PICNA and its Partners hold a Webinar
As a consequence of the ongoing pandemic, PICNA held its first virtual event - a Webinar entitled ‘Gandhi on Prophet Muhammad and Islam’ on Friday, January 8, 2021. The program was organized in celebration of Interfaith Harmony Month that has now become a great tradition in South Carolina. The webinar was co-sponsored by Sound Vision and Interfaith Partners of SC while the keynote speaker was Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, Founder/President of Sound Vision, Justice for All and Chair Emeritus of the Parliament of the Worlds Religions. This virtual event was attended by more than fifty participants from various states representing a cross section of society.
Chaudhry Sadiq, President of PICNA, welcomed Imam Malik and commended his services for justice, equity and human dignity around the world. The speaker then introduced Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi as a lawyer, politician, reformer as well as an extraordinary writer and leader of the National Movement against the British Rule in India. Gandhi is recognized around the world as a champion of non-violence and austerity. In the backdrop of a false perception held by many Hindus connecting Islam and Prophet Muhammad with violence, Gandhi carried out extensive studies on Islam and life of Prophet Muhammad drawing his own conclusions.
Imam Malik shared with his audience that he had met and worked with Gandhi’s grandson during sessions of the Parliament of the World’s Religions and had also visited Gandhi ‘Ashram’ (Sanctuary) in India. Imam Malik then extensively quoted Gandhi on Prophet Muhammad and Islam in his 45 minute address. Gandhi wrote: “To those indulging in a campaign of abuse and vilification of Islam, Islam enjoins you not to rival even an enemy. The Prophet treated even his enemies compassionately and tried to win them over with his fairness and generosity.”
Gandhi was further quoted: “Allah of Islam is same as God of Christians and Ishvara of Hindus”. Referring to the common perception that Islam was spread with power of the sword, Gandhi wrote: “I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, his scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These (factors) and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle”.
Imam Malik presented another very relevant example of a well known writer’s work, that of Karen Armstrong who has written extensively on Islam. He quoted from a classic article written on ‘Jihad’ for Time Magazine wherein she states: “Prophet (Muhammad) built a coalition of tribes and achieved a victory by an ingenious campaign of non-violence. In the Q&A session a great question was posed about what Gandhi would say or do in these polarized times and the current socio-political climate in the country. The speaker’s reply was equally enlightening as he said: “Gandhi, an orthodox and practicing Hindu would reach across the aisle, would listen to the other side, try to understand the others, touching their hearts, especially in these times of pandemic."
In conclusion, I would like to make a very heart felt comment. Thinking about our virtual event and our ability to reach across the country or indeed the world with help of modern technology, I was pondering that we often take the greatest blessings for granted. This reminds me of a beautiful verse from the Qur’an that is repeated multiple times in the same chapter:
“Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?” - Al-Quran
“Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?” - Al-Quran
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