Raja Rais stated, “Through the ‘Connect with Roots’ (Aao Jadon Se Judein) campaign, the MRM seeks to highlight that India’s Hindus and Muslims share common ancestors, traditions, and civilizations. This initiative promotes communal harmony and shared cultural heritage, emphasizing that, despite religious differences, Indian soil unites us with a shared history and tradition. Our ancestors, clans, traditions, and language remain collectively Indian.”

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