Sufi  Peace Conference

On November 26,2013 in Hotel Marriott,Islamabad, Pakistan,a Sufi Peace Conference was held under the auspices of International Sufi Forum, headed by eminent spiritual and political leader Syed Ali Raza Boukhari. In this conference prominent intellectuals, clerics, saints,members of parliament and politicians threw light on Sufism as the proponent of peace. Internationally know poet, thinker and politician Professor Dr. Maqsood Jafri was the guest of honor and the key note speaker. Here is the brief of his thought provoking and soul stirring oral speech.
 " I feel it my incumbent duty to appreciate the national and international services of Peer Ali Raza Boukhari in the spiritual and political arena. Three years ago, he visited New York and we addressed in some functions in which the Muslims and Non-Muslims participated. He is very eloquent and committed spiritual personage disseminating the message of love, peace, moderation, harmony and inter faith dialogue.
Sufism is a universal spiritual and human norm. The great philosophers and saints had been spreading its' fragrance for the maintenance of  noble human values. The Greek philosopher Plato preached Gnosticism for moral and spiritual values. The ancient Chinese  believed in Taoism as a spiritual cult. Hinduism stresses much on spiritualism. It even touches the boundaries of mythological and superstitious rites and rituals. The message of Buddha is all spiritual and love for all humans. We find the life of Jesus Christ portraying the light of spiritualism and love and mercy of all mankind. Prophets like Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ and Mohammad( PBUH) manifested miracles which shows their God gifted spiritual powers. People like Saint Paul and Saint Peter had spread the spiritual mission of Jesus Christ. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism also preached spiritual values. The Muslim saints like Rabia Basri, Hassan Basri, Bahlool Dewana, Bou Ali Qaladar, Nizamud Deen Aouliya, Moeen-ud- Deen Chisti, Shah Abdul Qadie Jilani, Imam Bari, Saeen Saheeli Sarkar and Baba Lal Shah Qalundar were the men of miraculous merits and powers endowed uopn them by the Allah. Hazrat Ali( A.S) is the chief of all Muslim saints.
Besides the prophets and philosophers, we see great poets preaching mysticism in their poetry such as William Wordsworth, William Blake,  Moulana Rumi,Sheikh Saadi, Hafiz Sherazi, Sheikh Attar, Sheikh Sanai,  Amir Khusrow and Mir Dard. The Muslims have a number of chains associated with Sufism. Qaderia, Naqshbandia, Chishtia, Nizamia, Owaisiyya, Moulviyya and Sohrawardiyya, a few to mention. Imam Ghazali, Sheikh Mohayyud Deen Ibne Arabi and Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhash Hujveeri had written much on Islamic Sufism. There writings are like torches and beacons in the dark night of skepticism, agnosticism and atheism. Soul is superior to matter. Supernatural has higher apex and wider range than natural. Spiritualism supersedes materialism.

Islamic Sufism promotes the spiritual, moral and humane aspect of humans. It is inclusive, pluralistic, universal inviting to peace, love, moderation  and humanity. Islam is the religion of peace. The very Arabic word Islam is derived from " Silm" which means obedience to God and service to mankind. In my two books  published in the English language titled " The Message of Islam" and " The Rational Study of Islam" I have explicitly discussed the rational, universal and humanistic aspects of Islam. The Holy Quran invites all the believers of different faiths to unite on the commonalities and promote mutual harmonious ties. The Holy Quran says:" For you your religion and for me my religion."The Holy Prophet when migrated from Mecca to Medina made a pact with the Jews of Medina for peace and mutual harmony. He welcomed the Christians of Najran for dialogue and permitted them to pass the night in the Mosque and pray there according to their faith. This shows the fraternal and universal mantra of Islam. The Holy Quran also announces:" There is no compulsion in religion." But, unfortunately, some hardliners and religious extremists are defaming Islam for their petty ends. They are trying to force their faith through gun. The prophet of Islam never attacked any tribe. His all battles were defensive. On the day of " Victory of Mecca", he pardoned his arch enemies and the Quran declared general amnesty. The terrorists are harming humanity and Islam. Islam rejects hatred, enmity and animosity in the name of religion. It nullifies sectarianism, regionalism, factionalism, parochialism,extremism and terrorism. Islam stands for democracy, justice, peace,tolerance, harmony, modesty and moderation. We, the Pakistanis must promote interfaith dialogue and respect all faiths. We must discard the differences based on country, class, creed, cult and color. Let us all unite for the prosperity and progress of all humans and enhance the mission of peace and love through Active and Human Sufism."