A ‘Prayer Meeting’ was convened between Hindu and Muslim community groups in Harrow, London in response to the recent terrorist bombings in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
In an act of showing solidarity, 30 members from various Muslim and Hindu organisations attended and called the bombings an act of ‘creating division, fear and social unrest’.
In wanting to send a clear message of condemning the bombings to the people in India and Gujarat, they reiterated that the acts would not hinder the ‘social harmony enjoyed by both communities’ in the UK and urge community cohesion in India. The gathering prayed for those who lost their lives, the injured and their families.
Some of the groups represented included the National Congress of Gujarati Organisations, Pakistani Cultural Society, Hindu Council of Britain and Harrow Central Mosque.
Meanwhile, in light of the terrorist attacks in Ahmedabad, claimed by the Indian Mujahideen, the Hindu Forum of Britain has called on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to investigate reports about British charities suspected of funding terrorist groups in Pakistan that are being ‘diverted to terrorism in India’.
From this story: ‘Cllr Navin Shah said: "The perpetrators of these atrocities are not Muslim, they are not Hindus or even Christians, the people that have carried out these bombings have no religion at all".’
I am glad to hear it. But who speaks for Islam? The perpetrators call themselves Muslims. One of their messages reads:
‘In "the name of Allah the Indian Mujahedeen strike again! Do whatever you can, within 5 minutes from now, feel the terror of death!" said an e-mail from the group sent to several Indian television stations minutes before the blasts began.’ The Qur'an and hadith are replete with similar statements. E.g. "I have been made victorious with terror" -- so says Muhammad, the founder of Islam (Bukhari Vol. 4, Book 52, Number 220).
Does Cllr Navin Shah know Islam better than people who are soldiers for Allah? If so, the communities of the UK would like chapter and verse please. Otherwise it is wishful thinking. Unfortunately, just saying it, don’t make it so.
But even it is true there are enough of these terrorists/murderers around who believe that their Islamic faith encourages, supports and rewards such activity that it would be foolish of their potential targets to ignore their faith-based motivation. One aspect of a proper defence or response would be to show these Islamic terrorists/ murderers how wrong they are and that in fact their reward for such activity is the hell fire they preach is the destination of infidels; not virgins and rivers of wine.
I await Cllr Navin Shah’s exegesis on the true peaceful nature of Islam. No doubt Cllr Shah could call on the Muslim participants in this prayer meeting i.e. the Harrow Central Mosque, the Indian Muslim Federation, Muslim Safety Forum, and the Stanmore Khoja Itna Shia Mosque for assistance in this regard.
Remember Kinana