By Manzar Imam
New Delhi: As against the general perception that people have been increasingly staying away from religion, religious practices and traditional way of living, it was worth seeing many people find religion the greatest source of peace and happiness. The occasion was the 3rd annual programme of the Delhi-based Islamic Da’wah Centre which the organizers named as “Reverts’ Get-Together”. It was held at Masjid Al-Noor, Nafees Road in Jamia Nagar on Sunday 3rd March 2013.
As the name suggests, dozens of reverts or people who by their own conviction and understanding had embraced Islam as they found it as a source of their search for truth and God. These reverts came from different religious backgrounds and a cross-cultural spectrum of society. They shared their stories of what led them to accept Islam.
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Some were as new as two months to have embraced the new belief system which according to them was the result of their restlessness to find the real meaning and purpose of life and the Creator of world. Among them were doctors, engineers, chartered accountants and people from other professions.
Speaking on this occasion, Mohammad Umar Gautam, chairman of IDC and chief organizer of the programme, said that the objective of the get-together is to know, understand and share each others’ experiences and problems. This is also to let the world know that people are not embracing Islam by force and compulsion but their own will and volition after they go through experiences which bring to them the realization that there is Only One Creator God who deserves to be worshipped.
One participant said, “It is hard when you embrace Islam and you are forsaken by your parents, brothers and sisters, other members of the family and friends. It is painful when your own leave you and you are not accepted by the new community of believers.”
Losing one’s social base of support is actually a very painful experience for most people who accept a faith other than their parents’ or of the families that they were born in. One of the prime objectives of this get-together, said Umar Gautam, is to provide them some social support so that they do not feel left alone.
For Abdullah, earlier known as Kartik Kumar Gupta, what created curiosity is one of his Muslim friends’ giving credit to Allah for everything that he did for him. In his analogy he said that the real benefit of freedom is enjoyed most by one who has ever remained subject. He added that the reason for many misconceptions about Muslims and Islam was the general inertia of Muslims to practice and preach what Islam stood for.
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Another participant Abdur Rahman urged the audience to shed inhibitions and present the real Islam to the world and also to extend their emotional and economic support to those who entered Islam.
For yet another participant, it was the religious ritual of burning his own father after his death that drew him closer to Islam. And it was also Islam’s teaching about caring for others that left great impression in his mind. Another revert Amit Soni, a chartered accountant, stressed the need for cleanliness to be followed as Islam placed great emphasis on it.
Poet and author Dr. Tabish Mehdi recited a beautiful na’at which highlighted Prophet Muhammad’s concern and sacrifice for the betterment of society. Izharul Haque Qasmi spoke about the qualities of Da’ee i.e. one who coveys the message of Islam to others. Retired IAS officer Rashid Ahmad Khan also spoke on this occasion.
The services of Maulana Syed Abdullah Hasani Nadwi, a famous Muslim scholar who died on 30th January 2013, and who was chairperson of the IDC since its inception were also remembered. Speakers expressed sorrow over his demise and prayer for him. Over five hundred people – both men and women – attended the programme which apart from 50 reverts comprised of imams of mosques, heads of madaris and other educational institutions from Delhi and outside. Participants included Maulana Saghir Ahmad Qasmi, Mufti Obaidullah Qasmi, Maulana Mohibbullah Nadwi, Qari Sulaiman Qasmi, Maulana Shamim Ahmad Qasmi, Sirajuddin Shaikh of Imphal-based Islamic Research & Da'wah Centre, Dr. Noor, Dr. Amit Kumar, Mohammad Inam Qasmi Nadwi of the Institute of Higher Studies, Jamia Nagar, some Non-Residential Indians and students.
[Manzar Imam, a Delhi-based Journalist, is Special Correspondent of IndianMuslimObserver.com. He can be reached at manzarkhalil@gmail.com]
New Delhi: As against the general perception that people have been increasingly staying away from religion, religious practices and traditional way of living, it was worth seeing many people find religion the greatest source of peace and happiness. The occasion was the 3rd annual programme of the Delhi-based Islamic Da’wah Centre which the organizers named as “Reverts’ Get-Together”. It was held at Masjid Al-Noor, Nafees Road in Jamia Nagar on Sunday 3rd March 2013.
As the name suggests, dozens of reverts or people who by their own conviction and understanding had embraced Islam as they found it as a source of their search for truth and God. These reverts came from different religious backgrounds and a cross-cultural spectrum of society. They shared their stories of what led them to accept Islam.
Speaking on this occasion, Mohammad Umar Gautam, chairman of IDC and chief organizer of the programme, said that the objective of the get-together is to know, understand and share each others’ experiences and problems. This is also to let the world know that people are not embracing Islam by force and compulsion but their own will and volition after they go through experiences which bring to them the realization that there is Only One Creator God who deserves to be worshipped.
One participant said, “It is hard when you embrace Islam and you are forsaken by your parents, brothers and sisters, other members of the family and friends. It is painful when your own leave you and you are not accepted by the new community of believers.”
Losing one’s social base of support is actually a very painful experience for most people who accept a faith other than their parents’ or of the families that they were born in. One of the prime objectives of this get-together, said Umar Gautam, is to provide them some social support so that they do not feel left alone.
For Abdullah, earlier known as Kartik Kumar Gupta, what created curiosity is one of his Muslim friends’ giving credit to Allah for everything that he did for him. In his analogy he said that the real benefit of freedom is enjoyed most by one who has ever remained subject. He added that the reason for many misconceptions about Muslims and Islam was the general inertia of Muslims to practice and preach what Islam stood for.
For yet another participant, it was the religious ritual of burning his own father after his death that drew him closer to Islam. And it was also Islam’s teaching about caring for others that left great impression in his mind. Another revert Amit Soni, a chartered accountant, stressed the need for cleanliness to be followed as Islam placed great emphasis on it.
Poet and author Dr. Tabish Mehdi recited a beautiful na’at which highlighted Prophet Muhammad’s concern and sacrifice for the betterment of society. Izharul Haque Qasmi spoke about the qualities of Da’ee i.e. one who coveys the message of Islam to others. Retired IAS officer Rashid Ahmad Khan also spoke on this occasion.
The services of Maulana Syed Abdullah Hasani Nadwi, a famous Muslim scholar who died on 30th January 2013, and who was chairperson of the IDC since its inception were also remembered. Speakers expressed sorrow over his demise and prayer for him. Over five hundred people – both men and women – attended the programme which apart from 50 reverts comprised of imams of mosques, heads of madaris and other educational institutions from Delhi and outside. Participants included Maulana Saghir Ahmad Qasmi, Mufti Obaidullah Qasmi, Maulana Mohibbullah Nadwi, Qari Sulaiman Qasmi, Maulana Shamim Ahmad Qasmi, Sirajuddin Shaikh of Imphal-based Islamic Research & Da'wah Centre, Dr. Noor, Dr. Amit Kumar, Mohammad Inam Qasmi Nadwi of the Institute of Higher Studies, Jamia Nagar, some Non-Residential Indians and students.
[Manzar Imam, a Delhi-based Journalist, is Special Correspondent of IndianMuslimObserver.com. He can be reached at manzarkhalil@gmail.com]