Srinagar

Turkish Sufi Master Sheikh Esraf Efendi who is also the founder of the Germany-based World Peace institute of Sufism has praised India as a melting pot of different religions, and languages; and a land that is multilingual and multicultural where; everyone is welcomed and integrated.”

He was addressing the World Conference on Sufism and Brotherhood in Srinagar, Kashmir, where he was invited as a “Principle guest.”

Addressing the Sufi exponents from across India and different countries, he said: “God has created human beings for spreading his message of love and peace and that all religions lead us to the oneness of god which means all religions are equal.”

The Conference was organized by the Voice for Peace and Justice, a Valley-based organization. Farooq Ganderbali, President of the organization said, the conference was organized to reestablish ties between Kashmiri and the Indian culture and the wider world through the Sufi spiritual teachings.

People from all walks of life, including Sufis, academics, theologians, policymakers, experts on international issues, and Islamic scholars from more than nine countries, including Germany, Turkey, France, Tanzania, the Maldives, France, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal attended the conference.

Farooq Ganderbali welcoming guests

Speakers emphasized the need for the resurrection of Sufism in Kashmir as a way to everlasting peace in the Valley, which has been a flashpoint for strife and violence for decades. The organizers said extremist Islamists made a concerted effort to destroy Kashmir's well-established and core culture of inter-communal peace and brotherhood.

Saudullah Ali, the deputy vice-chancellor of the Islamic University of the Republic of the Maldives, said the Conference has given a message to the world that respect for humanity is important in the modern world and that people should live in harmony and with respect for one another.

Syed Tayabul Bashar, a Sufi leader from the People's Republic of Bangladesh, said there is a greater need today to save and serve humanity, and what better way than to promote Sufism which is peace, tolerance, and unity among people?

“This message should be passed on to future generations,As Muslims, we strongly oppose radicalism and extremism; these evil forces should be fought together to safeguard the coming generations and humanity as a whole. Sufism should be promoted in education systems In policies and in practice with a focus on youth.”

The delegates attending Global Sufi Conference

Grand Mufti of Nepal, Mufti Mohamad Usman, stated that extremism is encouraged by self-serving forces with vested interests to further their own selfish goals.

“But because interfaith conversation establishes interreligious contacts and gives individuals of different religions a forum to share their beliefs, dispel misconceptions, and advance interreligious understanding, it prevents conflicts between religious groups,” he said.

The grand Mufti of Dar Al-Salam, Tanzania, Sheikh Al-Alhad Moosa Salim said Sufism is the sole path to peace, communal harmony, and brotherhood.

“In this rapidly developing world, we, unfortunately, are not able to establish peace. To establish long-lasting peace, Sufism is the best possible solution, said  Abdul Azeez Mohamed Nizardeen from Srilanka.

Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, the Grand Mufti of J&K said that more needs to be done to promote intercultural understanding and respect for each community's religious beliefs. “Muslim community un-equivocally condemns the killings of minorities in the land of Sufi saints which goes against the teachings of Islam and humanity,” he said while appealing to the Kashmiri pundits to return.

The head of the Karwani-Islami International, Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami said that India has been the home of mystics of all faiths, including the Rishis, Sufis, and Saints of Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

“In reality, unity in variety is the fundamental tenet of Indian culture and spirituality,” he said while requesting people to practice patience, temperance, fraternity, and love.

Satish Mahaldar, a Kashmiri Pandit leader stressed the revival of the age-old culture and tradition where people of different communities lived together with love and respect for each other.

Ganderbali said, “We want to take an oath to work as a global family with the objectives of peace, harmony, and coexistence, the basic principles of Sufism.”

Ganderbali said India now holds the G20 Presidency and the nation believes in Vasudev Kutubkum, As citizens of a great country, we must strengthen the national interests, which are rooted in peaceful coexistence among the communities.

Her says his organization is working towards the revival of Sufism in Kashmir to restore the old tradition of coexistence, communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, and love.

He said “Sufi literature and practices should be taught in schools and madrassas/” He also demanded the setting up of Sufi centers across Jammu and Kashmir.

Also that a resolution was passed in a conference on behalf of the Voice for Peace and Justice which said:

"We strongly condemn the propagation of violence on Indian soil which is designed, instigated, and supported by our neighbor, thus jeopardizing the life of the masses in Kashmir – the land of Sufism, what was described as the Paradise on Earth.

"We are highly appreciative of the successive governments in India which have ensured religious freedom for all faiths, including Islam; unlike in our neighborhood (despite being an Islamic country) where Shia & Ahmediya communities are not considered as part of Islam, and where other minorities are persecuted.

"We take a pledge to widen the scope of this conference in subsequent years and urge other countries as well as esteemed scholars of other faiths, to participate and strengthen the Sufism School of thought, enabling us to achieve global peace and for humanity to flourish/thrive unconditionally.

"We hereby undertake to work collectively for the restoration of Kashmiriyat & Sufism, the symbols of communal harmony, mutual appreciation, the coexistence of different faiths, goodwill irrespective of economic status, and love & peace."

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The Conference concluded with Prayers of Peace, Harmony, and Unity across India and the world. The Dua-e-Roshni ceremony was also joined in by all the delegations.