14th International Milad-un-Nabi
Conference in Toronto
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Left
to right: Prof. Shahid Raza Naeemi, Maulana Qamar
Zaman Azmi, Maulana Anas Noorani, Qazi Bashiruddin
and Qari Yousuf |
The
14th International Milaad-un-Nabi Conference in Toronto
attracted more than one thousand delegates. The annual event,
sponsored by the World Islamic Mission, Canada, was addressed
by religious scholars from Canada, Pakistan and UK.
Key speakers were Maulana Qamar Zaman Azmi, Secretary General
of World Islamic Mission (WIM) and Prof. Shaid Raza Naeemi,
Secretary General of WIM (UK). Also present was Maulana
Anas Noorani Siddiqui, son of the late Maulana Shah Ahmad
Noorani Siddiqui, who was chief of the Mutehda Majlis-e-Amal
and founder of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan.
Shaikh Faizal Abdur Razak, head of the Canadian Council
of Ahle Sunna wal Jamaah (CCAS) and Imam Yunus Ashrafi from
Masjid Noor-ul-Haram, Oakville, Ontario were also present.
The conference was held a few weeks after the arrest of
seventeen Muslim youths in Toronto, Canada, on alleged terrorism
charges. Prof. Shahid Raza and other speakers tried to explore
reasons for this phenomenon within the Muslim community
and spoke about the problems which the Muslim youths are
facing in Europe and North America. They also dealt with
the current political and social problems faced by the Muslim
community in the West.
Naat
khawani |
The
speakers reminded the audience that in Muslim societies,
youths historically have never questioned the belief structure
of their parents and elders up until recently. Traditional
Islamic teachings and values have always been the mainstay
and guiding principles under which the Muslim family adhered
to and which held Muslim societies together in harmony with
itself and other cultures.
The speakers pointed out that under the influence of different
ideologies, Muslim youths started to question the Islamic
practices and values of their parents. As a result, doubts
and confusion about religion was prevalent amongst them.
This is especially common in second generation youths in
the West born to Muslim immigrant parents. In a state of
confusion, they become easy prey for alien and misguided
beliefs which have crept into Islam in the recent past only.
Family values formed another focal point. The speakers expressed
the hope that Muslim communities will return to traditional
teachings in which the family relationship remains the cornerstone
of Islamic life. The relationship between parents and children,
especially the mother who is the first institution of learning,
must be reinforced. The speakers reminded the audience that
when this happens, youths would be guided by values which
are based on tolerance and respect. The World Islamic Mission
made a commitment to establish and encourage institutions
of Islamic learning that promote traditional Islamic thoughts
and practices amongst Muslim youths.
The audience heard a recorded speech of the late Maulana
Shah Ahmad Noorani on the family value system of Islam.
The Maulana had been a regular speaker at the International
Milaad-un-Nabi Conferences since 1992. He died in December
2003.
The colorful Milad conference program also included recitation
of Milad and Qur’an. Haji Yusuf and Javaid Chaudhry
thrilled the audience with naats. Abdi M. Solaiman, Vice-President,
World Islamic Mission Canada, thanked the audience for making
the conference successful. Irshad Munawwar was the master
of ceremony.
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