Islam a religion of peace, says Imam-e-Kaaba at JUI-F centennial celebration

NOWSHERA: Centenary celebrations of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) formally began on Friday at Azakhel Nowshera, where a large number of people and party workers came to attend JUI-F's International Ijtema (gathering).

Imam-e-Kaaba (Grand Holy Mosque of Makkah) Shaikh Saleh bin Muhammad Ibrahim and Religious Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia, Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh attended the centennial celebration on the invitation of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other leadership.

Shaikh Saleh bin Muhammad Ibrahim delivered the Friday sermon and led the prayers at Azhakhel.

‘Islam a religion of peace and love’

Imam-e-Kaaba Shaikh Saleh bin Muhammad Ibrahim, while addressing the ceremony, said Islam is a religion of peace and love and emphasised that the path to correction lies only in the Holy Quran and the ways of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

“Allah has made the Muslim [Ummah] the best nation,” he said and instructed people to hold fast to God and refrain from divisiveness.

Imam-e-Kaaba also prayed for the Muslims suffering in Syria and Palestine.

'Pakistan, Saudi Arabia like two brothers'

Addressing the gathering, Saudi Arabia's Religious Affairs Minister Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh likened Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to 'true brothers' and said the two countries were united in protection of Islam and the Holy Kaaba.

Congratulating Fazl over the centenary celebration, the minister praised JUI-F's efforts in "protecting the faith of Muslims in the sub-continent."

‘Growing inclination towards terrorism, extremism’

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in his address expressed concern over a “growing inclination towards terrorism and extremism” among people.

He called for a ban on NGOs working on what he termed as “foreign agenda” and said efforts are needed to resolve all issues, notably the Kashmir dispute.

According to spokesperson of JUI-F, Abdul Jalil, four million people are expected to be attending the celebration, along with delegates from 52 countries including Bangladesh, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia, Qatar and Middle East.

The imam of Kaaba had arrived in Peshawar on Thursday to attend the centennial celebration of JUI, to be held between April 7 and 9.

وصل قبل قليل فضيلة الشيخ #صالح_آل_طالب حفظه الله إلى مدينة #بيشاور في دولة #باكستان، وفي استقباله رئيس جمعية أهل الحديث مولانا فضل الرحمن : pic.twitter.com/ungoSvTopl

— الشيخ صالح آل طالب (@Salih_Altalib) April 6, 2017

Upon arrival at Bacha Khan International Airport, the imam and Saudi Arabia religious affairs minister were warmly welcomed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and Fazl-ur-Rehman.