"Islam preaches peace, patriotism and not terrorism"- these words were repeated again and again as loud speakers roared in Arabic, English and Hindi at the 16th annual Sunni Ijetama (religious congregation) attended by more than 10,000 women of the community at Azad Maidan on Friday afternoon.
This three-day event organised every year by Sunni Dawate Islami-an International non-political religious organisation- is aimed at educating average Sunni Muslim about the religion and responsibilities attached to it. Women had come from as far as Thane, Bhiwandi, Nashik and Pune to take part in the Ijetama to listen to what the Islamic scholars from different parts of the world had to say.
"Women are highly responsible in developing a moral society and hence it becomes all the more important for them to know the holy Quran," said Memon Nazia Iqbal (24), a volunteer. Like every year, even this year the theme was to bring in awareness about the importance of education to a society and to dispel the myth that Islam is synonymous with violence.
Islamic scholar Allama Qamaruzzama Khan Azmi, General Secretary of World Islamic Mission, had come from United Kingdom to reply to queries in the minds of Sunni Muslims. Questions like whether investing in a Life insurance policy was considered a sin in Islam to whether one can go for a haircut on Wednesday were asked. Though, investing in a Life Insurance policy was approved by the scholars, going for a haircut on Wednesday was not allowed. "Avoid going for a haircut or even cutting nails on Wednesday," said one of the scholars "As it is considered unholy in Islam".
{{/usCountry}}Islamic scholar Allama Qamaruzzama Khan Azmi, General Secretary of World Islamic Mission, had come from United Kingdom to reply to queries in the minds of Sunni Muslims. Questions like whether investing in a Life insurance policy was considered a sin in Islam to whether one can go for a haircut on Wednesday were asked. Though, investing in a Life Insurance policy was approved by the scholars, going for a haircut on Wednesday was not allowed. "Avoid going for a haircut or even cutting nails on Wednesday," said one of the scholars "As it is considered unholy in Islam".
{{/usCountry}}However, Ijetama for men would start from Saturday and end on Sunday with a mass prayer for peace and prosperity of the whole universe, said Mohammad Shahid, another Volunteer.